The Past Chair of the District 8 Grain Farmers of Ontario expects neonics to continue to be a contentious issue this year.
Speaking at their annual conference yesterday in Holmesville Joe Vermunt said it's clear the Province intends to stick to its position, but he adds the grain farmers are going to press their point that they're willing to co-operate.
But some of the things the province is asking for are not practical and there needs to be more science done on the issue.
Vermunt also points out some things grain farmers are being asked to do like planting cover crops to protect the soil also attracts the pests that they're trying eliminate, and if they don't have the tools they need to protect themselves, the only alternative is to go back to the way they used to do things.
That could mean empty fields in the spring and fall.
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Vermunt says farmers are willing to work with the Province but there has to be some give and take from both sides....
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/1Vermunt-Neonics.mp3"][/audio]
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Vermunt says farmers have proven they are willing to change practices to help the environment, but points out that some of those changes, like planting cover crops, increase the risk of pests ....
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/2Vermunt-Neonics.mp3"][/audio]
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Vermunt points out that cover crops help attract more pests that attack crops, and without the tools they need farmers will be tempted to go back to the way they used to farm.....
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/3Vermunt-Neonics.mp3"][/audio]
