Environment

National Farmers Union welcomes Senate report on Bee Health

(June 5, 2015) = The National Farmers Union (NFU) is pleased to see the report, The Importance of Bee Health to Sustainable Food Production in Canada, which reflects serious attention by the Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee in its study of the health of bees, including the effect of neonicotinoid insecticides on honeybees and other pollinators. The Senate Committee sought input from a variety of different perspectives, including the NFU, which appeared as witness before the Committee on May 1, 2014. The NFU submission is available at http://www.nfu.ca/story/importance-bees-and-bee-health. Read more

OP ED Public research and extension key to adoption of farmer controlled pest management

<em<span class="nfu nfu-angle-double-right"</spanBy Ann Slater</em<span class="nfu nfu-angle-double-right"</span In a report published in 2005 on Corporate Profits, the National Farmers Union (NFU) analyzed some of the mechanisms agribusiness corporations, including chemical and seed corporations, use to extract profits from our farms. Two of the mechanisms identified were "cost externalization" and "shifting knowledge". The current discussions in Ontario about the government's proposal to restrict the use of neonicotinoid seed treatments have brought these two mechanisms to mind. The move to widespread prophylactic use of neonicotinoid seed treatments, has provided the insecticide manufacturers with a ever-expanding market for their product over the past fifteen years. Many farmers have accepted the financial cost of the insecticides in return for some assurance that their crops will be protected from early season pests. Read more

Precautionary approach, support for farmers vital to neonic strategy, says NFU

<strong<span class="nfu nfu-angle-double-right"</span(JANUARY 26, 2015, </strong<span class="nfu nfu-angle-double-right"</spanDENFIELD) – The National Farmers Union in Ontario has submitted comments on the discussion paper <em<span class="nfu nfu-angle-double-right"</spanPollinator Health – A Proposal for Enhancing Pollinator Health and Reducing the Use of Neonicotinoid Pesticides in Ontario. Read more

NFU in Ontario submits comments on Provincial Neonicotinoid Use Proposal

PDF Version January 23, 2015 Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Policy Division Food Safety and Environmental Policy Branch1 Stone Road West, Floor 2 Guelph Ontario N1G 4Y2 Read more

Protecting Ontario’s Pollinators – Who Walked Away from the Discussion, Who Stayed?

A Report on the December 18 Agricultural Stakeholder Meetingby Ann Slater, National Farmers Union Vice President (Policy) On December 18, 2014 the National Farmers Union sent two representatives to the Agricultural Stakeholder Engagement meeting on the Ontario government's Pollinator Health proposal. The purpose of the meeting, according to representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of the Environment, was to provide an opportunity for farmers and farm organizations to provide input around the key components of the proposed regulation to restrict the use of neonicotinoid-treated corn and soybean seed in Ontario. The day opened with introductory remarks from Hon. Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. He reiterated the government's commitment to regulate the use of neonicotinoid-treated seed. Read more

Key Points for Public Consultation on Pollinator Health

On November 25, 2014 the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change jointly released Pollinator Health: A Proposal for Enhancing Pollinator Health and Reducing the Use of Neonicotinoid Pesticides in Ontario. Comments on the proposal can be submitted up until January 25, 2015. Read more

Groups Welcome Ontario Environmental Commissioner’s Call for Action on GE Alfalfa

<strong<span class="nfu nfu-angle-double-right"</span(Ottawa, Oct. 9, 2014)</strong<span class="nfu nfu-angle-double-right"</span- The National Farmers Union and the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network welcome a request from the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (ECO), Gord Miller, for action over pending release of genetically engineered (GE, also called genetically modified or GM) alfalfa.“We’re very pleased that the Commissioner is taking our concerns seriously and encouraging action from the Ontario government,” said Dianne Dowling, one of two Ontario farmers who filed a request last year asking the ECO for an environmental review of GE alfalfa. The provincial Ministry of the Environment denied the request but new comments from the Commissioner encourage the Ontario government to take action. “Now we need concrete action from our provincial government to stop GE alfalfa,” said Dowling. Read more

Will GM Crops Feed the World?

October 2014: We are often told that we need genetically modified (GM) crops to feed a growing population and reduce hunger around the world. Although compelling, this claim is false, and ignores the many negative impacts of the technology. CBAN's report examines experiences with GM crops from around the world and exposes the many ways in which they threaten the environment and farmers’ livelihoods, and overlook the real causes of hunger. Using case studies from around the world, the report shows that there is no place for GM crops in an ecologically sustainable and socially just food system. Read more

Emergency flood relief, infrastructure maintenance and climate policy all needed, says NFU

<strong<span class="nfu nfu-angle-double-right"</span(JULY 3, 2014,</strong<span class="nfu nfu-angle-double-right"</span <strong<span class="nfu nfu-angle-double-right"</spanDeleau, MB)</strong<span class="nfu nfu-angle-double-right"</span- Intense, widespread flooding in eastern Saskatchewan and western Manitoba over the Canada Day weekend has caused unprecedented damage to farms, crops, farmland and rural infrastructure. The National Farmers Union (NFU) urges the federal and provincial governments to provide a stream-lined process to get emergency relief funds to all affected farmers as quickly as possible. Rural Municipalities must be funded to maintain and upgrade infrastructure to handle more frequent and severe storms. The NFU also calls upon all levels of government to implement effective greenhouse gas reduction policies to prevent the acceleration of climatic instability. “We know about spring flooding, but now we are also getting flooded by huge rainstorms that last for days. It’s like an inland hurricane,” said NFU Region 5 (MB) Coordinator, Ian Robson. Read more

NFU calls for moratorium on neonicotinoid seed treatments

<strong<span class="nfu nfu-angle-double-right"</spanNFU calls on Senate Committee to recommend five-year moratorium on neonicotinoid seed treatments</strong<span class="nfu nfu-angle-double-right"</span <strong<span class="nfu nfu-angle-double-right"</span(May 1, 2014, Ottawa)</strong<span class="nfu nfu-angle-double-right"</span – Today the National Farmers Union (NFU) appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry to provide Senators with the organization’s analysis and recommendations regarding the use of neonicotinoid seed treatments on field crops in Canada. The Senate Committee is currently studying the importance of bees and bee health in the production of honey, food and seed in Canada. “It has been little more than a decade since the product was introduced and already neonicotinoids are being used across Canada at an unprecedented scale, resulting in significant harm to bees and likely to wild pollinators and natural ecosystems as well,” said Ann Slater, NFU Vice-President, Policy. Read more