Dessicants Can Pose Marketing Dangers

SASKATOON - Jul 27/12 - SNS -- It is vital for pulse growers to pay attention to international rules about chemical residues when using a desiccant, or another harvest management product, stress western Canada's the provincial pulse organizations.

Alberta Pulse Growers, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, and Manitoba Pulse Growers said that since 90% of the pulse grown in Canada are for export, farmers need to be careful that they do not unintentionally create a product which exceeds the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the various chemicals and herbicides used at this time of year.

Desiccants, or harvest management tools, are applied late in the crop year to dry the crop and create uniformity of plant material at harvest. Because of the late-season application of these products, some residue may remain on the crop, and as a result, most countries or markets have in place maximum acceptable levels of residue. In some markets, the MRLs are very low, but the provincial grower groups, alongside Pulse Canada and other industry partners, are working on harmonizing these limits internationally in an effort to ensure Canadian growers remain competitive in the global marketplace.

Glyphosate

Glyphosate faces the fewest problems. The only market where glyphosate is an issue is Japan, where the MRL is set at a low level. Japan buys small quantities of the various classes of peas, along with some lentils, dry edible beans and soybeans varieties intended for use to make tofu and natto.

Diquat

Diquat is only a problem for product being shipped to the United States. The diquat MRL has not yet been harmonized between the two countries.

Don't Use Saflufenacil

Saflufenacil faces problems in all markets except the United States.

For product destined for the European Unions, the MRL for saflufenacil use as a preharvest use pattern is not projected to be set until 2013 for all pulses. Therefore refrain from using saflufenacil as a preharvest dry down product for this season if the crop is destined for the European Union (DU). (This applies to the preharvest use pattern only).

In CODEX countries (e.g. India, Pakistan, many others), the MRL for saflufenacil use as a preharvest use pattern is not projected to be set until 2013 at CODEX for lentils. MRLs for saflufenacil have been set for field peas at CODEX. Therefore refrain from using saflufenacil as a preharvest dry down product for this season if the crop is destined for CODEX countries for lentils. (This applies to the preharvest use pattern only).

In Japan, the MRL for saflufenacil use as a preharvest aid is not projected to be set until 2013 at the earliest in Japan. Therefore, refrain from using saflufenacil as a pre-harvest dry down product for this season if the crop is destined for Japan. (This applies to the preharvest use pattern only).