b"Keeping Up with ChangeRecent re-evaluations by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency mean potato producers should take extra care to read the label when applying pesticides like chlorothalonil this year. BY: MARK HALSALLIN RECENT YEARS, special reviews and re-evaluation decisions on pesti- Shinners-Carnelley explains a vegetative filter strip is something cide uses by Health Canadas Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA)distinctly different from the spray buffer zones farmers are familiar with. have had a considerable impact on potato farming in Canada. Where a spray buffer zone protects terrestrial and aquatic habitats from For growers and other stakeholders in the industry, its been a challengespray drift, she says, a vegetative filter strip is aimed at reducing risk to to keep up with regulatory revisions which have resulted in significant labelaquatic organisms from run-off and is a permanent fixture of at least 10 changes and tighter restrictions for several important crop protection products. metres wide which has to be planted and maintained. In January, Tracy Shinners-Carnelley, vice-president, research and qualityThe main objective of Shinners-Carnelleys presentation at MPPD was to for Peak of the Market in Manitoba, talked about the PMRA re-evaluations athelp get the word out about vegetative filter strips and other changes, so Manitoba Potato Production Days (MPPD), stressing to growers how they needpotato producers can be compliant with new chlorothalonil label, she says. to be mindful of some new restrictions on pesticide use for the upcoming cropIn order for this to happen though, growers will need more information on yearincluding one change she says most potato producers probably arentvegetative filter strips.even aware of. The problem, according to Shinners-Carnelley, is the strips need to This change specifically relates to the use of chlorothalonil, the Group Mbe established on downhill slopes adjacent to an aquatic habitatbut fungicide which, along with another broad-spectrum product mancozeb, hastheres nothing on the chlorothalonil label stating what constitutes downhill formed the backbone of disease management in potatoes for many years,or if its determined by a particular slopes angle. She adds the definition of according to Shinners-Carnelley. an aquatic habitat is also up for discussion.Following the PMRAs re-evaluation decision on chlorothalonil in 2018,I think this is an area where further work needs to be done in terms of growers are now restricted to three applications of the fungicide on their pota- giving good guidance to producers, so they know what the best way is to to crops per year. Other measures were added to the label to reduce exposureconstruct a vegetative filter strip, Shinners-Carnelley says.to workers who prepare and apply the pesticide, as well as those who spendShe notes PMRA has indicated its working to provide clearer direction in this time in a field after its been sprayed. area and a vegetative filter strip calculator, similar to the spray buffer zone calcu-Shinners-Carnelley points out this year there will be something new on thelator available on the PMRA website, was among the options under consideration. chlorothalonil labelvegetative filter strips. This is a big change, she says.Shinners-Carnelley believes its likely vegetative filter strips could become I don't think that growers are really familiar with this new requirement.a requirement for other pesticides as well.Mancozeb being applied aerially to a potato field in Manitoba. PHOTO: JONAIR LTD.14 SPUDSMART.COM SPRING 2020"