News

PRESS RELEASE:  April 21, 2020

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Course for Corn and Soybeans Update

RIDGETOWN, ON

Ontario has made changes to the requirements for the purchase and use of corn and soybean seeds treated with neonicotinoid insecticides, imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam (i.e. Class 12 pesticides).  Regulatory changes proposed last year to reduce complexity and regulatory burden have been implemented including:

•    Farmers are still required to be certified by successfully completing the IPM Course for Corn and Soybeans, but now, this certification only needs to be completed once.  If you have previously been certified your certification no longer expires every 5 years and will continue to be valid.

•    The Pest Assessment Report (PAR) or a new Pest Risk Assessment Report (PRAR), only needs to be completed once per farm property, it does not need to be repeated yearly. If you have previously completed a pest assessment report that was prepared and signed under O. Reg. 63/09 prior to April 10, 2020, you may continue to use that report to purchase and use Class 12 pesticides.

•    Treated Seed Vendor requirements have also changed.  A Treated Seed Vendor no longer is required to obtain copies of the PAR/PRARs, Written Declarations and certificate numbers from IPM certified farmers; and to complete sales records of each Class 12 pesticide sold and amount.  Vendors only need to request to view these documents to complete their sales records.

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks will no longer post a list of Class 12 pesticides.

The IPM Course for Corn and Soybeans has been offered since 2015.  Currently approximately 12,000 are certified through the program.  Topics discussed focus on integrated pest management principles for Class 12 pesticides, pollinator protection, regulations, and best practice management principals.  Any person who has not previously completed the course and requires Class 12 pesticides may complete the requirements by signing up for an online course. To sign up for an IPM Course for Corn and Soybeans, people can go online at www.IPMcertified.ca or call 1-866-225-9020.

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