GFO: Grain Farming Under Attack by Ontario Government - How do you feel about the Neonic Issue? - Ontario Agriculture2024-03-28T15:17:38Zhttps://ontag.farms.com/forum/topics/ofa-grain-farming-under-attack-by-ontario-government-how-do-you-f?commentId=3646443%3AComment%3A59983&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noOK, there are some problems w…tag:ontag.farms.com,2015-02-08:3646443:Comment:599832015-02-08T03:21:56.959ZColin Lundyhttps://ontag.farms.com/profile/ColinLundy
<p>OK, there are some problems with the government approach to banning neonics, but it is incorrect to say the move trumps science and practicality. I thought it was impractical to use pesticides when they were not needed. Think of all of the herbicide resistant weeds. Scientific fact that overuse of pesticides leads to resistance, so despite the bee issue, there is good reason to limit neonic use for when it is actually needed. 80% reduction is not a total ban, it send the message to use the…</p>
<p>OK, there are some problems with the government approach to banning neonics, but it is incorrect to say the move trumps science and practicality. I thought it was impractical to use pesticides when they were not needed. Think of all of the herbicide resistant weeds. Scientific fact that overuse of pesticides leads to resistance, so despite the bee issue, there is good reason to limit neonic use for when it is actually needed. 80% reduction is not a total ban, it send the message to use the treatment only when needed. And there is plenty of science demonstrating that neonic seed treatments are impacting pollinators. Just not from the scientists that are working for the companies that produce neonics - go figure.</p>
<p>I credit the move to improve seeding equipment and the seed treatment lubricant. This has obviously helped. But just because corn and soy are the big guys, does not mean they can bully everyone else. What if chicken farmers lost 50% of their flock all at once due to pesticide residues in feed grains? What would happen then?</p>
<p>It is true that there is more killing bees than neonics, but there is no doubt that neonics are contributing to losses, weakening bees and allowing them to succumb to other pests. Beekeepers are trying and succeeding against nosema and varroa. But neonic poisoning is a step backward in this fight.</p>