Heads Up For An Early April Fools

Peter Johnson, the slightly opinionated OMAFRA cereal specialist was telling me yesterday about a change in CFIA regulations that go into effect on April 1.  These changes affect the class of products that we know as "amendment" products.  An example of an amendment product is Awaken ST.  Awaken ST which is marketed in Ontario by UAP, has gone through the current registration process.  They make that statement clearly in the promotion from their website.  UAP had to prove to CFIA that Awaken ST has the potential to have a positive effect on yield.  I am not promoting nor condemning Awaken ST.  I only use it as an example.

http://www.uap.ca/products/documents/AwakenST_Product_v2.pdf

Amendment products contain trace amounts of nutrients.  Anyone with a slight understanding of chemistry can mix up trace elements and bottle them.  There are literally millions of these products.  As of April 1, the only requirement for registration in Canada will be to prove that they contain the nutrients on the label.  They no longer have to prove to CFIA that the stuff actually might work.  So get ready for lots of salesmen claiming that product XYZ will perform miracles on your farm. 
My advice is to let your neighbour be the April fool and the first to try XYZ.

On a different note, many ask for my opinion on where corn acres are going.  Here is as good an explanation as any.  Enjoy.

http://www.agprofessional.com/newsletters/dealer-update/articles/How-many-corn-acres-will-be-planted-in-2013-200028441.html?page=2

Happy Easter to everyone.  With the cold weather there is no excuse for not spending time with your family.  God Bless.