Successful winter bean seed derogation aids supply following AIC request
The supply of winter bean seed for this autumn's drilling campaign has been secured after AIC made a successful request for a derogation on behalf of its Member businesses in the certified seed sector.
Some winter bean seed germination rates are lower this year following a catchy harvest which saw a mix of dry and wet weather conditions.
AIC applied to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) along with the Welsh and Scottish Governments for a derogation to allow seed businesses to supply seed with a lower germination rate in order to meet demand and contractual obligations.
The derogation, which was approved today (19 October) permits a modest quantity of winter bean seed to be sold with a germination rate of 70%.
Rose Riby, AIC's Head of Seed, led the derogation request. She said: “This derogation provides reassurance for British growers wishing to drill winter bean seed this autumn.
"After receiving reports of lower germination rates because of the catchy harvest, AIC has worked to establish the facts and apply for this derogation to mitigate the potential for significant disruption to bean seed supply.”
Watch the video below to find out more about the UK's certified seed sector and AIC's work in support of modern, sustainable, commercial agriculture.
Notes for editors
The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) is the UK’s leading trade association, representing agricultural supply chain sectors including arable marketing, crop protection, agronomy, feed, fertiliser, and seed.
Formed in 2003, AIC has over 230 Members in the agri-supply trade which are responsible for £9 billion of annual farm trade.
AIC is marking 20 years as the leading voice of the UK agri-supply industry, working in support of modern, sustainable, commercial agriculture. Visit the website to find out more.
Political lobbying and policy influencing is a major part of its work, as well as supporting Members with technical information.
AIC Services, which is the professional services arm of the AIC, manages a range of services, including Assurance Schemes recognised by UK government as essential tools to underpin feed and food safety alongside fertiliser security. These include:
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Feed Materials Assurance Scheme (FEMAS)
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Feed Adviser Register (FAR)
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Forage Assurance Scheme (FAA)
Visit the AIC website to find out more.
Press contact
Oli Hill, Communications Manager, AIC
+44 (0)1733 385230
Authors
Oli Hill
As Head of Communications, Oli creates and oversees the content published on AIC's website, emails, Member briefings, print publications, and social media. A qualified multimedia journalist, he previously spent six years working at Farmers Weekly magazine as a Senior Reporter on the arable team, and latterly as Community Editor. More recently he was Communications Manager at Red Tractor.
Rose Riby
Rose Riby is Head of Combinable Crops and Seed. Having worked across these sectors for many years, she has a depth and breadth of experience in roles in grain trading, plant breeding and knowledge exchange at AHDB.