Pesticides Stakeholder Group minutes: September 2024

Attendees and apologies

Chair

Romy Strachan, Scottish Government

Attendees

Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity
Alanis Maciver, Scottish Government
Amy Geddes, Cereal Farm Representative
Andy Steven, Agrovista
Colin Plamer Confor
Craig Davis, Scottish Government
Darrell Crothers, SEPA
Debbie Kessell, Scottish Government
Fiona Burnett, SRUC
Gillian Reay, Scottish Government
Greg Dawson, Scottish Agronomy
Ian Muirhead, AIC
John Feege, Co-op
Kim Parker, Horticulture Crop Protection
Miryana Mckay, Angus Growers,  
Neal Evans, Voluntary Initiative
Sarah Cowie, NFUS
Sarah Hathway, Soil Association
Wayne Brough, Horticultural Trades Association

Apologies

Debs Roberts, Scottish Organic Producers Association
Hazel Doonan, AIC
Jackie Hughes, Scottish Government
Teresa Dougall, Scottish Quality Crops

Items and actions

Welcome

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Voluntary Initiative thanked the Minister for his attendance on a recent visit to a Scottish VI members farm in Aberdeenshire.

Matters Arising

The minutes from the previous meeting were accepted. It was brought to the group’s attention again that the minutes from these meetings and the term of reference (TOR) would be published on the Scottish Government website going forward. No objections were received.

Action PSG10-01 for officials to follow up with the soft fruit sector on the impacts of withdrawals was marked as complete.

HSE responded on action PSG10-02 regarding forestry crop classification concerns. Christmas Trees have for many years been included in the definition for ornamental plant production and specifically excluded from forest nursery. The inclusion of forest nursery within the definition for ornamental plant production (in 2017) was to increase the product availability for use in forest nursery. Currently any products authorised for use in forest nursery or ornamental plant production can be used in forest nursery situations providing all relevant conditions of use are satisfied. There will be a gradual move away from the term forest nursery on authorisations (e.g. at renewal), but since both definitions remain extant, it is not anticipated product availability will be reduced. Confor confirmed this is still a concern. To be followed up after the meeting.

Horticulture Crop Protection (HCP) asked if Confor have raised this with any colleagues in  HCP. Confor confirmed it has been discussed but not in detail, as only the Christmas tree group have joined HCP.

Action PSG10-03, for a member of SG’s Agricultural Reform Programme team to discuss different tiers, has been left open as a member of the team will join the next meeting in December.

Action PSG10-04 for officials to contact the Plant Health Centre (PHC) about IPM templates was discussed. SRUC confirmed they have recently introduced the grassland farm plan, which for most mixed farms where grassland is the dominant crop, would be the appropriate plan to complete. Those who also produce cereals may in addition need to do an arable plan as part of their assurance requirements, therefore it would be better to complete two plans than for the PHC to produce various hybrid plans.

A member highlighted not all cereal growers are certified so might not be completing an arable IPM assessment plan.

AIC noted it may be useful to share this with colleagues developing guidance for the whole farm plan. SRUC confirmed some awareness raising had been done through the Farm Advisory Service.

At the previous meeting the issue and impact of oats being reclassified from a minor to a major crop in GB was discussed. This has resulted in various products which were approved as Extension of authorisation for a minor use (EAMUs) no longer being available on oats, leaving control gaps. Previously it was confirmed that Bayer had submitted an application to HSE for on label authorisation.

Scottish Agronomy confirmed Bayer’s application with  HSE is still ongoing. Therefore, this product will not be available for crops going into the ground this Autumn and leaves growers with no grass weed options in oats for a second year. Several growers are cutting back on their areas grown due to this.

The Minister requested further information from SG officials on this matter , which has been provided.

It was noted that growers this year are having to use more glyphosate on oats preharvest for weed control. SRUC added that harvested stubbles are very weedy this year as a consequence of crops being thin, which is adding to concerns about how to control grass weeds in oats.

HCP hold meetings twice a year and raised this at the recent meeting as an issue. HSE did explain the background to this to explain the changes and provided a list of EAMU’s that have been removed. Could seek permission to send this information on to the group as this was information formerly given to AHDB.

