May 6, 2023 | International
(PDF Version)
5 May 2023 (amended from 2013 version)
Insect pollinators are vital to agricultural production and the environment. Many farmers use pesticides to protect their crops from insect pests, weeds and diseases. However, some pesticides are toxic to bees and other pollinators through direct contact, such as from over-spray or from pesticide drift. Residues of certain pesticides that remain on leaves, in pollen and nectar, or in water sources could also harm pollinators through ingestion and/or contact.
The following best management practices are provided to help protect bees and other insect pollinators, including honeybees, from pesticide spray applications and drift throughout the growing season.
Practice Integrated Pest Management
Practicing integrated pest management (IPM) is essential for sustainable pest control. This approach can include cultural practices to discourage pests, correct identification of the pest problem, determination that pest levels warrant pesticide treatment, and pesticide application at the lowest effective label rate.
Know where beehives are located
Communication and cooperation among growers, pesticide applicators and beekeepers on the location of beehives, type of pesticide to be applied, timing and location of spraying, and the potential for drift, can help reduce pesticide exposure to bees. For example, if spraying is planned, contact beekeepers that have beehives near the crop to be sprayed. Such communication enables beekeepers to confirm that hives are located upwind of areas to be sprayed or in shelter belts. It also helps beekeepers determine when to temporarily protect or relocate hives, when feasible.
Observe pollinator activity to minimize exposure
Honeybees forage most actively during the daytime, on sunny days, and at temperatures above 13°C. Other pollinators, such as bumblebees, may forage at temperatures below 13°C.
Pollinators visit crop and non-crop areas for nectar and pollen – including flower blooms on crops, trees, shrubs, weeds, and native vegetation. Pollinators may also be attracted to certain plants that produce nectar when not in bloom, and to the honeydew produced by many plant-sucking insects. It is therefore important to observe pollinator activity both at the application site and in the vicinity, and take the following steps to minimize pollinator exposure:
Always read and follow the pesticide label instructions.
When a pesticide label indicates it may be toxic to bees/pollinators, it is important to:
Avoid spraying when crops or weeds in the treatment area are in bloom: time applications to minimize bee exposure (for example, before flowering or after blooms have gone).
Avoid spraying when bees are foraging: spraying during the day when bees are foraging can be the most hazardous. When environmental conditions permit, apply pesticides late in the evening when most pollinators are not foraging.
Avoid spraying when bees are foraging in ground cover containing blooming weeds: (for example, in an orchard) if application is necessary, consider removing flowers before pesticide application (for example, by mowing, disking or mulching).
Monitor environmental conditions to minimize drift
Environmental conditions can contribute to spray drift, which may be hazardous to pollinators.
Check the weather forecast before application and be mindful of changing conditions.
Initiate spray operations when the wind is blowing away from beehives and pollinator-attractive habitat.
Spray during cool temperatures and high humidity.
Spray in the evening when winds are low; however, do not spray during periods of “temperature inversion” which may occur when the air mass near the ground is cooler than the air immediately above it. It typically occurs between sunset and one to two hours after sunrise, and can cause pesticides to drift unpredictably and/or be carried over large distances when winds pick up. Some useful indicators of temperature inversions are evening/early morning mist, fog, dew or frost; and smoke, dust or fog that hangs in the air and/or moves sideways without dispersing.
Use equipment that reduces drift
Minimize spray drift to areas adjacent to the application site, particularly when weeds or other plants are in bloom.
Select drift-reducing spray nozzle technology, whenever possible.
Since fine droplets tend to drift farther, apply spray at lower pressures or choose low-drift nozzles that reduce drift by producing a medium-to-coarse droplet size. Calibrate spray equipment often.
Install shrouds or cones on field sprayers to significantly reduce spray drift.
Airblast sprayers can produce finer droplets with greater drift potential. When using an airblast sprayer, consider redirecting or turning off nozzles, or use technologies that reduce drift (for example, hooded towers, wraparound, and tunnel and target-sensing sprayers).
For aerial applications, ensure that the maximum boom width does not exceed 65% of the wingspan. Choose the appropriate nozzle and orient it to deliver as coarse as possible a droplet size without significant decrease in efficacy.
Target only the target area
Apply pesticides only to the area needed.
Follow the buffer zone instructions on the pesticide label.
Shut off sprayer when making turns at field ends or gardens, near large puddles, ponds and other sources of water that may be used by pollinators and other wildlife.
