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Malathion residue can linger in bins for up to six months after treatment and can be transferred from the bin to canola seed, putting marketability at risk. Canola found with malathion residues is unacceptable for export customers and can damage Canada’s reputation as a trusted supplier.
Reduce the risk of contaminating your harvest by planning storage requirements accordingly – never use malathion to prepare canola for storage or treat bins in which you plan to store canola.
Malathion is often used to treat cereals and other non-oilseed grains in bins that have been contaminated with insects. Any grower doing so should record the date of treatment and not use that bin to store canola for a minimum of six months after treatment.
The Canola Council of Canada recommends growers also follow these storage procedures to protect the quality of your crop:
- Clean bins thoroughly prior to storing your crop.
- Only use approved bin treatments (e.g. diatomaceous earth) prior to storing canola.
- Condition crops to moisture and temperature levels safe for long-term storage.
- Keep bins cool, dry and well-ventilated and check their condition regularly.
- Make sure your storage bins are free of treated seed and animal protein like blood meal and bone meal.
Help keep markets open for all by keeping malathion out of canola bins.
Further reading:
Five simple tips to get your crops ready for export