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<p>Husbandry approaches and alternative pesticides were considered in the assessment
of the application for emergency authorisation of the neonicotinoid product Cruiser
SB. The evidence, including experience in 2020, suggests that these will not be adequate
to protect the emerging sugar beet crop this year.</p><p>The incidence of virus yellows
in sugar beet was low in 2019 and consequent production losses are estimated to have
been low. Virus levels were much higher in 2020 and yields are expected to be down
by around 25%, equating to an economic loss of the order of £50 million. Other factors
may have contributed to this loss, but the level of virus infection was key.</p><p>At
this stage, it is not possible to assess the economic impact virus yellows will have
in 2021. If, as is likely, winter temperatures are not sufficiently low, the high
virus reservoir legacy numbers from 2020 could mean that the incidence rate remains
high in 2021. Without effective aphid control, that is likely to translate to significant
economic loss. The authorisation provides that likely pest pressures for 2021 will
be modelled using data on temperatures over this winter. Only if this indicates that
crop infection rates are expected to exceed a 9% threshold will the seed treatment
be permitted for use.</p>
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