An article in Bee Craft magazine caught my eye.  The author, John Hoar, who
is Spray Liaison Officer for Hampshire, has reviewed the use of pesticides
on OSR from 1998 to 2014, using reports produced by Fera.  Neonicotinoids
were introduced in 2000 and the last year that seed was harvested from seed
treated with them was 2014.

 

“In respect of insecticides, the weight of insecticide active substances per
hectare increased from 32g/ha in 2002 to 50g/ha in 2014.  The number of
insecticide spray rounds, products and active substances has also increased
since 2002.

 

Since the early 1990s, pesticide usage on OSR has increased significantly in
terms of the number of times treated, weight per hectare applied and the
number of active substances.

Although Budge et al (2015) established that neonicotinoid seed coatings
enabled farmers to reduce the number of insecticide sprays on OSR, this is
not evident from the survey data after 2000 when neonicotinoid seeds
dressings were introduced.

 

... the weight of insecticide active substance per hectare and the number of
insecticide spray applications has continued to increase after the
introduction of neonicotinoid insecticide seed treatments in 2000.”

 

Best wishes

 

Peter 

52°14'44.44"N, 1°50'35"W

 

 

 


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