Keep malathion away from canola seed!
August 11, 2006: The Canola Council of Canada reminds growers to keep malathion far away from canola seed. Council crop production VP JoAnne Buth says growers must not use the insecticide to treat canola in storage bins. In fact, she says growers shouldn’t store canola in bins that have been treated with malathion in the past six months.
Buth explains that malathion is an insecticide registered in Canada for foliar use and for empty bin treatment for stored product insects. It can still be used on the canola plant for in-season insect control according to label directions.
“But,” she says,” using it to treat canola for storage or in empty bins where canola will be stored will result in residues in the seed. And residues detected in canola exported to Japan could cost the industry, including farmers, millions of dollars in lost business.”
Japan is the number one customer of Canadian canola seed with imports valued at over $450 million each year. Buth says the Japanese industry is “very concerned over pesticide residues, especially those that are applied to stored canola or to empty bins. In addition, the Japanese government is introducing new food safety legislation that will prohibit entry of any commodities if pesticide residues are found above the allowable limit.”
If malathion is detected above the allowable limit in Japan, Buth says the shipment will be rejected and subsequent shipments would be subjected to increased testing.
Buth says there are other much better ways to make sure that insects are nto a problem in canola. Most insects in stored canola will not feed on sound, healthy seed. Moisture-loving fungus feeders such as foreign grain beetles, psocids and mites may be found in canola if it is in poor condition but the main problem is with stored product insects who invade if there’s cereal grain mixed in with stored canola.
She recommends that growers make sure their canola bins are free of chaff, seeds, and foreign material. Combine settings should be set to harvest sound seed. Bins must be well sealed to prevent moisture infiltration and totally insecticide-free. It is important to keep canola cool and dry in the bin. For long term storage, temperatures should be kept at less than 15 °C and grain moisture levels below 8 %.
For further information, call 1-866-834-4378 or check out the Canola Export Ready Recommendations at http://www.canola-council.org/export_ready.html
For more information in your area, contact:
John Mayko, Agronomic Research & Extension Manager, 780-764-2593
Derwyn Hammond, Manitoba, 204-729-9011
Jim Bessel, North Central & North Eastern Saskatchewan, 306-373-6771
David Vanthuyne, Eastern Saskatchewan, 306-782-7799
David Blais - Western Saskatchewan, 306-895-2122
Jackie Heck, Peace, 780-835-5261
Doug Moisey, Central Alberta, 780-645-3624
Matthew Stanford, Southern Alberta, 403-758-6660
This media release is part of the Canola Council’s Canola Advantage program.
The program is supported regionally by:
Alberta Canola Producers Commission; Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission;
Manitoba Canola Growers Association; Canola Council of Canada;
Peace River Agriculture Development Fund; and B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
August 11, 2006: The Canola Council of Canada reminds growers to keep malathion far away from canola seed. Council crop production VP JoAnne Buth says growers must not use the insecticide to treat canola in storage bins. In fact, she says growers shouldn’t store canola in bins that have been treated with malathion in the past six months.
Buth explains that malathion is an insecticide registered in Canada for foliar use and for empty bin treatment for stored product insects. It can still be used on the canola plant for in-season insect control according to label directions.
“But,” she says,” using it to treat canola for storage or in empty bins where canola will be stored will result in residues in the seed. And residues detected in canola exported to Japan could cost the industry, including farmers, millions of dollars in lost business.”
Japan is the number one customer of Canadian canola seed with imports valued at over $450 million each year. Buth says the Japanese industry is “very concerned over pesticide residues, especially those that are applied to stored canola or to empty bins. In addition, the Japanese government is introducing new food safety legislation that will prohibit entry of any commodities if pesticide residues are found above the allowable limit.”
If malathion is detected above the allowable limit in Japan, Buth says the shipment will be rejected and subsequent shipments would be subjected to increased testing.
Buth says there are other much better ways to make sure that insects are nto a problem in canola. Most insects in stored canola will not feed on sound, healthy seed. Moisture-loving fungus feeders such as foreign grain beetles, psocids and mites may be found in canola if it is in poor condition but the main problem is with stored product insects who invade if there’s cereal grain mixed in with stored canola.
She recommends that growers make sure their canola bins are free of chaff, seeds, and foreign material. Combine settings should be set to harvest sound seed. Bins must be well sealed to prevent moisture infiltration and totally insecticide-free. It is important to keep canola cool and dry in the bin. For long term storage, temperatures should be kept at less than 15 °C and grain moisture levels below 8 %.
For further information, call 1-866-834-4378 or check out the Canola Export Ready Recommendations at http://www.canola-council.org/export_ready.html
For more information in your area, contact:
John Mayko, Agronomic Research & Extension Manager, 780-764-2593
Derwyn Hammond, Manitoba, 204-729-9011
Jim Bessel, North Central & North Eastern Saskatchewan, 306-373-6771
David Vanthuyne, Eastern Saskatchewan, 306-782-7799
David Blais - Western Saskatchewan, 306-895-2122
Jackie Heck, Peace, 780-835-5261
Doug Moisey, Central Alberta, 780-645-3624
Matthew Stanford, Southern Alberta, 403-758-6660
This media release is part of the Canola Council’s Canola Advantage program.
The program is supported regionally by:
Alberta Canola Producers Commission; Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission;
Manitoba Canola Growers Association; Canola Council of Canada;
Peace River Agriculture Development Fund; and B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
Comment