The governments of Saskatchewan and Alberta are urging a federal Regulatory Agency to reconsider its decision on a crucial insecticide for farmers.

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency recently changed approved uses for lambda products, an effective pesticide that many farmers rely on to control grasshoppers and flea beetles.

Saskatchewan agriculture minister David Marit is pushing for more study on the issue.

Among other changes, it can no longer be used for any crop that may end up as livestock feed and as a result, its manufacturers have pulled their products from Western Canada.

Marit is also calling for an extension on the use of the lambda products, possibly at least a year.

Marit notes there’s no really effective alternative for lambda products and with another possible drought, grasshoppers could be a serious issue in the southwest.