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Interactive tool helps canola and pulse producers plan product application

Canadian producers can ensure the crop protection products they use do not leave unacceptable residues on their harvested canola and pulses by adhering to the pre-harvest interval, or PHI, found on the product’s label.

Often referred to as the “spray to swath” interval, the PHI is the number of days that must pass between spraying pesticides or desiccants and swathing/straight-cutting.

The PHI can vary greatly between products – from one day to over 60 days – so it’s important that producers know and adhere to the prescribed interval for each product that is applied to a crop. This will ensure the product’s active ingredient has had enough time to break down in the plant and not leave unacceptable residues behind, which could put the crop’s marketability at risk.

A useful tool that canola and pulse growers can use to help plan their pre-harvest spraying is the interactive Spray to Swath Interval Calculator found at spraytoswath.ca.

There are two ways to use the calculator:

1. To calculate how long to wait after spraying to swath or straight-cut: The producer simply selects their crop type and the product that they have applied. The calculator will instantly provide the minimum number of days that the producer must wait before cutting their crop, along with relevant information or warnings, if applicable.
2. To select a product to fit a specific timeline: The producer selects their crop type, product category and when they would like to harvest, and the calculator provides product options that fit within that window.

The  interactive calculator is mobile-friendly and filled with information to help canola and pulse producers protect their investments and the marketability of their crop.

For more information on Pre-Harvest Interval and the Spray to Swath Interval Calculator, visit keepingitclean.ca/phi.