Deadline Closing In For Farmers To Comment On Proposed Seed Treatment Ban

The Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) says a proposed ban on a pair seed treatments would leave farmers with fewer options for preventing flea beetle infestations.

In August 2018, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) proposed banning all outdoor uses of:

- clothianidin, also known as ProsperTM and PonchoTM; and
- thiamethoxam, also known as HelixTM and Cruiser MaxxTM.

These products are used as seed treatments on a majority of canola seed and are effective at controlling flea beetle populations.

"If you use other commercial products, they don't just control flea beetles, they control all insects and then you're taking out beneficials [insects] and bees as well," said CCGA President Jack Froese.

If the PMRA moves forward with a phase-out, the above seed treatments would not be available after 2024.

The PMRA has also proposed to ban the use of lambda-cyhalothrin (MatadorTM, SilencerTM) on canola, which is one of the main foliar spray alternatives to seed treatments.

The government is accepting comments on the issue until Tuesday, November 13.