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The vote by MEPs to ban pesticide use on areas designated as ecological focus area (EFA) will have implications for Irish farmers. Growers who use pulse crops (beans, peas or lupins) as part of their EFA obligation will no longer be allowed to apply pesticides on the area of these crops that is designated as EFA.
Pulse crops which are not designated as EFA can still be sprayed with the normal range of products. But because this creates complications for inspectors, one might expect that pulses may not be eligible to meet one’s EFA obligation from 2018 onwards.
This may cause complications for some growers with limited EFA availability from hedges, drains, etc. However, other measures are being considered which might help those caught in this dilemma. Planting of catch crops is another alternative option.
SHARING OPTIONS: