This ban is specific to Lawn Area Only when not allowing PESTICIDES registered with Health Canada. If you want to use the Registered Insectiside SPINOSAD (exempt for lawn and garden uses) or GLYPHOSATE in the garden or flower bed, around buildings, machinery, structures, go nuts.
This ban removes chemicals like 2,4-D from the applicators toolbox (for usage on the Lawn Area only) then substitutes it with Bogus Green Alternatives that are proven ineffective by the Green Industry in Ontario.
This ban also tries to reduce the amount of glyphosate usage on the lawn area only (Roundup is not suited for lawns).
Tree Injections allowed with Registered PESTICIDES (imidacloprid for example)
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Landscape Nova Scotia “relatively pleased” with pesticide regulations
- Published on January 6th, 2011
- Published on January 6th, 2011
- Heather Jones
Thompson said LNS is “cautiously optimistic” about the final result of the regulations because a class of lawn treatment products was added to the allowable list that are effective products for managing insect problems for lawns.
He explained that LNS had been very concerned with the original draft of the allowable list that had been based on Ontario legislation. “There were no products on the draft list that would work on insects that infest lawns and for certain types of lawn damaging insects, especially chinch bugs, we have heavier insect pressures than they do in Ontario.”
LNS and other stakeholders were consulted this summer when the list was being prepared. “But until we saw this most recent list we felt like we were being listened to but nobody heard us. We felt they had their minds made up.”
LNS “pointed out the shortcomings and the government changed it. It’s nice to see they didn’t just follow Ontario. They listened,” Thompson said.
The lawn care products on the allowable list are “significantly more expensive that products we used in past years,” he noted. “And along with being more expensive we face challenges in how to manage our customers’ properties and how to properly use these products.
“But we have tools that we can use and we’ll be able to work our way through it. With the products on the allowable list presently, I believe our industry will survive. And hopefully thrive.”
But there is a flaw in the new regulations. “There are new products being developed all the time. LNS wanted the legislation to include a process and guidelines that would allow new products to be added to the list.” Thompson said, “At present the process to add products to the allowable list is not clear, and there are no scientific guidelines that the government will follow that we are aware of.”
The organization had also been concerned about the timing of the allowable list’s release. They had hoped it would be available in the fall so retailers could adjust their inventory and the lawn care industry could adapt its business plans for the next growing season.
While Dec. 6 was late, Thompson said it was “better (than if they had waited until) the new year or next spring.”
He and LNS are preparing for the next debate on this issue. Halifax and Truro both have pesticide bylaws that were not pre-empted in the new regulations.
Thompson explained, “If the municipalities retain their pesticide bylaws it will create a lot of confusion for our industry and the public. We intend to lobby these municipalities to repeal their bylaws. We feel they are no longer necessary now that we have a consistent set of rules across the province.”
For regulations and the list of allowable pesticides, visit www.gov.ns.ca/just/regulations/rxam-z.htm#non
Landscape Nova Scotia “relatively pleased” with pesticide regulations – Agriculture – Farm Focus.
