Pesticide Free Production: Characteristics of farms and farmers participating in a pesticide use reduction pilot project in Manitoba, Canada

Abstract

Strategies for pesticide use reduction have suffered from limited adoption. The impact of such strategies will be greater if they appeal to farmers with typical demographics and attitudes. A participatory, on-farm study was conducted to assess the potential of Pesticide Free ProductionTM (PFP) [Pesticide Free ProductionTM and PFPTM are registered trademarks of the University of Manitoba.] to be widely implemented on mainstream farms in Manitoba, Canada. PFP is a flexible, simple framework intended to appeal broadly to farmers who may not have adopted other pesticide use reduction initiatives. It may also provide a marketable food product label. This novel crop production system prohibits the use of in-crop pesticides and seed treatments during one crop year, as well as prior use of residual pesticides. Applications of nonresidual pesticides (such as glyphosate) are permitted prior to crop emergence. Synthetic fertilizer use is permitted at any time. The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine if the demographic and attitudinal characteristics of farms and farmers participating in a PFP pilot project varied depending on the level of PFP implementation; and (2) to compare the characteristics of farms and farmers participating in the pilot project with standards representing average farms and farmers in Manitoba. A total of 71 farmers, representing 120 fields and 11 crops, participated in the study. Fields and farmers were categorized into three groups, based on whether or not fields: (1) achieved PFP certification status and (2) were in transition to organic production. There were few demographic differences among groups. Demographic characteristics of participating farmers were typical for Manitoba, with the exception that participating farmers who were not in transition to organic production had higher levels of education than a random sample of Manitoba farmers. Attitudinal orientation (adherence to a conventional versus an alternative agricultural paradigm) of participants who were not in transition to organic production was similar to that of a random sample of Manitoba farmers. Fields and farms on which PFP was implemented were relatively large in the context of Manitoba averages. Participants indicated high satisfaction with certifiable PFP crops and high levels of interest in implementing future PFP. Pesticide free production demonstrates significant potential for broad adoption in this region.

Agronomic performance of Pesticide Free Production under two crop rotations

“…Furthermore, these farmers said that they did not expect to increase their future pesticide use due to incorporation of PFP within their crop rotation, thereby fulfilling the overall goal of pesticide reduction 6 . The findings of this study concluded that there is significant potential for the adoption of PFP in the Canadian prairie region of the NGP 8 .…”

“…A participatory, on-farm study was conducted by Nazarko et al 8 to assess the potential of PFP to be widely implemented on mainstream farms in Manitoba, Canada. Over 90% of farmers who achieved PFP certification in this study said that production of a PFP crop was at least as profitable as producing the same crop in a conventional manner.…”

“…In the PFP on-farm study 8 , farmers that chose historically weed-free fields for PFP, or were actively preparing for lower inputs, were more likely to be successful with PFP than those who chose fields based only on how clean they looked in the spring. The beneficial effects of crop rotation on weed populations and crop yields are well documented in the scientific literature [12][13][14][15] .…”

Extreme Grain-Based Cropping Systems: When Herbicide-Free Weed Management Meets Conservation Tillage in Northern Climates

“…Such a flexible crop production program was developed in Manitoba through a participatory process involving farmers and scientists, with the goal of facilitating pesticide use reduction (Nazarko et al 2004). This ''Pesticide Free Production'' (PFP) program prohibited in-crop use of pesticides and seed treatments but allowed synthetic fertilizers and nonresidual pesticide use prior to crop emergence.…”

Pesticide Free Production of Field Crops

“…For the purposes of this paper, discussion is restricted to the importance of agronomic management. The importance of demographic and attitudinal characteristics in the adoption of PFP is explored in more detail elsewhere (Nazarko et al, 2003).…”