Grain Farmers of Ontario throws down the gauntlet

Thursday, December 18, 2014

by DAVE PINK

The provincial government’s efforts to radically reduce the amount of neonicotinoid seed treatments used by corn and soybean growers – a move the government believes will reduce the high mortality rates of pollinating insects – is meeting stiff resistance from the Grain Farmers of Ontario.

GFO members walked out of a consultation meeting with Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal in Guelph on Thursday, complaining that a proposed neonicotinoid control regulation is unrealistic, unfair and does not take into account the farmers’ need for an effective pest control tool.

In a statement released immediately following the meeting, the GFO said it “would not have any part of discussing the implementation of unscientific, ill-informed regulations that will put the Ontario grain industry in a dire situation. The proposed regulations do not focus on pollinator health and beekeeping practices, are not conducive to environmental stewardship, and are positioned to end family farming across the province.”

Speaking in an interview with Better Farming on Friday, GFO Chair Henry Van Ankum said that his organization remains open to discussions involving government, industry stakeholders and beekeepers that would lead to a fair and reasonable agreement, but that this proposed regulation – which aims to reduce neonicotinoid use by 80 per cent, and would require farmers to hire a third-party assessor to determine if they even need to use treated seed – is not acceptable.

“What it boils down to is that this regulation is so heavy-handed and harmful to the grain industry that we see little point in debating the finer points of it,” Van Ankum said. “We feel strongly that this is not the answer.

“Our plan in the weeks and months ahead is to work together with the stakeholders in the industry to develop a workable plan for the grain sector.”

In a statement released on Thursday, Leal contended that the development of neonicotinoid control regulation requires consultation and an open-minded attitude from everyone involved in the industry.

“The commitment made by our government is balanced, taking into consideration the need to protect pollinators and ensure the viability of crop production,” the statement reads.

“First, it does not suggest that the scientific examination of this issue is complete. Many of the findings to date require further research and verification. What it does do, however, is take a precautionary response to the possible risks associated with neonicotinoid pesticides. I believe this to be appropriate.”

Leal contends the government understands that these seed treatments are an effective tool for grain growers, and that any implementation strategy of the regulation will be “sensitive to the needs of farmers.”

Neonicotinoid control now is being widely discussed across the province. An informal meeting of invited guests that included seed company representatives, farmers and grain handlers was held Thursday at Devolder Farms in Dover Centre, near Chatham. “It was an attempt to get the message across that the proposed regulations are not feasible for the grain industry in Ontario,” said meeting organizer Wayne Black, a seed sales and production specialist with the seed and equipment dealer and grain handler.

He’s hoping to arrange a meeting with Leal and ministry officials in the near future to discuss their concerns.

Also at the Dover Centre meeting was Toby Barrett, the Progressive Conservative agriculture critic. He said that the proposed government regulation is a “precautionary approach” not suited to this situation. Any regulation should take a “neutral, objective, science-based, evidence based approach,” and he suggested the provincial government should look to the scientists and researchers working for the federal government for answers. BF