the grower march 2014

KAREN DAVIDSON

When Ontario PremierKathleen Wynne announced lastmonth that the minimum wagewould increase from $10.25 to$11 per hour as of June 1, KenForth called home. The broccoligrower and president of ForeignAgricultural ResourceManagement Services (FARMS)told his 35-year-old son, “Don’tplan to be in this business by thetime you’re 40.”

Growers are dispirited to saythe least. Despite a pledge to sup-port local food production, theprovincial government has reject-ed the economic reality that fruitand vegetable producers don’tcompete locally but instead oper-ate within a global marketplace.Ontario apple pricing, for exam-ple, must compete with applesfrom Washington state or Chileeven though both of those regionshave significantly lower wagerates. Along with Nunavut,

Ontario’s minimum wage willbecome the highest in NorthAmerica and 20 per cent higherthan the $9 per hour in California,and a whopping 34 per cent high-er than the $7.25 minimum wagein other border states. This datawas presented to the MinimumWage Advisory Panel last fall,but “We were ignored out ofhand,” says Forth.

In its findings, the panel identified that agriculture, alongwith retail and hospitality servicesectors, are the three industriesmost dependent on minimum-wage labour (See Chart 1) andtogether, account for approximately two-thirds of theprovince’s minimum-wage workers.

What’s particularly troublingis that the provincial governmentappears to have dismissed thecounsel of its own panel whichpredicted an adverse impact onemployment, especially youthemployment, from minimumwage increases. If the govern-

ment’s objective is to reducepoverty, then all the researchshows that minimum wage is ablunt instrument to wield.

Although the panel did notcomment on the issue of animmediate increase, it’s importantto note that its mandate wasspecifically limited to recommen-dations on how the minimumwage increases should beassessed in the future. It madefour primary recommendations:

1) that the minimum wageshould be revised annually by anamount equivalent to the per centchange in the Ontario consumerprice index (CPI);

2) that a minimum notice offour months be given for eachincrease and the effective date forsuch increase be set at April 1each year;

3) that the provincial govern-ment review the process everyfive years;

4) that ongoing labour researchbe conducted as is currently donein the United Kingdom.

In addition, the panel reportedthat business is better able toabsorb increases that are smalland incremental. It further notedthat “Ontario’s minimum wageshould be in line with otherCanadian provinces, the U.S. andother jurisdictions of relevance tothe Canadian economy.” Forthcouldn’t agree more, but thatadvice was ignored.

“Production efficiency willhave to change,” predicts KenLinington, policy advisor to theLabour Issues CoordinatingCommittee (LICC). “That meanseach worker has to perform at$11 through piece work and probably a more mature, morefocused workforce will berequired. A seasonal worker hasto be a seasoned worker.”

It’s no secret that Americansare actively recruiting Canadianbusinesses to relocate and build inMichigan, Ohio and New Yorkstates.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

MARCH 2014 CELEBRATING 134 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION VOLUME 64 NUMBER 03

THE FOUR SEASONS OF SEASONAL LABOUR

Ontario’s increase to an $11 minimum wage will take$30 million out of grower margins

INSIDECanadian Horticultural Council meets in Kelowna 0

Potato nation Page 18

Focus: Crop protection and spraying Section B

www.thegrower.orgP.M. 40012319

$3.00 CDN

Horticulture requires minimum-wage workers to prune, sort and harvest in every season. Ontario’s new minimum wage of $11 per hour is set for June 1, in the middle of this year’smost labour-intense time. Photos by Denis Cahill, Glenn Lowson and Linda Williams.

NEWSMAKERSThe Innovation Award for Best New Product atthe Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention waswon by Roger Vail, Vailmont Vineyards Ltd forhis Tow and Blow Portable Wind Machine. TheBest New Service Award was won by DonParsons, Farm-Apps Inc. for Field-Tractor Prosoftware. For more details, go to page 4.

The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention isthe host venue for several competitions.Congratulations to all participants. Hard cidercompetition winners are: First place, WestAvenue Cider, Chris Haworth with ‘HeritageDry’; Second place, Bonnieheath Estate Winery,Steve and Anita Buehner; Third place, The County CiderCompany, Grant Howes and Jennifer Dean with ‘Waupoos DraftCider.’

Sweet cider competition winners are: First place, Larry Short,Beamsville; Second place, Al Ferri & Sons, Brampton; Third place,Delhaven Orchards, Blenheim.

This year, an American Brown Ale was the style chosen for theGreat Ontario-Hopped Craft Beer Competition sponsored by GoalZero. Winners are: First place, The Blue Elephant/CarolinianHop Yard; Second place, Get Well Brewing/Nation Hops; Thirdplace, The Olde Stone Brewing Company/Slow Acres Organics.

Re-elected vice-chair for the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’Association is Jason Verkaik, a carrot and onion grower fromBradford, Ontario. Along with chair Ray Duc, the managementcommittee for 2014 will comprise Norm Charbonneau, CharlesStevens and Jan VanderHout.

The Niagara Peninsula Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Associationhas posthumously presented its award of merit to Wayne Roberts.He was instrumental in the region providing counsel on integratedpest management strategies, setting up a plum pox certification program and introducing a virus-free common mother block program.

Gord Surgeoner is one of four to be inducted into the OntarioAgricultural Hall of Fame on June 8. While his career started at theUniversity of Guelph in 1976 as an entomologist researching insect-borne disease control, he has made extensive, significant andongoing contributions to the entire agri-food industry.

The Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers elected a new chair attheir annual general meeting. He is Jim Poel, a pea grower fromThorndale. Vice-chair is Francis Dobbelaar, a tomato, cucumberand pea grower from Wallaceburg. Joining the board is Tom Keller(Leamington) and Frank Schonberger (Langton).

Mark Shainblum has joined the Canadian Horticultural Council as manager, commodity coordination and communications. His responsibilities include coordination for the blueberry and applecommodity groups as well as communications for all stakeholders:members, government, media and general public.

At the first annual general meeting of members, CanadaGAP program participants elected a new board of directors by webinarand teleconference on February 10. Serving a two-year term until2016, they are: Jack Bates, Tecarte Farms; Hugh Bowman,Misionero Vegetables; Avia Eek, Eek Farms; Keith Kuhl, Peak ofthe Market; Stephanie Lariviere, Erie James Ltd.; Paul Leblanc,Apple Growers of New Brunswick; Cathy McKay, Nature’sBounty; Dean Thomson, Thomson Orchards.

On a happy footnote to the Olympics, Kaillie Humphries andHeather Moyse, brand ambassador for PEI potatoes, won the goldmedal in two-women bobsleigh.

THE GROWER

AT PRESS TIME…

PAGE 2 –– MARCH 2014

Federal funding welcomed

Federal agriculture ministerGerry Ritz attended the 2014Ontario Fruit and VegetableConvention in Niagara Falls toannounce support for a newresearch cluster led by theCanadian Horticultural Council(CHC).

The $7 million investment,made under the AgriInnovationProgram, will support industryexperts, scientists and academicsconducting research focused onreducing crop input costs whileimproving marketable yield andmargins for apple and potatogrowers.

CHC is also receiving morethan $450,000 via theAgriMarketing Program for twoadditional projects that will benefit the apple and potatoindustries. One project will helppromote Canada’s high-qualityapple varieties at internationaltrade shows and increase exportpotential. The second project willallow the CHC to work on issuesaffecting market access for potatofarmers and to increase globalawareness of Canadian potatoes.

Grocer marginsunder pressure

On February 13, the NationalPost reported that the three pub-licly traded grocers – Loblaw,Sobeys and Metro – face a stiffcompetitive environment in theabsence of food inflation, a bud-get-conscious consumer and astrong U.S. dollar which increasesprocurement costs. U.S. giantsWalmart, Target and Costcoaccounted for about two-thirds ofthe industry’s three per centgrowth in square footage over thepast year. That figure is wellabove Canada’s demographicgrowth rate of one per cent. YetWalmart has announced $500million in new building, anticipat-ing a total of 395 stores inCanada by year-end. Not to beoutdone, Costco plans to add 25more warehouses this year.Industry retailing analysts expectfurther erosion of grocer margins.

Vegetable fundraisertakes root

Manitoba’s Farm to SchoolFundraiser has raised more than$1.1 million for the province’sschools and daycares since theprogram was initiated three yearsago.

In 2013, 410 schools and daycares participated. More than60,000 bundles of vegetableswere distributed. Put anotherway, that’s 790,671 pounds ofvegetables sold.

“People also had an option tobuy bundles and have them delivered directly to their local

food bank,” says Larry McIntosh,president and CEO, Peak of theMarket. “This year, 30,477pounds were donated – up significantly from the 8,584pounds donated last year.”

Berry growers seekstable funding

The Ontario Berry Growers’Association is exploring a differ-ent business model says KevinSchooley, chair. Currently, the170 members pay dues on a voluntary basis, however a moresecure funding mechanism isneeded.

“We need stable funding,”says Schooley. “To qualify formany government programs, weneed to offer matching funds.We’re struggling to do theresearch that was done in thepast.”

The association has receivedGrowing Forward II funding toexplore options. An acreage fee isnot likely to work, given thatstrawberry plantings change sofrequently. An annual member-ship fee plus a checkoff on number of nursery plants purchased is one scenario.

