On the way into work today I was listening to 570AM talk radio and there was a review about a poll taken in the Region regarding pesticide use. The region is split 50/50 on whether it should be used at all. The by-law today is that pesticides are allowed to be used in April and May (a sign must be posted on the lawn 24 hrs in advance of application) and banned from June through August unless a certified lawn expert determines that there is damage caused by insects that warrant usage.
Even though the poll was split there is some hypocrisy out there. Only 30 percent would rat out their neighbour if they were spraying in the banned months yet 80 percent said they would respect the by-law. 65 percent said that stores should remove the pesticides from the shelves in the banned months.
The coincidental thing about this is that this morning there was a pesticide sign on my lawn. My lawn care provider came out today to fertilize and apply pesticide. I personally am not polar on this subject. I’m not convinced they are harmful, yet I’m not going to go out and swim in it. I chose my particular lawn care provider because they use an organic based pesticide and are very meticilous in its application. They don’t apply liberally, only on the areas required. I have some faith in the professionals and trust that they are strictly regulated. I don’t trust Joe Guy (except the one from Concord) will be careful with his pesticide usage and think that maybe the stuff off the shelf should be a little harder to get. From my discussion with the experts, by government regulation, they are not permitted to apply the store bought stuff. So why should spray happy Pappy get the privilege?