Backwoods FAQ
Before a herbicide can be sold in Canada, it must be registered by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). Pesticides are one of the most stringently regulated products in Canada. The PMRA employs over 350 scientists, including biologists, chemists, toxicologists, epidemiologists, plant pathologists, weed scientists, and entomologists, for the sole purpose of evaluating pesticides. Before a pesticide can be approved for use in Canada, the PMRA requires that it undergo a thorough scientific review and safety assessment to ensure it meets Health Canada’s standards. Only those products that meet these strict health and environmental standards can be registered by the PMRA for use or sale in Canada. A herbicide product will not be registered in Canada unless a health and environmental assessment shows that no harm to human health and the environment will result from its use when applied according to the label directions. They are regularly re-evaluated to ensure they continue to meet high-level scientific standards.
- Safety is a main reason for managing vegetation. Vegetation can present a fire hazard adjacent to industrial facilities from wildfires or on-site ignition, so managing vegetation for bare ground near facilities is key. Trees, brush, and weeds along right of ways can create additional safety hazards (ex. visual obstruction, falling hazards).
- Environmental concerns is another reason. Invasive species out compete and can negatively affect the native vegetation in the area. Controlling invasive plants allows native species to flourish and contributes to a diverse environment for wildlife, pollinators, and native plant species. By controlling invasive species, we also control pest species that thrive on this vegetation.
- Property protection is another reason for controlling vegetation. Some species have the potential to damage property by growing around or through piping, on and through roadways, and through foundations. Excessive vegetation near facilities can damage facility appearances and cause damage in a windstorm.
- Herbicides interrupt or modify a biological process within the plant that leads to the plant being unable to function properly, leading to plant death. There are many different biological pathways within a plant related to, but not limited to, growth, photosynthesis, pigment development, and seed production that all vary in different species and can be disrupted by herbicides.
- Herbicides can be applied in general one of two ways: pre-emergent or post-emergent. Pre-emergent herbicides are generally applied to the soil to target seedlings as they emerge and create a barrier to prevent weeds from growing. Post-emergent herbicides are generally applied to target weeds that have emerged and are actively growing.
- Pre-Emergent herbicides are generally applied to the soil to target seedlings as they emerge and create a barrier to prevent weeds for growing.
- Post-Emergent herbicides are generally applied to target weeds that have emerged and are actively growing.
- Selective herbicides will only affect select plants, which tend to be broad leaf species. This is often used to control broadleaf invasive species in areas where you want to maintain the native grass species.
- Non-selective herbicides are not specific in which plant it will target. It will control all plant material it contacts and is frequently used to clear industrial sites
- Residual herbicides will remain in the soil for longer and can provide control of vegetation over a long period of time. These herbicides can be used in prevention of plant growth as pre-emergent controls. Generally, will provide 8 to 12 weeks of weed control.
- Non-residual herbicides do not or briefly remain in the soil and require direct contact with a plant to kill the vegetation.
- Noxious weeds must be controlled according to Provincial Regulations. This means to inhibit the growth or spread of the plant and/or destroying the plant. Routinely this is done through destroying/damaging the plants present or removing a portion to reduce patch sizes yearly to gain control of the weeds present. These species tend to be prolific province wide in many different habitats.
- Prohibited noxious weeds must be destroyed according to Provincial Regulations. This means all parts of the plant must be killed/destroyed and unable to reproduce (including roots, stems, heads, & seeds). The reason for the extreme measure of management is because of their ability to be highly detrimental to native species, very difficult to control, and/or can rapidly spread in various sensitive environments.
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Technology
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