Shut off individual nozzles where it is not necessary to spray, such as gaps in the crop or shrubbery.
Exercise pollinator-friendly practices throughout the growing season
Bees and other pollinators collect pollen, nectar and water from different sources that could become contaminated with pesticide residue.
Avoid contamination of plants, water and soil that may be used by pollinators.
Provide pollinator-friendly habitat (for example, alfalfa, clover, wildflowers) away from crops.
Report suspected pollinator pesticide poisonings
For suspected pollinator poisonings related to pesticides, contact the appropriate federal/provincial authority. See the pollinator protection webpage on Canada.ca for the appropriate federal and provincial contacts and additional information: www.canada.ca/pollinators.
Related information
Additional information and best practices can be found at Health Canada’s pollinator protection web page www.canada.ca/pollinators or by contacting Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency at 1-800-267-6315.
May 6, 2023 | International
(PDF Version)
5 May 2023 (Amended from 2015 version)
Requirement
When using a seed flow lubricant for planting corn or soybean seed treated with neonicotinoid insecticides clothianidin, thiamethoxam or imidacloprid, only a dust-reducing fluency agent is permitted to minimize the potential for abrasion that produces insecticidal seed dust. Talc and graphite are not permitted to be used as a seed flow lubricant for corn or soybean seed treated with these insecticides. Carefully follow the use directions provided with the dust-reducing fluency agent.
Best management practices
Insect pollinators are vital to agricultural production and the environment. Many farmers, including those who grow corn and soybeans, use insecticide-treated seed to protect their crop from insect pests. Some insecticides, such as neonicotinoids, are toxic to pollinators. Planting of treated seed can spread dust that contains insecticide into the air, placing pollinators at significant risk of exposure to toxic insecticides. Factors that impact the risk of exposure include the use of treated seed, type of planting equipment, planting conditions, flowering resources and bee yard locations.
The following Best Management Practices (BMPs) are provided to reduce the risk to bees and other insect pollinators from exposure to dust from treated seed. The BMPs provide a toolbox of options that should be used in combination wherever possible.
Read and adhere to the pesticide label and seed tag directions
Directions for use on pesticide product labels or on treated seed labels (such as personal protective equipment and buffer zones) must always be followed to minimize risks to human health and the environment.
Practice integrated pest management when choosing seed treatments
Practicing integrated pest management (IPM) is essential for sustainable pest control. This approach can include cultural practices to discourage pests (for example, crop rotation), correct identification of the pest problem and risk factors.
As part of an IPM program, evaluate fields and determine if soil pests are present at threshold levels or if fields have a high pest risk before making a decision to use treated seed. (In the Related Information section of this document, please see provincial websites for soil pest information.)
Use insecticide treated seed only where necessary.
If insecticide treatment is required, use the lowest effective seed treatment rate.
Most seed companies can accommodate orders for non-insecticide treated seed. Talk to your seed dealer about timing and options.
Develop and maintain shared communication with beekeepers to help protect honeybees
Communication and cooperation among growers, custom operators and beekeepers on the timing of planting treated seed and the location of hives can help reduce the risk of bee incidents. This communication will enable growers to know which fields have hives located close by and provide advanced notice to beekeepers of planting intentions, allowing beekeepers to ensure hives are located strategically, take actions to temporarily protect or relocate hives where feasible, and ensure clean water sources are provided.
Beekeepers should inform growers of hive locations.
Growers should inform beekeepers of timing of planting treated seed and pesticide applications.
Recognize pollinator habitat and take special care to reduce dust exposure
Bees collect pollen and nectar from flowering crops, trees and weeds, as well as water from puddles and moist soil in or beside fields. Pollinators can be exposed to treated seed dust when it is carried in the air or deposited on food and water sources.
During planting season, weeds, such as dandelions, and flowering trees, including maples, willows, hawthorns, apples, etc., are important pollinator foraging resources.
Dust emitted through planter exhaust may be transported under all weather conditions. Pollinator exposure may be increased under very dry and/or windy conditions that favour dust transport. Avoid planting treated seed under these conditions if flowering resources, standing water or bee yards are located downwind, and follow best practices to reduce dust exposure.
Control flowering weeds in the field before planting so that pollinators are not attracted to in-field forage.
Avoid generating dust when handling and loading treated seed
Handle bags with care during transport, loading and unloading in order to reduce abrasion, dust generation and spillage.
