Beet herbicide price hike threat

THE price of a number of sugar beet herbicides looks set to rise for the coming season as a result of a shortfall in supply, growers are being advised.

The news comes at a bad time for growers, some of whom are facing mounting losses following one of the worst harvesting campaigns on record.

According to Eric Gussin, UK commercial manager for Makhteshim Agan, there will be severe shortages of metamitron as a result of reduced European manufacturing of the active ingredient, and this will put up the price of metamitron-based products.

“I would guess at this stage that we might see prices rise by about 35-40 per cent,” says Mr Gussin.

Nigel Last, agrochemical general manager at farmer co-operative Anglia Farmers, says the signs are that the metamitron price will increase.

Prices for herbicide ethofumesate, also used in sugar beet, are also likely to rise in what appears to be a general review of European sugar beet product pricing policies by manufacturers, adds Mr Last.

Andrew Buck of Chemspec East Anglia agrees there will be a tight supply of metamitron this season, resulting in higher prices for the product.

“We’re not sure to the extent of the price increases at the moment, as this has not been indicated, but I believe the short supply has come from a lack of active ingredient availability.”

Alternative, existing chemistry, such as Debut (triflusulfuron) and lenacil may have to be considered in weed control programmes if sourcing of metamitron-based products proves difficult, he adds.