One of the world’s biggest grain companies has decided not to chance accepting Canadian lentils that were desiccated with a well known herbicide.

Cargill announced Friday it will now have a “no tolerance” restriction on glufosinate ammonia in its grain delivery terms for lentils, including lentils that have had the Group 10 herbicide applied in 2019.

Glufosinate is best known to growers as the active ingredient in BASF’s Liberty herbicides. Cargill said it’s “aware” of only one glufosinate ammonia product — MPower Good Harvest, marketed by Saskatoon-based generic ag chem firm AgraCity — with desiccation of lentils as an approved label use.

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Good Harvest’s label says it “may be used as a desiccant” in lentils, potatoes and, when grown for seed, alfalfa. The label cautions users not to apply the product to lentils grown for seed as there “are not sufficient data to support such use.”

However, Cargill said, “because established maximum residue limits (MRLs) for glufosinate ammonia are inconsistent, we have decided to establish a total restriction on this product in our lentil delivery specifications.”

Without naming the company, Alberta Pulse Growers said in a separate July 31 notice to growers it had been made aware of one grain company “and the potential for others” no longer accepting lentils treated with glufosinate.

MRLs are in place for glufosinate in the European Union and Japan, APG said, but “at very low levels.” Furthermore, MRLs aren’t yet set for glufosinate in lentils in the United States, nor in Codex international food safety standards.

The new no-tolerance policy, Cargill said Friday, “will help us maintain market access for all Canadian farmers.”

“We advise growers to consult with their grain buyers before applying glufosinate or other harvest-aid products, to understand any marketing restrictions,” APG said.

Fluoxastrobin allowed

In the same notice, Cargill said it will now accept soybeans that had fluoxastrobin fungicide applied in 2019, so long as residues don’t exceed established MRLs.

Fluoxastrobin, a Group 11 product, is the active ingredient in soybean fungicides including Bayer’s Acceleron D-281 and Arysta’s Evito 480 SC and Zolera FX, and in other products for turf growers.

Cargill said it has removed fluoxastrobin from its grain delivery requirements following a “comprehensive, science-based risk assessment.” — Glacier FarmMedia Network