Defra moves to impose total ban on neonicotinoids

[AdamD]

According to Farmers Weekly, 21st December, the government has taken a significant step towards banning neonicitinoid pesticides completely. They have been granted emergency authorisation for the past 4 years in some instances to address challenges in sugar beet production although it looks like this will end. Farmers are reported to have said that without viable alternatives, the ban could devastate crop yields and livlihoods.

I am aware that beekeepers have not reported problems with bees on neonic treated OSR in the past and honeybee colonies do well on it.

[Alfred]

The whole thing is a mess and I for one would not like to have to pick a side having interest in both camps.
Without some form of control the malady will destroy crops and bankrupt farms

Sugar prices will rise and hit the very beekeepers who themselves campaigned for the ban.

But with the current nictinoid situation there is risk to pollinators other than honeybees that is being conveniently sidelined .
No one cares.
Someday soon it will be too late to start caring.

However honey yields will also be hit if crops like beet fail.
More honey will be cheaply imported to compensate pushing UK prices down.

Yet another view -admittedly with a vast amount of cash behind it,the covid vaccine took just a couple of months to be created.
The sugar industry have had at least four years on emergency measures with the beet problems so not having developed a viable alternative solution is perhaps beginning to approach complacency.