Set up activities delay pesticide sales summary release Monday, July 23, 2012 by SUSAN MANN Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency released its first summary of pesticide sales data this spring, five years after the mandatory sales reporting program began in 2007. But Craig Hunter, crop protection and research specialist with the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, says the “whole concept of the sales data list is totally flawed and it has been from day one.” Knowing how much product is sold in Canada is totally irrelevant, he adds. Rather than collecting sales data, growers have proposed that PMRA implement a national pesticide use survey “so we know what products are used on what crops, in what province and in what part of the province so that if there’s an issue you can focus because you know what’s used on what crop and where,” he says. Pesticide sales reporting in Canada became mandatory in 2006. The PMRA’s initial report covers the first two years of the sales reporting program, 2007/08. But the PMRA only provided detailed information on 2008 sales in its summary as the first year, 2007, was a “learning experience” for both the agency and companies reporting their information, it says in PMRA’s summary. A total of 87.5 million kilograms of active ingredient was sold in 2,105 end use products in 2008, the summary says. Of that total, 49.2 per cent were herbicides, 37 per cent were antimicrobials, 7.8 per cent were fungicides and 4.8 per cent were insecticides. Ten active ingredients - four herbicides, one fungicide, four antimicrobials and one other - represented 71 per cent of the total sales. Sixty per cent of all pesticide sales were in the agricultural sector, slightly more than 35 per cent were in the non-agricultural sector and four per cent were in the domestic sector. In the agricultural sector, 79.4 per cent of sales were herbicides, 12.5 per cent were fungicides and 5.7 per cent were insecticides. Health Canada spokesperson Olivia Caron says by email it would normally take two years from the time PMRA collects the data to when it releases the sales figures. The first report took longer because “of the need to develop a new data base to help record and analyze the information along with an adjustment period to make the reporting from companies more accurate.” Caron says the PMRA is trying to reduce the time to publication for future reports through educational efforts with its stakeholders. BF Acquisition means more efficiency says Hensall CEO Accounting problems impede Christian Farmers
Farm Fresh Ontario is now Agritourism Ontario Monday, December 2, 2024 Agritourism Ontario (formerly Farm Fresh Ontario—the name change took place on December 2, 2024) is heading into 2025 with a new name and look that is more reflective of what the association does. It is also taking on some big projects thanks to the support of the Ontario Ministry... Read this article online
Rural Institute of Ontario intros its 2024 Rural Change Makers Monday, December 2, 2024 The Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) has announced its 2024 young leaders of change, who have begun their leadership learning journey together through the () program. “We have another incredible group of passionate emerging leaders this year, each with unique perspectives and lived... Read this article online
Fendt and Massey Ferguson Sprayers Added to Advantage Farm Equipment Lineup Friday, November 29, 2024 Advantage Farm Equipment is thrilled to announce the addition of Fendt and Massey Ferguson sprayers to its product lineup, completing its full AGCO range. This strategic expansion aligns with the launch of IDEAL combines and Momentum planters in 2024, reaffirming the company’s commitment... Read this article online
The case of the mysterious cabbage dump Wednesday, November 27, 2024 According to an article from www.PelhamToday.ca, someone dumped a load of cabbage on the property of Wilowhead Family Farm in Elora, Ontario. The cabbages were all cut in half—and no, the farm nor its neighbours were expecting a delivery. Checking security cameras, the farm... Read this article online
Drew Spoelstra re-elected OFA president Wednesday, November 27, 2024 Drew Spoelstra has been re-elected to a second one-year term as president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). Spoelstra is a dairy and crop farmer from Binbrook in the southeast corner of the city of Hamilton, Ontario. He has been on the OFA board as the director,... Read this article online