b'A NEW TOOL HELPING YOU IN THE REALM OF RETAIL SEED SALES.A PRIMER ON QUEBECS RESTRICTIVE PESTICIDE REGULATIONSWhat you need to know about Quebecs rules around pesticides, which require growers to get a prescription to use certain chemistries.Marc ZienkiewiczIN 2015,the province of QuebecAnnie Bergeronpublished a study showingCEO, Les Grains Semtechtraces of certain pesticides wereChair, Association des marchands de semences du Qubec (AMSQ)found in Quebec rivers. The study made headlines in the newspapers which fuelledAnnie, youve been speaking out about thesurprise at the time. Retailers have to public fears of crop protec- pesticide situation in Quebec for a longensure the people making product rec-tion products, which inevitablytime now. Why is this important to AMSQ,ommendations dont also make the sales lead to new regulations thatQuebecs provincial seed dealers associa- of these products. put restrictions on the use oftion? A number of complications have several different chemistriesAMSQ is an association has existedresulted.commonly used in the seedfor more than 20 years and has many Shortage of resources in position industry.seed company members in Quebec. Itsto make the recommendations/write In Quebec, growers usingimportant for our members to share andprescriptionsany products containing fivecommunicate this information so they Uncertainty around the ability to specific chemistries nowcan be successful. Some of our memberssell and recommend productsrequire a prescription from anat AMSQ have their head office located Challenges with inventory manage-agronomist in every situationelsewhere in Canada or even the Unitedmentand for every field.States. We feel the decision makers of Potential change in distribution Agronomists are liable for allthese companies should be aware ofmodelsthe pesticides they prescribe.the regulatory environment specific to Puts pressure on producers to For retailers, a lot more workQuebec in a way where they can makechange or review their practices to stay needs to be done because theygood decisions to facilitate business incompetitive with other jurisdictions have to document all their salesQuebec. For example, corn seed treatedwhere regulations are softer.of these products.in the U.S. with restricted pesticides and In this edition of Retailthen sold in Quebec has caused head- What is AMSQ doing to try and resolve this?Roundtable, we talk about howaches for some. Pesticides are an important tool for this situation came about, howWe also have concerns that the regu- growers. We would like to find solution these regulations work, andlatory conditions occurring in Quebecthat allows us to use them without so how you can help educate themay expend to other provinces. many restrictions. Our goal is to rally public on why these tools areour industry together and have a strong needed and how they can beHow have seed retailers been impacted? voice. Were also trying to educate our properly managed to ensureThe first is prescription and justification,members of the three priorities the the environment is protectedwhere growers need a prescription fromQuebec government has when it comes and before similar legislationan agronomist to use atrazine, chlor- to pesticides: the environment, eco-comes to your province.pyrifos, clothianidin, imidacloprid andnomics and health. We want to strike thiamethoxam, and retailers cannot sella balance between what government these products without that prescription.wants and what the best interests of the This was introduced in 2018. It was aindustry are. 40GERMINATION.CAMARCH 2022'