Statistics Canada reports that660 strawberry growers ply theirtrade in Ontario, but Schooleyquestions that number. The association is currently building adatabase of potential growers thatmight belong to a strengthenedbody. These statistics will be partof a proposal to the Ontario FarmProducts Marketing Commission.

SpinelessPerfection45 day, strong upright open plant, rich green with refined flecking.

Prevail54 day, excellent stress tolerance. Dark green straight, round pods.

Primus81 day, synergystic bicolor, husks provide good cover, superior eating quality.

Grepala60 day, dark green, nice wrap, excellent holding for a first early cabbage.

— Quality Seed Since 1881 —T: 1-800-263-7233 F: 1-800-272-5560 www.StokeSeeds.com Box 10 Thorold ON L2V 5E9

PROUD TO SUPPORT ONTARIO FARMERS

Brian Gilroy, (L) 2nd vice-chairCanadian Horticultural Council,thanked Hon. Gerry Ritz for thefunding support. Photo by HerbSherwood.

Portable windmachine

PERU

Berries boom globally

Peru’s fledging berry industryis expanding rapidly due to inter-national demand for blueberries,strawberries, raspberries and anative of the Andes, aguaymanto.The $400,000 US berry crop in2012 skyrocketed to $10 millionUS in 2013.

Peruvian newspaper La Republicareports that therising popularityof eating healthyin Asia, Europe,and NorthAmerica is helping to drivegrowth of superfruits.

AlfonsoVelasquez of thegovernment tradeorganizationSierra

Ontario’s increase to an $11 minimum wage

MARCH 2014 –– PAGE 3

THE GROWER

THE FOUR SEASONS OF SEASONAL LABOUR

INTERNATIONAL

COLORADO

No jail time forJensen brothers

Eric and Ryan Jensen, theColorado farmers whose listeria-tainted cantaloupe killed33 people and sickened 147,have been sentenced to five yearsof probation. The first sixmonths will be spent in homedetention. In addition to 100hours of community service,each was ordered to pay$150,000 in restitution to victims’ families.

U.S. Attorney John Walshsaid, "No sentence of incarcera-tion, restitution or financialpenalty can undo the tragic damage done as a result of thecontamination at Jensen Farms.Today's sentence serves as apowerful reminder of farmers'legal and moral responsibility forensuring their product is safe."

Source: FreshPlaza.com

Exportadora says that 2,800hectares are devoted to berryproduction, with 1,500 for strawberries and 700 for blueberries. By the end of theyear, plans are to cultivate 1,000hectares for blueberries alone.

Aguaymanto is known internationally as golden berriesor groundcherries. A member ofthe nightshade family, the cropis helping to expand the berrycategory with its small orangefruit encased in a large paperyhusk.

BRAZIL

New competitors ingreenhouse sector?

Thirty Brazilian growersrecently explored the potentialfor a greenhouse industry by visiting Mexico’s ExpoAgroAlimentaria.

Many are now planning newprojects with a view to usingexisting structures says greenhouse consultant Andrés daSilva.

“We have customers doingtests on high tunnels which arenot so expensive, and with noconcrete it is very fast to install,for growing in soil and hydro-ponics,” says da Silva. “It’s away to start low-tech, but also away of improving with tomatoesand bell peppers. High tunnelsare increasing for hydroponicsalad leaves and berries.”

Their first greenhouse grow-ers’ association annual meeting isplanned for next fall.

Source: Hortidaily.com

GERMANY

Spring crops grownin tunnels

Tunnel greenhouses are permitting the simultaneous harvest of asparagus and straw-berries says German grower JörgHeuer, based in Burgwedel. He’sinvested $350,000 euro to ensureoptimal growing conditions andharvest timing for a combinationpack.

Last year, only half of hisstrawberry crop was ripe enoughwhen asparagus season was at itspeak. At the same time, theGerman market was facingstrawberry competition fromSpain and Italy.

"We were left with a remain-ing portion of the harvest,"explained Heuer. To ensure thetwin offering of strawberries andasparagus in 2014, Heuer hasbuilt a high tunnel covering 1.8hectares.

Source: Hortidaily.com

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association invites you to Live Healthy, Eat Fresh at the

2014 Convention and Trade Show in Vancouver.APRIL 2-4, 2014

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The greenhouse business, in particular,is regularly lobbied to expand in thesejurisdictions that have lower labour, energyand tax rates. Building permits are grantedquickly and American bankers are happy tobe part of the pitch package to relocate.That attractive combination has alreadylured Mastronardi Produce, for example, tobuild in Coldwater, Michigan where thegreenhouse grower is currently doubling itsacreage there from 30 to 60 acres. Whencompleted later this summer, the state-of-the-art facility is expected to hire 90 newworkers.

The long-term implications

Without a proper policy environment tocounter global competition, Ontario innovation strategies may die in their incu-bators. The higher labour rates – a sevenper cent increase – will cost Ontario growers another $30 million a year.Undoubtedly, this will mean fewer eligibledollars for innovation or matching fundgovernment programs. And for those considering investments in alternativecrops, the minimum-wage announcementcould strangle higher-risk ventures, whilelimiting further expansion in established

businesses. Linington makes the point that provin-

cial and federal policies are currently atodds. While the federal government ischampioning free trade agreements,Ontario is instituting more regulationsacross all ministries. “It’s just more andmore on the backs of growers,” saysLinington. “It’s death by a thousandknives. Quite literally, our social standardsare legislating us out of business.”

The short-term response

In the horticulture sector’s brief, therewas a call for an agricultural rate, distinctfrom the overall minimum wage rate. Thepremise being that any rate tied to the CPIwill be artificially high because it will beweighted toward the higher cost of livingin metropolitan areas, particularly Toronto.

At a meeting with the premier held inearly February, Ken Forth from FARMSand Art Smith and Don Taylor from theOntario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’Association (OFVGA) had a chance to pre-

sent their case. “What we’re asking thepremier for is an agricultural rate pegged atthe current $10.25 per hour plus the con-sumer price index,” says Forth. “We arealso exploring an offset program for horti-culture.”

It’s a safe bet that but for the fact thatOntario’s premier is also the agricultureminister, this face-to-face would neverhave taken place. Because it did, hoperuns high that the close working relation-ship between the premier and Ontariogrowers, built over the last year, will pro-duce a sustainable, long-term outcome.

Ken Forth

Source: Minimum Wage Advisory Panel Report

– MARCH 2014THE GROWER

OFVC INNOVATION AWARDS

In the field, portability and flexibility are kingBEST NEW PRODUCT: TOW & BLOWPORTABLE WIND MACHINE

“Using wind to fight frost is not new technology,” saysRoger Vail, Vailmont Vineyards Inc., “but harnessing itspower in a portable manner is.”

Traditional ground-powered, fixed installations areexpensive to operate. “For safety reasons, the traditionalwind machine moved from engine-on-top to being ground-powered with large horsepower engines driving everincreasing fan sizes, through clutches, gear boxes and longdrive lines,” explains Vail. “This wastes enormous energy,uses lots of fuel, has a poor carbon footprint and is veryexpensive to maintain.”

The Tow & Blow portable wind machine solves someof those issues.

It can be set to oscillate through any angle so it doesn’thave to work against the natural air drift • low operating cost, very low fuel consumption • it is whisper quiet, inaudible at 300 metres

• fan operates from three metres to seven metres in heightand is adjustable on the impeller head• it’s portable -- move it anytime; anywhere you need it • out of sight, off season. Put it away when you or yourneighbors don’t want to look at it• no concrete foundations needed • no building permit needed • no need to pull out vines or trees to install, thereby notreducing income from your crop• no installation costs• easy service and no specialty service equipment needed• no reliance on manufacturer for unique spare parts

This is the only fan currently in use that has gonethrough wind tunnel testing to verify its output.

New to Ontario, this piece of equipment could be usedto cover two crops with varying bloom times, as in apri-cots and sour cherries. Its flexibility would also allow itsuse on rental properties that don’t merit the capital cost offixed wind machines.

For more information: www.vailmontvineyards.com

BEST NEW SERVICE: FIELD TRACKER PRO

The Field Tracker Pro is a crop-recording web app forsmartphones, tablets and computers. Login is secure fromanywhere, anytime on any device that’s connected to theweb.

The service is set up for multi-users with different levels of access to record re-entry intervals, prek-harvestintervals. It will send alerts, automatic updates and willarchive multiple years of field history. Launched by Farm-Apps Inc, Don Parsons says, “Field Tracker Pro works onall platforms so there is no need to buy a new smartphone.The farm management team, no matter where they are, canaccess the information as it’s updated. Different levels ofaccess allow for use by consultants or employees. The

free-form comment sections allow for field-related noteswithin each activitiy. All the field activity entries can beviewed with one click and then by scrolling down thepage.

This tool helps manage herbicide and pesticide sprayapplications for food safety accountability.

For more information, go to: www.farm-apps.com

Photo left: Don Parsons and his mother Janet show offtheir Innovation Award trophy for Best New Service. Photos by Denis Cahill.

Roger Vail shows off his Innovation Award trophy at theOntario Fruit & Vegetable Convention for Best NewProduct.

THE GROWER


FRUIT LOGISTICA INNOVATION AWARD

Vegetable-based innovations sweep gold, silver and bronze For several days every February, Berlin is the epicenter of the global fresh produce

industry. This year, more than 60,000 visitors from 140 countries visited the trade fair.Part of the exhibitor excitement – and there were 2.600 of them – is who will win the

coveted Innovation Award. The BBQ Grill mix won the top prize with the OrientalMixed Living Salad coming second and Vegetable Crumbs earning third place in the top10 finalists.

BBQ Grill Mix, Eisberg Group,Switzerland

The Eisberg BBQ Grill-Mix is a newrange of convenience products that offer asimple, easy and light solution for barbe-cue fans. The package consists of washed,sliced “ready to grill” vegetables whichare served in a 100 per cent recyclablealuminum tray, suitable for grilling on thebarbecue or roasting in the oven.Each tray is sealed with a special filmwhich keeps the product under vacuumand can be removed without any trace ofplastic or glue being left on the aluminumtray. This technology offers longer fresh-ness, optimal presentation at point-of-saleand maximum convenience for the consumer. For more information: www.eisberg.com

Oriental Mixed Living Salad, HomeHarvest Salads Ltd, United Kingdom

Oriental Mixed Living Salad is a uniquemixture of salad leaves available straightfrom the growing pot to the table. Themixture includes coriander, mustard, tatsoiand pak choi. This unusual salad mix in apot introduces consumers to new varietieswhile at the same time offering freshlyharvested lettuce leaves. The growing traycan be placed on a windowsill and withlight watering can be harvested for up toten days.Oriental Mixed Living Salad offersimproved freshness, a longer shelf lifewithout additives, better nutritional valuesand less waste. For more information:www.livingsalads.co.uk

Vegetable crumbs, Aureli Mario, Italy

Vegetable Crumbs are a pure vegetablecoating available in the varieties of CarrotCrumbs, Purple Carrot Crumbs, CeleryCrumbs, Spinach Crumbs and Red BeetCrumbs. According to the manufacturer,they are free of preservatives or otheradditives and are gluten-free. The production method maintains fibre andsecondary ingredients in nutritionallyrelevant quantities.Vegetable Crumbs open up new taste andvisual possibilities in food presentation.They can be used with meats, chickennuggets or fish fingers, for example, andcombine a strong taste of vegetables witha delicate flavour. For more information:www.aurelimario.com

Fioretto cauliflower, Tokita Seed CoLtd, Japan

Fioretto is a long, thin-stemmed variety ofcauliflower with tiny heads. With its evenly long bright green stems and snowywhite heads, the Fioretto almost has theappearance of a flower bouquet. The fleshis somewhat softer than conventional cauliflower while remaining nicely firm.Cooked or raw, it is sweeter tasting andmore aromatic. When cooked, the stemsbecome even greener.A fully-grown head with a diameter of 30cm weighs around one kilogram. Eachindividual stem weighs around 10-20 g.Production is no different to standard cauliflower. Three varieties are currentlyavailable with growing times of around65, 80 and 100 days. For more information: www.tokitaseed.co.jp

Compostable packaging nets frombeechwood cellulose,Verpackungszentrum Graz, Austria

These compostable packaging nets areproduced from modal cellulose fibre andare environmentally friendly both in pro-duction and in waste disposal. The rawmaterial is derived from beechwood fromthe thinning of PEFC and FSC certifiedforests. The compostable nets can be usedwith standard clipping machines and areavailable in different widths.A special method means that the modalfibre can be dye-coloured using very littledye. The nets are currently available in thestandard colours white, potato yellow,lemon yellow, orange, red, bordeaux anddark brown. For more information:www.vpz.at

Extended shelf-life packaging for broccoli, Brimapack B.V, Netherlands

Extended shelf-life packaging gives broccoli significantly increased shelf-lifeby creating a special natural atmosphereinside the packaging film without chemicals or gases. It combines innovativepacking (tight packing film with a seal atthe butt) with an efficient modularmachine. A single unit can clean and packup to 17 items per minute. One person canoperate two units simultaneously.The new film increases the shelf-life ofbroccoli and other brassicas such as cauliflower and cabbage by at least five toeight days at 18°C. The film is optimizedfor broccoli with no expensive perforationand no additional substances to absorb ethylene. www.brimapack.com

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KAREN DAVIDSON

Okra, long and round eggplantare no longer fringe vegetables.Since 2008, consumption hasincreased 55 per cent for okra and27 per cent for eggplant accord-ing to Statistics Canada. Demandis estimated to be much higher ifthe right quality of produce couldbe delivered.

But there’s lots of risk hidingin the grass for growers to consid-er these subtropical crops. Afteralmost four years of intensestudy, those risks are more quan-tified along the entire value chain,thanks to the Vineland Researchand Innovation Centre (Vineland).

“The biggest challenge to pro-duction is labour at planting andparticularly at harvest,” says LanaCulley, Vineland’s director ofbusiness development. With theminimum wage rising to $11 perhour in Ontario on June 1, somegrowers will be hesitant to tryokra which requires harvestingalmost every day at peak season.That’s despite a forecast of 1600acres of okra needed to fulfilldemand. And a median price of$20 per 20 lb. box at the OntarioFood Terminal. As growersknow, those prices can nosediveovernight with a glut on the localmarket or a freight-load of cheap-er okra from Latin America.

Three years of consecutive tri-als prove that these crops can begrown in Ontario. In-depth agro-nomic knowledge -- variety selec-tion, planting instructions, cropprotection controls and harvestingmethods –is now available. Post-

harvest storage and handling areequally as important as BernardGoyette, Vineland’s research sci-entist, post-harvest science, pointsout how these crops are sensitiveto chilling.

Insights into consumers havealso deepened. External appear-ance is more important for

Canadians and South Asianswhereas freshness is more impor-tant for those of Chinese descent.But what defines fresh?

“Freshness may mean aromaor it may mean how crisply theokra tip breaks off,” explainsAmy Bowen, Vineland’s researchprogram leader for consumerinsights. “The consumer’s use ofthe term ‘fresh’ may be betterexplained by other attributes.”

All of these findings are borneout in Greater Toronto Area gro-cery stores. Longo’s produce cat-egory manager, Bruno Bertucci,anticipates more growth in worldcrops based on in-store growth of66 per cent between 2011 and2013. That’s why Longo’s iscommitted to carry a certain num-

ber of SKUs in each store, basedon the demographics surroundingeach of their 27 store locations.

From a procurement perspec-tive, he says growers should payattention to proper and consistentseed selection, proper handling,storage and consistent pack sizes.All of the bok choy family is pop-ular with okra coming in at fifthspot for the most popular high-volume commodity for Longo’starget demographics. Most of thebuying activity is at the OntarioFood Terminal, because Longo’slikes to consolidate multiple com-modities on a single deliverytruck.

The market for locally pro-duced world crops is there, butit’s tempered by price. “We want

to support local, but it’s a costequation,” says Bertucci.“Competition is fierce. In the con-sumer’s eyes, local produceshould cost less because there’snot the freight of imports.”

At Loblaw stores, vendordevelopment manager PatrickGilbert echoes a similar senti-ment. “One of the key things ispicking the right varieties. Theseconsumers know their homelandvarieties and it’s important tothem. We’ve done numerous tri-als in our stores, and if it’s not theright variety, then it won’t work.”

With increasing demand,Gilbert says there’s a need to edu-cate all consumers about how touse, prepare and eat these foods.

Major grocers stocking more locally grown okra, eggplant WORLD CROPS

THE GROWER


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Vineland’s Ahmed Bilal (L) research associate, crop production and diversification, shows progress of theAsian eggplant trial plot to the Loblaw team of Shreenivas Shellikeri, Patrick Gilbert and Bikram Gupta.

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THE GROWER

Syngenta’s OperationPollinator program will be sup-porting important bee-populationresearch in the Maritimes thiscoming summer. DalhousieUniversity researchers will plantbee-attractive forage plants andcreate bee nesting sites. Impactsof these habitat amendments onbee populations and blueberrypollination will be analyzed overtwo years. The third partner is theNatural Sciences and EngineeringResearch Council of Canada.

“An increase in the demand forblueberries has resulted in theexpansion of blueberry opera-tions,” says Paul Hoekstra, stew-ardship manager with SyngentaCanada Inc. “Bee populationshave not, however, increased intandem. Bees and blueberries arean important combination andover the past two years declinesin blueberry yields have causedconcerns.”

Chris Cutler, associate profes-sor in Dalhousie’s Faculty of

Agriculture, says there aren’tenough bees available to pollinatea healthy blueberry crop. “Thisresearch project hopes to addressa couple of the factors that maybe part of the problem – nestinghabitat limitations and a lack offood resources,” he says.

Annual buckwheat, which isparticularly attractive to bees, willbe planted along the edge of blue-berry fields explains Master ofScience researcher RobynMcCallum. “We’re also examin-

ing the use of nesting blocksthat can be used by certaincavity-nesting bees, and hownesting block design, place-ment, and management affectthe number of bees in a fieldand, as a result, pollinationrates,” she says.

“We think the research willdemonstrate the benefits of thesepractical methods to boost nativebee populations,” McCallum says.

“Increasing numbers of naturalpollinators have been shown to

increase yield and quality in keyagricultural crops," concludesHoekstra. "Syngenta is pleased tosupport Robyn’s research and welook forward to seeing the resultsof this work.”

