Poland promotes cover crops to protect soils and issues pest alerts

Polish agronomy specialists highlight the benefits of cover crops and inter‑crops for soil health, pest reduction and nitrogen fixation. Jerzy Trościanko of DSV Polska explains that mixes such as Brassica Pro for rapeseed, CerealPro for cereals, Early Summer for early sowing and Humus Plus 3 for corn can protect the main crop, improve phytosanitary conditions and add organic matter. Early sowing gives the cover plants a growth advantage of several weeks, while mixtures can also serve as forage for livestock.

The Institute of Plant Protection – National Research Institute (IOR‑PIB) warns of rising pest pressures across Poland. Recent monitoring in the Greater Poland region recorded potato flea‑beetle numbers exceeding economic thresholds, and the first pea pod‑borer individuals were found in pea fields. A surge in the leaf beetle łanocha pobrzęcz, previously rare, is linked to warming temperatures and is now causing damage in Kuyavian‑Pomeranian and Masovian voivodeships. IOR‑PIB recommends regular crop monitoring and, when thresholds (e.g., two beetles per m²) are exceeded, the use of registered insecticides.