Welcome to the final bulletin of the year. Most nurseries are gearing up to close shortly for a well earned break with family and friends over Christmas and the New Year. Can I take this opportunity to wish you, your family and colleagues a healthy, happy and festive Christmas.
Forecasts for 2022
It has been another rollercoaster year for us personally and professionally. Demand for plants has been strong in the most part and it is welcome to be providing products that people enjoy and help the environment. There have been a few indicators recently that suggest the robust recovery will continue well in to 2022. The ESRI have noted “Into 2022, we expect a continued strong performance of the economy, with both modified domestic demand and GDP set to increase by 7 per cent.” They also note that unemployment should decrease further. DAFM have highlighted some of the environmental schemes launching for farmer with potential of 20 million whips being planted by 2027- see trader notice below. A recent presentation by Manuel Rucar of Chlorosphere for Danziger looks at global consumer trends. More details below. Pantone colour of the year 2022 is called Very peri  – lavender blue to you and me. Below see ‘Catharanthus Soiree Blueberry Kiss’ from Suntory Flowers.
Growers of nursery stock gain protection – Unfair Trading Practices in the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Regulations
The agricultural and food products supply chain is vulnerable to unfair trading practices due to imbalances between small and large operators. Farmers, growers and smaller operators in the plant and food supply chain often do not have sufficient bargaining power to defend against them. The good news for our sector is that under the legislation non food products are included and defined as “Live trees and other plants; bulbs; cut flowers and ornamental foliage.” The UTP Regulations have been applicable since 1st July 2021 to all new supply agreements established since 28th April 2021 and from 28th April 2022, all supply agreements, including those that were in place before 28th April 2021, must be in compliance with the Regulations.
Prohibited Unfair Trading Practices
The UTP Regulations prohibit 16 specific unfair trading practices. In doing so, it distinguishes between ‘black and ‘grey’ practices.
- 10 (Black) UTPs which are prohibited in all circumstances
- 6 (Grey) UTPs, which are prohibited unless the parties agree clearly and in an unambiguous manner beforehand
The ‘Black’ and ‘Grey’ UTPs are summarised as follows:
Black UTPs:
- Payment later than 30 days for perishable agricultural and food products
- Payment later than 60 days for other agricultural and food products
- Short-notice cancellations of perishable agricultural and food products
- Unilateral contract changes by the buyer
- Payment not related to a specific transaction
- Risk of loss and deterioration transferred to the supplier
- Refusal of written confirmation of a supply agreement by the buyer, despite request of the supplier
- Misuse of trade secrets by the buyer
- Commercial retaliation by the buyer
- Transferring the costs of examining customer complaints to the supplier
Grey UTPs:
- The buyer returns unsold products to the supplier without paying for those unsold products
- Payment by the supplier for stocking, display and listing
- Payment by the supplier for promotion
- Payment by the supplier for marketing
- Payment by the supplier for advertising
- Payment by the supplier for staff of the buyer, fitting out premises
For more information see
Website:Â www.utp.gov.ie
Email:Â UTP@agriculture.gov.ie
Phone: +353 (0) 1 505 8607
Plant, pest and disease updates
DAFM trader notice 12 Tree and hedgerow planting proposed under CAP 2023-2027 – potential demand for 20 million plants
The Department recently sent notice to growers of proposed CAP environmental schemes that will support the planting of trees and hedges on farms from 2022 to 2027. The Department has identified two programmes that will be available through CAP, see below. It is expected there will be vey strong demand for trees and hedging based on these schemes. The Department notes “Those involved in AECM design estimate a total of 6.9m trees may be required by farmers participating in AECM. They also estimate a potential 13.6m hedging plants will be required by AECM participants.” Hedgerow trees listed should be Irish grown, where trees should be Irish grown/Irish Provenance.
Eco-Scheme
The Eco-Scheme will be an annual scheme with the option to opt-in or opt-out each year. Ireland’s Eco-Scheme is proposed to have eight actions; participating farmers will complete two actions in any given year. One of these actions is proposed to be the planting of 3 trees or 1m of hedgerow per hectare submitted for the scheme. The Eco-Scheme will commence in 2023. It is proposed that the trees/hedgerow will have to be planted in the year of the Eco-Scheme commitment so tree/hedgerow planting under the Eco-Scheme may commence in the 2022-2023 planting season.
AECM
AECM will be a multi-annual scheme where farmers will have the option to plant trees and/or hedges. The scheme will take in farmers in tranches commencing in 2023. This means tree/hedgerow planting under the scheme is expected to commence in the 2023-2024 planting season.
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The Signpost Series Webinar – Planting HedgesOn this episode of The Signpost Series, which took place on Friday, 3 December, Mark Gibson, Head of Teagasc Outreach & Innovation Department was joined by Pippa Hackett, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to officially launch Hedgerow Week 2021, which takes place from 3 -10 December. |
Nutrition of field and container grown nursery stock webinar 12th January 2.30pm
Growers are continuously seeking to improve the quality of stock by investing in specialist nutrition systems and mixes. Teagasc nursery stock advisor Dónall Flanagan will host this event looking at some of these aspects.
DCM Fertiliser based in Belgium have a wide portfolio of mineral organic fertilisers as well as 100% organic traditional fertilisers. Erwin Weening from DCM has extensive experience with the field and container nursery industry in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. And Sean Whitworth from Fargro will explain the product and experience done in the UK.
They will discuss the following:
- Review on basic principles of nutrition and the minigran technology
- Experience and trials with their products
- Treatment with DCM products in potting soils and open field
Register for webinar here.
Plant protection products
It has been confirmed that products containing Prochloraz  will be phased out in the coming 18 months. Key products concerned are Orius P, Vareon, Sporgon 50WP, Prochlorus, Sportak 45 EW, Mirage, Eyetac 450EC and Atak 450EC. The key dates for the pase out are:
- End of sales in Ireland June 30th 2022
- End of storage & use June 30th 2023
Two products will lose their registration at the end of December 2021
- Oblix 05286 31/12/2021
- Valdor Flex 05612Â 31/12/2021
Reminder PRCD – Recently Withdrawn Plant Protection Products (agriculture.gov.ie)
Updated off label extension of use list of plant protection products 2021
If you are need further details or advice on plant protection products, or pest and weed control programmes please drop me a line.
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Danziger Talks present: Prospects of tomorrow’s horticultureMichael Perry hosted the event and discussed the use of social media.
Manuel Rucar illustrates that very strong demand is continuing, new gardeners are remaining active and he highlighted five mega trends –
Yanki Margalit presented some radical ideas of the future of horticulture
The event was concluded with questions and answer. |
Christmas on the Nursery – Be Winter-Ready
Most nurseries will close shortly for Christmas and not reopen until January. With the exception of a few irrigation inspections there should be little activity and potential hazards. However should we get snow or storms over this time remember where possible nursery work and inspections would be carried out in pairs or notify some one if you are working on your own during these potentially risky times.
The Government recently launched its “Be winter ready” campaign. Some key reminders for action prior to and during serious weather are listed below see more on Teagasc – Be Winter ready or Visit the Be Winter-Ready website.
Dates For Your diary
- January 12th Teagasc Webinar – Nutrition of field and container grown nursery stock
- January 25th-28th  IPM Essen Postponed
- February 26th GLDA online seminar
- June 2nd – 6th 2022 Bloom
