Oilseed farmers who are looking to deter pests from crops have been warned against misusing a specific variety of insecticide.
Dr Steve Foster, insecticide resistance specialist at Rothamsted Research, revealed that the neonicotinoid insecticide Biscaya can only be used to control pollen beetle at the 'green bud' stage and should not be used to deter aphids the following autumn.
He said: "Most winter oilseed rape crops are now grown from seed protected by one of the second generation neonicotinoid seed treatments, so for resistance management a product with a different mode of action must be used for the first subsequent foliar spray.
"Applying another neonicotinoid at this point would favour selection pressure and that's why it's ruled out."
The news will provide a welcome boost to oilseed growers, with production of the crop likely to increase if insecticide is used correctly.
Furthermore, agricultural research firm Broom's Barn recently conducted a nationwide survey which revealed a very low number of aphids are currently being found in oilseed rape crops.
Typical Guttridge equipment used in the oilseed industry includes: elevators – bucket elevators – valves
