Court to hear Grain Farmers neonic appeal on March 9

An Ontario Court will hear the Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) appeal of its case regarding the new neonic regulations on March 9.
The GFO asked a Superior Court judge last fall to delay the regulations until May 1, 2016, or until farmers can meet the regulations’ requirements. That judge ruled against the grain group and dismissed the case on Oct. 23.
The GFO argues the new regulations are unworkable.
Provincial regulations came into effect July 1 that require farmers to conduct pest assessments before being allowed to use neonic-treated corn and soybean seeds on more than 50 per cent of their fields this year. Farmers will need pest assessments on all fields that use neonics starting in 2017.
The province argues neonics kill honeybees, while the GFO says the province is short on science, and is cherry-picking studies while ignoring at least six other bee stressors.