Health Canada won’t issue a final decision on whether it will ban imidacloprid for at least six months, says a horticultural industry representative. Last November, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency proposed to ban the use of imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide, because it was accumulating in water near agricultural land. That was reportedly putting aquatic insects […] Read more
Tag Archives pesticides
Unmonitored: pesticide residues in water
Sixty-five to 70 million acres of crop goes in the ground in Western Canada every spring. After seeding and into the summer, farmers apply tonnes of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides to control pests on those crops. In Alberta alone, data shows that 15.2 million kilograms of pesticide active ingredient were sold or shipped into the […] Read more
Neonics lower in grain regions
Neonicotinoids are present in streams and waterways throughout southern Ontario, says a new report from Environment Canada. However, regions with intensive horticultural production, such as southwestern Ontario and the Niagara region, are the only parts of the province with hazardous levels of the insecticides in water. The concentrations of neonicotinoids in water are much lower […] Read more
Federal database collects pesticide sales info
The PMRA began publishing the information in 2007 following the passage of the Pest Control Products Act
Canadians and farmers may not know it, but the federal government does track the use of pesticides. In 2007, Health Canada and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency began publishing data on herbicide, insecticide and fungicide sales, following the passage of the Pest Control Products Act in 2006. The act included a provision on reporting and […] Read more
Cosmetic pesticide ban reconsidered in Manitoba
Manitoba may be re-thinking its ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides. In a release issued this morning, Sustainable Development Minister Cathy Cox said the province would consult with Manitobans about legislation that prohibits the use of pesticides on lawns and public green spaces, including schools, day cares and playing fields. “The purpose of the […] Read more
Conditional pesticide registrations no longer possible
Canada’s Health Minister has followed through on her promise to end conditional registrations of pesticides. As of June 1, Health Canada and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) will no longer grant conditional registrations, where the government approved the use of a pesticide but asked an agri-chemical company for additional information to support the registration. […] Read more
Stop creating friction over neonicotinoids
Since the announcement of Ontario’s new pesticide regulations, Ontario beekeepers have been the object of a misinformation campaign from the agricultural chemical industry and their proxies. The Grain Farmers of Ontario, in a letter to members, threatened to use pesticides more harmful to bees and encouraged farmers to seek legal advice before allowing beekeepers to […] Read more
Why calm air causes spray drift
The farmer is behind on spraying. It’s dead calm. Leaves are still. The sprayer is filled, ready to go. He climbs down from the cab and heads to the house for a nap. Something’s wrong with this scene. There’s spraying to be done and conditions couldn’t be better, so what is going on? Government extension […] Read more
Avoid the inversion: what producers can do
Knowing inversion conditions is the first step to avoiding pesticide misapplication. “The bad news: we have a thermal inversion to some degree just about every day during spray season,” said Jason Deveau of Ontario’s agriculture department. “When we have that very still air, or stagnation as they call it in the States, that’s a thermal […] Read more
Science must decide pesticide debate
Manitoba conservation minister Gord Mackintosh indicated Sept. 24 that it was all but certain the government would implement a ban on urban pesticide use in the province. It appears as though he has made up his mind before the public consultation period is even over. Mackintosh seems to be speaking out of turn before Manitobans […] Read more
