OTTAWA, ONTARIO – Agricultural and landscaping groups, along with Canada’s plant science industry, are disappointed with the Ontario government’s regulations banning the sale and use of pesticides for lawns and gardens. They say the government has failed to develop a solid, scientific foundation for the new regulations and warn the decision will have negative impacts.
“Ontario farmers are disappointed that these regulations are not science-based,” said Bette Jean Crews, president of Ontario Federation of Agriculture. “The government is discouraging innovation with these regulations and that jeopardizes the ability of farmers to continue to produce a safe and affordable supply of healthy foods. Without access to the newest pest control innovations, Ontario farmers will soon find they are at a competitive disadvantage.”
“These regulations send a negative – and inaccurate – message to the public about the adequacy of the federal regulatory system and at the same time increases the risk of Ontario farms being exposed to pest infestations from non-agricultural land,” said Paul Wettlaufer, a farmer and vice-chair of Agricultural Groups Concerned about Resources and the Environment (AGCare).
“These regulations will have a negative impact on Ontario’s 20,000 lawn care professionals and Ontarians are soon going to notice the lack of effective options available to control fungus on their roses, insects such as grubs in their lawns, or weeds taking over their patios and turf,” said Tony DiGiovanni, executive director of Landscape Ontario.
“The Ontario government has created an environment of uncertainty that makes it unlikely Canada will be seen as a place to invest as newer and more effective pest control products are made available in other countries,” said Lorne Hepworth, president of CropLife Canada. “The consequences of these irrational decisions won’t be felt immediately, but one day Ontarians will realize that the products this government is banning provided safe and effective ways of dealing with pest problems that are detrimental to human health and safety, and which cause landscape and structural losses that have real and significant financial costs.”
In Canada, all pesticides, whether they are intended for agricultural, lawn and garden, golf, forestry, or structural pest control, must meet high standards set by Health Canada before they are approved for sale and use. Under this rigorous regulatory system, Canadians have access to pesticides that can be safely used and which are proven to be effective at dealing with pests that can create a myriad of problems.
These four associations represent more than 40,000 Ontario farm families, 20,000 lawn care professionals and nursery operations in Ontario, and the manufacturers, developers and distributors of Canada’s $1.4 billion pest control products industry.
The Ontario turfgrass industry maintained 390,000 acres of turfgrass in 2007 while generating $2.6 Billion in revenue to the economy. The industry also provided 33,000 full time jobs while spending an additional $1.75 Billion on operating and equipment expenditures.
In a related matter, The Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation this past December released a detailed reportof the economic size of the Ontario turfgrass industry. This commissioned study measures the scale and the breadth of the industry both in physical terms (acreage, employment) as well as in economic terms (gross revenue, expenditures on operating and equipment).
The report determined that the Ontario turfgrass industry maintained 390,000 acres of turfgrass in 2007 while generating $2.6 Billion in revenue to the economy. The industry also provided 33,000 full time jobs while spending an additional $1.75 Billion on operating and equipment expenditures.
The Ontario turgrass industry consists of diverse segments, such as golf courses, municipal parks, sod farms, lawn care companies and sports fields. Surveyed industry professionals and selected turfgrass industry segments, along with other data sources, provided an in depth analysis of the value of Ontario turfgrass industry. The results of this study emphasize the importance of the turfgrass industry to the economy of Ontario.
Here are some of the findings of the study for 2007:
— Revenues: Lawn Care Industry, $1.26 billion; Golf Industry, $1.25 billion; Sod Farm Industry $108 million
— Employment: Lawn Care, 21,000 employees; Golf, 17,000 employees; Public Sector 4,200 employees; Sod Farms, 1,000 employees
— Acres of Turfgrass: Household and Public Areas, 255,000 acres; Golf Industry, 98,600 acres; Sod Fars, 36,000 acres
— Operating & Equipment Expenses: Household and Public Areas, $718 million; Lawn Care Indsutry, $577 million; Golf Industry, $375 million; Sod Farms, $81 million
To access the full report, click here.