Source: Syngenta news release

Maritime research seeks to boost bee populations and blueberry yields

The federalgovernment isinvesting $2.8million to helpblueberry,raspberry andstrawberry

growers improvetheir product by developing pest-and disease-resistant varietiesand better production methods.

The federal contribution willhave another $1 million added byindustry, including the B.C.Blueberry Council, RaspberryIndustry Development Council,B.C. Cranberry MarketingCommission and the B.C.Strawberry Growers Association.

The money will go to theLower Mainland HorticultureImprovement Association(LMHIA) which is chaired byDavid Mutz.

"It means our world-renownedbreeding program will be able tocontinue to produce top qualityraspberry, strawberry and blue-berry cultivars in the futurewhich will be good for bothfarmers and consumers," Mutzsaid.

Sukh Kahlon, an Abbotsfordgrower who sits on both theRaspberry Industry DevelopmentCouncil and the BC BlueberryCouncil, said the industry needsto continually innovate.

"We need to engage in pro-jects that will help growers andthe industry remain on the cuttingedge and be competitive on theglobal stage," Kahlon said.

The provincial ministry ofagriculture, B.C. Institute ofTechnology and University of theFraser Value will be involved inthe program as well.

Berry exports have doubledover the last decade, rising to$211 million last year.

Source: FreshPlaza.com

B.C. berrygrowers toimprovecultivars

CROSS COUNTRY DIGEST


Heinz tomato growers receive $1.8 million ‘goodwill’ payment CROSS COUNTRY DIGEST

THE GROWER


KAREN DAVIDSON

Leamington, Ontario -- March– the month when growers gearup for planting – is marking anending for 43 area tomato grow-ers. They have just received $1.8million in a goodwill paymentfrom H. J. Heinz to cover lastfall’s fertilizer and seedbed prepa-rations for a 2014 crop that won’tbe planted. The Heinz processingplant is scheduled to close June27. What used to be a $50 milliontomato processing crop will bereduced to about $35 million thisyear.

“Compensation was wel-comed,” says Walter Brown, for-mer chair of the tomato negotiat-ing committee, OntarioProcessing Vegetable Growers(OPVG). “It was good of Heinzto recognize the dollars investedand the suppliers of many years.”

In Brown’s case, that Heinzrecord spans 47 years. Along withhis son-in-law, he will plant 200

acres to corn and soybeans thisspring, an option that will providefar less revenue. The final chequeis actually small solace for the

$250,000 in irrigation invest-ments on his farm. There’s also abarn full of specialized tomatoequipment with no home and no

museum value. For some growers, options

remain in processing contracts forpeas, sweet corn or cucumbers,however those crops don’tdemand the same growing exper-tise or potential for income.Growers still remain bewilderedby the Heinz decision knowingthat they had Lake Erie water toirrigate, a key competitivestrength against rivals inCalifornia.

Although Heinz says it’s goingto source commodity paste fromCalifornia, the company may findthat its Ontario plant closure waspenny wise, yet pound foolish.According to the Fresno Bee(January 27, 2014), reservoirs inthe San Joaquin valley are bone-dry with the state snow-packmeasured at only 13 per cent ofaverage. The three-year drought isso dire that the federal govern-ment could seize water that valleyfarmers had saved and legallydivert the resource to other pur-poses. This is precisely the area

where tomatoes are grown. While Canadian growers keep

a keen eye on California, therewill still be tomatoes planted inChatham-Kent and Essex county.Other tomato processors include:Sun-Brite Foods Inc, Ruthven;ConAgra Foods; Dresden; Weil’sFood Processing Ltd., Wheatley;Thomas Canning Ltd., Maidstone;Countryside Canners Co Ltd.,Stoney Point; Harvest-PacProducts Inc., Chatham.

While tomatoes top the rev-enue list for OPVG, Al Krueger,assistant manager, says that theassociation negotiates contractsfor 13 crops. In 2013, for exam-ple, cucumbers tallied $11.4 mil-lion, green peas totalled morethan $10 million, sweet corn wasworth $8.4 million, green andwax beans grossed nearly $4 mil-lion. Carrots brought in more than$5 million.

B.C. Blueberry Council goes to DubaiBlueberries are already

Canada's most exported fruit, butopportunities exist to send evenmore of the little blue antioxidantpowerhouses overseas. Lastmonth, the BC Blueberry Councilwent to Dubai for the first time toattend Gulfood, the world'slargest food and beverage indus-try trade show. Spanning fivedays, February 23 - 27, Gulfoodattracted nearly 80,000 trade-onlybuyers from around the world,

with a strong representation fromthe Middle East region, Europeand parts of Asia. The councilexhibited as part of the AgriFoodCanada pavilion.

"Increased blueberry plantingsin B.C. means a bigger harvesteach year, and so it's essential thatwe source new markets for ourberries," said Debbie Etsell, theBC Blueberry Council's executivedirector. "In addition to ourdomestic marketing program, we

head to Japan, China, the U.S.and Europe each year, and thehigh-quality of our fruit has givenus a strong foothold in those mar-kets. This is the first time thatwe've been to Gulfood, and wethink this could be a fantasticopportunity to develop relation-ships with new customers thatpreviously haven't had the chanceto try B.C.'s blueberries."

While many people will auto-matically think of the fresh fruitwhen there's mention of blueber-ries, approximately half of eachyear's crop heads to processors,who freeze, dry, juice or puréethe berries, making them avail-able both locally and to interna-tional markets year-round. It's inthese other formats that signifi-cant opportunity exists to shipB.C.'s naturally sweet blueberriesinto these markets, and the formatoften depends on the country'sown culinary traditions. "We

know that dried blueberries are apopular offering in the MiddleEast as they consume a lot ofdried fruits. And we're findingthat frozen blueberries are popu-lar in hot climates where theymake a lot of frozen drinks anddesserts," said Etsell.

The BC Blueberry Councilworks closely with governmenttrade offices at both a provincial

and federal level, making themost of opportunities to take partin trade missions, delegations andshows such as Gulfood. Otherinternational missions planned for2014 include FoodEx in Japan,Fruit Logistica in Europe, andFruit Logistica Asia in HongKong.

The British ColumbiaBlueberry Council representsmore than 800 blueberry growers,located in some of Canada's mostrich and fertile farmland.Plantings of premium qualityhighbush blueberries top 11,300hectares in British Columbia andproduce upwards of 48 millionkilograms of blueberries annually.With more than $1 billion in salesin the past five years, Canada isthe third largest national producerof sweet and juicy highbush blue-berries in the world. Source: BC Blueberry Councilnew release

The closure of the H.J. Heinz plant in Leamington on June 27 isexpected to trim $15 million in receipts to growers.

Photo courtesy of BC Blueberry Council/Tracey Kusiewicz

We’re findingthat frozen blueberriesare popular in hot climates where theymake a lot of frozendrinks and desser ts.”

~ Debbie Etsell

“

THE GROWER


THE GROWER


KAREN DAVIDSON

Tracy Shinners-Carnelley is like alighthouse on the prairie. ThisNova Scotia native has clearlyfound her land legs in Manitoba,an extensionist who helps growers navigate science.

Shinners-Carnelley is directorof research and quality enhance-ment for Peak of the Market, agrower-owned, not-for-profit vegetable supplier in Manitoba.She has the luxury of workingclosely with Peak growers in theirfields, storage sheds and packinghouses. From her home base inCarman, she travels north intovegetable territory and south intopotato country. She’s well suitedto the role having spent 10 yearswith Manitoba Agriculture, Foodand Rural Initiatives, first as plantpathologist then as potato pestmanagement specialist.

One of the challenges, shesays, is that pest management ismuch more knowledge-based thanit used to be. While newchemistries are positive, they arereduced-risk chemistries thatoften require very specific timingof application to achieve the maximum benefit for the grower.Compounding this is the challenge of managing insect anddisease resistance.

Colorado potato beetle, forexample, is becoming tolerant toneonicotinoids and growers haveto think about alternative management strategies.

“We’re realizing that a newgeneration of crop scouts needtraining because they’re notfamiliar with the life stages of theinsect – information that is critical as growers explore foliarinsecticide strategies,” saysShinners-Carnelley. “It was alight bulb moment for us.”

Her in-depth knowledge ofthese on-farm issues made her agood choice to speak at the recentManitoba Potato Days about theimportance of Potato Virus Y inseed and commercial potato production. PVY is anotherevolving pest issue for potato producers in North America.Recently, the Canadian PotatoCouncil (CPC) identified thisvirus as a national priority forresearch.

With such a broad backgroundin provincial and on-farm consulting, Shinners-Carnelleywas appointed as prairie representative to the CanadianHorticultural Council’s CropProtection Advisory Committee(CPAC) in 2007.

“It’s an interesting committeefacing big issues with no commodity lines,” she says. “Thechallenge is to translate the farm-level issues to the policyissues of Health Canada and further encourage harmonizationwith the U.S.-basedEnvironmental Protection Agencyas much as possible.”

Canadian growers need to beas competitive as possible in theglobal marketplace. CPAC

focuses on ensuring that growershave access to the crop protectiontools they need.

