The impact of the EU neonicotinoid seed‐dressing ban on oilseed rape production in England

Abstract

Increasing resistance to pyrethroid insecticides in combination with the neonicotinoid seed dressing ban is likely to have significant impacts on the viability of growing oilseed rape in England particularly where CSFB activity/risk is high. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

The impact of restrictions on neonicotinoid and fipronil insecticides on pest management in maize, oilseed rape and sunflower in eight European Union regions

“…This is the first study detailing changes in insecticide use in response to the CITF restrictions in maize and sunflower. For OSR, studies in the UK (and one in Germany) also reported a lack of alternative seed treatments and increases in foliar treatments, which we confirm based on our comprehensive dataset on insecticide use over three consecutive growing seasons . An increased reliance on a more limited range of insecticides with the same mechanism of action, such as pyrethroids, may worsen issues associated with insecticide resistance .…”

“…Another aspect not addressed by our study is temporal pest population dynamics, which could have effects on other farmers and crops as well. Such dynamics, together with potential resistance development, learning by farmers and changing availability of insecticides mean that the pest management changes observed for the first year after the restrictions cannot necessarily be extrapolated to subsequent growing seasons, which require further study …”

“…In order to improve representativeness, the distribution of farm size (hectares of arable land) in each survey was matched with the distribution of farm size in the selected region based on official national statistics. This matching was achieved in part by stratifying the sample before the survey, and, in addition, by weighting the data afterwards during data analysis . For other farm characteristics, the absence of official statistical information on characteristics of the target population made further matching difficult.…”

“…More recently, several studies have started to approach the issue by analysing data on pest management practices from growing seasons after the EU restrictions took effect (2014/2015 and 2015/2016). These studies again have focused almost exclusively on OSR cultivation in the UK; for other countries and crops, little or no evidence is available . The studies of OSR in the UK, as well as two studies in Germany and Hungary, suggest that the neonicotinoid restrictions have had a significant effect on pest management, mostly in terms of increasing the number of foliar treatments with pyrethroids, and also other adaptations such as modifications of the sowing date or seed rate, with some evidence that this costs farmers more time and money.…”

“…These studies again have focused almost exclusively on OSR cultivation in the UK; for other countries and crops, little or no evidence is available. 36,[38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54] The studies of OSR in the UK, as well as two studies in Germany and Hungary, suggest that the neonicotinoid restrictions have had a significant effect on pest management, mostly in terms of increasing the number of foliar treatments with pyrethroids, and also other adaptations such as modifications of the sowing date or seed rate, with some evidence that this costs farmers more time and money. There are also indications of increased pest pressure and reductions in the area of OSR grown, although the evidence regarding yield effects is less clear.…”