By: Quinton Cubbon, Crop Extension Specialist, Regional Services, North Battleford
August 2024
Harvest is upon us, thanks in part to the extreme heat the entire province has endured over the past three weeks. Farmers can prepare their fields using a desiccant to help dry-down green material, primarily the upper canopy of a crop and weeds. A desiccant will not hasten the maturity of green crops but will aid in facilitating harvest and crop dry-down. Currently, there is only one active ingredient for farmers to use as a desiccant in Western Canada, which is known as diquat. Desiccants may be confused with pre-harvest weed control products such as glyphosate, saflufenacil and many more. But what happens when an unregistered product is used for a pre-harvest aid or desiccant?
Canada’s agricultural sector relies on farmers complying with the rules and regulations set in place by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) before a product may be registered in Canada. The product must pass rigorous assessments on safety, efficacy and environmental impact. Some products that are approved in Canada may not adhere to the same regulations as other countries; this impacts the grain trade. Even products that are registered in Canada may have certain restrictions put in place by grain buyers. Typically, an elevator (the buyer) will have a contract for a seller to sign agreeing that the seller will adhere to their rules. Different buyers can have different regulations; for example the seller must understand the allowable pesticides via a declaration of eligibility for delivery. Some products registered for use in Canada are not allowed in some contracts due to the potential that the residue levels are not acceptable for exportation.
Canada follows the international standard of maximum residue limits (MRLs) and adheres to these rules to help avoid barriers to international trade. PMRA sets these limits to ensure that any residues found on the food are safe for human consumption even at the maximum allowable level. If the regulations are not followed, it could cause market access issues, scrutiny and possible rejection of a commodity causing significant export losses. In severe cases, an outright ban on exports may be implemented if the MRLs are frequently violated. Financial losses are not only translated to the government but to the grower, as it limits available countries willing to purchase the product. This can cause a decrease in the commodity price for Canadian growers. Scrutiny can cause additional testing before the commodity is shipped and can lead to shipping delays which can cost Canadian exporters more money.
It is important for growers to understand MRLs, who they are selling to and what restrictions their buyer might have on products sprayed as a pre-harvest aid or desiccant. Reading up-to-date chemical labels and staying up to date with MRL information will help to avoid any trade implications. Keep It Clean tool is useful to help address certain products that may have restrictions, aren’t registered, have market acceptance issues or cannot be used. It is very informative if there is any uncertainty about what products may be applied. Consult your grain buyer and read over grain contracts to ensure that an unregistered product is not applied. Exceeding the International Standard for MRLs can have severe consequences for agricultural exports that include market rejections, financial losses, and reputational damage. For any questions you may have, contact your local crop extension specialist at 1-866-457-2377.