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Pesticide-Free Crop Production Program

Scott Day, Agricultural Representative

Manitoba Agriculture and Food

Boissevain, MB

Pesticide Free Production ,or PFP, is a food production system in which crops bred using conventional techniques are grown without the use of chemical pest control methods from the time of crop emergence until the time of grain marketing. In addition, such crops cannot be grown where residual pesticides are considered to be commercially active. Pesticide Free Production and PFP are registered trademarks of the University of Manitoba. By producing crops in a pesticide –free production system in rotation with conventional crops, growers may be able to reduce input costs without sacrificing yields while retaining more of the income generated by the higher sale of their produce.

Higher input costs and the relatively stable value of agricultural commodities have reduced the economic benefits of pesticides. Researchers report that a producer could expect a return of $16.45 for every dollar spent on pesticides in 1973. In 1998, that return had decreased to $2.22 per dollar. Where pest populations are under control (below economic threshold levels), pesticides may be skipped for a single year without significant impact to the cropping system. Competitive crops and a diversified cropping rotation can assist in pest suppression,

In a PFP system, fertilizers can be used as they would in a conventional system. Some pesticides may be applied to the field in the year of PFP crop production, provided they are not applied directly to the crop and that they not have any residual soil activity during that crop year. For example, a pre-seeding weed control with a non-residual herbicide such as glyphosate is within the allowed guidelines, but a pre-seeding application of a product such as Pursuit is not allowed.

Many farmers are probably already producing some crops that would qualify as PFP. Oats, hay and flax are often produced "PFP". Unlike Organic production, there are no restrictions on the grower in terms of commitment to PFP. If, during the cropping year, the field significantly requires a pesticide then the farmer simply uses the pesticide and the crop is then marketed in the conventional system just like would have been done in the past.

PFP Canada: Pesticide Free Production Canada or PFPC is an organization of Manitoba Farmers, researchers, and extension personnel. PFPC is dedicated to research and education activities that support reduced pesticide crop production and a more integrated approach to crop production. While PFP research is focused on crop production at this time it is a concept that could be adopted by all types of farming, including livestock in the future. One of the aims of PFP Canada is to develop a core participating growers with the hope that marketing opportunites will arise for crops produced that fall within the PFP guidelines. It has not been determined if, or how much, PFP crops will command for a market premium. While marketing is important the first objective of PFP Canada is to enable growers to produce crops with fewer chemical inputs creating a more sustainable cropping system.

Why PFP?: PFP is more flexible than organic farming as it allows the use of commercial fertilizers in the year or production, allowing full yield potential under most circumstances. It does not require a long term commitment to the program and can easily be incorporated into a conventional crop production rotation and system. Input costs are continually rising resulting in a decreasing net return for farmers. PFP allows farmers to reduce input costs by substituting "free" knowledge inputs for chemical inputs that must be bought. Growing crops in a pesticide free manner requires the use of diverse cropping systems and pest control practices. This approach helps create more stable agro-ecosystems, in which the chances of pest outbreaks and the development of pesticide resistance is minimized. Including PFP crops in a rotation also helps to decrease pesticide loading in agricultural systems. Production of PFP crops may result in the development of new markets for traditional crops, with the possibility of market premiums. This possible outcome would provide an incentive for more farmers to grow PFP crops and could also ease the transition for farmers who are converting to organic.

Marketing: For the consumer certified PFP provides them with the farmer’s personal guarantee that pesticides were not applied to the crop.

Food manufacturers and retailers can obtain licensing form the Pesticide Free Production Farmer’s Co-op Ltd. to allow the label identification of ingredients with the registered trademarks "PFP" or "Pesticide Free Production". To have a crop certified the farmer must first have a field inspection completed by someone recognized by the PFP Farmer’s Co-op. Then once harvest is completed the farmers must then fill out a post harvest declaration that completes the guarantee that the crop was produced PFP. For more information you can contact the PFP offices listed below. In 2001 there were PFP fields certified in Alberta, Saskatchewan and over 35 fields in Manitoba certified. In the upcoming year we hope to have a marketing coordinator to help develop markets and assist consumers and producers in develop this exciting new production system.

PFP Canada contact: Allison Schoofs, U of M, 1-800-432-1960 ext. 6236 or 1-204-474-6236

PFP Farmers Co-op contact: Scott Day, Ag Rep Boissevain, 1-204-534-2461.