She has been tapped to contribute to the briefs on howlinuron herbicide and mancozebfungicide are used in the field andwhy they are important to production systems. The PestManagement Regulatory Agencymay see the alternatives in a clearlight on paper but regulators don’tnecessarily understand the complexities of how these products are used regionally orwith specific crop varieties.

On the mancozeb issue, shesays the common thread is resistance management. “We needto maintain access to mancozeb tohelp manage pest resistance thatcan so quickly develop if thenewer single-site chemistries arenot used according to best practice,” she says.

Both the linuron and mancozebfiles are now under PMRAreview, with the period for publiccomment closed. Timing of aPMRA decision is not known.

In the meantime, Shinners-Carnelley continues her additionalrole as chair of the CPC researchworking group. The CPC developed a National Researchand Innovation Strategy in 2012.In the next decade, priorities willfocus on variety evaluation andimproved disease and pest management. While control ofwireworm through managementpractices is still a major concern,the industry also wants to be

proactive regarding new threatssuch as potato psyllid and zebrachip.

Thanks to Shinners-Carnelley’s Peak of the Market

field knowledge and her considerable committee work, theentire Canadian horticulturalindustry benefits.

On-farm expertise benefits national policy makingWHAT’S YOUR STORY?

CropLife president, former MP Ted Menziesheadlines at 2014 AGM

Former Conservative Member of Parliament TedMenzies, recently appointed as president ofCropLife Canada, will be the headline speaker atCHC’s 2014 Annual General Meeting in Kelowna.Mr. Menzies is the guest speaker during the banquetwhich is scheduled for the evening of March 5. Firstelected to represent the Alberta Constituency ofMacleod in 2004, Menzies held several federal positions including Federal Minister of State forFinance and Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministerof Finance. Prior to entering federal politics Menzieswas involved in several farm organizations, including the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance,Grain Growers of Canada and Western CanadianWheat Growers Association.

RCC Crop Protection Products Initiative

An RCC Crop Protection Products Initiativewebinar was presented on January 16, 2014 and provided an overview of the initiative, updates onprogress to date and ongoing alignment work andlaid out the way forward

The initial 29-item RCC Action Plan wasannounced in December 2011 and is now enteringits final months. PCO/OIRA received stakeholdersubmissions from 160 different organizations duringrecent Canada Gazette and Federal Register consul-tations, and the Canadian and U.S. governments arenow committed to another phase of work based onall the input received. Both countries will developthe outline of a forward plan for regulatory cooperation by Spring 2014, building on progress-to-date and lessons learned.

Welcome to Kelowna, B.C.CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL AGM

Tracy Shinners-Carnelley, director of research and quality enhance-ment for Peak of the Market in Manitoba, is a valuable resource to theCanadian Horticultural Council and Canadian Potato Council.

THE GROWER


Anne FowlieExecutive Vice President

Since 1998, Anne hasbeen at the helm ofCHC overseeing multi-ple files. While Annegrew up bilingual inQuebec, she got herfirst taste of horticulturein Nova Scotia. She

gained broad experience in the potatoindustry working for a grower cooperativeand later as assistant executive director forthe provincial potato association. One ofher current goals is to see a positive out-come for a PACA-like trust in Canadathrough the Regulatory CooperationCouncil.

Patti ProulxFinancial Controller

A CertifiedManagementAccountant (CMA)with many years ofexperience in the not-for-profit sector, Pattijoined CHC in 2004.In addition to her part-

time work with CHC her clients includeCanAgPlus, BioTalent Canada, CanadianSupply Chain Food Safety Coalition andthe Agricultural Institute of Canada. Shealso teaches accounting at CarletonUniversity. Patti is married and the proudmom of three daughters.

Amy Argentino Manager Projects and Programs

Amy joined CHC in2002. Since that timeshe has assumed rolesof increased responsi-bility and is currentlyManager, Projects andPrograms. She isresponsible for manag-ing the Agri-Science

Cluster for Horticulture, coordinates issuesfor the apple industry, and oversees plan-ning the CHC’s annual general meeting.Amy grew up on the shores of Lake Erie inRidgeway, Ontario and moved to Ottawain 1999 to pursue a B.A. in Linguisticsfrom the University of Ottawa.

André BourbonnièreManager Policy Analysis and Research

André’s professionalexperience has beenearned in the areas ofcorporate risk manage-ment, insurance andfinancial services. HisCHC responsibilitiesinclude the researchand development of

position and policy statements for standingcommittees and assigned commoditygroups as well as the coordination ofindustry data collection and analysis forinput to various government consultations.He most recently served as DeputyDirector of National Programs with theFederation of Canadian Municipalities(FCM) with primary responsibility for theoperations of the Green Municipal Fund(GMF).

David Jones Manager Potato Industry Coordination

David holds a Masterof Science (M.Sc.) inCrop Production andManagement/Physiology and aBachelor of Science(Agriculture) from theUniversity of Guelph.His previous work

experience includes: Section HeadHerbicide Section Product Sustainabilityand Coordination Division, PMRA;Regulatory Manager, Arysta LifeScienceNorth America LLC and Field Research &Market Development Specialist BASFCanada Inc. (Eastern Canada). He joinedthe Canadian Potato Council / CHC in2011 in a consulting capacity as Manager,Potato Industry Coordination. David’stechnical and trade expertise bringsstrength to a number of files.

Mark Shainblum Manager, Commodity Coordination&Communications

Mark is the mostrecent addition to theCHC team. Fluentlybilingual and with abackground in commu-nications, publicaffairs, media relations,research, writing andediting, his responsibil-

ities will include coordination for theblueberry and apple commodity groups.His primary responsibility will be toassist in the development and executionof communications at all levels: member,

government, media and general public andto manage the CHC’s website. Previouswork assignments have included ResearchCommunications Officer and DigitalMedia Manager for the Jewish GeneralHospital Lady Davis Research Institute andas Media Relations Officer (Research) andCommunications Officer (Faculty ofScience) at McGill University.

Linda VinokuroffAdministrative Assistant

Linda joined CHC in2008 as a member ofthe food safety team.Among other adminis-trative duties shetracked in-kind contri-butions, arrangedmeeting logistics andresponded to inquiries

from program participants. In 2012 shetransitioned to CHC as AdministrativeAssistant when CanAgPlus was estab-lished. She has more than 33 years ofexperience as a bilingual administrativeassistant and has worked in various envi-ronments including medical, transportation,manufacturing, legal and real estate inQuébec and Ontario. In addition to generaladministrative responsibilities, Linda alsocoordinates the crop profiles initiatives anda number of elements related to the AnnualGeneral Meeting.

Growing a healthy organizationCANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL AGM

All staff hands will be on deck to help prepare for the Canadian Horticultural Council’s 92nd Annual General Meeting March 4 – 6 in Kelowna, British Columbia. Here’s a brief introduction to the Ottawa-based staff.

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Board briefsONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION

THE GROWER


Following are highlights fromthe OFVGA board meeting heldJanuary 30, 2014. The purpose ofthis brief is to keep you up-to-date on the issues that theOFVGA is working on, as well asprojects and initiatives the organi-zation is involved in.

Vice Chair and managementcommittee members elected JasonVerkaik was re-elected ViceChair of the OVFGA. NormCharbonneau, Charles Stevensand Jan VanderHout join Verkaikand Board Chair Ray Duc on theOFVGA management committee.

OFVGA appoints external representatives OFVGA’s boardmembers also selected their external representatives to serveon committees and organizations.

Farm & Food Care – BrianGilroy

Agricultural AdaptationCouncil – Len Troup, BrendaLammens

Canadian Horticultural Council- Adrian Huisman, Brian Gilroy

Canadian Federation ofAgriculture – Ray Duc, MarkWales, Ken Forth

Canadian Produce MarketingAssociation – Ray Duc, JasonVerkaik, Art Smith

FFV Tel – Art Smith

Farm Safety Association –Norm Charbonneau, DavidLambert

FARMS – Tony Cervini,Naunihal Gil, Trevor Falk, KenPorteous, John Ardiel, TomMeidema, Ken Forth, TrevorFalk, Ken Porteous, SteveVersteegh

Horticultural Value ChainRound Table – Brian Gilroy,

George Gilvesy

Labour RegionalRepresentatives - Ken Forth,Tony Cervini, Hector Delanghe,Steve Versteegh, John Ardiel

Labour Issues Co-ordinatingCommittee – Ken Forth, HectorDelanghe

Ontario Agri-FoodTechnologies – Harold Schooley

Ontario AgriculturalCommodity Council – Ray Duc,Mark Wales, Art Smith

Ontario Federation ofAgriculture – Ray Duc, MacJames, Brian Gilroy OMAF/MRA

Research Advisory Network/Theme Advisory Group, Plants– Harold Schooley

Royal Agricultural Winter Fair– Brian Gilroy

National Safety NetsRepresentative – Mark Wales

Canadian Horticultural CouncilScience Advisory Committee –Harold Schooley, Brian Gilroy

Vineland Research andInnovation Centre StakeholdersAdvisory Committee – HaroldSchooley, Art Smith

CanAgPlus - Stephanie Lariviere,Mary Shabatura

Canadian Horticultural Council

The annual general meeting ofthe Canadian HorticulturalCouncil (CHC) will be heldMarch 4 – 6, 2014 in Kelowna,BC. Ontario’s CHC representa-tives are Brian Gilroy and AdrianHuisman.

