Crops can be significantly damaged by insects, weeds, diseases and rodents. One tool farmers use to manage pests are pesticides.

Why do farmers use pesticides?

Pests can do significant damage to crops and affect the yields (amount produced). Farmers use a variety of management practices to minimize the impact of crop pests, such as crop rotation and timing of crop planting. Pesticides are also a very important tool to protect crops. Without crop protection products, the amount of food produced on farms would severely decline.

Different pesticides for different pests

There are four types of pesticides that control weed (herbicides), insects (insecticides), plant diseases (fungicides) and rodents (rodenticides). Farmers use pesticides to control pests that may affect the health or quality of a crop.

Pesticides are regulated!

The Pest Management Agency (PMRA) of Health Canada regulates each pesticide sold in Canada. Whether it’s used on a farm, in a forest or in your backyard, no pesticide can be used in Canada unless it’s registered by the PMRA.

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SnapAg:
What are GMOs and are they okay to eat? What does organic farming look like? How are animals like chickens or cattle raised?

snapAG is a series of resources that invite students to explore the hot topics affecting the agriculture industry today. Topics range from organics, biotechnology, GMOs, livestock, and more.

Explore what’s trending in agriculture in Canada by browsing the topics here.

Sources available at: https://aitc-canada.ca/en-ca/learn-about-agriculture

snapAg is brought to you by Agriculture in the Classroom Canada and partners.