Teagasc Nursery Stock Newsletter #3, 2025 – Dónall Flanagan

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HC
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Teagasc Horticulture Crop Input Price Inflation Report for 2024 just published

The key objective of this report, as with previous reports is to surface up to date facts about specific inputs price increases now compared to March 2024. We are taking a snapshot of input prices now in order to assess the increases in costs of production for this season. This is an important exercise, as prices negotiated now for product delivered in 2025 will need to reflect these increases. Obviously, certain inputs are specific to enterprise type. The report takes account of the most important and the relative importance of inputs to the different sectors of horticulture production arriving at average increases in input prices in each sector for 2025. Finally, it speaks to the current and potential impacts of very high input prices for primary producers now and for the rest of 2025 season. This is now the fifth report of this type, first produced in 2021.
Inflation for nursery stock  ran at 4.2% and reflects the increase in labour costs but overall slowing of input costs.

Key findings include 

  • Since the first report of this type in 2021, combined horticultural inputs have risen by an average of 51% and increases range from 36% – 76% across horticultural sub-sectors.
  • In 2025, labour which accounts for 42.6% of the input costs in horticulture, has contributed significantly to overall input price inflation in the sector.
  • Margin over costs for primary producers will need to improve, as well as longer-term sourcing agreements to incentivise investment and allow generational renewal of businesses.
  • Investment from the sector to reduce the reliance on labour and the impacts of climate events will require a market response to ensure the economic and environmental sustainability of Irish horticultural production into the future.
  • Technologies to reduce the reliance on labour are beginning to be trialled in some key horticultural sub-sectors, however, the financial cost of these technologies is significant and availabilityis  likely to be limited in the short to medium term. These investments will need to be supported.
  • The sourcing of labour continues to be a significant challenge. The sector needs to avoid a gap between the availability of labour and the availability of labour-saving technologies.

Read the full input cost report here

Department of Agriculture intends to apply to the European Commission to revoke Irelands Fireblight PZ status
At a recent Plant health and biosecurity network event stakeholders were updated on the current challenge in maintaining Ireland’s Protected Zone status for the bacterial pest Erwinia amylovora (Fireblight). This is a disease hosted by a wide range of  Rosacea species but is most damaging to Malus, Pyrus, Cotoneaster and Pyracantha. It is spread by wind, rain, insects and plant movement. Its is noted there are few published records of impacts of fireblight on Crataegus and none from NI since it was deregulated in 2018. DAFM reported during the meeting that there were uncharacteristically favourable climactic factors for the spread of Fireblight during the previous two seasons.

Image below of Erwinia symptoms on Malus (C) Dr Karic &EPPO

In a press release after the stakeholder meeting DAFM reported that “Ireland no longer meets EU Protected Zone (PZ) requirements for Fireblight, and intends to apply to the European Commission to revoke its PZ status for Fireblight”. They go on to state that “Should the Commission remove Ireland’s PZ status for Fireblight, it will be treated as a Union Regulated Non-Quarantine Pest, requiring controls on plants for planting in nurseries only. Surveillance for Fireblight in the wider environment will cease.”
There are very limited areas in the EU with PZ for fireblight these include Estonia, Latvia, Finland and parts of Lithuania, Spain, France and Italy. Growers or businesses who wish to trade host plants into other protected zones can apply to DAFM to implement Pest Free Areas of production. It was noted at the meeting that Northern Ireland has not had a PZ for a number of years and that detection of the disease has not increased significantly.

See press release from Minister Hayden & DAFM Fireblight Factsheet.

Pesticide Resistance in Ornamental Horticulture Nurseries
Nurseries face an increasing challenge from pesticide resistance, where treatments become less effective against pests like spider mites, thrips, whiteflies, and aphids. This phenomenon arises from the repeated use of the same pesticides or those with similar modes of action, leading to the selection of resistant pest populations. This process can happen far away on a different nursery but the pests can be spread by plant trade. The Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) provides a crucial global framework by classifying insecticides based on their mode of action, aiding in the development of resistance management strategies . When selecting PPP to use this spring along with IPM programmes please review the IRAC codes to prevent repeated use  of the mode of actions.

Implementing proactive strategies is vital for mitigating pesticide resistance. Nurseries should adopt Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques, including regular monitoring, setting action thresholds, and utilising biological controls to minimise reliance on chemical interventions – see 8 actions of IPM above – source Teagasc Spring Veg Report. Rotating pesticides with different IRAC modes of action is essential to prevent the buildup of resistance to any single chemical group. Avoiding persistent insecticides and unnecessary tank mixes, especially those with the same mode of action, further reduces the selection pressure for resistance. Applying pesticides at the full recommended label rates and targeting the most susceptible life stages of pests are also critical practices.
Ultimately, the long-term sustainability of ornamental horticulture nurseries hinges on the proactive management of pesticide resistance. Failure to address this issue can lead to escalating control costs, reduced plant quality, and potential economic losses. By embracing the guidelines provided by IRAC and implementing comprehensive IPM strategies, nurseries can preserve the effectiveness of available pesticides and ensure the continued health and marketability of their ornamental plants.

See IRAC insecticide Resistance Training Basic Module for more details 

Reminder New EAMU for PPP 
See full Updated EAMU for non food crops Feb 2025
Lakota –  Chlorantraniliprole 200g/L Protected tomato, forest nursery, forestry and ornamental outdoor. Similar to Coragen this product controls larvae and caterpillars.
SHENZI Chlorantraniliprole 200g/L outdoor ornamentals
Laguna Chlorantraniliprole 200g/L outdoor ornamentals
Vertipin  – Sulphur 700g/L SC Protected & outdoor: Ornamentals and strawberry. Protected: Tomato and aubergine. Sulphur is a useful product for cthe ontrol of powdery mildew and this is a welcome addition for protected ornamentals.
PROBLAD – Aqueous extract from the germinated seeds of sweet Lupinus albus 100% w/w (containing 20% w/w BLAD protein) SL Outdoor & protected crops of ornamentals etc.

These and additional products are listed here for EAMU for edible and non-crop

Herbicide Flufenacet non-renewal
The EU Commission recently agreed not to reauthorize Flufenacet in the coming year. Registration will expire on June 15th, with member states authorised to extend a grace period of 12 months for use up though this is up to each state. Flufenecet is an active ingredient in the following herbicides approved for use with ornamental plants: Sirinova, Sunfire, Cadou Star, Firebird, Naceto and Riber. Irish use-up dates will be published by PCS and relayed here.

Trinity College Dublin recruiting to help with nursery stock research project.

A part-time Research Assistant is required to support a Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine funded project entitled “Detect PNP: Detecting plant nursery pathogens using HTS technology”. The project aims to provide methods for the detection of pathogens in plant nurseries using high- throughput DNA sequencing (HTS) technologies. The focus is on hardy ornamental nursery stock and fungal and bacterial non-quarantine pathogens of Rhododendron and Prunus including Phytopthora and Pseudomonas but this project will provide a more general methodology to apply these methods in routine pathogen surveillance.
Full details and application process can be found here

Apprenticeships in Horticulture webinars continue this Friday with hosts, College Principal John Mulhern & Lecturer Paddy Smith, offering an overview of the programme, learning outcomes & key information for potential Employers & Apprentices interested in participating. The Webinar Series will continue on the last Friday of every month until June 2025, with each session covering specific areas of the Horticultural sector, careers & industry training.

Join us for future sessions

  • Webinar 3: Friday 28th March
  • Webinar 4: Friday 25th April
  • Webinar 5: Friday 30th May
  • Webinar 6: Friday 27th June

Register today on Eventbrite here.

Dates for your diary

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