Yesterday, Grain Farmers of Ontario submitted its response to the Ontario government’s discussion paper on the proposed regulations around neonicotinoid pesticides and pollinator health. The response can be viewed at gfo.ca/ProtectingPollinators. “Grain Farmers of Ontario opposes the proposed regulation and has outlined in this response the numerous areas of concern we have heard from our farmer members,” says Henry Van Ankum, Chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario. “We are actively working with a stakeholder group to develop an alternate plan to the proposed regulation that is workable and sustainable for both grain farmers and beekeepers – this plan will be presented to government in February.”

As indicated in the response, Grain Farmers of Ontario is asking the government to conduct a thorough cost benefit analysis before proceeding the with approach outlined in the discussion paper, to return to the Pollinator Task Force and collaborate on real solutions to protect pollinators, and to abandon the goal to reduce neonicotinoids by 80% in Ontario.

Website: http://www.grainfarmersontario.com

Published: January 26, 2015