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Working to EU pesticide regulations on a Northern Irish arable farm

Northern Ireland
Farm Practices
arable
Glyphosate
pesticide reduction
policy

In one country within the United Kingdom, farmers already have to be aligned with the European Union's stricter rules.

News that the UK could seek a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the European Union (EU), a move that would require closer alignment on the use of pesticides and other chemical inputs in farming, has sparked concern in some quarters.

However, there is already one part of the UK where farmers are operating under EU rules. In Northern Ireland, farming remains aligned with the 27-member bloc under the terms of the post-Brexit settlement.

We spoke to NFFN NI farmer Leona Kane, who grows oilseed rape on the family farm in Limavady, County Londonderry, to discuss how she is building a successful nature-friendly arable business while working within EU regulations.

The basics  - What are the EU rules on pesticides?

Since Brexit, the EU has maintained stricter rules on pesticide use than the UK, continuing to apply the precautionary principle at the centre of its regulatory approach. 

This has led to a growing divergence between UK and EU pesticide regulations. Recent analysis by Unearthed identified 14 pesticides that have been banned in the EU but can still be used by British farmers. Brussels banned 10 of these 14 chemical substances because of concerns about risks to human health or the environment. 

There are also specific areas where UK and EU rules differ. For example, closer alignment with EU standards would prevent British farmers from using glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant (in the EU, it can only be used for weed control). Alignment would also prevent the use of insecticide etoxazole on food crops.

The NFFN supports closer alignment with EU standards, provided there is a transition period of around 12 months to give farmers time to adapt. However, the pesticides industry has warned that an SPS deal could have significant consequences for UK farming and has argued that extensive carve-outs would be needed.

How does Leona farm to EU rules?

Leona’s award-winning Broighter Gold rapeseed oil is produced to EU standards. In practice, this means selecting active ingredients from the more restricted list approved for use in the EU and treating pesticides as a last resort, rather than a first response. The farm works closely with agronomists to ensure that every input is both necessary and safe. 

Instead of relying heavily on artificial inputs, Leona uses integrated pest management (IPM) to keep crops healthy. This includes creating habitat such as flowering margins to encourage beneficial insects and natural predators that feed on pests. The farm also rotates crops, chooses more pest-resistant oilseed rape varieties and closely monitors fields for early signs of problems.  

At harvest, crops are left to die back naturally in the fields before being cut with a combine harvester. The farm also owns an old, 14ft swather, which cuts crops and lays them down in rows to dry before harvesting. Although the machine is more than 40 years old and not wide enough to match the farm's 36-metre tramlines, Leona plans to rely on it in 2026.

Overall, Leona does not see working in this way as restrictive for the business. “For us, alignment is not about bureaucracy, it’s about ensuring the food we are producing meets the standards our customers expect and protects the land our business depends on for the future,” she says.

What are the positive aspects of EU alignment?

Leona is in no doubt that working to EU regulations has encouraged the business to think more carefully about sustainability.  It has also delivered tangible commercial benefits. “Cutting out unnecessary spraying and reducing our use of chemical inputs has saved our business a good deal of money,” Leona says. 

Alignment with EU standards has helped Broighter Gold position itself in a growing market for food produced with fewer chemical inputs. “Our decisions have kept us aligned with the major supermarkets, which increasingly want to mirror EU expectations,” Leona says. “It has also strengthened our position as a high-end brand that our customers can trust.”

What are the challenges of farming to EU standards?

Increasingly volatile weather patterns linked to climate change are creating challenges for farmers in Northern Ireland. The Kane family farm experiences a microclimate with high rainfall (between 1,000 and 1,200mm each year) and is seeing more storms as well as longer dry periods in summer. Conditions are also becoming more favourable for pests, increasing the need for crop monitoring and the development of more resilient varieties.

These challenges are causing particular concerns around harvesting. “We already get more rainfall than areas such as County Down, and rainfall and storms here are becoming more frequent too,” she says. “Our worry with using the swather is that once the crop is cut, it can be vulnerable to unpredictable spells of bad weather. Supplying supermarkets and making own-brand produce means we can’t afford lost harvests or seeds: we need every ton we grow.”

Supplying supermarkets and making own-brand produce means we can't afford lost harvests or seeds: we need every ton we grow.

Leona Kane

There are also practical challenges around infrastructure and equipment, with a new swather costing around £150,000. Leona hopes grant funding will be made available to support farmers as farming practices continue to evolve.

Divergence between Northern Ireland and Great Britain also creates day-to-day issues. “It can be hard to get the seeds, crops and wildflowers that we need,” Leona says.  “The Trader Support Service (TSS), which is part of the post-Brexit agreement, has created extra paperwork and legislation which many lorry companies and couriers struggle with. It’s frustrating when you are trying to help the environment out of your own pocket.”

Leona is also concerned that food imported into Northern Ireland does not always meet the same environmental standards as homegrown produce, with chemicals banned locally still used in some imported goods on shelves. “People should be more interested and concerned where their food comes from,” she says.

Conclusion

Leona says a full UK-wide transition to EU rules on substances such as glyphosate will require extra support for farmers. “Farmers are worried about this, and without constructive support and proper funding to help them adapt to the decisions being made, we could even see a reduction in the amount of oilseed rape grown,” she says. 

“If policymakers want farmers to transition to alternative approaches, they need to ensure there is adequate time and funding to make that change possible. No one is sitting with a pot of money for a swather, a new header to lift it, and a laser weeder.  This is a huge direct cost for an arable farmer, and another financial hit they really don’t need at this time.”

However, she is also clear that the challenges of farming to EU standards do not outweigh the benefits for Broighter Gold.  “High standards protect our environment, our markets and our reputation. They help us farm in a way that is productive today and sustainable tomorrow. As the conversation around regulation continues, we want to show that these standards are not a burden, but an opportunity, and as sixth-generation farmers, we will have to find a way to make it work.”

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