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Fall
2017
Grains
West
16
THE
FARMGATE
PESTICIDEREVIEWCAUSES
CONCERNFORFARMERS
POTENTIAL LOSSOF INSECTICIDEGROUPMAY
CAUSE INCREASE INFOLIAR SPRAYING
SOUTHERN ALBERTA FARMER
Greg Stamp is concerned he may be losing
a very effective component of his crop
protection toolbox.
There’s a strong chance a Health Canada
review of seed treatments containing the
active ingredient imidacloprid could halt
the use of these effective products. As
well, the review could snowball to include
the whole neonicotinoid chemical group.
Stamp, who with family members operates
Stamp Seeds in Enchant, north of Leth-
bridge, fears the loss of imidacloprid could
increase his crop protection costs, and
ultimately increase environmental risk.
The Health Canada review cites studies
showing products within this group pose
a risk to beneficial insects and water quali-
ty. There’s a strong leaning to phase them
out over the next three to five years.
In a submission to Health Canada’s Pest
Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA),
Alberta Barley questioned the process and
approach taken, saying the agency failed
to engage with the ag industry prior to
announcing the review and has lacked
transparency and predictability.
Alberta Barley also questioned the
agency’s interpretation of the scientific
data, contending the small number of
water monitoring sites in Ontario and
Quebec with excessive pesticide levels
don’t warrant nation-wide regulatory
action. Additionally, Alberta Barley said
the threshold risk for aquatic vertebrates
cited is not based on data from existing
real-world studies, but rather on highly
conservative laboratory data.
Health Canada will post its proposed
decision by December 2017, allow for a
period of further review and then make its
final decision in the spring of 2018.
MORE COST, HIGHER RISK
Stamp said the loss of one and potentially
all neonicotinoid products will significantly
impact crop protection costs.
“If we are unable to use that seed treat-
ment, we would have to apply one or two
and perhaps three in-crop treatments with
an insecticide,” he said. “It increases costs:
the foliar applications aren’t as effective,
so perhaps more than one is needed.” He
said even though he and other producers
are careful about how they apply insec-
ticide sprays, multiple applications may
increase the environmental impact.
“My greater concern is if they decide to
withdraw imidacloprid from the market,
what’s to stop them from removing all the
neonicotinoids?” said Stamp. “That would
be a difficult situation. These seed treat-
ments are the best tools to control these
pests early while they’re in the ground.
Not having them available would mean an
increase in foliar insecticide treatments.”
On his own farm, Stamp, as well as
many of his customers who produce pulse
crops such as peas and faba beans, rely on
the imidacloprid seed treatment product
Stress Shield to control pea leaf weevil.
CruiserMaxx is also effective, but without
Stress Shield or CruiserMaxx, they’d have
Photo:StampSeeds
A Health Canada review of seed treatments containing the active ingredient imidacloprid could halt the use of these
effective pest control products.