France - Plans to ease pesticide ban for sugar beet to curb crop losses

07.08.2020 825 views
The French government will propose lifting a ban on certain pesticides blamed for harming bees to protect sugar beet crops that have been ravaged by insects this year, the agriculture ministry said on Thursday. The government plans to support a legislative amendment in parliament later this year to exempt sugar beet for up to three years from a general ban on neonicotinoids, the ministry said in a statement following a meeting with sugar industry representatives. Sugar beet growers blame the ban on the neonicotinoid group of crop chemicals for insect attacks that could decimate yields this year and say this further threatens the French sugar sector after a price slump in recent years already led to factory closures. “French sugar beet producers are facing an unprecedented crisis: the jaundice virus transmitted by aphids has developed massively across France’s growing regions and is going to impact heavily sugar beet production,” the ministry said.
In addition to the proposed re-authorisation of neonicotinoid pesticides for sugar beet in time for next year’s spring planting, the ministry said 5 million euros ($5.9 million) would be offered to support research into alternatives to neonicotinoids. Farmers say outlawing these pesticides for sugar beet is not relevant to efforts to protect bees as the crop does not flower. They also blame the French authorities for applying a blanket ban on neonicotinoids whereas European Union regulations allow for exemptions. The ministry said the exemption for sugar beet would only apply to pre-treated seeds, with field-spraying of neonicotinoids to remain banned. For crop losses this year, which farmers say could reach 50% in the worst cases, the government will offer compensation to growers, the ministry added.
istanbul escort şişli escort tbilisi escort şişli escort şişli escort maslak escort istanbul escort beşiktaş escort taksim escort izmir escort ümraniye escort mecidiyeköy escort şişli escort
16.06.2026

India - Harish Rao accuses Congress govt of plotting to scrap crop bonus

BRS deputy floor leader T Harish Rao accused the Congress government of conspiring to phase out the crop bonus scheme by limiting it to just seven paddy varieties, despite promising Rs 500 bonus for all varieties in its manifesto.

16.06.2026

CBE and EIC Forge Historic Partnership to Advance Ethiopia’s Financial Sector

​The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) and the Ethiopian Insurance Corporation (EIC) have signed a historic partnership agreement to elevate their long-standing cooperation. 

16.06.2026

Spain - The Government releases 510.7 million from the Contingency Fund for agricultural insurance and social purposes

The Council of Ministers has given the green light to the use of the Contingency Fund to support several credit modifications for a total amount of 510,706,252.23 euros, with the aim of meeting commitments in agricultural insurance and financing activities of general interest qualified as of social interest.

16.06.2026

Nepal - Poultry sector losses Rs. 500M due to bird flu

Farmers have suffered direct financial losses of more than Rs. 500 million in the past month due to a bird flu outbreak that has spread to three districts of Koshi Province—Jhapa, Morang, and Sunsari.

16.06.2026

USA - USDA declares emergency Disaster Declaration for Maryland farmers impacted by crop freeze

The United States Department of Agriculture is stepping in to assist Maryland farmers severely impacted by unexpected frosting in April.

16.06.2026

Cyprus - Foot-and-mouth disease cases rise to 121 livestock units after new Mammari detection

A total of 121 livestock units have been affected by foot-and-mouth disease following the confirmation of a new case announced on Wednesday. 

15.06.2026

India - Satellite Surveys to Bridge Gap Between Farmers’ Losses & Crop Insurance Compensation: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan has stated that in order to bridge the gap between the losses faced by farmers and the compensation they receive through crop insurance, these losses will now be surveyed using satellites. 

15.06.2026

Philippines - DA eyes regional fisheries hub in Northern Samar

The Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to establish a regional fisheries hub in Mapanas, Northern Samar, positioning the area as a potential growth center for Eastern Visayas’ tuna industry.