Pesticides

Union Farmer Newsletter: September – October 2021

In this issue: Precision, power and precaution: gene editing How – or whether – Canada regulates gene editing has far-reaching implications Proposed MRL increase for glyphosate leads to pause, planned consultations   Precision, power and precaution: gene editing By Cathy Holtslander, NFU Director of Research and Policy Technologies are not simply tool sets, but are Read more

Response to PMRA Potential Environmental Risk to Squash Bee

Pest Management Regulatory Agency Publications Section Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) Health Canada 2720 Riverside Drive Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9 By e-mail: hc.pmra.publications-arla.sc@canada.ca August 13, 2021 Re: Proposed Special Review Decision PSRD2021-02, Special Reviews: Potential environmental risk related to squash bee (Peponapis pruinosa) exposure to Clothianidin, Thiamethoxam and Imidacloprid used on cucurbits The National Farmers Union Read more

Submission to PMRA on Glyphosate Proposed Maximum Residue Limit

NFU members are increasingly concerned about the health and environmental impacts of glyphosate. Via our democratic policy development process, we adopted our position opposed to the pre-harvest spraying of glyphosate in 2014. This stance informs our position against the proposed MRL increases. Read more

Union Farmer Newsletter: October – November 2019

Inside this issue … Seed Synergy update: Seed industry groups are preparing to consolidate power in one big organization —  Five of the six Seed Synergy groups are trying to merge into one big group as part of their push to get control of Canada’s seed regulatory system. GM Herbicide-Tolerant Crop Concerns — Bayer is Read more

Public Perception of the Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Sector

Submission to House of Commons Agriculture Committee

Pursuant to the motion adopted at its meeting on February 19, 2019, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food is undertaking a study on the public perception of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector. The Committee would like to understand the challenges and opportunities for the sector, measures taken by industry and government to improve Read more

Union Farmer Newsletter: January – February 2019

Farm Saved Seed Royalties: What you need to know – The corporate seed industry is lobbying the federal government to bring in new regulations under Canada’s Plant Breeders Rights Act to set up a system that would force farmers who plant newer varieties to pay a royalty every year even when planting farm saved seed. This Read more

Union Farmer Newsletter: September-October 2018

Canadians push for Food Sovereignty in National Food Policy Consultation • Agroecology – A concise visual comparison of food and agriculture systems based on industrial logic versus agroecological principles • Health Canada proposes 5-year phase out of neonicotinoids Read more

Bayer-Monsanto consolidation – media backgrounder

The Bayer-Monsanto deal will transfer significant seed, pesticide and technology assets to BASF, making BASF a more powerful multinational corporation in seed, digital agriculture and agro-chemicals. Read more

NFU comments on clothianidin and thiamethoxam pollinator re-evaluation

Comments submitted by the NFU on the proposed pollinator re-evaluation decisions regarding clothianidin and thiamethoxam (PRVD2017-23 and PRVD2017-24)

The NFU supports Health Canada’s proposed decision to protect pollinators by changing the ways clothianidin and thiamethoxam can be used. Clothianidin and thiamethoxam are neonicotinoid insecticides which are of increasing concern due to their impacts on non-target organisms, including domestic and wild pollinators. Read more

Union Farmer Newsletter: March 2017

The Case for a Carbon Tax • Neonicotinoids under review: PMRA proposes phase‐out of imidacloprid and launches review of clothianidin or thiamethoxam • The Public Trust PR Campaign: Agribusiness efforts to avoid public regulation • Grain farmers—we want to hear from you! • Do Farmers Really Believe a Market Exists For Grain Sales? Read more