France could be left without sugar beets due to the pesticide ban

The General Confederation of Sugar Beet Growers (CGB) of Île-de-France is raising the alarm on social media: the first symptoms of sugar beet virus yellows have been observed in some areas. The situation is reviving serious concerns among growers, who still remember the substantial losses suffered during the 2020 outbreak.

In the sugar beet fields of of Île-de-France, the characteristic signs of the disease are gradually appearing. «With this disease, you can clearly see the sugar beet leaves becoming brittle and cracking», — says a grower from southern Seine-et-Marne.

In 2020, virus yellows caused significant production losses. «That year, sugar beet yield dropped to 35 tonnes per hectare, and we lost €80,000», — recalls the farmer. He is concerned about the current season as well: «When you see fields like this, we could end up with the same yield as in 2020. We’ll take the crop through to harvest campaign, but we may still lose up to 60% of beet yield».

«This spring we applied five insecticide treatments», — explains the grower, who currently cultivates 66 hectares of sugar beets.

Yellowing, brittle leaves—classic symptoms of beet yellows—have also been reported in fields in Yonne and the Centre region.

«Today, the entire industry is under threat. If we don’t have more solutions, we won’t be bringing out the sugar beet seeders in 2027, — comments the Seine-et-Marne producer, denouncing what he sees as unfair competition. — We are the only country in Europe facing this situation. Producing countries such as Germany and Belgium are allowed to use plant protection products that are banned in France».

These concerns come at a time when farms are already facing difficult economic conditions, with “low commodity prices, rising operating costs, and especially the sharp increase in fertilizer prices.”

More details: https://www.terre-net.fr/protection-des-plantes/article/899662/les-premiers-symptomes-de-jaunisse-de-la-betterave-apparaissent