UK sugar beet growers win emergency pesticide approval as virus yellows threat intensifies
Sugar beet growers in eastern England have secured emergency authorization to use an additional pesticide treatment to protect the 2026 crop from virus yellows, a disease that industry groups say poses a significant threat to domestic sugar production.
The emergency approval, obtained by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Sugar board and British Sugar with support from the British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO), allows a second application of the insecticide Insyst SG to control the peach-potato aphid, the primary vector of virus yellows. The disease is considered the most serious production threat facing the U.K.’s sugar beet sector, which is concentrated in Norfolk and Suffolk.
Industry representatives warned that aphid pressure this season is expected to reach its highest level since 2020, the first years following the European Union’s ban on neonicotinoid seed treatments previously used to protect sugar beet crops. According to NFU Sugar Chairman Kit Papworth, virus yellows infected 38% of the national sugar beet crop in 2020, resulting in a 25% reduction in yields, with some farms reporting losses of up to 80%.
Under the terms of the authorization, growers may only apply Insyst SG after completing a three-spray program using fully approved active ingredients. The emergency use period runs from May 28 through August 1 and can only be triggered once specified aphid thresholds are reached. Farmers must also maintain detailed records covering aphid populations, virus incidence, treated acreage, application timing, and crop growth stages.
Despite welcoming the temporary measure, industry leaders emphasized that efforts to develop long-term solutions remain ongoing. The BBRO, working alongside growers and industry stakeholders, continues research into sustainable approaches for managing virus yellows and reducing reliance on emergency pesticide authorizations in future seasons.
Source: Eastern Daily Press
5 things to know about virus yellows: why UK sugar beet growers won emergency pesticide approval
Virus yellows is a group of viral diseases that infect sugar beet plants, causing yellowing and discoloration of leaves, reduced photosynthesis, stunted growth, and lower sugar production. The disease can significantly reduce crop yields and is considered the biggest biological threat to the U.K.’s sugar beet industry.
The disease is primarily spread by aphids, especially the peach-potato aphid (Myzus persicae). These insects acquire the virus when feeding on infected plants and then transmit it to healthy sugar beet crops as they move through fields.
Industry forecasts indicate that aphid pressure in 2026 could be the highest since 2020. That year, virus yellows infected an estimated 38% of the national sugar beet crop and cut average yields by about 25%, with some farms suffering losses of up to 80%.
Sugar beet growers sought approval for an additional application of the insecticide Insyst SG to strengthen aphid control measures. Industry groups argued that existing treatments may not provide sufficient protection given the unusually high aphid populations expected this season.
Neonicotinoid seed treatments were widely used to protect sugar beet crops from aphids, but the European Union banned outdoor use of most neonicotinoids over concerns about their impact on pollinators. Since then, growers have faced greater challenges in controlling virus yellows and have increasingly relied on foliar insecticide programs and other management strategies.
Researchers and industry groups are working on several solutions, including breeding virus-tolerant sugar beet varieties, improving aphid forecasting systems, developing biological control methods, and adopting integrated pest management practices. The goal is to reduce dependence on emergency authorizations while maintaining crop productivity.
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