Arable product updates: Neonics are Cruising back in the UK

The AIC has thrown its support behind Defra Secretary of State's George Eustice's decision to issue an emergency authorisation for the use of Cruiser SB (thiamethoxam) on sugar beet seed for 2021.

This marks a return to neonic seed treatment use in the UK and Hazel Doonan, AIC’s head of agronomy and crop protection, said: “The decision taken by Minister Eustice to issue an emergency authorisation for the use of Cruiser SB in sugar beet crops in England in 2021 was reached based on the advice of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides (ECP), and Defra’s chief scientific adviser.

Hazel Doonan has welcomed the EAMU for Cruiser in sugar beet

"They considered that the strict conditions for use that the emergency authorisation requires, has minimised any threat to bees and the environment, and the risk was, therefore, acceptable.

“Since the restrictions on the use of neonicotinoid insecticide seed treatments for aphid control in beet crops in 2018, many EU member states have had no other option than to seek emergency authorisations for use of these seed treatments until alternative cost-effective solutions can be developed.”

Last season, despite the use of integrated pest management measures, some farmers had significant losses in their sugar beet crops due to virus yellows.

“The emergency authorisation will enable farmers and agronomists to manage virus yellows more effectively in high-risk sugar beet crops in England until solutions for the control of virus yellows in all beet crops across the UK is found,” explains Mrs Doonan.

New EAMU an opportunity for linseed

Controlling weeds in winter and spring linseed will now be much easier with the approval of an Extension of Authorisation for Minor Use (EAMU) registration for the maize herbicide, Basilico.

Manufactured by off-patent manufacturers, Life Scientific, it contains 100 g/l mesotrione and is reverse engineered from the reference product, Callisto.

Previously used as a post-emergence herbicide in crops of grain and forage maize to control annual broad-leaved weeds, this allows the product to be used on both winter and spring linseed as a pre emergence treatment. The maximum rate of use is 1.5 l/ha.

Ruth Stanley is a product expert with Life Scientific

“The area of linseed is increasing in the UK as growers look for alternative break crops to oilseed rape, so it’s great news to be able to offer an additional herbicide option for this crop,” said Ruth Stanley, Life Scientific’s country manager.

“Basilico offers good control of difficult weeds such as polygonums and fat hen, and is our preferred herbicide option,” added Hannah Foxall, a linseed specialist with Premium Crops, a leading proponent of the crop.

“It’s important to recognise that the best results come from applications to moist soils immediately after drilling and rolling. Using Basilico can often remove the need for further post-emergence herbicides.”