Cattle grazing on post-harvest stubble fields are a common sight at this time of year. It is an idyllic scene in the golden light of late fall, but the situation may not be as safe as it appears.
“After spring seeding, excess treated seed is sometimes dumped at the edge of a field or slough and fall-grazing cattle can get into it,” said Trent Catley, pesticide inspector with Saskatchewan Agriculture.
“A year ago, for example, a Redvers, (Sask.), farmer lost 14 head of cattle after they had eaten a pile of Furadan-treated seed dumped in the spring. This spring, there were reports of wildlife being poisoned as a result of a Saskatoon-area farmer leaving treated canola next to a bluff on his property.”
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Because of such incidents, Catley reminds farmers of the Saskatchewan Pest Control Products Regulations. One of these rules states every person responsible for materials treated with pesticides shall ensure the materials are either destroyed or kept in storage that is adequately secured against children or animals.
“Many people don’t realize there are regulations dealing with the disposal of treated seed. Failure to properly dispose of seed treated with pesticides is a violation of the Saskatchewan Pest Control Products Act and, when necessary, measures will be taken to gain compliance with the act,” said Catley.
Producers are also reminded of the Stray Animals Act.
“If the stray is accidentally injured or dies on a proprietor’s land, that proprietor is not held responsible for that death or injury unless it arises out of a wilful act by the proprietor,” said Bob Drysdale, a program and regulation manager with the livestock and veterinary operations branch of Saskatchewan Agriculture.
“If a stray gets into a proprietor’s grain pile, and gets sick and dies, the proprietor is not liable unless he or she has not properly fenced his or her grain piles in an ‘open-herd’ situation,” he said.
