For years, groups like the David Suzuki Foundation and the Ontario Beekeepers Association have argued that neonicotinoid seed treatments represent a systemic threat to bees. “Health Canada… will be cancelling some uses of these pesticides, and changing other conditions of use such as restricting the timing of application,” a department news release said. “Remaining uses […] Read more
Tag Archives pesticides — page 6
Neonic seed treatments seen as safe for bees
Health Canada ruling yet to come on safety for aquatic insects
Canadian neonic, metabolite research shows insecticide effect on insect navigation
Locusts in wind tunnels exposed to neonics lost their ability to move themselves where they wanted
Drunk drivers are more likely to get in an accident because the alcohol in their blood impairs vision and delays reaction time. University of Saskatchewan biologists have identified a comparable phenomenon in locusts, when the insects are exposed to a small dose of insecticide. Why it matters: Farmers require a wide range of pesticides to […] Read more
Online sales of large volume inputs changing
In 2017, Farmers Business Network made its debut in Canada, and offers many programs with aggregated data
Farmers are increasingly looking at how they can price and buy their inputs online, but there are trust and relationship issues to overcome. Farmers already use digital platforms to buy equipment and supplies online. Online ordering for hard-to-find parts isn’t new. But a digital platform to enable farmers to buy large volumes of crop inputs, […] Read more
U.S. EPA wins new chance to argue against pesticide ban
Reuters — The Trump administration has persuaded a U.S. appeals court to reconsider its recent decision ordering the Environmental Protection Agency to ban the widely-used pesticide chlorpyrifos, which critics say can harm children and farmers. In an order on Wednesday, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it will again review former EPA administrator […] Read more
Solving spray problems with new technology
Sprayer innovations can help reduce herbicide resistance by making sure lethal doses are delivered to weeds
How farmers spray their crops — not just what they spray — could be contributing to growing weed resistance across Canada. Technology is emerging, though, that can help overcome common spraying challenges. That’s according to Tom Wolf, President of Agrimetrix Research and Training, a Saskatoon-based company that specializes in spray application. Why it matters: Smart […] Read more
Sprayer power: Is electricity the next big thing in spray adjuvants?
Positively charging spray droplets can help them stick to plants, but droplets need to be small
Getting fungicides and insecticides into the canopy and to the underside of leaves is a challenge for most sprayers. Small droplet sizes and even coverage are needed for this and for the fungicide lacquering required for control in most non-systemic products; and that comes with the risk of drift. Why it matters: With more precise […] Read more
Glyphosate drives long-term herbicide changes
Ontario keeps track of detailed herbicide use every five years, which shows how the use of active ingredient has declined
A study of glyphosate use in Ontario shows the herbicide has created significant change in crop management. It shows that while corn and soybean acreage and yield have increased in the province since 1983, the impact of herbicide use per acre has declined, in large part because glyphosate has displaced other herbicide chemistries. Why it […] Read more
Dicamba drift problems continue in farm states
Fewer instances of dicamba drift onto non-target crops are being reported this year in the United States, but it continues to divide agriculture community
Aaron Hager has seen many changes in American agriculture in his 25 years at the University of Illinois. As an extension specialist and weed scientist, he saw the introduction and controversy around genetically modified crops and the emergence of herbicide resistant weeds. But nothing compares to the battle and nastiness over the last 12 months […] Read more
U.S. appeals court orders EPA to ban pesticide said to harm children
New York | Reuters – A divided federal appeals court on Thursday ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ban a widely-used pesticide that critics say can endanger children and farmers. The 2-1 decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Seattle overturned former EPA administrator Scott Pruitt’s March 2017 denial of a petition by […] Read more
Canada to impose tariffs on U.S., challenge at WTO
Reuters — Canada will impose retaliatory tariffs on $16.6 billion worth of U.S. exports and challenge U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs under the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization (WTO), Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Thursday. The Canadian tariffs are set to go into effect on July 1 and […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
