Field corn

As published in 2006, field corn is grown on 1 363 000 hectares (3 367 973 acres) in Canada. Ontario leads in field corn production with 61% of the national production, followed by Quebec at 27% and Manitoba at 9%. Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia account for the remaining 3%. Total national production stands at 8 822 800 tonnes for grain and 7 976 800 tonnes for fodder corn ( Statistics Canada).

On-Going Field Corn Strategy

Health Canada (HC) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) Pesticide Risk Reduction Program identified field corn as a priority crop. General field corn production information and issues along with the pest issues are documented in the Crop Profile for Field Corn in Canada. A field corn issues document, extracted from the crop profile, was used as a discussion tool in field corn stakeholder meetings and consultations to help identify the top insect, disease and weed issues. General issues of concern and potential solutions to these issues are also discussed at these meetings. AAC's Pest Management Centre prepared both documents in consultation with the field corn industry, the Pesticide Risk Reduction Program's Technical Working Group and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).

Field Corn Stakeholder Meetings and Consultations

Information Session with the Grain Industry Symposium

On December 1, 2005, an information session was presented to field corn industry representatives attending the Grain Industry Symposium, in Ottawa, Ontario. The Pesticide Risk Reduction Program was presented and possible venues for the organization of stakeholders meetings were discussed in the roundtable discussion. Representatives from the Ontario Corn Producers' Association and the Manitoba Corn Growers Association were present at the meeting.

Quebec Stakeholder Meeting

A stakeholder meeting was held March 1, 2006, in Drummondville, Quebec, to prioritize issues, identify possible solutions and propose members for a national steering committee for three crops-field corn, soybeans and wheat. Participants included growers, provincial specialists, researchers, the pesticide industry and federal government representatives (Pest Management Centre and PMRA).

Ontario Stakeholder Meeting

A stakeholder meeting was held March 6, 2006, in London, Ontario, to prioritize issues, identify possible solutions and propose members for the national steering committee. Participants included growers, provincial specialists, researchers, the pesticide industry and federal government representatives (Pest Management Centre and PMRA). A representative from Manitoba Corn Growers Association was also present at the meeting.

Field Corn Steering Committee

The national steering committee is comprised of field corn growers (or grower representatives) from Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, scientists, provincial specialists, a representative from the Pest Management Centre and the PMRA. The steering committee identified soil insect pests and integrated weed management as their top priority issues that will require the establishment of working groups (June 20, 2006).

Field Corn Working Groups

• Soil Insects
  Meetings: September 7, 2006
• Integrated Weed Management
  Meetings: October 4, 2006

Research Funded Under the Pesticide Risk Reduction Program

The Pesticide Risk Reduction Program has funded several projects addressing the priorities the Field Corn Working Group established in consultation with the Pest Management Centre and the PMRA.

Projects Funded to Date

• Determining the minimum biologically effective dose of herbicides for weed control in corn-soybean rotations (Project Code: PRR06-380)
• Formulation and efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae for wireworm management in potato and corn (Project Code: BPI07-080)
• Development of a web-based tool to improve grower knowledge and adoption of reduced risk management of weeds in corn and soybean (Project Code: PRR06-950)
• Impact on the spatio temporal distribution of weeds in a decision support system for applying herbicides to soya corn; and update (Project Code: PRR07-010)

For further updates, please visit Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.