Caution advised when choosing flea beetle treatment

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Published: May 8, 2023

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Close-up of a sprayer nozzle with droplets of liquid falling in a triangular pattern.

Western Canadian canola producers with on-farm inventories of lambda-cyhalothrin products, such as Matador and Silencer, might be tempted to use them when flea beetles come calling in the next week or two.

But according to the Canola Council of Canada, growers must be careful this spring when choosing a flea beetle control.

Effective April 29, it is illegal to apply lambda-cyhalothrin products to canola and other crops that will be used as livestock feed in Canada.

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That directive, resulting from a decision by Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency, applies to harvested seed and crop screenings, aftermath and — perhaps most importantly for canola growers — canola meal.

In a recent interview, Chris Davison, vice-president of stakeholder and industry relations at the canola Council of Canada, offered guidance to growers.

“The advice to growers is to seek certainty regarding the use of harvested canola, and if they can receive that assurance or certainty that (their crop) will be used solely for export or human consumption, That’s great…,” Davison said.

“However, in the absence of that certainty and if there’s a possibility that some of that canola or aftermath is going to find its way into the domestic livestock feed market, then at this time… we are advising growers to look at alternative products that are currently on the market to help them, address any insect pest pressures that they may face….”

Seeding practices reduce flea beetle damage

Davison described the PMRA’s decision on lambda-cyhalothrin as a ruling that’s challenging, not only to canola growers but also to partners in the Canadian grain supply chain.

According to new label directions that took effect April 29, it is legal to apply lambda-cyhalothrin products on crops that will be used solely for human food consumption, as well as those that will be exported abroad and used either for human food or livestock feed.

“I want to be clear that this is not in any way related to an export market access issue,” Davison said.

“This is an issue of domestic compliance resulting from a regulatory decision made by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency.”

What makes the decision so difficult in terms of domestic use is that a crop like canola can simultaneously be used as both food and feed.

Canola oil is used widely in kitchens, restaurants and commercial bakeries across Canada and around the world. Meanwhile, canola meal, a byproduct, is used as animal feed.

So while lambda cyhalothrin can legally be applied to crops that will be used for human food production (canola oil), there is no way to ensure that some of that canola meal will not be diverted into domestic livestock feed markets.

“The PMRA decision sort of suggests that members of the grain value chain should know for certain whether a crop will be used for food or feed before applying (lambda cyhalothrin),” Davison said.

“However, I think we all know that such a clean distinction can’t be made in practice….”

“Really, every single major crop type in Canada is used for both food and feed. And, that determination (between food use and feed use) is often made well after the application of any crop protection products, and by someone other than the grower. So, yes, it does pose a challenge.”

Alternative products for flea beetle control are available and supplies should be sufficient to meet grower needs in 2023.

Davison said the PMRA decision on lambda-cyhalothrin is not expected to have any negative impact on overall canola production this year.

Growers who have never used lambda-cyhalothrin alternatives for flea beetle control should speak with their agronomists or ag retailers, refer to provincial crop protection guides or seek information developed by the Canola Council of Canada or other trusted commodity organizations, including provincial crop commissions.

There is also work taking place behind the scenes, involving chemical registrants and the PMRA, to get lambda-cyhalothrin products reinstated for feed uses, although outcomes of that work are uncertain.

In the meantime, the Canola Council urges growers to avoid off-label uses and produce “market-ready” crops.

Contact brian.cross@producer.com

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Brian Cross

Brian Cross

Saskatoon newsroom

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