There is certainly no lack of concern in the marketplace right now when it comes to the supply of crop protection products and crop inputs.
Going back a couple just a few weeks and even months, we first heard about glufosinate shortages, followed by glyphosate. Most recently, glyphosate announced a signifiant issue, when a supplier of the raw ingredient needed for making glyphosate faced a mechanical failure at a plant.
Two weeks later, many are wondering: where are we at with this? Trish Jordan, director of public and industry affairs with Bayer Crop Science Canada, joined RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney to discuss the status of glyphosate, and to shed some light on the Canadian situation.
“Since that time, our suppliers are on track to restore production. We went and sourced some additional materials, and then we did some other mitigation efforts to kind of help best manage the situation,” says Jordan. “And then internally, we really took a good hard look – working with colleagues around the world, and more closely with the north south relationship — because we wanted to know, okay, how does this impact in Canada? Are we going to be able to supply our channel partners? Will our grower customers have access?”
Now that the analysis has been completed, Jordan informs that there is more of a good news story, as even though supplies will be continued to be tight, the company is confident there will be sufficient volumes of Roundup available in Canada for the 2022 crop season. (Story continues below audio)
“That’s based on historical volumes. So we’re really focusing on that pre-seed and early seed market, i.e. April to June timeframe, because it really represents about 70 per cent of the total volume applied in Canada. So because of this, we’ve taken steps to maximize the phasing of Roundup volumes to this particular supply uses, and then as the season goes along, obviously we will continue to reassess,” she explains.
When it comes to looking at fall applications of glyphosate, Jordan says it will be a bit of a wait and see game, but for now, it’s looking positive. But for now, the focus is completely on early and in-crop applications.
Since Bayer is the number one producer of glyphosate in the world, they also play a role in not only in the direct sales of Roundup, but also glyphosate in different package mixes, under different labels. Jordan notes that she can’t speak for other partners or how they will use their allocation, and there could be variability in total volumes that are required for different geographies, as their “confidence for supply is at a micro-level.”
From a grower level, Bayer says if you have questions or concerns, to speak to your retail partner, or whoever is providing you with glyphosate.
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