From OMAFRA Crop Talk
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/field/news/croptalk/2015/ct-0915a2.htm
What corn and soybean growers need to know about new rules for neonicotinoid-treated seed.
The following is from a document entitled Neonicotinoid regulations for growers located at Ontario.ca/neonics
Class 12 pesticides
New rules for the sale and use of neonicotinoid-treated seeds in Ontario came into effect on July 1, 2015, and will be phased in over a period of time.
New class of pesticides
The provincial government is responsible for classifying pesticides and regulating their sale, use, transportation, storage and disposal. Treated seeds are seeds that have been coated with a pesticide. The new regulatory requirements created a new class of pesticides-Class 12-for corn and soybean seeds treated with the following neonicotinoid insecticides:
- imidacloprid
- thiamethoxam
- clothianidin
This new class of pesticides applies to corn seed grown for grain or silage and soybean seed.
The regulation does not apply to popping corn, sweet corn or corn used for the production of seed. Nor does it apply to soybean seed planted for the purpose of producing a soybean seed crop of certified status under contract. Corn seed and soybean seed treated only with fungicide are not classified as Class 12 pesticides under the regulation.
Farmers will only be able to buy and use varieties or hybrids of neonicotinoid-treated seeds that vendors have put on the "Class 12 Pesticides List". The list will be posted online by the Government of Ontario by August of each year.
The regulation does not include requirements for the transport and storage of Class 12 pesticides.
Farmers must use a neonicotinoid-treated seed in accordance with the directions set out on the label or tag by the federal government.
New requirements for farmers
New requirements for farmers are being introduced to ensure that neonicotinoid-treated corn and soybean seeds are used only when there is a demonstrated pest problem. These requirements will be phased-in over a period of time to allow farmers to adapt.
If you will not be planting neonicotinoid-treated corn or soybean seed, you will not be subject to any new requirements under this regulation.
From August 31, 2015 to August 30, 2016, in preparation for the 2016 planting season, farmers will have the option to take one of two courses of action to purchase and use neonicotinoid-treated corn and/or soybean seed, depending on the amount they intend on planting.
As an incentive to achieve early reductions in the use of neonicotinoid-treated seed, if farmers plant neonicotinoid-treated seeds on 50 per cent or less of the total area of where they plant corn or soybeans, they will not have to conduct a pest assessment.
Note that the calculation is completed separately by commodity for each of corn and soybeans. Farmers will also need to confirm, in writing, that they are not buying or using more than what is required to plant 50 per cent of this area. This document is called a Seed Amount Declaration and farmers will need to sign it and give it to the sales representative(s) or seed vendor(s) or to the custom seed treater they use to have their seed treated with neonicotinoid insecticides. They can only plant neonicotinoid-treated seeds in the application area (or areas) on their farm property identified in the Seed Amount Declaration.
If farmers want to buy and plant neonicotinoid-treated seeds on more than 50 per cent of the total area of their corn or soybean crop, they will need to complete a pest assessment report and provide it to the sales representative(s) or seed vendor(s) from which they purchased the seeds or to the custom seed treater they use to have their seed treated with neonicotinoid insecticides. With this option, farmers will not need to submit a Seed Amount Declaration for the commodity for which they complete a pest assessment report.
On or after August 31, 2016, in preparation for the 2017 planting season, if farmers want to buy and use any amount of neonicotinoid-treated seeds, they will be required to:
- Complete the new integrated pest management (IPM) training
- Complete a pest assessment report
- Sign a declaration called an IPM Written Declaration Form stating that they have considered IPM principles.
Farmers will need to submit these pieces of information, along with their IPM training certificate number, to the sales representative(s) or seed vendor(s), including direct-to-farm seed vendors, from whom they purchased the seeds or to the custom seed treater used for treating seeds with neonicotinoids.
They can only plant neonicotinoid-treated seeds in the application area (or areas) on their farm property identified in their pest assessment report.
