MEMBER'S ONLY PORTALClick here to visit the new CPMA Member's Only Portal
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Pesticides Group, Environmentalists Debate Cost of Ontario Neonicotinoids Regulations
By Peter Menyasz
Canada's pesticides industry claims Ontario's proposed restrictions on neonicotinoid-treated seeds would cost the province's economy more than half a billion dollars a year, while environmental groups say it could boost the agriculture sector by protecting pollinators. In March, Ontario proposed regulatory amendments to reduce the use of the neonicotinoids imidacloprid, clothianidin or thiamethoxam on corn and soybean seeds by specifying them as a new class of pesticides subject to special rules for their sale and use (39 CRR 370, 3/30/15). "Research shows that the increased use of neonicotinoid insecticides-a pesticide that is highly toxic to bees and other pollinators-is contributing to the decline in pollinator populations," Ontario said in proposing the regulations, setting a goal of cutting the use of corn and soybean seeds treated with the insecticide by 80 percent by 2017. Regulations Could Begin July 1 Public comment on the proposal closed May 7. If adopted as expected, the regulations would take effect July 1, making Ontario one of the largest areas in North America to severely limit the use of neonicotinoids.CropLife Canada, in a study released May 11, claimed that the new regulations would cost the province C$660 million ($548 million) a year, hurting farmers and the environment, while doing "absolutely nothing" to help bees, Ted Menzies, the pesticides industry lobby group's president, said in a statement. "The cost burden of this plan is tremendous," he said. "All without tangible evidence that these regulations will have any positive impact on bee health." But environmental group Ecojustice challenged the study's conclusions, arguing that restricting neonicotinoids will help Ontario's economy in the long run because so much of the province's agricultural production depends on pollinators, including bees. Competing Studies "CropLife, which represents the pesticide industry, has historically fought sensible controls on pesticides every step of the way," Pierre Sadik, the Vancouver-based Ecojustice manager of legislative affairs, told Bloomberg BNA May 12 in an e-mail. Sadik said a study last year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concluded that neonicotinoid seed treatments offer little or no overall benefit to soybean production in most situations. "So the economic impact on the province will be nonexistent for this crop," he said. The study prepared for CropLife Canada by Ottawa-based regulatory impact consulting firm RIAS Inc. claimed that the regulations would reduce corn production by more than 2.6 million metric tons a year and soybean production by more than 1 million metric tons a year. For More Information
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Save the Date for Pest Management Canada 2016
Save the date for Pest Management Canada, April 13- 15, 2016 at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront.
To make your hotel reservations, please call 800-943-6760 to receive the rate of $166 per night.
Stay tuned for more details!
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QualityPro Releases Comprehensive Update
The new QualityPro Certification Handbook includes updated standards that define professionalism in pest management. Resources available to applied and certified companies have also been updated to ensure compliance with recent hiring regulations. For the first time, companies that have been in business for less than two years can gain access to these valuable resources. Read more...
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New Online ACE Exam Prep Track Unveiled
For many pest management professionals, self-study doesn't come as easy as it did back in school. With that in mind, NPMA has developed an ACE Exam Prep Track to help you prepare for the rigorous ACE exam offered by the Entomological Society of America. This course provides you with a variety of on-demand resources that you will aid in your preparatory efforts. This training is available on NPMA's Online Learning Center and includes:
- An overview of the new ACE exam
- A comprehensive resource and study guide
- Currently over 8 hours of training, with new content added as it's developed
- A weekly directed study schedule to keep you on track
- A full-length practice exam
To begin, log-on to the NPMA Online Learning Center and register for the ACE Exam Prep Track. This training is $99.95 for members.
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PWIPM Now Accepting Nominations for the Professional Empowerment Grant
PWIPM is now accepting nominations for their annual Professional Empowerment Grant. This grant will be awarded to one female who is interested in advancing or securing a career in pest management. This grant may be used by the recipient to defer costs related to advancing their career or education in the pest management industry. The grant will be a minimum of $1000. It also includes $500 towards travel expenses to attend the National Pest Management Association's PestWorld in Nashville, TN in October 2015. Click here for more details and requirements.
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Call for Nominations: Young Entrepreneur Award
Deadline for Submission: August 29
NPMA is currently accepting nominations for the annual Young Entrepreneur Award, presented by Rentokil Pest Control, recognizing young entrepreneurs (40 years of age or less) working in the professional pest management industry who have helped create or develop an industry business and/or those who have stewarded a meaningful industry concept to fruition. Click here for more details on requirements and to submit a nomination.
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Submit a Nomination for the Women of Excellence Award
Deadline for Submission: August 29
NPMA is now accepting nominations for the annual Women of Excellence Award, sponsored by Target Specialty Products.
The international honor is open to women across the pest management industry - PMP's, manufacturers, research organizations, etc. - who demonstrate outstanding leadership and have made notable contributions to the development and growth of the profession, their business, and other women in the industry.
Award nominations are due by Aug. 29, 2015 and the recipient will be recognized at PestWorld 2015, Oct. 20-23 in Nashville. Click here to view requirements and to submit your nomination.
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