•
NEWS
•
THE
VEGETABLE
FARMER •
FEBRUARY 2017
Brassica growers need to be
planning their aphid control
strategy to prevent virus
transmission far earlier in the
season, to take advantage of
new technologies andmitigate
the impact of challenges for
foliar application results,
according to Syngenta Technical
Manager, Simon Jackson.
A key speaker at the Brassica &
Leafy Salads Conference last
month, Simon highlighted that
another milder than average
winter had increased the risk of
early infection of Turnip yellows
virus (TuYV) for young planted
brassica and salad crops in 2017.
“Historically, when aphids
emerge earlier in the season the
numbers continue to remain
higher, as the population has
longer to build,” he warned.
Simon pointed out that aphid
forecasts would not typically be
available until later in the spring,
by which time it could be too
late to utilise the latest Cruiser
70WS treatment at planting, to
protect crops through early
growth and their highest risk
period for virus transmission.
Cropmonitoring has shown
that TuYV is extremely common
in oilseed rape - with up to 85%
of crops infected - and creates
an active inoculum for spread to
all vegetable brassicas. Early
infection into planted out crops
can result in themost serious
yield losses and quality
downgrade, as well as the cause
of internal disorders, such as
Cigar burn and Tipburn in stored
crops.
“The use of Cruiser 70WS with
precision Phyto-Drip technology
at sowing assures early control
of aphids, typically for the first
eight weeks,” reported Simon.
“Crucially, it gives complete
control of feeding Peach Potato
A new survey by the NFU has
revealed an increase in farmer
confidence in the dairy and
livestock sectors over the last
year, but confidence has fallen in
the horticulture and poultry
sectors. The NFU says there are
serious concerns about labour
shortages in the future and the
increase of the National Living
Wage.
Members told the NFU, as part
of its seventh annual farmer
confidence survey, they
anticipated positive effects on
their business from the
consumption levels of British
produce (58%) and output
prices (46%). However, farmers
feel that input prices will have
themost widespread negative
impact for the coming year
(74% negative), followed by
regulation and legislation (53%
negative).
Mr Raymond commented:
“The NFU has made it clear that
for farming to have a profitable
and productive future we need
reassurance on key issues
resulting from Brexit; such as
access to a competent and
reliable workforce and the best
possible access to the Single
Market.
“British farming is the bedrock
of the UK’s largest
manufacturing sector – food and
drink. The sector is worth £108
billion to the nation’s economy
and employs some 3.9million
people. We urge Government,
retailers and the public to back
British farming sowe can
continue to produce high quality
produce for the nation.”
4
School children barely eating
one of five-a-day
A quarter of secondary school age children eat less than one
portion of veg a day, according to a recent survey by the Food
Foundation. The claim came in its November Veg Facts briefing
which also highlighted issues such as the increasing reliance on
fresh produce and the need for labour to harvest UK vegetables.
Anna Taylor, from the Food Foundation, told the Sunday Times;
“We are facing amassive diet-related crisis among our young
people. They are eating the same level of veg as in the 1970s. The
five-a-day campaign has had no impact.
“The combination of higher food prices and pressure on UK
horticulture production, in a situationwhere our children are
already eatingmuch too little veg, threatens tomake our children’s
diets evenworse than they already are.”
Laura Sandys, former MP and Chair of the Food Foundation
added; “Our food systemmakes it too hard for us to eat enough
veg. 5 A Day is a great consumer awareness campaign but it has
had no impact on our consumption of veg, which has gone down
in recent years. Veg needs amajor facelift with the best brains in
advertising needed tomake it a super desirable treat.”
Farmer confidencehigher
for coming year
Plan control strategy now to block out early aphids
Aphid (Myzus persicae) – which
is the primary vector of TuYV in
brassicas and has
shownwidespread
resistance to foliar
pyrethroid
treatments over
recent years,” said
Simon.
“Growers should
be talking to their
plant raisers about
treatment options
at the same time as
variety selection
and plant supply phasing, to
assure timely application.”
Newhead for Crop
ProtectionAssociation
Former BBC Environment
Correspondent Sarah
Mukherjee, currently Director of
Environment at Water UK, has
been appointed as the new
Chief Executive of the Crop
Protection Association.
She will take over fromNick
vonWestenholz, whowill be
moving to the NFU as Director
of EU Exit and International
Trade in the New Year. Sarah
will take up the role on the
13thMarch 2017.
Commenting on the
appointment, CPA Chairman,
Gary Mills-Thomas said; “I am
delighted that we have been
able to appoint someone with
such a wealth of expertise and
knowledge as the Association’s
Chief Executive. As the crop
protection sector continues to
face significant political and
regulatory pressures, whichwill
only bemagnified by the
process of Brexit, Sarah’s
experience workingwith senior
civil servants, politicians and
regulators will be hugely
valuable.”
“Sarah has an excellent track
record in communicating often
very complex ideas to both
specialist and non-specialist
audiences, and I believe she will
bring strong leadership and a
fresh approach to the
opportunities and challenges
that our industry currently
faces.”
Sarah said of her
appointment; “I am delighted
to be taking up such a crucial
post at such a pivotal time for
the industry. We need to
balance the needs of the
environment and sustainable
farmingwith the requirement
to feed a growing population,
and I very much look forward
to taking on these issues next
year.”
AMyzus persicae colony.
SarahMukherjee. (Courtesy CPA).
