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Farmers Not Impressed With Neonicotinoid Ban

Wednesday, 10 June 2015 13:00

Local farmers are speaking out against the ban on a category of pesticides known as neonicotinoids.

Beekeepers are thrilled and local farmers are upset over the new regulations on a class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids, which are toxic to bees. 

Close to 100% of Ontario's corn seeds and about 60% of soybean seeds are treated with neonicotinoids, figures the province wants to reduce by 80% in just two years. Under the new guidelines for 2016 farmers will be able to use the pesticide-treated seeds on up to 50% of their corn and soybean crops, but must prove they have a pest problem before using any additional neonicotinoids.

Local farmer Everet Veldhuizen tells Heart FM this is going to impact the farmers' bottom line. "It was a very valuable tool to have and there will be stands now that will mean replanting and a lot less yields, big economic losses on some farms and some fields."  He says, "This was a tool we used to mitigate risk and with that taken away it's another thing out of our control and on certain farms it will be devastating to the crop. Little bit disappointed and discouraged at the way our government is handling this. I think if farmers thought they were killing the bees we would voluntarily scrap this neonicotinoids, but we feel it's very unscientifically based and it seems to be very targeted to not help farmers I guess. So we are pretty disappointed with our minister of agriculture and the ministry as a whole for sure." 

Starting in the 2017 planting season, farmers must complete a pest assessment report to prove they need the neonicotinoids before any use will be allowed.

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