Do not load or clean planting equipment near bee colonies, and avoid places where bees may be foraging such as flowering crops, trees or weeds.
When turning on the planter, avoid engaging the system where emitted dust may contact honeybee colonies or foraging pollinators.
Managing planting equipment to decrease dust drift
Research indicates that use of vacuum (negative pressure) planters poses a significant risk of pollinator exposure from drift of insecticide containing dust exhausted from these planters. Limited information is available on the extent of exposure through other planter types. All growers should take care to reduce/control insecticide containing dust exhausted from planters.
Follow the directions provided by planting equipment manufacturers and keep up to date on new use practices.
Clean and maintain planting equipment regularly, including the fan housing and hoppers of air-assisted planters. For example, vacuum any dust remaining in the fan housing and hopper.
Use deflector equipment, where appropriate, to direct exhaust to the ground level and thus reduce dust drift.
Use appropriate seed flow lubricant
Seed flow lubricants may affect the generation of dust during planting.
Only a dust-reducing fluency agent is permitted with corn or soybean seed treated with neonicotinoid insecticides clothianidin, thiamethoxam or imidacloprid.
Talc and graphite are not permitted to be used as a seed flow lubricant for corn or soybean seed treated with these insecticides.
Carefully follow the use directions for the dust-reducing fluency agent.
Ensure proper clean-up and disposal
Take care when cleaning up after planting seed and follow provincial/municipal disposal requirements:
Spilled or exposed seeds and dust must be incorporated into the soil or cleaned-up from the soil surface.
Keep treated seed and dust away from surface water.
Do not leave empty seed bags or left-over treated seed in fields or the environment.
Participate in collection programs for seed bags where available.
Report suspected pollinator pesticide poisonings
For suspected pollinator poisonings related to planting of treated seed or pesticides, contact the appropriate federal/provincial authority.
See the pollinator protection webpage on Canada.ca for appropriate federal and provincial contacts or additional information: www.canada.ca/pollinators.
Related information
Additional information and best practices can be found at Health Canada’s pollinator protection webpage: www.canada.ca/pollinators or by contacting Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency at 1-800-267-6315.
The following provincial sites provide soil pest information to support IPM practices:
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Québec : Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation
Dec 29, 2022 | Business
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – WEBWIRE – Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Save the Children has suspended its operations in Afghanistan following the Talibans announcement that women are banned from working for INGOs. We cannot andwill not operate without the full participation of and guarantees of safety for our female front line and office-based staff.
A Save the Children spokesperson said: Female staff members are at the heart of Save the Childrens work in Afghanistan. They are our doctors, nurses, midwives, they are our counselors, case workers and teachers, they are our finance, security, and human resources experts.
Most importantly, our female staff members enable us to access women and children. Most women in Afghanistan are only allowed to see female health professionals and case workers, and girls can only be taught by female teachers. If female staff are removed from the NGO workforce in Afghanistan, we will no longer be able to provide life-saving services to millions of women and children. Without them, we simply cannot safely operate.
The ban on female staff will have a direct impact on the life-saving assistance Save the Children provides and we are calling for an immediate reversal to this decision.
Save the Children is one of the largest INGOs in the country and has been operating in Afghanistan since 1976. Here are nine facts about Save the Childrens work in Afghanistan:
- Number of staff in Afghanistan 5,700 staff and community workers
- Number of women staff 2,490 staff or community workers
- Number of people helped since Save the Children restarted operations in September 2021 following the Taliban takeover 3.9 million people, including 1 million girls and 1.2 million women
- Number of provinces where Save the Children works 17 out of 34 (both directly and through partners)
- Number of children in need of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan 14 million
- Number of children with severe acute malnutrition Save the Children is currently treating 73,000
- Number of women currently receiving care via Save the Children mobile clinics 30,000
- Number of community-based education classes run by Save the Children 3,392
- Number of households who have received cash assistance from Save the Children totaling 16.4 million USD 130,514
For more information, or to arrange a media interview, contact media@savechildren.org.
Notes to editors:
[1] Save the Children directly provides essential support for children and their families in 10 provinces (Kabul, Kandahar, Balkh, Sar-e-Pul, Jawzjan, Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Faryab, and Logar provinces) and through partners in seven provinces (Badakhshan, Takhar, Helmand, Uruzgan, Herat, Kunduz, and Paktika).
Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, weve changed the lives of more than 1 billion children. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children every day and in times of crisis transforming their lives and the future we share. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
