Ontario extends mandatory training for corn and soybean farmers

Ontario is helping farmers comply with recent rules that protect insect pollinators by extending the time that the free mandatory training will be available. Farmers need the training if they wish to purchase and use neonicotinoid-treated corn and/or soybean seeds. Free training is available until April 30th 2017.

The half-day course is available in English or French, online or in class in towns across Ontario and at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown campus. To register, call 1-866-225-9020, or go online at www.IPMcertified.ca.

Training and helping farmers to recognize and determine the field presence of insect pests is part of the Pollinator Health Action Plan to be released soon. The plan also helps farmers learn best management practices for dealing with Neonicotinoids (NNI), a class of synthetic pesticides, used extensively in Ontario. NNIs are targeted to kill pests, but they are also toxic to beneficial insects like bees and other pollinators. The plan is part of the Province’s larger strategy to reduce neonicotinoid use and improve pollinator health.

Ontario has taken action on pollinator health, working towards an 80 per cent reduction in the number of acres planted with neonicotinoid-treated corn and soybean seed by 2017. This is the strongest action to date on neonicotinoid pesticides in North America.