Soil Association queried if there could be more support for farmers to help with alternative methods of control, to enable them to continue growing oats without grass weed control chemicals. It may not be as simple as using a chemical control, but may prevent the move away from growing the crops.

Scottish Government Updates

Officials confirmed we are working with Defra and other UK Governments to progress the National Action Plan and unable to give certainty on when it will be published at this time.

AIC raised the concerns around the delay of the publication and emphasised the work required after it is published.

A written update was provided to the group in advance of the meeting. The update contained details relating to:

• The new active substance Bixlozone which has now been listed in the GB Pesticide Approvals register. No products containing Bixlozone are approved in GB yet.
• The withdrawal and final grace periods for indoxacarb and famoxadone.
• Details of Emergency Authorisations(EA) and Extensions of authorisation for a minor use of a plant protection product (EAMUs) which have been issued since the previous meeting in May. All authorisation notices can be downloaded from the HSE website.
• EU decisions (noting not applicable in GB). Member states at the July SCOPAFF meeting voted for the renewal of approval of the fungicide active substances captan, metrafenone and folpet.

Open discussion/Round-table

Members raised concerns around the speed that HSE process applications which mean growers are having to deal with control gaps with products coming off the market much faster than new ones are being put on the market.

Scottish Agronomy highlighted that neonicotinoid resistance had been confirmed in the UK. As yet it is unclear if it is a one-off or more widespread. This aphid species is responsible for transmitting potato leaf roll virus and this could pose a major threat to Scotland’s seed potato industry. The loss of neonicotinoids would mean that growers would only have one insecticide active substance available in the tool box.

There is one new active ingredient in the system, but due to approval delays this will not be available until 2026. This is another example of the system not moving quickly enough with significant problems to a high value sector.

Members agreed this makes the situation on the ground extremely difficult with growers dealing with many issues including increasing virus levels, pesticide withdrawals and resistance issues.

Agrovista commented if left with only one effective product for next season it will put huge pressures on the system and see this year’s virus problems increase.

HCP noted that as seed potato is a minor crop there may be an option to do an EAMU or emergency authorisation if there is a product that could potentially be helpful.

Scottish Agronomy highlighted a wider working group which met 4th September organised by NFUS to pull together those within the industry.

HCP submitted an emergency authorisation this season for the use of Olie H on seed potatoes on behalf of Seed Potatoes Organisation, the authorisation finished end of August. HCP have not collated data on level of use yet.

Agrovista commented the emergency authorisation for Olie H was helpful but practically challenging, therefore grower uptake was low. Advice from the manufacturer was not to mix Olie H with other products. This year had difficult weather conditions and high blight pressure which made it difficult for growers to get on field to spray with a separate mineral oil. Growers did not want to risk mixing products against recommendations which could result in their crops failing inspections. Data is required on mixing with other products to provide growers with reassurance.

Confor gave an update on an EAMU recently issued for the use of Coragen for the control of large pine weevil. This is applied to the transplants in forest nurseries in a closed cabinet as a pre-planting treatment before they go into the forest. This ensures there are no impacts on non-target species as was the case with foliar applications. This will encourage the planting of new forests. Confor hope to get full approval in the next 12 months for a similar product.

HCP raised concerns regarding the cyantraniliprole emergency authorisations for the control of spotted wing drosophila on soft fruit which have been going for a number of years as it becomes difficult to get repeat emergencies after a number of years. Aware of increase scrutiny and currently in contact with authorisation holder and CRD. Meeting set up with CRD to discuss upcoming emergencies and an exit strategy. They are working on an on-label approval but are likely to need as EA next year. HCP successfully got an EAMU approved for the use of Tracer this year (rather than an EA) as the required residue data is available.

The Voluntary Initiative shared news on a newly appointed VI Champion located in Dumfries & Galloway area, specifically for grassland issues

Close

The Chair thanked everyone for their participation and confirmed the next meeting will take place Thursday 5 December 10:00 – 11:00.