Harnser Posted March 29, 2014 Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 Talking to my farmer friend today and he told me that there will be a ban for two years starting next year on the chemical that they dress the rape seed with . This chemical is supposed to kill bees and government want to have a trial with a ban to see if it makes any difference . Apparently this seed dressing kills off a certain beetle that kills off the seed . My friend says that many farmers will be reluctant to grow rape without this chemically dressed seed . May be we won't see so much rape next year . My farmer friend has not made up his mind yet as to how much rape he will grow next year if any . Perhaps he will go back to the good old days when he grew lots of peas . Just thought some of you would be interested in this . Harness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TR1 Posted March 29, 2014 Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 Your correct , peas on one of my permissions this year replacing 3 fields of rape. Removing the seed dressing means more spraying and therefore more cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted March 29, 2014 Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 interesting........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted March 29, 2014 Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 IF it is whats killing the bees off though, its got to be worth investigating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastair0903 Posted March 29, 2014 Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 We are still planting rape , but there is going to have to be more spraying ! Neonicotinoids have been banned in France for 2 years and the bees are no better for it . The ban is still being challenged in the courts but I fear it will be the end of this seed dressing without an appropriate replacement as yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted March 29, 2014 Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 Didnt that wally Bill Turnbull off bbc breakfast do a programme / investigation into it about 5-6 months ago...i think he is a bee keeper...quite a good programme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 Neonicotinoids. Talking to my farmer friend today and he told me that there will be a ban for two years starting next year on the chemical that they dress the rape seed with . This chemical is supposed to kill bees and government want to have a trial with a ban to see if it makes any difference .Apparently this seed dressing kills off a certain beetle that kills off the seed . My friend says that many farmers will be reluctant to grow rape without this chemically dressed seed . May be we won't see so much rape next year . My farmer friend has not made up his mind yet as to how much rape he will grow next year if any . Perhaps he will go back to the good old days when he grew lots of peas . Just thought some of you would be interested in this . Harness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beesley121 Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 Neonicotinoids. . That's the one, been proven to make bees become disorientated and therefore they can't fly back to the nest/hive and therefore die. I hope the trial shows a massive improvement as my bees really suffer every year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooting2 Posted April 1, 2014 Report Share Posted April 1, 2014 (edited) If most farmers are relluctant to grow it as you suggest then, some farmers somewhere will take the risk and pay the spraying costs and grow acres of the stuff as the price of the crop will increase dramatically paying more return and covering all costs. Edit for spelling Edited April 1, 2014 by Shooting2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastair0903 Posted April 1, 2014 Report Share Posted April 1, 2014 Farmers still growing rape will now be having to spray more nasty insecticides that can do more damage to wildlife . I would think a seed dressing placed in the ground would be the most bee friendly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickB65 Posted April 1, 2014 Report Share Posted April 1, 2014 Well the rape we planted this year had the chemical on it but to a lesser degree and FLEE BEETLE hit it bad. 50 % of the field is bare and what is left is stunted and very poor. Not sure what next year will be but if prices are good due to the scarcity of it then still may be worth while...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beesley121 Posted April 1, 2014 Report Share Posted April 1, 2014 Well the rape we planted this year had the chemical on it but to a lesser degree and FLEE BEETLE hit it bad. 50 % of the field is bare and what is left is stunted and very poor. Not sure what next year will be but if prices are good due to the scarcity of it then still may be worth while...... That's bad news for farmers but I hope it does however prove that neonicotinoids are not only having a major impact of bees but on other wildlife too. As soon as it's proven, money will be invested to look at alternatives that both help the crop from pests but also have the least impact on other wildlife Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted April 3, 2014 Report Share Posted April 3, 2014 Banned for farmers. Have a look what the active ingredient is in the bug sprays in all supermarkets, garden centres etc. Same stuff folks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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