Bee-killing pesticides use banned

[Paulypaul]

Bee-killing pesticides have been banned for emergency use in the UK for the first time in five years after the government rejected an application from the National Farmers’ Union and British Sugar.

"The neonicotinoid pesticide Cruiser SB, which is used on sugar beet, is highly toxic to bees and has the potential to kill off populations of the insect. It is banned in the EU but the UK has provisionally agreed to its emergency use every year since leaving the bloc. It combats a plant disease known as virus yellows by killing the aphid that spreads it."

https://www.theguardian.com/environ...e-pesticide-is-sweet-as-honey-for-pollinators

 

[Penninetrader]

There is a lot of talk in regards supporting farmers with alternatives, what are those alternatives ? Those farmers in the EU have already been living with this new regime, what have they been doing and what effect on production or has it moved elsewhere ?

 

[steve1958]

If farmers are banned from using the neonicotinoid treated seeds then their only option is to spray their crops instead.
So make sure you are on their list of contacts so that they notify you on crop spraying days

 

[Wilco]

Yep. Just wait for everyone to realise that the seed treatment was the lesser of two evils... Spraying will be bad for so many insects and thus all the species which depend on them- birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, fish.

 

[RJC]

Yep. Just wait for everyone to realise that the seed treatment was the lesser of two evils... Spraying will be bad for so many insects and thus all the species which depend on them- birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, fish.

The danger to pollinators from neonics on beet (which is wind pollinated) arises from its residual nature in solis. Hence the prohibition on growing flowering crops after a neonic treated beet crop. It was longer lasting in its impacts than those which may now get used.

 

[Penninetrader]

No win win in this situation it would seem

 

[judy12]

I see that Acetamiprid is still available in garden centres - but it is only classed as "moderately toxic" So that's all right.
'

 

[RJC]

I see that Acetamiprid is still available in garden centres - but it is only classed as "moderately toxic" So that's all right.
'

And others are available in pet shops - Imidacloprid is an active ingredient of many flea collars, along with fipronil, advocated by some as an Asian Hornet control insecticide.

 

[Wilco]

The danger to pollinators from neonics on beet (which is wind pollinated) arises from its residual nature in solis. Hence the prohibition on growing flowering crops after a neonic treated beet crop. It was longer lasting in its impacts than those which may now get used.

But significantly more targeted and in tiny amounts. Spraying is far worse.

 

[Wilco]

And others are available in pet shops - Imidacloprid is an active ingredient of many flea collars, along with fipronil, advocated by some as an Asian Hornet control insecticide.

Massive overuse of flea and worm treatments in the pet sector, many other drugs used too, and very little study on environmental shedding.