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Pocket Gophers and Voles cause damage to trees in Okanagan orchards. The cost of planting an acre of orchard varies between $7,000 and $30,000, and losing even part of this investment to rodents is a significant financial impact on an orchard operation if there are high levels of infestation.
In the past, growers could rely on the fail-safe method of rodenticides, which thin the blood and cause death by internal bleeding, to kill rodents. However, new rodenticide regulations require additional effort on IPM practices.
This Fall, after a public consultation, the Ministry of Environment announced a ban on use of Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs). During the consultation, the BCFGA and other agricultural organizations noted the financial impact of rodents on orchard operations and the need for continued access to SGARs by agriculture operators.
As a result, SGARs will continue to be available for use in agricultural operations, but with new requirements related to Pesticide Applicators Certification and IPM practices, including more record-keeping.
SGARs have come under fire because dead rodents killed by SGARs can be eaten by animals, especially owls, hawks and eagles that are higher up the food chain. Feeding on the poisoned rodents can cause illness and death in raptors.
The reduction of the population of raptors means that there are fewer predators for the remaining voles and pocket gophers. Thus, unbridled use of anticoagulant rodenticides to control rodent populations could lead to a rebound in rodent populations when predators are more scarce, and increase reliance on anticoagulants.
The new regulations are to ensure SGARs are used only when needed and appropriate under an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan.
From the Ministry’s website:
The [Environment] minister has created an order to protect wildlife from unintended impacts of SGAR use by banning or restricting their access.
The minister’s order on SGARs:
- Restricts who can buy SGARs
- Restricts who can use SGARs
- Requires vendors prevent unauthorized buyers from accessing SGARs
- Requires SGARs are used only as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program
- Requires proper disposal
- Requires record keeping for the sale and use of SGARs
When using SGARs, IPM measures must be implemented by the farm (and as usual, record-keeping for each of these new requirements is essential to avoid penalties in case of audit). SGAR users must
- Demonstrate knowledge of the target rodent: identify the type of rodent and understand rodent behaviours.
- Determine the rodent population level and decide if pesticide use is necessary
- Incorporate alternatives to rodenticides for control measures, such as traps (e.g. keep records of number of traps placed and effectiveness - number caught in traps).
- Record information about the application.
Help is available to implement IPM measures, through the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) Program. For growers with EFPs, funding is available to help with an IPM plan, which would then provide proof that the above-noted measures are in place.
For more information on SGARs:
For more information on rodents in the Tree Fruit Production Guide:
https://www.bctfpg.ca/pests/wildlife-damage-prevention/rodents/
For more information on EFPs:
https://iafbc.ca/environmental-farm-plan/
The BCFGA provides a $250 incentive to grower-members who obtain or renew an EFP. Once an EFP is in place, funding for Beneficial Management Practices is available - e.g. for implementing IPM programs for rodents.
Please support your agricultural association by becoming a member, so that your association may continue to seek a balanced approach to regulations in agriculture and advocate for EFP funding.
Glen Lucas, General Manager, BCFGA, www.bcfga.com
