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Pre-harvest interval (PHI) refers to the amount of time that must lapse (in days) after a pesticide application before the crop is cut (ie. swathed or straight-cut). Failing to comply with a product’s pre-harvest interval is a contravention of the Pest Control Products Act (PCP). The PCP Act was put in place to protect human health and safety and the environment by regulating products used for the control of pests. It is important to adhere to the PHI to ensure no unacceptable chemical residues will be found in harvested seed. Adhering to the PHI ensures canola is safe for domestic consumption/use or export. With 85% of Canada’s canola crop exported around the world, it is critical that our canola meets the requirements of our export customers.
Spray to Swath Interval Calculator An easy-to-use tool called ‘Spray to Swath Interval Calculator’ is available online at www.spraytoswath.ca.
The quick calculator can be used to show you how long to wait if you have already sprayed or help you find a product with a specific PHI or you can tell it what and when you are spraying and it will provide you with a safe cutting date that you can sync with outlook or smartphone calendar. Very user-friendly, can be readily used with a smartphone and is always up to date.
