Corn growers are following in the footsteps of beet growers. They in turn demand an exemption to use insecticides, the famous neonicotinoids, to fight against flies, an authorization obtained this week by beet growers. In 2016, these flies had created enormous damage on corn, especially in Brittany.
While waiting to find "an alternative solution"
"We have a massive destruction of our corn, therefore a loss of income", laments Daniel Peyraube, president of the General Association of Corn Producers, at the microphone of Europe 1. "If our plants are already in a state of fragile health, they can subsequently develop diseases and therefore have poor quality grains, "he continues.
"It is important to have healthy plants and this is no longer the case since these molecules were confiscated from us and we have not yet found an alternative solution! I know very well that they are difficult subjects, but in the meantime we must be able to continue to produce in a healthy way ", continues Daniel Peyraube.
>> READ ALSO - Sugar beets: "I will never drop this sector", assures Julien Denormandie
Defenders of the environment campaign for "new agricultural practices"
For conservationists, the challenge is not to find an alternative insecticide, but rather to train farmers in "new agricultural practices". On Thursday, the government announced that it wanted to re-authorize, "under strictly supervised conditions", the beet industry to use this insecticide, which has been banned since 2018. This exemption would be introduced until 2023 maximum. The beet industry is in great difficulty because of a yellowing that affects crops.