Wandering through the crowds of agriculturists at the recent Chatham-Kent Farm Show I had the chance to chat with a number of them about the neonic preparations.
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You know the drill if you want to use the common and popular seed protection tool into 2017 you have to do some soil testing and prove a need.
To do that testing you have to take a half day course, and then be ready to get out in the field.
It is interesting and perhaps surprising to note that a fair number of people have taken or are planning to take the course this winter.
Many were chatting with dealership representative about what is required.
It seems this has farm interest and awareness, in some cases it also has concern but the concern isn't always where you might think.
I spoke to some farmers who don't think the course and the field work is all that onerous, they say they would be out in the field doing soil tests anyway, and learning something new is always a good thing.
As you might expect some take the opposite view that it is a lot of extra work. I've heard a couple of times too, that for farms that have added smaller acreages here and there over the years, lining up the role numbers can be a nuisance.
Some are taking a more laid back approach. Manana some are saying. I don't need to be compliant yet, so I am holding off.
Some have good reason for that. They may be planning to consult someone who has taken the course, and I ran into a few who plan to spend this cropping year with 50% neonic treated seed and 50% not and find out how the yield is affected for themselves.
I even met one or two who don't think it will make much difference and will be happy not use the product.
Well I don't know about that. That is completely the opposite of the farmer who told me he has to have them and can't farm without them.
Time, I guess, will tell.
Along the way there are other concerns. Over time we understand farm owners will be restricted from doing their own testing and the certified person who does the tests will have to be independent , not an employee of a company that sells the products.
While everyone can perhaps see the logic of that, I can also see that crop advisors with many years of experience in putting their clients needs first as the best way to build a faithful client relationship might feel a bit miffed at the implication they would cheat.
What I did not sense, in talking to farmers about the issue was panic. Frustration sometimes, a bit of anger here and there, and as mentioned, sometimes indifference.
I don't think anyone is running scared, fearful that their business is in jeopardy.
One does get a sense however that the over-riding feeling among many grain and oilseed farmers is that it is time to look into the toolkit for different tools.
A lot are hoping that there are new products coming that will make the whole neonic debate irrelevant .
I don't know. I can't see into the future, but if so it would very welcome news on all kinds of levels.
