How do brassica veg growers deal with flea beetles?

[solo]

This year I have had a poor yield of purple sprouting in the garden and it seems that the cabbage stem flea beetle issues I have in the oilseed rape have also decimated my garden brassicas.
This got me thinking about how commercial field scale brassicas like cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli are managing the pest,, when there seems no answer for oilseed crops. Is the Uk going to give up growing all brassica crops due to this insect?

 

[Brisel]

It depends on when you plant the brassicas.

CSFB life cycle;

Source

There are other flea beetle species and other insect pests for brassicas that could well be active, depending on what time of year you're thinking about. IMO CSFB gets the blame where other pests might be doing the damage.

 

[Flat 10]

Fleece at establishment in the garden?

 

[marshallfarm]

I think brassica seedlings can still be dipped in chlorpyriphos as long a done with an overhead gantry sprayer.

 

[solo]

Fleece at establishment in the garden?

I was really pondering how the large scale vegetable producers are dealing with the pest.. In the veg garden I usually use mesh or fleece as it’s only a small area.

 

[Bogweevil]

I think brassica seedlings can still be dipped in chlorpyriphos as long a done with an overhead gantry sprayer.

Sadly this withdrawn, but replaced with cynitroprole which is known to slay fleabeetles. Most brassica veg raised indoors in module trays so escape flea beetles, except swedes but these are raised under mesh which must help.

Synthetic pyrethroids widely used to control vegetable fleabeetle - not reports of resistance to the best of my knowledge, but last of the Sceptre AHDB projects to cover fleabeetle control from this year.

Several flea beetles attack veg crops, worst in April/May, but once OSR crops cut big migration to veg crops.

 

[DrWazzock]

So when is the best time to drill my kale? May?

 

[DanniAgro]

So when is the best time to drill my kale? May?

Yep, that's the only time the little bugers aren't chewing away, at least according to the timetable Brisel quotes.

 

[shakerator]

I thought propogators under glass could still use neonics ?!

 

[Brisel]

So when is the best time to drill my kale? May?

I drill AB9 winter seed mixtures containing maize in late May when it is warm & rain is forecast so the seed has the best chance of getting up & away quickly. I gave up on kale as game cover as it just got munched as it emerged, even with neonic seed dressings. June is best from the point of view of growing season if you can irrigate but it will all depend on what you're trying to grow, when you want to harvest it and what scale you're on.

 

[Bogweevil]

I thought propogators under glass could still use neonics ?!

Only if crops are indoors entirely or and not for planting outdoors for a long time - a 9m - a year I think. OK for ornamentals (though most multiples specifically forbid neonics in their contracts), but NBG for veg transplants. The approval specifically states permanent cover to below ground level (so not most polytunnels) and outlaws the old trick of driving a trailer load into a shed spraying them and driving out again...