54 GERMINATION.CA JANUARY 2018 Who said what? INTERESTED IN INSECT PESTS? YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS MAN’S NAME A major figure in entomology has been commemorated as a person of national historic significance. James Fletcher was a self-educated naturalist who transformed Canada’s approach to economic entomology in the late 19th century. OverseveraldecadeshewasabletohelpCanadianfarmers,fruit growers and gardeners better understand the impacts of both beneficial and harmful insects to their crops and businesses. A special ceremony was held at the Central Experimental Farm with members of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.ThroughhisextensivetravelsacrossCanada,Fletcher collected plant and insect specimens for identification and established a national network of farmers and gardeners who reported on harmful weeds and insects in their region. Through voluminous correspondence, wide-ranging publica- tions, and many speaking tours, Fletcher shared his knowl- edge with farmers, fruit growers, and gardeners across Canada. He advanced the natural sciences by helping to estab- lish professional and non-governmental organizations, scien- tific journals, the National Collection of Vascular Plants, and the Canadian National Collection of Insects. INDIAN PULSE TARIFF DISCRIMINATORY TOWARD CANADA, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS India is treating Canada unfairly in the way it’s handling a tariff it imposed on Canadian pulses back in November, the federal government says. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and François-Philippe Champagne, international trade minister, issued a statement on the matter, in which they say the Government of Canada is “deeply concerned and disappointed with the recent regulatory and tariff decisions made by the Government of India affecting Canadian pulse trade. …In addition to efforts by Government of Canada senior officials to seek a long-term solution, we have also been actively engaged with our counterparts directly, most recently during the Government of Canada’s mission to India by Ministers Champagne, Bains, and Garneau. Despite these efforts, progress has stalled and a solution to this important issue remains elusive.” The most recent derogation for the fumigation of pulses expired on Sept. 30, 2017 and, for the first time since 2004, a renewal of the extension has not been granted by the Government of India to Canada. Other trade partners received extended derogations to Dec. 31, 2017, indicating that India is applying discriminatory treatment to Canada, the statement goes on to say. PEOPLE DON'T OFTEN GIVE MUCH THOUGHT TO THE IMPORTANCE OF SEED TheCanadianSeedTradeAssociation launcheditsBetterSeed, Better Life information campaign at its semi-annual meeting in Calgary, Alta. Through Better Seed, Better Life, CSTA will engage in dialogue with Canadians on the role of seed as the foundation for the food and drink we enjoy, the clothes we wear and the fuel in our cars. The campaign starts with the launch of its Better Seed, Better Life video and the fact sheet “Cheers for Cereals”. The video, created by Germination publisher Issues Ink, aims to capture the essence of the Canadian seed industry and the role that seed plays in our day-to-day lives. The fact sheet is one part of a series of fact sheets to be released over the coming months. “CSTA believes that having conversations about seed and plant breedingisvital,”saidDanWright,CSTApresident.“Seedsarea remarkablepackagethatpeopleoftendon’tgivealotofthought to,andwewantCanadianstorecognizetherolethatseedplays in their everyday lives and the incredible things that we can do with them.” For more info visit cdnseed.org/news/better-seed-better-life/.