Pesticide Legislation in Europe

by Mario Lanthier

The European Union is planning to be pesticide free in public places by 2020.

 The “Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive” was introduced in 2009, setting in motion the requirements to prohibit pesticide use in public places, and mandatory use of IPM and non-pesticide methods.  Implementation timelines will vary by country.  Already, Denmark restricts golf courses to 3 fungicide applications per year over a maximum of 5 hectares.

The information was presented by John Bambury at the Michigan Turfgrass Conference, held in early January.  John is the course manager at the Ballybunion Golf Course in Ireland.

“Many European golf courses have not kept records of their pesticide use” he commented.  “The absence of historical data may have prevented the industry from defending its minimal use of pesticide”.

He suggested the industry may loose the current programs based on fungicides.  “Regulation of pesticides will outstrip our innovations to manage pest problems” he added.  Having limited access to pesticide and fertilizer will force the turf managers back to the management techniques used before automated irrigation and chemical products.  Said the presenter: “There will be a focus on cultural practices coupled with native bentgrass and fescue that will be grown in a high quality root zone and a low nutrient environment”.

The future of golf course management in England and Ireland may be as follows.

- Fairways and greens will become a mixture of bentgrass, fescue and Poa annua.  “This will cause bumpiness on the greens, unless we learn to manage fescue with the same intensity as we manage bentgrass.  A thick monostand of fescue actually makes an excellent green.”

- Low nitrogen fertilization at 40 kg of actual nitrogen / ha / year (equivalent to 0.8 lb / 1000 ft2 / year).  Said Bambury: “The best human athletes are lean and have a strict food diet. Maybe we should do the same with turf.”

More information about the directive at https://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/pesticides/sustainable_use_pesticides_en.