The range of allowed pesticides for use in professional fruit cultivation is insufficient according to nearly two thirds of German fruit growers, German website Proplanta.de reports. This is the outcome of a study by the agricultural research institute Kleffmann Group. According to respondents, products against true bugs (29%), red spider mites (27%) and scurf (18%) are particularly lacking, as well as alternative products for the prevention of the development of resistance (22%). In apple cultivation in particular, 80% of respondents who criticize the pesticides on offer, sorely need a wider range.
Nearly all interviewed fruit growers (96%) gather information on new pesticides before the start of a new season. The main source of information are trade journals (60%), followed by databases (26%) and internet research (22%).