Note: This press release page contains some news that may now be outdated concerning the recent removal of Asulox. |
Refer to our news page for the latest article write ups: Bracken Control Group - Bracken in the news
Press Releases
November 2023
02/11/23 - The Scottish Farmer - 'Lack of joined up thinking by Scottish Government'
October 2023
27/10/23 - FAS Scot - 'Alternatives to Chemical Control of Bracken'
27/10/23 - BBC Radio 4: Farming Today -
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001rq8m (8:32 onwards)
24/10/23 - NFU - 'No Asulox for bracken control in 2024'
23/10/23 - Farmers Guardian - 'Unions express dismay as Asulox pulled from market'
22/10/23 - The Herald - 'Scots farmers facing uphill battle to control bracken'
The Herald (heraldscotland.com) article
21/20/23 - Press and Journal - 'Asulox manufacturer marks further blow to Scottish farmers and crofters'
20/10/23 - Farming UK - 'Asulox decision ' a real blow' to bracken control, NFU Cymru warns'
20/10/23 - Farmer's Guide - 'Asulam announcement another blow for bracken control'
20/10/23 - Inverness Courier - 'Asulam announcement is a further blow to bracken control in Scotland'
20/10/23 - The Scottish Farmer - 'Asulox 'hammer blow for farmers and crofters' in Scotland'
The Scottish Farmer article (subscription required)
19/10/23 - The Scotsman - 'Asulox may be out, but we can't ignore the problem it was used for in the first place'
Scotsman news article (Subscription required)
18/10/23 - Farmers Weekly - 'Scots fear permanent loss of chemical bracken control'
18/10/23 - Farming UK - Scottish farmers see 'further blow to bracken control options'
18/10/23 - Irish Farmers Journal - 'Asulox manager pulls out of UK'
18/10/23 - Grampian Online - 'Farming: Asulam announcement is a further blow to bracken control in Scotland'
September 2023
13/09/23 - Rural Affairs and Islands Committee - Scottish Parliament TV Bracken discussion
20/09/23 - NSA & Moredun webinar- Tick Control & Louping Ill
Click here to watch the webinar
August 2023
19/08/23 - FAS TV Series 3 Ep 9: Bracken Control
Watch the episode here (link to YouTube)
July 2023
27/07/23 - Podcast: Thrill of the Hill - 'Don't Go Bracken My Heart'
Listen to the podcast episode here
18/07/23 - Scottish Farmer - 'Northern Ireland joins ban on use of herbicide Asulox'
13/07/23 - The National - 'BBC Scotland issues third correction over reporting in a month'
05/07/23 - NFU - 'Emergency authorisation granted to use Asulam for bracken control in England'
04/07/23 - Scottish Farmer - 'Scottish Government play down dangers of Asulox ban'
03/07/23 - Questions statements parliament UK - Bracken: Weed Control (DEFRA)
Parliament Questions & Answer link
SASA - 'Use of Asulox for bracken control in Scotland 2023'. Following on from the link you can find the Scottish Government Press release, Scottish Government Q&A, the advice note on Asulam, ECP full April minutes and SEFARI report.
June 2023
29/06/23 - Oban Times - 'Scottish Government bans bracken control chemical Asulox'
28/06/23 - Farmers Guardian - 'Union asks Welsh Government to 'urgently review' Asulox ban'
28/06/23 - The Scotsman - 'Farmer' concerns show why Humza Yousaf needs to break with Scottish Greens - Murdo Fraser'
28/06/23 - Agriland - 'Call for 'urgent review' of asulox refusal in Wales
28/06/23 - Farming UK 'NFU Cymru seeks 'urgent review' into Wales' bracken herbicide rejection'
28/06/23 - NFU Cymru - 'NFU Cymru calls for urgent review of Asulox refusal'
26/06/23 - Rural Payments and Services - 'Use of Asulox for bracken control'
26/06/23 - Press and Journal - 'Asulox banned in Scotland but England gets go ahead'
Press and Journal farming news
23/06/23 - Oban Times - 'Scottish Government bans bracken control chemical Asulox'
23/06/23 - The Scotsman - 'Royal Highland Show: Farmers call for Scottish Government to control 'hardening' of Green agenda'
23/06/23 - Farming UK - 'NFU Scotland raises concerns over 'hardening of green agenda'
22/06/23 - BBC News - 'Farmer denied emergency use of banned chemical for bracken control'
22/06/23 - The Scottish Farmer - 'Asulox banned for use this season because of health risks'
The Scottish Farmer news (A video accompanies the article which can be seen at the beginning of the page).
