Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 May, 2023 to 31 Aug, 2023
Specific Details
Plant Protection
Intended results
That a derogation of the herbicide Diquat is secured for this season to ensure that the potato sector remains a viable enterprise for growers.
To highlight that the decommissioning of Diquat will have significant detrimental effects on the potato sector including
- Further delay of the potato season, leading to very difficult harvesting conditions and higher crop losses.
- Potato farmer margins will be further eroded due to lower crop yields.
- The potential growth of the potato sector will be stunted
- Use of alternatives with lower efficacy will in turn cause higher food waste levels due to lower health and condition of potatoes.
- Increased crop losses may lead to further food inflation next year.
To highlight that, in relation to the successful growing and management of the potato crop, the desiccation of the potato canopy is critical, enabling growers to stop bulking when tubers reach the desired marketable size as well as promoting skin set. It also helps reduce the risk of diseases such as late blight, blackleg and virus affecting the potatoes, reducing storage problems or, in the case of seed, carrying over to future crops.
To emphasise that potato foliage needs to be destroyed about 3-4 weeks prior to harvest to ensure diseases do not pass from the foliage to the tubers in the soil below. Ireland has a wet, humid climate which results in increased disease pressure (blight, blackleg) on the potato crops compared with most European countries. Ireland also produces mainly late season variety potatoes such as Rooster (60% of the area sown)
Given the ongoing difficult weather conditions, harvesting these varieties will be delayed even further leaving the crop extremely vulnerable to both unfavourable growing conditions and higher rates of disease; subsequently producing lower yields. Therefore, in lieu of the use of Diquat, the viability of the potato sector is at significant risk.
To highlight that Diquat is the product of choice for this purpose. There are other products on the Irish market which desiccate the potato stems such as Spotlight, but they are not effective in burning the leaves. In addition, these products are only of use when the potato crop is already in senescence and must be used in combination with flailing (topping) the potato stalks in order to open the crop.
To emphasise that the topping of the potato stocks is not a viable option on all farms as it involves an extra pass of machinery, which is very difficult particularly in wet conditions due to damage to soil structure and the spreading of disease. The process can also damage potato tubers due to mechanical and bird damage, leading to severe food waste issues although we appreciate the inclusion of Haulm Toppers in the Tillage TAMS.
To insist that for other desiccants to be of any use, they must be used when light intensity is high. Light intensity levels are always much less in Ireland in the back end of the year when potato harvesting takes place. Crop development in regions such as Donegal is typically much later than the south east, which further compounds the issue for growers in this region. This will result in crops reaching maturity very late this season when daylight is shortened and light intensity low.
That there would be a derogation on Diquat for the desiccation of hybrid seed oilseed rape crops.. Ireland's cool, damp climate, combined with a very low national area of other oilseed rape/brassica species makes it an ideal location for hybrid seed production. However, high rainfall and high humidity in August at harvest time can cause significant delays and losses prior to harvesting.
To highlight that the ability to use Diquat as a desiccant on these crops would allow quicker, more timely harvesting after rain delays and would put growers and seed assemblers in a more competitive position.
To insist that, in accordance with Article 53 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, there is provision to grant authorisation for emergency use of a plant protection product if required. Given the unprecedented volume of rainfall, emergency action for the derogation of Diquat is fundamental to the sector's viability.
To request an emergency derogation for the Plant Protection Product Diquat from the 1st of August 2023 to the 31st of October 2023 due to the absence of suitable alternatives for the potato sector and the prevailing planting and growing conditions,
To propose that the same risk mitigation measures would apply as per last year's authorisation. In this regard a part rate of the product would be required to desiccate the leaves and then follow on with one of the approved products on the stems.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Tim Cullinan IFA President, Sean Ryan IFA Potato Chair, Niamh Brennan IFA Policy Executive
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Informal communication (2-5)
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Charlie McConalogue
Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Amii McKeever
Adviser to Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)