Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52SUPPORTED BY: W E B I N A R For a more detailed assessment of the Ontario regulations and the requirements in the coming years, join us for the Germination Strategy Session webinar Nov. 22. Register online at issuesink.com/ germinationwebinar. LEARN MORE 26 ENDORSED BY: Growers will only be able to plant neonicotinoid treated corn or soy- bean seed in areas identified in the pest assessment report. They are also required to maintain records of all orders and plantings of neonicotinoid treated seed, and retain those records for at least two years. What’s Next for Seed Companies, Retailers? Only licensed vendors are able to sell Class 12 pesticides, and only to individuals who provide an IPM certification number; a written declaration that they have con- sidered IPM principles; and a completed and signed pest assessment report. Vendors are required to retain these documents for at least four years, and they may be asked by government offi- cials to provide them at any time. If the interaction with the grower is by a treated seed sales representative, the representative is required to col- lect the documents and provide them to the vendor. They are also required to retain copies of the documents for themselves. What’s Next for Professional Pest Advisers? For the 2017 planting season, all crop damage assessments must be done by a professional pest adviser. Professional pest advisers may also conduct soil pest assessments. Only individuals meeting the fol- lowing criteria may be contracted: • Recognized as a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) and a member in good standing of the CCA Association • Registered as a professional agrolo- gist (PAg) under the Ontario Act, and operating in a field of practice related to crop production, pest con- trol, or the protection of crops • Authorized by another province to operate in a manner similar to a professional agrologist or CCA • Determined to be qualified by the MOECC Professional pest advisers must con- duct pest assessments in accordance with the guidelines developed by the government of Ontario’s regulations regarding Class 12 pesticides. Starting Aug. 31, 2017, a new require- ment will be phased in on a geographic basis. Once the phase in is complete, corn and soybean growers who wish to purchase neonicotinoid treated corn or soybeans will have to hire a profes- sional pest advisor to perform or super- vise the soil scouting pest assessment and prepare a report at least once every three years. A grower who holds an IPM certification number may perform the assessment and prepare the report in the intervening years. Also starting Aug. 31, 2017, a profes- sional pest advisor must be independ- ent, meaning they must not derive financial benefit from a person or busi- ness corporation that manufactures or sells Class 12 pesticides. Denys says if this particular require- ment actually comes into effect, the government will be effectively imple- menting a ban on neonicotinoid treated corn and soybean seed. “Certified crop advisers who are employed by retailers or seed com- panies will not be allowed to act as professional pest advisers. But there are not enough third party consultants who would qualify, either in govern- ment or in the farm sector to provide those services to the degree that will be required,” he says. “Without profes- sional pest advisers, there would be no pest assessments, and therefore no approval to purchase neonicotinoid treated corn and soybean seed.” However, MOECC is confident that the requirement will be satisfied. Wheeler says: “The Ontario Certified Crop Advisory Association and the Ontario Institute of Agrologists have indicated that there will be qualified, independent individuals in Ontario who would meet the qualifications for profes- sional pest advisor after Aug. 31, 2017.” Final Words of Advice Denys has a few more words of advice for all of those impacted by the regula- tions. He urges growers, retailers, seed companies and advisers to be compli- ant. “Growers need to know that the exemption for less than 50 per cent planting is no longer available,” he says. “They also need to understand their options for protecting the crop, including alternative seed treatments.” He urges growers and retailers to take the IPM course and get a certifica- tion number. “Vendors have to be very diligent and require the certification num- bers before selling Class 12 pesticides, because the system will be enforced,” he says. “Seed vendors and retailers have already had enforcement calls, and grow- ers will be receiving them too.” For pest advisers, his advice is to make sure that soil pest assessments are done when there is going to be pest pressure. “All of the government informa- tion says soil pest assessments can be done in the spring or the fall. But doing a fall assessment for wireworms may not be the best use of time and resources. They are most present in the spring which is when the seed needs protection,” Denys explains. “Research conducted on my farm found only one wireworm in most traps in the fall, but there were at least three in the traps in the spring. That’s well over the thresh- old where insecticide seed treatments are needed.” Patty Townsend