Stan Sandler asked,< I would appreciate any info Bil Harley might have on this.  What was the
impact of the ban on neonicotinoids on sunflower in France? >

For the moment, none. The ban has only been in force since July when the Government changed and the new Minister of Agriculture reversed the policy of the previous Govt. which had been granting one year licences. The courts had declared this illegal, but, as it took several months for the court procedure, the illegally treated seed was already in the ground by the time the court had given its judgement and this was  repeated year after year.
There will be statistics available after this year’s crop.
In any case, it makes no sense to grow sunflower in most of our agricultural regions, the climate, or soil conditions, or available water do not allow it.

Bil Harley, France

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