By Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — The president of the Renfrew County National Farmers Union is happy there is a one year ban on the pesticide neonictonoid, but is not happy with how agriculture minister Jeff Leal made the announcement on the ban.
Mr. Leal announced earlier this week that next year those farmers planting seed crops cannot do so if there is neonicotinoids – also known as neonics – in them. Neonics is a systematic pesticide used on the seed when planting and is taken up by the plant as it grows, said Tony Straathof, president of the Renfrew County National Farmers Union (RCNFU). The crops it is banned on are corn, soybean and canola. All three of those crops are grown in Renfrew County, he noted.
The ban was implemented because it is believed to have caused the deaths of bees, he noted.
Neonics have been used for about the past 10 years and it “discourages harmful pests from eating the plants,” Mr. Straathof explained. While the science isn’t exact, it’s believed the dust from the air seeders is what kills the bees, he said.
“When neonics was first introduced, it was touted as pro-organic treatment,” Mr. Straathof said.
Now, it’s been discovered that it stays in the groundwater and kills bees, he added.
In 2012, the first major bee kill occurred and Mr. Straathof believes it’s because it was a dry spring. Farmers planted earlier and it was a dry planting season, he said. As well, due to the dryness, the bees started working before planting was completed.
Mr. Straathof noted it’s not just the beekeepers who were affected by the bee deaths, but also those with crops to be pollinated.
The ban announcement may mean less bee deaths, but it also causes more problems, because there were several things that should have been discussed prior to the ban, he said. Such as, if a farmer has seed left over from this year, can he plant it next year? Will there be neonictonoid-free seeds available next year and if so, at a cost farmers can afford?
The Grain Farmers of Ontario, the Ontario Beekeepers Association and representatives of Bayer Cropscience (the manufacturer of neonics) were discussing the issue when the announcement was made, he said.
However, none of the three were contacted prior to the announcement, he said.
“I am disappointed with the delivery of the minister’s announcement,” Mr. Straathof said. “I believe he should have communicated the intent of the announcement directly to the agriculture industry groups prior to its publication. The announcement came without first having a system in place for growers to procure non-treated seed for the 2015 growing season. It does not recognize the need for grain growers to protect the crops from harmful pests.”
Mr. Straathof believes, “Farmers of opposing views were beginning to work together to find a mutually beneficial solution and the minister, with this announcement, hi-jacked that process.”
Farmers will now have to back track to cover pest control, he said. They will need to find other means of pest control, and he’s fearful it could be worse than neonics.
In his release, Minister Leal said, “We want to move away from the widespread, indiscriminate use of neonicotinoid-based pesticides.
“Over the coming months I want to first consult with industry, farmers and environmental stakeholders on options that are practical, including the consideration of a licence system.
“I am committed to finding a balanced approach, based on science, that addresses the important role both pollinators and growers play in Ontario’s agri-food industry.”
Mr. Leal said he hoped to develop a system by 2015 that would ensure the pesticide is used only where there is a demonstrated need.
Ontario doesn’t have the power to ban neonicotinoids, but it can ban the sale in the province as it did with lawn chemicals.
Beekeepers have expressed concern about neonics for years and the agriculture industry is worried it will not have the pollinators it needs to keep fruits and vegetables developing.
“Fully a third of our food relies on pollinators: without bees, Ontario’s food supply could be in serious trouble,” noted the Ontario Beekeeper’s Association in a petition to Premier Kathleen Wynne asking for a ban on the pesticides.
WhitewaterNews.ca was not successful in trying to reach Darcy Smith, the local representative for the Grain Growers and Murray Borer of the local beekeepers association, for their comments.
