Young green seedling of plant germninate from the black soil
Commodity Watch by UFU Senior Policy Officer Patricia Erwin
Celebrating 25 year of Voluntary Initiative (VI) – an industry led initiative the Voluntary Initiative marks its 25th anniversary this year, celebrating a quarter of a century of industry led action to promote the responsible use of plant protection products across UK agriculture. One of the most widely recognized achievements of the VI is the way it has helped improve the professionalism of sprayer operations across UK agriculture. Training certification and continuous professional development (CPD) have become the norm, through schemes such as NRoSO.
UFU encourage farmers to be strong sellers
2026 harvest and supply chain disruption across arable and horticulture brought differing challenges for growers. GB and within the rest of Europe and further afield yields are reported to be poor and well below average. Not only are yields down but also the size and uniformity of produce is also impacted. The UFU encourage growers to be strong sellers in this window of continued unrest. Never before has the importance of a functioning trusted supply been more important ensuring a fair price is secured for the growers.
The UFU continue to lobby Government who have to date failed to address these issues and priorities the importance of local food production.
Arable industry support measures have been on the table with DAERA officials for almost a year with no meaningful outcomes to-date. This work is ongoing and UFU are hopeful with now recent support form Ulster Arable Society & NI Grain Trade Association that DAERA will act and delivery meaningful timely and necessary support for both cereal and potato growers. DAERA have been advised strongly that doing nothing is not an option for the longer term good of these sectors and that Farming with Nature options are not the solution for all growers.
Seed potato – the European Potato Trade Association (Europotat) has issued definitions, rules and practical guidance on legal and illegal Trade of Seed Potatoes. Northern Ireland is a high grade plant health region and the aim of most of the regulation to prevent the introduction and spread of harmful organisms. It is important locally that growers understand small ware is not a legal option. The UFU encourage all professional potato growers to secure certified seed.
Ware Potato – UFU are progressing meetings with Growers, Banks and Retail to discuss the importance of supporting local potato growers.
UFU in discussions with British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB) discussing the importance of their role for the industry. It was noted more farm saved seed use was the trend adopted across the UK farming regions and this brought reported financial challenges for BSPB. Discussions are in their early stages regarding fees going forward across the farming unions.
UFU awaiting DAERA Minister intervention with Emergency Use application cost. The UFU met recently with DAERA Government officials to explore how Government could help with the cost and administration burden on growers for these applications to HSE/CRD. The original discussions were focused on horticulture crop need and this more recently has been extended for potato and all other PPP applications until the UK/EU SPS agreement has been finalised, agreed, communicated and transitioned across the UK Farming regions. These discussion continue.
MRLs under review – MRLs establish legally allowed residue levels for plant protection products (PPPs) in food and feed. Scientific, risk-based assessment is used to set MRLs at the maximum amount of pesticide residue permitted on food or feed when the PPP is applied correctly, following good agricultural practice.
MRLs are also trading standards, supported by separate risk assessments that ensure residues on food and feed are safe for consumers.
MRLs are normally set below, and in most cases well below, any level that would pose consumer safety concerns.
As the EU PPP crop protection toolbox also applies directly to Northern Ireland farmers and growers have become increasingly concerned about the growing gap between the tools they have available compared to their competitors in third countries.
Most aspects of the food and feed simplification package will apply directly in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework, and in Great Britian under a future EU-UK SPS agreement. UFU continue to monitor the EU-UK SPS discussions and urge for a swift communication and transition.
