Dr.
Art Schaafsma says it’s the dust from
seeds treated with neonicitinoids that is responsible for most seed-treatment
chemical escapes into the environment.
His
research was done from the Ridgetown campus of the University of Guelph.
“After
three years of research studying multiple pathways and movement of dust from
air/vacuum planters, our goal should be to reduce all residue escapes by 90 per
cent,” says Dr. Schaafsma.
Based on the research, Schaafsma identified five
recommendations to farmers:
Ensure
pesticides stay on the seed by using approved fluency agents and polymers;
Avoid
abrasive seed lubricants;
Filter
and redirect planter exhaust dust into the soil;
Ensure
clean air flows through the vacuum intakes, and;
Practice
conservation tillage to minimize soil movement.
The Ontario
Soil and Crop Improvement (OSCIA) was a partner in this research with funding from the
federal-provincial governments via the Agricultural Adaptation Council.
“We are
encouraging farmers to work proactively to manage planter dust, seek out
solutions that fit their operations and avoid any off-site impacts”, says Gord Green, president of the OSCIA.
“We want to ensure the continued use of our
tried and proven tools, such as seed treatment, otherwise we may be faced with
alternatives that are not as environmentally friendly”.
The
province has been restricting neonicitinoid use to fields that farmers can
prove, via certified crop advisors, are infested with bugs that require
seed-treatment control.
Dr.
Paul Sibley, scientist and toxicologist at the University of Guelph, agrees
with Green.
The
federal government’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency recently released a
proposed re-evaluation decision, which would see Imidacloprid phased out in
three to five years.
Sibley
said “intermediate solutions and options must be considered to allow the
industry to adjust and adapt to new technology”.
Schaafsma
said new developments are coming with planter filters, cyclones to filter and stabilize
dust, as well as polymers to more firmly attach pesticide product to the seed.
He
is also encouraging farmers to collaborate with industry to work on restricting
dust movement.
Grain
Farmers of Ontario took the province to court over the neonicitinoid
restrictions, arguing there was not enough scientific evidence to warrant the
restrictions. It lost.
