Roundup or not? It’s an easy choice when the sun is shining and the crop is ripening evenly. Not so easy when conditions are wetter and the crop is uneven.

If you’re selling grain to merchants, millers or maltsters, you’ve probably been told not to spray your crop pre-harvest because of the EU. That may come as a surprise, given the UK is no longer a member.

The reason is the ongoing negotiations between the UK and the EU on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules. The UK Government wants a closer trading relationship with the EU to support economic growth, and that is likely to involve closer alignment on animal and plant health regulations.

For Scottish agriculture, there are clear opportunities. Closer alignment could help lift the ban on Scottish seed potato exports, support dairy exports and reduce the paperwork involved in trading with Europe. But there are likely to be trade-offs too, and one of those could be pesticide regulation.

What does that mean in practice?

If Britain aligns with EU pesticide rules, the use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant may no longer be permitted. It could still be used for weed control where that is the primary purpose of the application, as many farmers across northern Europe already do.

At this stage, though, nothing has changed.

NFU Scotland has been pressing UK negotiators throughout these discussions to protect Scottish agriculture. Our priorities cover a wide range of issues, including pesticide policy, cattle EID, mycotoxin limits in processed cereals, and bovine TB restrictions.

While we do not support aligning with EU pesticide policy, we also recognise the political reality that closer alignment is increasingly likely. If that happens, we are calling for a sensible transition period. Products currently authorised in the UK should continue to be available until they are reauthorised in the EU, allowing UK expertise and evidence to inform those decisions.

Without that transition, there is a risk that Britain would have to adopt EU rules immediately, when any agreement comes into force.

So when might that happen?

The honest answer is that nobody knows for certain.

Negotiations have taken longer than expected and are currently paused over the summer. The earliest we are likely to see an agreement announced is later this autumn. Then there will still be legislation to pass before any changes take effect. That process will take time.

Personally, I would be very surprised if full alignment could happen before next year's harvest. Even achieving it by mid-2028 would be ambitious. But until negotiations conclude, no one can say with certainty.

We've also heard from colleagues in Brussels that the EU is generally pragmatic about the sale of crops grown before new rules come into force, suggesting some form of transition period may be possible. How long that would last, however, remains unknown.

So, should you use Roundup this harvest?

Ultimately, that's a decision for you, taking account of your crop, your market, and the advice of your grain buyer.

What I can say is that the trade is understandably being cautious while negotiations continue. We'll continue pressing for an outcome that protects Scottish agriculture and gives farmers the certainty they need. As soon as we have clarity, we'll make sure our members are the first to know.