Posted: April 17, 2009

Over 51,158 kilograms of unwanted and obsolete agricultural pesticides have been disposed of by Manitoba producers participating in CropLife Canada's stewardshipfirst program.

CropLife Canada's obsolete collection program rotates across Canadian provinces and has collected more than 1.5 million kilograms of obsolete pesticides since 1998. The program was last held in Manitoba in 2003 and 2004, during which time over 92,000 kilograms were collected.

"This program provides a safe, effective and cost-free way for farmers to properly dispose of obsolete products. We are grateful for their participation and for the support of our partners," said Lorne Hepworth, president of CropLife Canada, a leading advocate for the crop protection industry.

Twenty ag retailers, each with warehouse facilities certified by the Agrichemical Warehousing Standards Association, volunteered to participate as drop-off locations for the program, which promotes safe and responsible use of crop protection products. All of the obsolete pesticide was taken to a federally licensed disposal facility in Swan Hills, Alberta to be disposed of through high temperature incineration.

Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Agriculture Sustainability Initiative Fund and Manitoba Conservation's Sustainable Development Innovations Fund partnered with CropLife Canada to finance the Manitoba collection, with the province providing half of the total cost of just over $157,000.

Posted: April 17, 2009

Producers already facing pressures in managing pesticides have another reminder of its growing importance to consumers. The world's largest fast-food chain is talking seriously about building best management practices requirements into its potato supplier relationship. According to media reports, McDonald's, which in the past has responded to public pressure by building specific animal welfare standards into its supply chain requirements, has agreed to identify pesticide best management practices for its potato suppliers.

The agreement, which began life as a shareholder proposition, eventually produced the following commitments from McDonald's: (1) survey its current U.S. potato suppliers; (2) compile a list of best practices in pesticide reduction that will be recommended to the company's global suppliers through the company's Global Potato Board; and (3) communicate findings related to best practices to shareholders, and in the company's annual corporate social responsibility report.

An example of news coverage is an article in the April 9, 2009 issue of the Manitoba Co-operator ("McDonald's may reduce potato pesticides," pg.14) which offers a look at concerns among potato growers who say it will be difficult to limit pesticide use on a high-demand crop such as potatoes.

Posted: April 17, 2009

Nufarm has launched three new herbicides for spring wheat and durum crops – Signal, Signal M and Signal D – giving the company what it is calling "one of the broadest wild oat/broadleaf herbicide product offerings for farmers in Western Canada."

Signal contains the active ingredient clodinofop. Signal M is a co-pack of clodinofop plus Nufarm's Mextrol broadleaf herbicide that provides grass, wild buckwheat and broadleaf control. Signal D contains clodinofop plus Nufarm's Approve broadleaf herbicide in a co-pack for broad spectrum grass and broadleaf control and also provides control of kochia.

Signal M and Signal D are available in both 20 acre cases and 400 acre bulk packs, while Signal is available in a 40 acre case. For more information, click here.