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January 5, 2022 (Saskatoon SK) – Growers face considerable risk in making cropping decisions for 2022 due to risks of herbicide carryover. Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) wants to ensure growers have the best information to make 2022 cropping decisions on their individual farms.

SPG is disappointed with the timing of BASF’s decision to limit follow crop options for 2022 so late in 2021, which did not provide growers the option to adjust their crop protection product plans during the 2021 production season.

“If producers had known the risks, beyond existing label guidance, of applying certain products during extreme drought conditions, and that durum, canola, and canary seed would not be supported as follow crops for 2022, producers would have had the option to use alternate products in 2021 to mitigate their risk” says Shaun Dyrland, Chair of SPG’s Board of Directors.

In addition to the information included on the product labels at the time of purchase and application, producers were notified by BASF on September 20, 2021 of the herbicide injury risks and rotational concerns for 2022. The notice issued by BASF indicated that recropping of specific crops in certain geographical areas would not be supported if the newly released recommendations are not followed1. While SPG supports the communication and education of these risks, the timing of the announcement places growers in an impossible situation of managing additional risks on their farms. Producers must also face the economic costs of only a few viable rotation options available to them.

Growers in affected areas must now shift their focus to risk management, and while no test or evaluations will 100% guarantee the outcome, there are some steps growers can take to help determine the risk level on their farm:

  • Soil test – know the characteristics of your soil.
  • Weather information – local weather stations in field will be more accurate than general maps produced and may differ by field. When checking local weather stations, keep in mind that if insufficient rainfall was received, there is a higher risk of herbicide carryover.
  • Evaluate field histories – assessing whether or not there are stacking issues that could increase risk (including residual herbicides used in consecutive years on the same field).
  • Agronomic consultation—seek agronomic advice from trusted and experienced advisors to discuss farm options and relevant risk factors of any crop being considered in rotation.
  • It is important to document and retain information for any and all options pursued and steps taken.

Many growers are weighing the risks of the choices in front of them, all with potential implications:

  1. If all risk warnings are disregarded and normal crop rotation plans are followed, the implication could be potential crop loss with herbicide damage. This approach may not be insurable under Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC).
  2. Growers could acknowledge the warning and proceed following the above noted due diligence on fields in question, with the option to plant potentially more sensitive crops if risk is low on individual fields. By doing due diligence on individual fields, there could be lower risk. Documenting the steps taken to reduce risk may support coverage under SCIC.
  3. Some growers are considering tighter pulse rotations which could create major disease issues in future years. Disease concerns, like root rot, still develop in dry years although they may not present symptoms until future years. SPG wants to remind growers that pulse on pulse or tight pulse rotations are not advised due to high risk of disease development. Growers should consider the long-term implications of this decision.
  4. Finally, growers could follow all warnings and plant only approved follow crops (example: spring wheat instead of durum wheat following application of Solo®). This option retains responsibility at the company level and in the event of any crop injury, claims could still be made. 

Ignoring recommendations and warnings from manufacturers could limit the ability to claim future damages by legal mechanisms. SPG suggests growers follow all recommendations made available to them, including but not limited to product labels, company guidance, and fact sheets. It is also strongly recommended that you retain and record any and all proof and documentation of precautionary measures in the event a claim situation is encountered.

SPG has developed the following resources to help further evaluate your risks and considerations:

Podcast

Herbicide Carryover Risks & Considerations

Field Management Seeding Weeds
Technical

Herbicide Carryover Risks and Considerations

Chickpeas Dry Beans Faba Beans Fenugreek Lentils Peas Soybeans Field Management
Technical

Herbicide Injury in Pulse Crops

Chickpeas Dry Beans Faba Beans Fenugreek Lentils Peas Soybeans Field Management Weeds

1See Appendix A for detailed guidelines on recropping restrictions, based on soil zone, provided by BASF.

Accountable to and funded by growers, SPG’s strategic direction is guided by a nine member, grower-elected, Board of Directors. SPG’s mission is to provide leadership for profitable growth for Saskatchewan pulses.

For more information, please contact:               

Amanda Carlson                   
Communications Manager
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers                                                        
Phone: 306-668-0116
Email: acarlson@saskpulse.com

Amber Johnson
Director of Marketing and Communications
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers
Phone: 306-668-3668
Email: ajohnson@saskpulse.com

1Appendix A: 2022 Restrictions (as outlined by BASF in September 20, 2021 letter to growers)

Growers who farm in the dark brown, black, grey, or grey wooded soil zones who have received less than 125 mm of accumulated rainfall* between June 1 and September 1, 2021:

  • If you applied Solo® ADV, Solo® Ultra or Viper® ADV in 2021 you should NOT plant canola, durum wheat or canary seed in 2022
  • If you applied Odyssey® NXT, Odyssey® Ultra or Odyssey® Ultra NXT in 2021 you should NOT plant durum wheat or canary seed in 2022
  • If you applied Odyssey® NXT, Odyssey® Ultra or Odyssey® Ultra NXT in 2020 you should NOT plant canola in 2022

Growers who farm in the brown soil zone who have received less than 125 mm of accumulated rainfall between June 1 and September 1, 2021* AND those who received less than 15 mm of rainfall in any of the months of June, July or August* 2021 (regardless of total accumulated rainfall between June 1 and September 1):

  • If you applied Solo® ADV, Solo® Ultra or Viper® ADV in 2021 you should NOT plant canola, durum wheat or canary seed in 2022
  • If you applied Odyssey® NXT, Odyssey® Ultra or Odyssey® Ultra NXT in 2021 you should NOT plant durum wheat or canary seed in 2022
  • If you applied Odyssey® NXT, Odyssey® Ultra or Odyssey® Ultra NXT in 2020 you should NOT plant canola in 2022

As such, and due to the extreme risk of crop injury, BASF will not be supporting canola, durum wheat, and canary seed as follow crops in the 2022 season if these recommendations are not followed.