Not only can bad weather cause a farmer to lose his/her entire crop but insects, weeds, and diseases can also wreak havoc on the harvest. Farmers work hard to protect their crops by using a management process known as Integrated Pest Management or IPM. IPM focuses on preventing pest or insect problems by growing healthy plants in healthy soil. If pests do occur, pesticides are used only as a last resort after all other methods of control have been considered.
All farmers in Ontario must take a course and pass an exam before they are allowed to purchase and apply pesticides. The course teaches them about integrated pest management and other land stewardship methods as well as how to apply and store pesticides safely, how to maintain the application equipment, and the importance of record-keeping. Farmers must retake this course and exam every five years to ensure they remain updated on new technologies.
Did you know?
Over the last twenty years, farmers have reduced their use of pesticides by 52%
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