Which EU crops and EU countries are hit most?
Gruss: “We have received a lot of feedback from many farmers, seed breeders, seed treaters, retailers, distributors and crop advisors across Europe. One example is the impact of the restrictions on oilseed rape production where farmers have been highly exposed to flea beetles and turnip root flies, for instance. Currently, there is no seed treatment product available to control flea beetles in oilseed rape. They have no alternative but to spray products that are often older, less beneficial and less effective. At the same time, resistance problems are occurring due to the restricted spectrum of products available now.”
Kunz: “A recent study by the Newcastle University estimates that growers in the UK had a loss of 22 million pounds sterling due to the missing option of neonicotinoid treated seed, suffering yield losses or complete loss of planted acres and additional cost for foliar applications. The situation in Germany is no better: the oilseed rape acreage is expected to decline by ten percent in 2015 – which certainly won’t be helpful for the bees, for whom oilseed rape is very important forage in the spring.”