Maize growers face prospect of untreated seed next year
Maize growers could face the 2024 growing season without treated seed if the government fails to register pesticides in time for deliveries, due to new regulation following Brexit.
All UK-sown maize seed is treated and packed by breeders in Europe and imported to the UK in sealed bags.
There are currently three seed treatments that can be applied to maize on the continent, including seed exported to the UK.
Bayer’s fungicide Redigo M is applied to all imported maize seed – except organic / untreated – to prevent seed rotting in the soil.
Limagrain’s Korit 420 FS bird deterrent is applied to at least 95% of imported seed.
Syngenta’s Force 20 CS is used for the control of wireworms and it also has some activity as a bird deterrent.
The Maize Growers Association (MGA) understands the licence for Korit is currently being reviewed in Europe and it is not known whether it will be extended.
Since Brexit, an active substance must be included in the statutory GB Pesticides Approvals Register before it can be authorised for use in any plant protection product in the UK.
The licences for all three seed treatments for use in the UK is due to expire on 1 January 2024.
As it stands, none of the three seed treatments have been added to the register by the Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD), which is responsible for the regulation of pesticides in this country.
And it looks unlikely they will be registered by the deadline due to the collation of data involved.
Peter Lawler, an agronomist from Marlborough, Wiltshire, said: “Maize growers will be ordering their seed next February at the latest for the 2024 growing season.
“I can’t see how the CRD will be able to register these three seed dressings in time for maize drilling next April. The only way you could do it would be to get a change in the law or a derogation. Otherwise, drilling treated seed would probably be illegal.”
NFU Dairy Board chairman Michael Oakes told the NFU Council meeting on Tuesday 25 April the union was pushing the government to extend the rights for farmers to use treated seed in 2024.
Mr Oakes said he had previously tried growing maize using untreated seed and the birds had decimated the crop.
“If maize is not available or becomes unprofitable, or it is not worth growing it, that will have a big effect on profitability in the dairy sector,” he added.
Farmers Weekly has requested a comment from the CRD, an agency of the Health and Safety Executive, which is responsible for the registration of plant protection products.
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