Farmers using the services of a custom seed treater will still be responsible for complying with the regulation and must follow the same requirements and timelines as they would if they were buying seeds from a vendor/treated seed sales representative. All relevant documentation will need to be provided to the custom seed treater.
There are no requirements for using non-treated seed or fungicide-only treated seed. Using non-treated seed can help protect pollinators and reduce the impact of neonicotinoids on the environment.
Seed Amount Declaration
A Seed Amount Declaration is a written commitment to only plant 50 per cent or less of the total area of your farm operation with neonicotinoid-treated corn or soybean seed.
Note that the calculation is completed separately by commodity for each of corn and soybeans. In order to purchase neonicotinoid-treated seed, this declaration must be provided to the person from whom farmers are purchasing their seed or to the custom seed treater. The declaration must include:
- the acreage of land on which farmers will plant treated and untreated corn or soybean seed before August 31, 2016 at all of the farm properties that are used for their agricultural operation
- the location of each farm property or a legal description of the property
- the total acreage of all of the application areas where farmers will plant neonicotinoid-treated seeds before August 31, 2016 and all of the farm properties that are used for the agricultural operation.
A Seed Amount Declaration is valid only for seed intended to be planted in the 2016 growing seasons.
Integrated pest management training
Integrated pest management (IPM) is an approach to managing pests that is environmentally and economically sustainable. IPM promotes the use of different methods to prevent and reduce the risk of pests and encourage beneficial insects, including pollinators. Under IPM, pesticides are used as a last resort to control pest problems.
Starting on August 31, 2016, successful completion of a new IPM training course will be required in order to purchase and plant neonicotinoid-treated corn and soybean seed. Farmers will need to provide proof that they have completed this training by submitting their certificate number to a sales representative, vendor or custom seed treater.
Certification is valid for five years (i.e. farmers will only need to take the course once every five years).
The IPM training will be unique in that it will include training on the importance of pollinators in the ecosystem and how to protect them from pesticide exposure. It will also include training on identifying pests and pest scouting methods, and alternative methods to using pesticides.
The new IPM course will be available starting in fall 2015, and will run continuously thereafter. Following successful completion of the course, farmers will receive a certificate number.
IPM training
Farmers will be able to take training in a classroom at various locations or online through the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus. To encourage participation, IPM training will be offered free of charge until September 2016. More information will be available in September 2015.
Farmers do not need to take IPM training if they are a farm owner who hires people to purchase and plant seeds. In this case, the person they hire (e.g., farm manager or supervisor) will need to take IPM training.
An IPM trained person can supervise up to seven people who are planting seeds on the farm.
If farmers do not intend to buy and plant neonicotinoid-treated seeds, they are not required to take IPM training or file a pest assessment report. Non-treated seed or fungicide-only treated corn and soybean seed, for example, are not Class 12 pesticides. Farmers do not need IPM training to purchase or plant these types of seeds.
Pest assessment report
A pest assessment report is documented proof that there is a pest problem that requires the use of neonicotinoid-treated seed to control the pests.
In order to purchase neonicotinoid-treated corn and soybean seed, a person (i.e., farmer) must provide a pest assessment report to a vendor, sales representative or custom seed treater.
There are two kinds of pest assessments: soil inspection and crop inspection.
Soil inspection is a method that confirms the presence of an average of two or more grubs or one wireworm in soil at a farm property (see Conducting A Pest Assessment for Use of Class 12 Pesticides for more information on pest thresholds). A report must verify that pest thresholds have been met or exceeded.
A farmer can choose when to do soil pest scouting. This is often done in the spring or fall.
From August 31, 2015 to August 31, 2016, any farmer can do soil pest scouting, perform a pest assessment and prepare a report.
Starting August 31, 2016 until August, 31, 2017, farmers will be able to perform a pest assessment and prepare a report if they if they have a certificate number from completion of the new integrated pest management (IPM) training.
Starting on August 31, 2017, a requirement that a professional pest advisor conduct a soil inspection pest assessment and prepare a report will begin to be phased in. This requirement is being phased in over time on a geographic basis to best target regions with the greatest pollinator mortality rates.
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