Crop protection

Section chair CharlesStevens reported that ameeting is being organized with HealthCanada to discuss full harmonization of the cropprotection processesbetween Canada and theUnited States. The goalfor complete harmoniza-tion is to have identicalproduct labels on bothsides of the border, whichfollows the definition ofharmonization adopted byboth OFVGA and CHClast year.

The annual NationalMinor Use Priority Settingmeetings will take place inMarch in Ottawa. Growersare encouraged to attendthe meeting as this iswhere important decisionsconcerning minor use priorities are made.Additional informationabout participation isavailable from OFVGA.

Release of the 2014 listof products approved for importunder the Grower Requested Ownuse (GROU) program is anticipated in February. GROUallows farmers to apply for permits to import crop protectionmaterials approved under the program into Canada for theirown use. The list of approvedproducts is updated annually.

Minimum wage

The Ontario government hasannounced that it is raising theprovincial minimum wage to $11an hour effective June 1. Thewage rate had last been increasedin 2010, when it was raised to$10.25. Moving forward, the government is also proposing thatfuture minimum wage increasesbe tied to inflation. Ontario now

joins Nunavut with the highestminimum wage rate in Canada.

OFVGA had indicated it cansupport the concept of futureincreases based on the ConsumerPrice Index in its presentation tothe minimum wage panel established by Premier Wynne todevelop recommendations onfuture wage increases. However,OFVGA had also warned thegovernment that increasing theminimum wage first before tomoving to an inflation-based system would be catastrophicfor the sector and that if the government were to do this, aseparate minimum wage rate foragriculture needed to be created.OFVGA continues to work on theissue.

CEO report

In January, CEO Art Smithappeared before the provincialStanding Committee on Financeand Economic Affairs to make apre-budget consultation presentation. Smith’s presentationfocused on minimum wage andthe need for upgrades and investments into the province’srural energy infrastructure inorder to help the industry be morecompetitive and support growth.

Smith also reported discussions with the Ontario

Ministry of Agriculture and Foodregarding the development of astable funding mechanism forOFVGA are continuing. TheOFVGA formed a committee lastyear in response to a resolutionpassed at the 2013 annual generalmeeting to look at developing anew funding mechanism that isfair and equitable to all producerswho benefit from the OFVGA’swork.

CEO hiring committee

At the organization’s AGM inJanuary, CEO Art Smithannounced that he will be retiringat the end of June. The Boardestablished a hiring committee tolead the search for a new CEO;members include Ray Duc, JasonVerkaik, Don Taylor and KenForth.

Annual General Meeting

The AGM was held January 13and 14 in Niagara Falls. The newformat which reduced the eventfrom two and a half to two dayswas well received and will continue for 2015.

The next OFVGA board meeting will be held at theOFVGA office on March 20,2014, starting at 10:00 a.m.

The Energy and Environment Working Group (EEWG) of theHVCRT is hoping you will participate in the survey on theEnvironmental Performance of Canada’s Horticulture Value Chain.

All input received will provide valuable insight and influence thestrategic direction of the HVCRT on related activities.

The entire survey will take no more than five to 10 minutes to com-plete. All answers will remain strictly confidential and be aggregatedwith other responses to maintain anonymity.The online survey is open until Sunday, March 23, 2014 and the URLlink is the following: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7PL5ZGS

HVCRT needs your help

THE GROWER


This March, the CanadianAgricultural Safety Association(CASA) and the CanadianFederation of Agriculture (CFA)are encouraging producers to talkabout farm safety as part ofCanadian Agricultural SafetyWeek, which runs from March 9to 15, 2014.

Canadian Agricultural SafetyWeek (CASW) is an annual public education campaign focus-ing on the importance of safeagriculture. In 2014 the theme isLet’s Talk About It!, and organizers want to inspire farmersto engage in conversations aboutsafety through a combination offarmer testimonials, producerresources, and videos.

“This year we are showcasingstories of producers who haveexperienced injuries or who havemade innovations for safety ontheir farm, and we’re puttingthese stories to video as part ofour Let’s Talk About It! VideoSeries to help get the word out ina new way,” says Marcel Hacault,Executive Director of CASA.“We’ve also developed resourcesfor farmers that will help themconduct safety meetings andexplore topics like talking to yourkids around safety or overcominglanguage and cultural barrierswith seasonal workers,” he adds.“The idea is to get people talkingabout farm safety as a first steptowards a safer, more successfulfarm.”

“It’s human nature to think ‘itwon't happen to me,’ but unfortunately it can, especially ifwe continue on with thisapproach. Taking preventative,proactive measures is one of thebest things we can do for ourfarm and workers. We hope thatthrough safety week and throughhearing from other farmers abouttheir experiences, we shed somelight on the necessity of farmsafety and practical ways to makeit happen on the farm,” says CFApresident Ron Bonnett.

Farm Credit Canada is a long-time and ongoing sponsor ofCASW. “In our fast-paced industry, it’s important to take thetime to think about the safety andwell-being of the people whogrow our food,” says RemiLemoine, vice president and chiefoperating officer at FCC. “We’recommitted to helping Canadianproducers stay safe at work, andencourage thoughtful planningthrough written health and safetyplans.”

As part of CASW, CASA andCFA are also working with Agfor Life and Alberta Agricultureand Rural Development to hostLet’s Talk About It! launch activ-ities in Olds, Alberta on March11th, 2014. Activities include aluncheon with speeches fromfarm safety champions and testimonials from Alberta farmers

showcased in the Let’s TalkAbout It! Video Series, as well asa half-day training session on bestpractices in safety orientation forseasonal and migrant workers featuring presentations fromAlberta Agriculture and RuralDevelopment and CASA.

“Agriculture in Alberta is notonly a significant economic driver, it’s a way of life,” saysDavid Sprague, CEO ofAgriculture for Life. “Ag for Life

and its founders support the well-being of this industry byproviding farm and rural safetyprogramming to children, youthand adults in schools and in theircommunities. Encouraging ourfarm families and communities totalk about safety during CanadianAgricultural Safety Week is agreat way to raise the awarenessof keeping everyone safe andwe’re honoured to be part of thisnational initiative.”

Let’s talk about farm safetyTree Fruit & Fresh Grape Worker Health &Safety Manual and Online Module

The Ontario Tender Fruit Producers Marketing Board has received$32,292.00 in OFIP funding for this project. The goal is to reducerisk and injuries within the Ontario tender fruit, apple and freshgrape industries. The project aims to provide grower members fromthese industries with relevant and practical health and safety information, templates and tools, integrated within the existing Fruit/AppleTracker record management system to help them managehealth and safety in their operations. The proposed solution recognizes the needs of producers to access the information and toolsin ways that they already use to access information and manage theirbusinesses.

THE GROWER


The price too great!

It’s only 75 cents we are told,only six dollars a day . . . doesn’tsound like much does it?

When you do the math however it is a totally differentstory. If you hire 100 people, it’s$600 a day or $3000 plus a week. . . and well, you get the picture.What makes this latest round ofOntario wage increases so difficult and serious is the disproportionate amount of minimum-wage earners we havein our sector. Quite frankly ifminimum-wage earners

represented five to 10 per cent ofour work force we would not behaving this discussion.

There are several factors thatset us apart from other employers.The first is no mechanism torecover these additional expensesfrom the marketplace and the second, as mentioned above, isthe disproportionate number ofminimum-wage earners that weemploy in our labour-intensivesector.

I can think of other sectors thatalso have a high number of minimum-wage earners but these businesses – such as coffee shopsand retailers -- have the ability toclaw these additional expensesback. Farmers do not!

I have written before about theproblems of using minimum-wage increases to fight povertyespecially in a province as diverseas Ontario but it is exactly whatthe provincial government haschosen to do and to do so at yourexpense.

What I cannot understand iswhy the inevitable loss of jobs ina province looking to increasejobs was not and is not taken into

consideration.It is the diversity of types of

work, diversity of businesses andsectors and as well as the diversity of living expensesacross the province that createsthe problem.We recognize inflation and thedesire for everyone to have theability to keep up with increasedliving expenses, unfortunatelyhowever not all businesses havethat ability themselves. Forcingincreased expenses that can notbe recovered only leads to joblosses.

Global trade has changedeverything and governments at alllevels need to start recognizingthat reality.

Our friends to the south arealso looking at raising the U.S.minimum-wage rate to $9.00 andthey have recognized that increasing the minimum-wagerate to that level will help to alleviate poverty for up to 16 million people but will cost up toone million jobs; throwing manyof those people into absolutepoverty.

You help some but you create

a far worse situation for others.The Minimum Wage Advisory

Panel recommended that govern-ment follow a cost-of-productionsystem when adjusting minimum-wage rates and we have statedsince day one, that we agree withthat mechanism.

However the governmentchose to up the rate by 75 centsand then follow inflation. Thiswas not what the advisory panelrecommended. This was a purepolitical move and not foundedon inflation or CPI.

Government will argue thatthis was necessary as there hadnot been a minimum wageincrease since 2010 and this wasnecessary to make up for the 7.5per cent CPI since then. That inand of itself is a true statementbut these types of statements/factsdepend on the initial start time. Ifin fact we go back to 1995 andfollow inflation we would be at$9.78 an hour in 2014 and if westarted with 2004 which was theyear of the first Liberal government increase we would beat $8.72 an hour.

