Europe’s neonicotinoid ban contributed to one-third drop in Britain’s rapeseed

Britain’s rapeseed harvest fell this year by almost one-third due to poor yields and a prolonged decline in the planted area which is expected to continue next season, the National Farmers Union said.

The NFU put UK rapeseed production this year at 1.7 million tonnes, down 32.5 percent year-on-year and well below the five-year average of 2.5 million.

The NFU said planted area had fallen for the last five years, adding there could be a further fall for next year’s crop.

“Farmers currently do not have the confidence to continue planting similar areas of oilseed rape… Something is not right there.”

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Analysts have said the rapeseed area in Britain has been reduced by weak margins and problems with cabbage stem flea beetles linked to curbs on the use of a class of insecticides known as neonicotinoids.

The EU restricted their use to protect bees.

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: Britain’s Rapeseed Crop Falls by Almost One-Third -NFU