Photo by Victor YoungPhoto by Victor Young
Sarnia

GFO Nervously Waiting For Neonic Court Ruling

Grain Farmers of Ontario Chair Mark Brock is concerned they still don't have a ruling in the group's latest legal action against the new neonic-treated seed regulations.

A similar ban overseas in Europe has wreaked havoc on a number of crops and there are fears that the same events could play out here in Ontario.

The GFO is asking that the government delay the ban until further research can be conducted and farmers can find alternative crop treatments.

Brock says GFO has learned some lessons from what's happened so far.

“From an organization standpoint as farmers we have to broaden our scope of who we try to influence within government. I think there’s always been a pretty significant focus just on OMAFRA but we’ve realized now that we probably have to look at the MOECC as well in terms of having conversations with them and other ministries as well.”

Brock adds it's hard to guess what their changes are going to be with the legal action.

"After going through the first court hearing that we had it really showed that you have to have a fair bit of patience when you’re waiting on a ruling and you’re never sure what the outcome is going to be. I think we’re taking the same approach with this one we just kind of hope we get an answer sooner than we did from the last one because it’s a pretty critical issue as we head into the spring for planting.”

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Mark Brock says until the court ruling comes down there's little more that can be done.

[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/GFO-Brock-1.mp3"][/audio]

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Brock says a similar restriction in Europe has wreaked havoc on a number of crops there and there are fears the same could happen in Ontario.

[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/GFO-Brock-2.mp3"][/audio]

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