I am not arguing against wage

increases but I am arguing thatthe mechanism must be so welldefined as not to create job losses.

Different sectors of the economy have different realities.Some can simply put their pricesup, some can not, some have nosay whatsoever in the prices theyreceive for their products.

Quite clearly a one-size-fits-allapproach does not and can notwork.

The impact on the fruit andvegetable sector will most likelybe about $30 million dollarsannually assuming no job lossand that figure represents an estimated 40 per cent of the sector’s total margins. Not onlydoes that cause hardship for youthe farmer, but also means lessmoney to be reinvested in yourbusiness, less money to createthe 120,000 new jobs that thegovernment is asking us to create.

I want to know how that willbe possible now.

Only 75 cents eh . . . hmm. For what it’s worth, it’s the

way I see it.

ART SMITHCEO, OFVGA

STAFFPublisher: Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ AssociationEditor: Karen Davidson, 416-557-6413, [email protected]: Carlie Robertson, ext. 221, [email protected]: Herb Sherwood, 519-380-0118, [email protected]

The Grower reserves the right to refuse any advertising. Any errors that are the direct result of The Grower will be compensated at our discretion with a correction notice in the nextissue. No compensation will be given after the first running of the ad.Client signature is required before insertion.

The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association is thesole owner of The Grower. All editorials and opinions expressed inThe Grower are those of the newspaper’s editorial staff and/or con-tributor, and do not necessarily reflect the view of the association.

All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may notbe reproduced either whole or in part without the prior writ-ten consent of the publisher.

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Subscribers must submit a claim for missing issues withinfour months. If the issue is claimed within four months, butnot available, The Grower will extend the subscription byone month. No refunds on subscriptions.

ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2013

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEChair Ray Duc, Niagara-on-the-LakeVice-Chair Jason Verkaik, BradfordFruit Director Norm Charbonneau, Port ElginVeg Director Jan Vander Hout, WaterdownDirector Charles Stevens, Newcastle

BOARD OF DIRECTORSApples Charles Stevens, NewcastleFresh Vegetable - Other Mary Shabatura, Windham CentreTender Fruit John Thwaites, Niagara-on-the-LakeON Asparagus Grws’. Mkg. Brd. Jason Ryder, DelhiGGO/Fresh Grape Growers Ray Duc, Niagara-on-the-LakeFresh Vegetable - Muck Jason Verkaik, BradfordON. Potato Board Mac James, LeamingtonSmall Fruit/Berries Norm Charbonneau, Port ElginON. Ginseng Growers’ Ken Van Torre, BurfordGreenhouse Jan Vander Hout, WaterdownGreenhouse Don Taylor, Durham

OFVGA SECTION CHAIRS

Crop Protection Charles Stevens, NewcastleResearch Harold Schooley, SimcoeProperty Brian Gilroy, MeafordLabour Ken Forth, LyndenSafety Nets Mark Wales, AlymerCHC Murray Porteous, Simcoe

At the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention, several savvy exhibitors brought a TV screen for live feeds of the Olympics. Here, Vineland Growers’ Cooperative Ltd performed theultimate service in channelling the Canadian men’s hockey game against Latvia. Photo by Denis Cahill.

OH CANADA!

THE GROWER


One of the biggest mediadraws in the world is actually anagriculture and food event, thebiggest one in Europe, calledGreen Week. Staged everyJanuary and now in its 79th year,this edition drew a record 410,000people (mostly consumers) overnine days, and more internationalparticipants than ever.

It’s a great opportunity for theag sector to try moving the needleon public opinion. Opposition inEurope, led by Germany, to

biotechnology and other moderncrop protection measures remainshigh.

And it shows, not just in anti-technology protests on thestreets, but also in news coverage.A report from a pro-crop protec-tion group calledIndustrieverband Agrar notes thatthe ratio of bad to good newsmedia reports on plant protectionis about 40:1.

The report, distributed atGreen Week to members of theInternational Federation ofAgricultural Journalists, calledout the ag sector for concentratingits efforts on quantifying the eco-nomic and environmental impactof crop protection in isolation.

Sure, crop protection preservesand increases yields. In fact, it’sconservatively estimated yieldswould drop by one-third withoutmeaningful crop protection, acontention that everyone shouldkeep in mind as we drive towardsfeeding more people on the planet.

But, the report asks, whatabout the social benefits of cropprotection in Germany? How

does it contribute to society’sgoals?

Good point. One of the biggestknocks against biotechnology andcrop protection is that its mainbeneficiaries have been farmers.

That’s not so bad if you’re afarmer.

However, the report says, targeted, properly conducted cropprotection on farm is actuallygood for society, too.

That’s a wide-ranging statement. But the authors knowwould-be readers are pretty particular about the way farmersuse crop protection products.Germany is already on high alert,and has been for decades, aboutgene-altering technology. Thatmakes its citizens wary of NorthAmerican-style crop protectionand GMOs.

But as farmers here know,when used properly, crop protection does society good. Thereport’s authors agree.

They say first, by boostingyields, crop protection contributes

to a country’s overall economicprosperity, not just that of armers.

And in helping farmers fightbugs, weeds and disease, it permits more food to be grown onless land. “It helps save the globally scarce source of arableland or soil, through generatinghigher yields per unit of area,”says the report.

If little more land is needed togrow food, natural areas don’thave to be sacrificed for production, and biodiversity ispreserved. This is a huge concernin Germany, where almost 82million people are packed into aspace about one-third the size ofOntario.

And finally, with more greenspaces preserved and carbonsequestering maintained, lessgreenhouse gases end up beingemitted into the atmosphere. Thatsaid, with climate change upon usand new pests emerging, cropprotection helps hold the linewhile the plant world adapts.

All this certainly sounds likethe position you’d expect pro-technology lobbyists to take.And I’ve heard their detractorsargue against most of the statements made.

So have the German people, ata ratio of 40:1.

But the industry must keep trying different ways, like thissociety-targeted report perhaps, tomake people understand plantsgrown for food are vulnerable andneed help.

You know the comebacks:bees are vulnerable too, and needhelp. So does wildlife.

And so do people, if productsare unsafe.

Can the industry prove it’s notthe public’s enemy? It must, be itin Germany, Canada or wherever.

Despite the skepticism, themedia wants to hear industry’sstory, beyond the catchy sloganand the perfect picture of the perfect field.

Crop protection benefits society as well as farmers, says report

Frigid winter weather aside, the Ontario greenhouse industry hasbeen pumping hard to replace imports with locally-grown produce.Orangeline Farms, Leamington, Ontario, will be one of the first withZing! red, orange and yellow peppers in grocery stores the first weekof March.

“We’re working hard to get to market with all of our peppers, andwe believe we’re well ahead of the pack,” said Jordan Kniaziew, vice-president of Orangeline Farms. “I suppose you could call it our ‘Ownthe Shelf’ strategy,” he adds.

Orangeline Farms is a family-owned, boutique producer of special-ty greenhouse vegetables.

‘Own the shelf ‘ strategyin play with first-of-season greenhouse peppers

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THE GROWER


In the afternoon of April 15,attendees to the conference willexplore the topic, Sustainablefood and farming. What does itreally mean in Canada?

Sustainability has differentmeanings to different people.Come and hear insights on what itmeans to the Canadian public andOntario farmers and join the dis-cussion to share your thoughts.Alan Ker, chair of the Departmentof Food, Agriculture andResource Economics at theUniversity of Guelph and RuthSalmon of the CanadianAquaculture Industry Alliancewill be featured on the afternoon'sprogram as will a panel discus-sion on the topic "What does sus-tainability mean to Ontario's foodchain?" Following a combinedsession, participants will be askedto pick one of two afternoon pro-

grams related to animal care andthe environment.

In the evening of April 15, acommunications workshop willfeature the topic Talking ToughTopics: Answering questionsabout farming practices withconfidence.

Biotechnology, pesticides,antibiotics and hormones are allissues that farmers deal with on aday to day basis - but they can bedifficult to explain to a non-farm-ing public. In a workshop setting,participants will be given tips andtechniques related to answeringquestions and having confidentconversations about topics likethese. Joining the workshop willbe Joe Schwarcz, director ofMcGill University's "Office forScience & Society.” Participantswill then have the opportunity towork on answering practice ques-

tions related to their farmingpractices. On April 16, Farm & Food Care’sannual meeting will run from 9a.m. to 4 p.m. The morningkeynote speaker will be JoeSchwarcz, director of McGill'sOffice for Science & Society onthe topic "Science, Sense andNonsense." The second featurespeaker will be Ruth Salmon ofthe Canadian AquacultureIndustry Alliance on the topic"Farmed Seafood SustainabilityMovement: A case study.”

The meeting will also includehighlights of Farm & Food Care’s2013 activities, presentation ofthe Farm & Food Care ChampionAward, election of the 2014-2015Board of Directors and more.

