Archive for June, 2009

Organic is “mainstream in waiting”

Jun29
SECTION | Latest updates

An independent report by the University of Reading has found that organic farming has “much to offer” and “is, perhaps, mainstream agriculture in waiting”.

Among key findings in the report, funded by the Soil Association and an independent trust, are that organic production cuts greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. It also found that organic fruit and vegetable yields compare favourably with conventional agriculture and that organic farming could, “with some adjustment”, supply similar volumes as at present, or even increase output if necessary.

Peter Melchett, Soil Association policy director, has warmly welcomed the findings: “Organic farming does not have all the answers to the challenges of climate change and diet-related ill health, and there is still a lot of work to do to improve systems, but the report, England and Wales under organic agriculture: How much food could be produced? shows the positive impact that organic farming could have.

“In the face of the rising prices and scarcity of key fossil fuel and mineral inputs, and the need to cut emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, food and farming systems will have to go through revolutionary changes… This independent report shows that organic farming could provide us with a far healthier and more climate-friendly diet.”

The research was commissioned by the Soil Association with funds from the HCD Memorial Fund.

Valencia faces 40 per cent exodus

Jun29
SECTION | Other Top Fruit

Production of citrus in Spain’s Valencia region could be cut by almost half in two years.

Grower leaders are warning that a disastrous lack of profitability could see output plummet by 40 per cent, as producers would be forced to leave the sector in droves.

Ava-Asaja president Cristóbal Aguado said that returns on most varieties are not even managing to cover costs.

According to the organisation’s figures collected from its members, only producers of some early-season easy peelers and some late-season easy-peel varieties are likely to make a profit this year, having achieved prices above production costs.

Output has been below forecast too, according to Ava-Asaja, as small sizes meant that 20-30 per cent of mandarins and oranges were left on the trees or graded out at packhouses.

Aguado said: “At the end of November last year, we were already sounding the alarm and we even tried to call a halt to citrus activity. Before 2008 was out, we had lost more than €134 million (£114m) and in March that had risen to €239m. Grower returns have now confirmed our worst fears: the sector has crossed the limit of losses that can be absorbed and in two years we could lose up to 40 per cent of the area under citrus production in Valencia.”

Further evidence of the lack of liquidity affecting the sector is the lack of uptake of insurance, with subscriptions to policies down by 30 per cent on this time last year.

Meanwhile, the picture is no brighter in south-western Spain. Growers in Huelva in the region of Andalusia have been diversifying into citrus over the past 10 years as an alternative to field crops, but now their leaders are urging diversification away from citrus into other lines as citrus consumption slides.

Francisco Contreras of growers’ organisation Feaca-Huelva estimates that 20-40 per cent of growers will abandon their citrus production over the next few years. He said: “Now is not the time to be increasing plantings, especially taking into account the changing eating habits of the population and declining citrus consumption.”

SOLAs vital to onion growers

Jun29
SECTION | Latest updates, Onions and Leeks

Without the current range of Specific Off-Label Approvals (SOLAs) now available for onions UK growers would not be in a position to grow this crop, according to specialist agronomist Andy Richardson.

At least half of all products used on onions are applied using a SOLA and this type of recommendation is vital for the wide array of minor crops, usually vegetables, grown in the UK, according to Richardson.

“There are 9,000 hectares of onions grown in the UK, so it is a reasonable-sized crop,” he said. “We rely on SOLAs to make sure that our growers can produce the high-quality produce that consumers expect. For example, white rot control is virtually reliant on two fungicides, Signum and tebuconazole, both of which have SOLAs for its control. There are no label recommendations against white rot in onions, which is a very serious disease in this crop and can reduce yields and marketability.

“In order to keep this damaging soil-borne disease at bay, we need a comprehensive programme of fungicide sprays, two Signum and two tebuconazole. I would recommend Signum as the first spray, particularly if the crop is struggling, as it has positive growth benefits, whereas tebuconazole can act as a growth regulator.

“It is important to alternate these two fungicides as they have different modes of action and already there are some reported instances of resistance to tebuconazole in other countries,” added Richardson.

Zim looks to horticulture

Jun29
SECTION | Latest updates

Zimbabwean government trade promotion body ZimTrade is investigating ways to ramp up the country’s horticultural exports.

The organisation has been looking into areas such as market access, financing, ColeACP’s Pesticide Initiative Programme, organic production, plant health and market expansion.

Following a recent export workshop, ZimTrade issued the following statement: “Market access issues such as GlobalGAP certification remain paramount if farmers are serious about exports…

“To this end, ZimTrade is partnering the EU in the Agricultural Trade and Marketing Project to train farmers on these important market access factors.”

SOLAs altered for multiple use

Jun29
SECTION | Carrot and Parsnip, Crop protection (General Issues), Onions and Leeks, Peas and Beans

The new specific off-label approvals (SOLAs) for the residual and contact-acting herbicide, flumioxazin, in vining peas, carrots, parsnips and bulb onions have been altered to permit multiple low doses.

The new SOLAs in vining peas, carrots, parsnips and bulb onions, available as SumiMax, Digital and Guillotine, were applied for by the Horticultural Development Council (HDC), leading to a change in the limitation of one application per crop to multiple applications, providing the maximum total dose is not exceeded.

This request has been granted and will result in more flexible options for growers looking to control various weeds in these crops. There are no other changes in the conditions of use, such as timing or harvest intervals.

The SOLA for post-emergence use of flumioxazin in vining peas for the control of volunteer potatoes is now SOLA 1109, 1115 and 1113 of 2009, while the SOLA for use of flumioxazin in carrots and parsnips post-emergence for the control of volunteer potatoes is now SOLA 1111, 1112 and 1117 of 2009.

The SOLA for bulb onions post-emergence for control of volunteer potatoes and other weeds is now SOLA 1108, 1114 and 1116 of 2009.

Growers need to obtain a copy of the notice of approval to use flumioxazin in these crops via the CRD website or the HDC.

SumiMax, Digital and Guillotine are white, non-staining, easy-to-use suspension concentrates containing 300 gms ai/litre of flumioxazin. They are used for the control of a wide range of broad-leaved weeds, including charlock, chickweed, cleavers, common poppy, field pansy, fumitory, groundsel, speedwells, mayweed, red deadnettle and Shepherd’s purse, and some grass-weeds.

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