Earlier this week, Health Canada declared that the current use of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid is not sustainable due to its effect on aquatic insects.
The federal government is proposing to phase out the neonicotinoid over three to five years.
Manitoba Agriculture Entomologist John Gavloski says imidacloprid is mainly used to control wireworms, however, he's not sure the end justifies the means.
"Our wireworm populations probably don't justify those uses but that's something that's been an ongoing debate for the past few years," he commented.
Gavloski notes that while imidacloprid is most commonly used to control wireworms, many producers use the neonicotinoid to improve early season growth under certain stress conditions. He adds that if imidacloprid is phased out, it could be replaced with another insecticide called diamides, which are already being used by some canola growers.
Source : Portageonline