The European Parliament has voted for a ban on the use of pesticides and herbicides in Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs).
The decision is a major blow to the UK’s farmers’ unions after they had succeeded in persuading the Parliament’s agriculture committee not to ban plant protection products (PPPs) just two weeks ago.
Scottish farmers will now need to reconsider how they meet their 2018 greening requirements without access to PPPs.
Speaking from Brussels, NFU Scotland’s (NFUS) president Andrew McCornick said the European Parliament’s decision to reject its own committee’s views watered down the simplification benefits that could have been delivered.
“It will make life more difficult for Scottish farmers, not easier,” he said.
The expectation is that the CAP simplification package will be in place for 2018 with a ban on the use of PPPs on some EFAs, including areas with catch crops, green-cover or nitrogen-fixing crops (NFCs).
Mr McCornick said: “The ban does have implications for autumn sown NFCs, for example, peas and beans that could be sown this autumn to be claimed on the 2018 Single Application Form as EFA NFC.”
He added that clarification was still needed on whether PPPs could be used during the establishment of these crops.
“Clarification is also needed on whether the rules on spot application of PPPs on EFA fallow will be affected,” he said.
However NFUS believes much of the EU’s simplification package is positive and it will be lobbying the Scottish Government to implement a widened list of EFA options into Scotland’s greening rules.
Responding to the European Parliament’s vote, Strutt & Parker’s farming partner, Mary Munro said it was vital farmers were told how the rules would be implemented.
“People are currently looking at next year’s cropping plans and will need to know if adjustments are necessary to ensure they can meet their 5% EFA requirement when it comes to completing their 2018 Basic Payment Scheme application,” she said.
“Some of our clients use peas or beans to meet their EFA requirements, but without pesticides their viability as break crop will be questionable.
“I can also see problems in the long term with grass weeds in field margins. Some of them are harbouring big populations of brome that will need to be controlled sooner or later – and with this ban on pesticides, the only alternative will be to take them out of EFA and treat with selective herbicide.”
nnicolson@thecourier.co.uk
