'Our input is far too important to be diluted at urban venues'

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

by SUSAN MANN

Grain Farmers of Ontario representatives will only be attending the consultation meeting for agricultural groups later this month on the proposed provincial regulations limiting neonicotinoid-treated seed use and not the public meetings. The farm group is also urging its members to stay away from the public meetings.

Grain Farmers CEO Barry Senft says the organization is putting its efforts into the industry-specific meeting being held Dec. 18 in Guelph. “We feel the other three meetings are going to have a significant presence from the (environmental) activists and I don’t think it’s the right forum to try and get our message across.”

Senft says “I think we’re going to have a lot of noise at those three meetings and the message of our farmers will not get through to those conducting the meeting.”

But Ontario Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Jeff Leal says in an email provided by his senior press and communications adviser “it’s very important that farmers and farming organizations participate in the consultations to ensure we implement a practical, balanced plan sensitive to their needs.” Leal adds he’s looking forward to hearing from a wide range of stakeholders and individuals, including farmers, beekeepers and others.

Meetings are planned for: London from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Dec. 9), Toronto from 9 a.m. to noon (Dec. 11) and Kingston from 9 a.m. to noon (Jan. 14, 2015). There are also some online meetings including two sessions in English being held Dec. 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Dec. 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. The French online session is scheduled for Dec. 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. Advanced registration is required for all meetings. But the government says in its notice about the meetings on the Ontario agriculture ministry website it doesn’t want to limit participation “and will add more meetings if needed.” There’s no registration deadline.

A Dec. 4 Grain Farmers notice to members states that the organization “does not feel that a public forum provides an opportunity for professional and reasonable discussion on this complex issue.” As farmers and primary stakeholders in the proposed regulations that would cut the acreage planted with neonicotinoid-treated seeds by 80 per cent by 2017, Grain Farmers says it’s not appropriate for the government to receive its input at public forums. “Our input is far too important to be diluted at urban venues” attended by non- stakeholders.

Senft says Grain Farmers isn’t forbidding its members from attending the public meetings, but just advising they don’t. He didn’t know how many grain farmers would actually heed the warning and stay away from the public meetings. Instead of going to public meetings, he recommends farmers become involved in the consultation process by writing letters to Premier Kathleen Wynne, Environment and Climate Change Minister Glen Murray and Leal.

Farmers can also help develop an alternative plan to the government’s proposal released Nov. 25 and posted on the Ontario Environmental Registry. Discussions about an alternative plan for continued responsible use of neonicotinoid-treated seeds will be held at Grain Farmers annual district meetings next month.

“There is opportunity for members to have influence in and on the process,” Senft says.

Other farm groups plan to attend the public meetings along with the agriculture-specific meeting. Pierre Petelle, vice-president of chemistry for CropLife Canada, says by email “we will be working through all available channels during the consultation period to ensure that growers continue to have access to this important technology.” He adds that it’s “important that farmers are not handcuffed by non-science based decision making.”

The Ontario Beekeepers’ Association is urging its members and others concerned about the matter to attend the meetings. “It’s an opportunity for everybody to discuss it and find out the information that is there,” says president Tibor Szabo.

To register for a meeting people can contact the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300, ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca. BF