Tillage
Next Tuesday, May 19, is the last day that Irish tillage farmers may use chlorothalonil.
Chlorothalonil is on the way out and while alternatives are being examined it appears the current alternatives don't provide the same control.
The decision by the EU Commission and endorsed by the member states not to renew chlorothalonil has been described as "a severe blow".
The news that chlorothalonil will banned in the EU has been described as "simply a hammer blow to the Irish tillage farmer" by the IGGG.
Agri Politics
Steven Kildea - a plant pathology researcher - explained that fungicides are essential in Irish cereal production.
Chlorothalonil (a multi-site fungicide) is up for review in the EU in the coming months and has been part of Irish Agronomy for years.
There may be a case for Ireland to seek a dispensation for the continued use of chlorothalonil - if experts can make a strong enough argument.
Chlorothalonil goes under the hammer at EU commission level tomorrow (March 8). The product will most likely face some sort of restrictions.
It now looks like the vote that will decide the faith of chlorothalonil use in the EU will take place in March.
Chlorothalonil will be centre of debate this week as the European Commission prepares to table a motion seeking to remove its licence.
