Overhaul of fumigant regulations could be tough on FV growers
Many farmsmight be too small to operate under PMRA’s proposal for buffer zones.
By Judie Steeves T
he comment period is already officially over, but growers may still wish to contact their federal representative with any concerns about a proposal by Health Canada that would severely limit their ability to use fumigants. The move by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency of Health Canada follows similar action taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
In Canada, metam sodium and metam potassium are currently registered for use as soil fumigants for control of nematodes, fungi and weed seeds in open land, nurseries and greenhouses.
All fumigants are under review by the PMRA, with a proposal for buffers and notification requirements that would make it impossible for most growers to use them in the Fraser Valley with the small size of land parcels being farmed. (This is the link for more details:
www.msodpot-eng.php)
Brian Johnston, sales manager of the fruit and vegetable sector for TerraLink Horticulture Inc. in Abbotsford, says the proposal is unrealistic and would leave vast tracts of land in the Agricultural Land Reserve a wasteland which couldn’t be farmed.
The proposal would require that buffer zones are larger as the rate of the chemical to be applied increases, so that a grower could end up with a buffer zone of 800 metres around his field, noted Johnston.
Vapam is the fumigant that is of concern to Fraser Valley growers, particularly raspberry growers, and
Johnston says, “I believe the system (for applying it) is very safe.” The chemical of concern is actually formed underground, he explained, and it is gone within three weeks. The fumigant applied with special equipment in a liquid form using the rotovate and roll application that seals it under the ground.
“The spray is so fine you can’t even see it, and it’s packed immediately. You can walk on the ground after it has been applied,” Johnston commented.
The changes proposed were written without consideration for farmers’ costs, he contends. There are also unrealistic air monitoring requirements, such as testing in the middle of the night, at sunrise and sunset, he said.
He has submitted his comments to the PMRA and asked what precipitated the changes proposed. He speculates that the changes could be directed toward a different product.
Mark Sweeney, berry specialist with the agriculture ministry, said he is hopeful there will be some
compromises on the regulations being considered.
Fumigation is a grower’s main defence against nematodes and other root rot organisms, he noted. Although there’s no question fumigants are toxic and proper guidelines are needed for their application, Sweeney said the chemical is not activated above the soil and it’s not sprayed onto the soil, so it is very safe and low-risk. Growers don’t even apply it themselves. They have to hire an applicator.
However, Sweeney said he has heard about incidents south of the border where there were malfunctions and it’s important to ensure the material is safely used. But, he said, some of the buffer requirements in the proposal would simply not be possible on the small fields in the Fraser Valley. The ministry will be commenting on the proposal and Sweeney said there will also be a review period following the initial consultation before anything is implemented, so that could be a year or so away.
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British Columbia Berry Grower • Winter 2010-11 15
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