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

07.08.2020 665 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
29.01.2026

India - MP CM orders assessment of crop damage due to winter rain

Most parts of the state have experienced winter rainfall over the past few days, while some areas also witnessed hailstorms that caused extensive damage to standing crops.

29.01.2026

USA - Illinois Department of Agriculture announces $3.6 million in grant funds for food infrastructure

These funds were appropriated from the 2026 state budget and are set to be used to support local food processing, aggregation, and distribution. 

29.01.2026

Poland's Tauron to supply clean power to aluminium, agricultural cos

Polish utility Tauron Polska Energia (WSE:TPE) will supply renewable energy to aluminium profiles maker Grupa Kety and agricultural BZK Group under power purchase agreements (PPAs) tailored to their needs.

29.01.2026

USA - Golden mussel invasion in California threatens water systems and agriculture

The fight to remove the golden mussel continues in California.

29.01.2026

USA - N.D. Farmers Union wants USDA’s buy-up option for prevented planting crop insurance reinstated

The North Dakota Farmers Union asks the United States Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency to reinstate the buy-up option it eliminated for prevented planting crop insurance.

29.01.2026

India - Avalanche hits Sonamarg, landslide kills around 7 dozen livestock in Kishtwar

Normalcy began returning across Jammu and Kashmir today as the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was fully restored for traffic and flight operations resumed at Srinagar Airport after weather-related disruptions. 

28.01.2026

Canary Islands tomatoes outcompeted despite EU agricultural support

Financial support remains essential to sustain agriculture in Europe's remote and island regions, but its impact on competitiveness and diversification varies strongly by sector and region. 

28.01.2026

India - Arecanut leaf spot disease affects 88,559 hectares in Karnataka; Rs 577 crore proposal sent to Centre

“Arecanut leaf spot disease has been seen on 88,559 hectares in Malnad, coastal and Shivamogga region,” Agriculture Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy said, replying to a question raised by BJP MLC Prathap Simha Nayak and Congress MLC Bilkis Banu in the Legislative Council on Tuesday.