September 2018 – Roberts Rants

Insect Control 102: Here’s how it happens

Posted on September 20, 2018September 20, 2018 by Robert Percy

Bill and Bob (Sales and Regulatory VPS for NEW CHEM Company – but you knew that) are reviewing their data and package before it goes to the PMRA:

“Hey Bob, we need to finish the list of pests before we submit this label for PERM-O-TECHNO”

“Well, we have ants, and that’s the biggest market?”

“Yeppers, but should we add earwigs?”

“Yeah, that’s a great idea as my wife hates those little bastards with their big pinchers”

“What about sow bugs? You know, rolly- polly’s? Really? Pill Bugs??? What are you dumb?”

“Nah – there can’t be a market for that”

AND THUS A LABEL IS BORN AND THE LITTLE ROLLY POLLY ESCAPES THE DOOM FOR EVER AND A DAY!

All because Bob was dumb…

Insect Control 101. Can Logic Prevail? Before I retire?

Posted on September 20, 2018September 20, 2018 by Robert Percy

As usual I have to preface this Rant that I am not advocating anything relating to using a chemical out side of the rules and regulations set forth by the government.

When we are forced to put Pictograms on labels for the reading challenged, will it turn out to be 345 pages so we can include a pic of each species? Or can we take a step back as to the process and lack of logic.

But, in an attempt to bring some LOGIC to the process, I am going to pose a simple question:

For Structural Pest Control uses, and insect (Insecta and some Arthropoda) pests treated in North America, which species would NOT be reasonably controlled by the following actives:

Pyrethrin
Permethrin
Deltamethrin
Cyfluthrin
Lambda-cyhalothrin
Beta-cyfluthirn
Imidicloprid

Formulation not withstanding, nor application method (i.e. termite applications). And assuming treatment is done at a susceptible life stage.

I sincerely think if we put together the list of Insect Pests NOT controlled by these active ingredients, we could list them on all the labels INSTEAD of what is controlled.

Think of a PMRA label that says, “for use on Insect Pests commonly found in and around homes and structures in Canada. Except For….”

It still galls me (that’s a weird word when the only gall I know is a swelling on plant formed by an insect) that we have to be so anal about listing each and every species of insect.

So, what we are going to do is to send this out to the experts at Bayer, FMC, Syngenta, University entomologists, any one who will listen, and create the list of insects these products will not control.

BUT – I won’t publish the list. It can be sent to PMRA and CPMA and NPMA as they work diligently to make life easier AND to enact legislation that makes more sense to our Industry.

Then we can whittle down the application sites and BOOM! The PMP can manage their business, and stay legal and stay safe.

Hope that’s not a problem.

U.S. versus Canada: Who moved my cheese!

Posted on September 11, 2018 by Robert Percy

I’ve figured out a simple solution to this whole NAFTA crap that Trump keeps trying to use as a weapon. Guess he doesn’t understand “fair” in Fair Trade.

And it’s all about cheese! When did we switch from soft wood lumber to cheese???

But the problem we face and will always face is Canada is relatively small in the scheme of things, and it’s all about population. Well, there may be a few other things thrown in and I’m oversimplifying the problem.

But face the facts, if Canada was home to 360 million people like the US we would have a ton more leverage. And not just fighting the battle with the States. Just think of the buying power! Maybe our Navy could buy a brand new sub even! And we could hang on to our cheese.

We just have to make a concerted effort to PROCREATE AND POPULATE

Right now, if we continue on with our 10% growth rate by having open borders, we will reach the same mass of mankind in exactly….

Are you ready???

26 YEARS!!!!!! That’s just growth through immigration.

I damn well hope Trump isn’t still around! But we still can’t wait that long.

So my plan to shorten this time frame:

Incentivize Canadian citizens to produce more people! PROCREATE CANADA!

Take all couples of child-bearing age (reasonably the legal age of majority, say from 20 year olds to what…. 35?)

Of that group, approximately 20% of our population would qualify. That number would be reduced in half though, remember it takes two to tango remember.

So for math”s sake lets say 4 million couples have 1 child every 9 months. If every couple had a baby every 10 months (give them a month off), we would effectively add another 4 million bodies to the 10% growth rate every year.

That now speeds up the process to…drum roll….18 years!!!!!!

The incentive would have to be big of course, say $10,000 per child and we’ll throw in a Canada Goose down coat.

For a mere $720,000,000,000 and 18 years we could be the same size as the U.S!!!!!

SO that’s the plan….and one that fits with the Liberals forward thinking powers.

Mr. Trump, tell your dairy dudes no way!!!!! Take you cheeses and edam somewhere else.

But have a gouda day!