Canadian ag media is reporting that Cargill, one of the largest grain buyers and shippers in the world, will no longer be accepting any lentils that were sprayed with glufosinate herbicides late in the growing season to desiccate, or dry out, the crop.  For more on this common practice, see this in-depth article by the science website Nautilus.

The agricultural commodities giant is citing inconsistent or noon-existing maximum residue limits, or MRLs, across their global network of markets.  While the WU and Japan have set “very low” glufosinate MRLs, the U.S. has not yet established a residue threshold.

The article in Grainews points out that only one glufosinate ammonia herbicide product currently available in Canada lists desiccation as an approved label use.

Of note is that in the same notice to growers, Cargill announced it would now accept soybeans treated with fluoxastrobin fungicides, provided residues “didn’t exceed established MRLs.”

Source:

Glacier Farm Media Staff, “Cargill not taking glufosinate-desiccated lentils,” Grainews.ca, Date Published: August 11, 2019, Date Accessed: August 14, 2019.