Farmers have just over a year left to use seed treated with a key fungicide seed treatment that prevents damping-off diseases, which attack seedlings.

Damping-off diseases are caused by soil-borne pythium and phytophthora species of fungi, which break down cells leading to the collapse of the plants – or “damping off”.

Farmers have been able to control these diseases by the routine use of thiram seed treatments. However, last month the EU banned the widely used fungicide.

See also: How key pesticide changes affect beet and barley growers

The seed treatment is approved for use in many crops, including cereals, sugar beet, oilseed rape and pulses.

Use-up dates have now been confirmed by the UK Chemical Regulations Directorate.

Sales of thiram seed treatment will not be permitted after 30 January 2019 and farmers must use up any treated seed by 30 January the following year.