22/06/23 - Scottish Daily Express - 'SNP/Greens latest mad ban could lead to more ticks and Lyme disease cases'
22/06/23 - Farming UK - 'Scottish farmers denied emergency access to bracken control herbicide'
22/06/23 - Farmers Guardian - 'Scottish and Welsh farmers will not be authorised to use Asulox for bracken in 2023'
22/06/23 - Farmer's Guide - 'Scotland and Wales rule against asulam use as 'risks outweigh potential benefits'
22/06/23 - Farmers Weekly - 'Scotland and Wales denied use of bracken control herbicide'
22/06/23 - Grampian Online -'Farmer: Emergency use of Asulox in Scotland is denied by ministers'
21/06/23 - Farmers Guardian - 'Relief on Asulox approval in England but Scotland must be next'
21/06/23 - The Times - 'Scottish farmers banned from using herbicide Asulox to kill weed'
21/06/23 - Farming UK - 'Groups request 'urgent meeting' with Scottish govt over bracken control'
21/06/23 - The Scotsman - 'Asulox: Scottish farmers denied use of herbicide to control spread of bracken'
The Scotsman article (subscription may be needed)
21/06/23 - Scottish Government - 'Use of Asulox for bracken control'
21/06/23 - Press & Journal - 'Farmers seek clarity on use of weedkiller'
20/06/23 - Farmers Guide - 'Asulam bracken control herbicide approved for use in England'
20/06/23 - Scottish Daily Express - 'Lorna Slater's 'hostility' to weedkiller blamed for delay to life saving disease-carrying tick management'
Scottish daily express politics news link
20/06/23 - The Scotsman - 'Asulox: Pressure mounts on Scottish Government after England approves herbicide for bracken control'
The Scotsman article (Subscription may be required)
20/06/23 - Meeting of the Parliament - Summary: Following the approval of asulox in England, it was expressed the governmental lack of understanding in the process. Question posed was to seek guidance on first minister correcting the record to assure approval may be granted.
20/06/23 - Daily Mail - Link below features an article as reposted by Michael Blackley, The Scottish Political Editor
'Health crisis unless bracken controlled' article
19/06/23 - Farmers Weekly - 'Asulox approved for bracken control in England for 2023'
19/06/23 - Agriland - 'Bracken control: Asulam approved for use in England'
16/06/23 - Farming UK - 'Scottish farm leaders call for 'urgent approval' of bracken herbicide'
16/06/23 - The Scotsman - 'Asulox: Scottish farmer says delays to bracken control present 'major human and animal health problem'
15/06/23 - NFUS - 'Scottish Government Must Urgently Approve Asulox for Bracken Control' - A joint statement on behalf of NFU Scotland, Scottish Land & Estates, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, and Bracken Control Group.
15/06/23 - An article from Agriland - Call for Scottish govt to 'urgently' approve Asulox for bracken.
15/06/23 - From Dumfries & Galloway! What’s Going On? 'Scottish Government must urgently approve Asulox for bracken control'.
DGWGO Rural & Farming News link
15/06/23 - Grampian Online - 'Organisations call on Scottish Government to approve bracken control measures'
15/06/23 - First Ministers Questions. Q – Can the first minister update the chamber on the Scottish governments actions to campaign for the approval for the emergency use of asulox for bracken control in Scotland and will he commit to reversing the appalling decision to remove support for bracken control through the agri-environment scheme.
14/06/23 - Press and Journal - 'Hill farmer calls for urgent approval of bracken herbicide'
Press and Journal Farming News
14/06/23 - 'Approval of Asulox/asulam for bracken control urgently required by land managers'
13/06/23 - Farmers Weekly - 'Scots farmers issue urgent plea for bracken control herbicide'
13/06/23 - Farming UK - 'Hill farmer calls for emergency authorisation of bracken control herbicide'
12/06/23 - Farmers Guide - 'Farmer pleads for urgent approval of bracken control herbicide in Scotland'
11/06/23 - Grampian Online- 'Lyme Disease: Calls for Scottish Government to urgently approve vital bracken control measures'
10/06/23 - The Scottish Farmer News - 'Ewing Wades into Asulox Row'
08/06/23 - The Scotsman - 'Asulox: Scottish farmers reach tipping point over delays on bracken herbicide decision that 'could cost lives'.
08/06/23 - The Times – 'Slow progress on bracken control puts lives at risk' – Fergus Ewing
The Times link (Subscription may be needed)
05/06/23 - The Times - 'Lorna Slater prefers Lyme disease and ticks to unpopularity'
Link to the Times article (Subscription may be needed)
03/06/23 - The Times - 'Farmers urge action over weed linked to Lyme disease'
Article in The Times (Subscription may be needed)
02/06/23 - Asulox & the BBC: 'Farmers want to use banned chemical to control bracken' feature. The article accompanied a segment on BBC Scotland News.
02/06/23 - A segment on Good Morning Scotland starting from 1:18:30. (Please note, this is available for a limited time only and will expire on 01/07/23)
May 2023
17/05/23 - Fergus Ewing’s contribution to the debate in Holyrood on about the National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
An extract from the Minister’s reply relevant to Fergus Ewing’s contribution:
12/05/23 - 'Scottish Farmers sound alarm over delay in approval for bracken killing chemical' was featured on ITV Regional News, shedding some light and awareness on the ongoing issue.
11/05/23 - The question regarding uncontrolled bracken & asulam approval was put to the Scottish Government First Minister Humza Yousaf. Click the link below to view.
First Ministers Questions - Uncontrolled Bracken
09/05/23 - The Scottish Farmer - 'Time to put human health over political dogma'
08/05/23 - The South West Farmer - Asulox bracken control in doubt for health concerns
05/05/23 - The Scottish Farmer - 'Clock ticking on bracken control with human health implications'
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