Registration for both the April15 conference and workshop arefree to all Ontario farmers. The

cost to other participants is $60for the conference and $100 forthe communications workshop.Registration for the annual meet-ing is $80 in advance of March31 and $100 after that date for allregistrants. This year, the confer-ence will be held at the Teatro

Conference and Event Centre,121 Chisholm Drive, Milton, ON,L9T 4A6. To register, visitwww.farmfoodcare.org

March 4 Airblast Sprayer 101 Workshop, Kemptville College, Kemptville, ON

March 4-6 Canadian Horticultural Council Annual General Meeting, The Grand Hotel, Kelowna, BC

March 6 Farm & Food Care Ontario Water Resource Symposium, Holiday Inn, Guelph, ON

March 6 Ontario Potato Conference, Delta Hotel, Guelph, ON

March 7 Airblast Sprayer 101 Workshop, King Edward Park Arena, Brighton, ON

March 7 Ontario Agri-Food Technologies Annual General Meeting, Cutten Fields, Guelph, ON

Mar 9 – 15 Canadian Agricultural Safety Week #CASW

March 10 Airblast Sprayer 101 Workshop, Vineland OMAF/MRA Resource Station, Vineland, ON

March 15 Canadian Chestnut Council Grafting Session, Simcoe Research Station, Simcoe, ON 10:30 am – 3 pm. RVSP [email protected]

Mar 18, 19 3rd Canadian Food Summit, “From Strategy to Action,” Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON

March 24 Districts 3 & 4, Ontario Tender Fruit Producers’ Marketing Board Annual General Meeting, Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens, Kingsville,ON

Mar 24-26 Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmer Competition, Guelph, ON

March 25 5th Annual Hazelnut Symposium and Annual General Meeting, Ontario Hazelnut Association, Best Western Hotel, Brantford, ON

March 25 District 5, Ontario Tender Fruit Producers’ Marketing Board Annual General Meeting, Best Western Little River Inn, Simcoe, ON

March 25 Ontario Ginseng Growers’ Association Annual General Meeting, Delhi District Hungarian Hall, Delhi, ON

Mar 25 – 27 Canadian Biopesticides and Minor Use Pesticides Priority Setting Workshop, Hilton Lac-Leamy Hotel, Gatineau, QC

March 26 District 1 & 2, Ontario Tender Fruit Producers’ Marketing Board Annual General Meeting, Hernder Estate Winery, St. Catharines, ON

April 2 – 4 Canadian Produce Marketing Association Convention and Trade Show, Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, BC

April 3 Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc. 24th Annual General Meeting, The Cutten Club, Guelph, ON

COMING EVENTS 2013

Farm & Food Care to host AnnualGeneral Meeting and ConferenceApril 15-16

Vegetable Growers CONFERENCE9-10 APRIL 2014BRADFORD

MEETINGS, TRADE & EQUIPMENT SHOW

Contact: Matthew Sheppard, Bradford Co-operative Storage Limited

egegVVVeVe

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0 APRIL 2014ADFORADFORD

0 APRIL 2014

THE GROWER


The warehouse club conceptwas started in California in 1975when the Price brothers openedtheir first store. The concept grewacross North America and in1993 Price Club merged withCostco to form the dominantwarehouse club operation. Theydo compete with BJ.’s Wholesaleand Sam’s Club in the U.S. butthey really have the Canadianmarket to themselves.

It is incredible that Costco hasexpanded to 87 warehousesacross Canada. This was sup-posed to be a very limited oppor-tunity in Canada when Price Clubfirst opened here. These huge,cold, low service warehousesfilled to the rafters with big sizeswere such a departure from thetraditional food stores. Originallypositioned as a place for smalland medium size businesses toshop, they quickly evolved into avery popular destination withconsumers.

Costco has a number ofstrengths: they have loyal cus-tomers, the unique sizes they sellconvey value, low operatingcosts, and I think they are the bestbuyers in the food industry.

They offer a unique mix ofitems and they have built a repu-

tation with consumers where theperception is you have to buy ittoday because it might not behere tomorrow. This is createdwith the seasonal general mer-chandise, however, the consumerbehaviour flows across all cate-gories.

Costco is the second largestretailer in North America afterWalmart. They generated world-wide sales of more than $102.8billion in the 52 weeks endedSeptember 1, 2013. They have648 warehouses in eight countriesand a very successful online busi-ness. Average unit sales of $160million would indicate the aver-age location does mmore than $3million per week.

I remember when I was atLoblaw and we would try to figure out how to compete withCostco. One of the single biggeststrengths of their business is howsimple it is. Charge a membershipfee, keep your costs low, offerunique sizes and deliver good ser-vice when you do interact withthe member. It was very difficultto compete when the consumerembraced their concept of retail.We couldn’t offer lower pricesbecause their costs were lowerand although we had nicer storeswith more service, consumersfound shopping at Costco like atreasure hunt for value. Costcogenerates approximately $556,000in sales per employee whereasLoblaw would generate $236,000.

Costco received more than$2,2 billion in annual revenuefrom membership fees in theirprevious fiscal year. Imaginebeing a retailer and knowing thatyour annual net income was therebefore you ever sold one item!Obviously they have to performto keep members happy but therest start with zero. Costco

operates their stores with marginsto cover costs and the bottom lineessentially comes from the membership fees. Interesting thatvery few Costco members everadd the cost of membership intoeach item or even each trip.Renewal rates of over 86 per centfor members would say they arehappy.

Sales and membership contin-ue to grow at Costco, which indi-cates that consumers are happywith the offering and they willcontinue to support it.

Here are my top 10 considera-tions when developing relation-ships with Costco:

1. Selling to Costco requiresworking through their offices inOttawa or Burnaby, BC.

2. You must be able to ship fullpallet quantities for almost everyitem. These can be mixed withmore than one SKU if the offer-ing is related.3. Sell thru is required or you willhave a hard time getting back in.4. The demo program is very pop-ular and it can be the price ofentry.5. They have no ads, just a smallin-store flyer. Your item mustperform with the offering youhave and the price it sells for. Wedo see items discounted but thatis to move the stock and usuallyan indication the item might notbe back.6. Manufacturer-supported discounts are popular. Essentiallythese are electronic coupons thatevery member will get at the cashregister.

7. Be prepared to have your othercustomers challenge your Costcocosting. The other retailers allcheck the pricing carefully and itis easy for them to apply theCostco category margin to com-pare. Loblaw recently challengeda number of suppliers on this.8. It is best to have a uniqueoffering for Costco. This allowsyou to avoid the direct compari-son by retailers and consumers.9. You will be challenged byCostco to ensure your cost tothem reflects any savings yougenerate selling in full palletquantities.

You need to have products thatare ready for sales right off thepallet with no work or minimalwork required by Costco staff.

RETAIL NAVIGATOR

Costco has a strong business model

Bad weather nicks sales

PETER CHAPMAN

Financial results are now being reported for the critical holiday selling period, with the common complaint that bad weather hurt sales.Even Walmart blamed negative sales in the U.S. on eight storms.Ontario’s ice storm impacted the entire food distribution system priorto Christmas. If the average quarter has 91 days, then being closed orvoid of customers could cost just over one per cent of sales per day.No doubt, customers come the day before or day after a storm, butstores never get it all back.

Peter Chapman, a retail food consultant and professional speaker,is principal of GPS Business Solutions, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.Peter works with producers and processors to help them navigatethrough the retail environment with the ultimate goal of getting moreitems into the shopping cart. [email protected].

THE GROWER


FOCUS: POTATOES

KAREN DAVIDSON

Nearly 300 Prince EdwardIsland (PEI) potato growersattended an information day onwireworm in early February, con-cerned about a repeat of the $6million in losses tallied last year.

“Ten years ago, we neverexpected that there would be nonew solution for wireworm,” saysShauna Mellish, agri-environmen-tal specialist, PEI department ofagriculture and forestry. “Theworry is that Thimet, anorganophosphate and the mostrelied upon control, will bephased out in 2015.”

In a recently completed growersurvey, almost half of the 155respondents use Thimet for con-trol. However, almost one-thirdare already using brown mus-tard/buckwheat in rotation.Mellish unveiled a map of PEIshowing the wide distribution ofwireworm, including new areas ofinfestation in 2013.

None of this is surprising towireworm expert Bob Vernon,Agriculture and Agri-FoodCanada (AAFC), Agassiz, BritishColumbia, who has been studyingthe larvae of the click beetle for20 years. The invasive Agriotessputator species from Europe isthe most prevalent on the islandwith favourable conditions tospread into more territory. Plentyof non-farmed grassy lands serveas breeding habitat, while cereals– a common rotational crop – arethe meal of choice. Foliar insecti-cides that would kill the adultclick beetle are not generallysprayed in cereals. And withorganochlorines such as Lindanebanned for use, there are fewproducts to kill or suppress wireworm populations.

Organochlorines and

organophosphates have beenbanned for good reason, howeverreduced-risk pesticides aren’t aseffective against wireworm.That’s why populations – about30 species in all -- are growingacross Canada. As Vernonexplains, the pest manifests itselfin different ways according tospecies, habitat preferences, lifehistory, susceptibility to insecti-cides and behavior in the soil. Onthe prairies, Selatosomus destruc-tor has a life span of four to fiveyears, and because of its size andfeeding capacity, creates morehavoc than the more diminutiveand shorter-lived Hypnoidusbicolor, often present in the samefields. All of these variablesaffect wireworm research pro-grams and efficacy trials, makingmanagement strategies more com-plex. Not only are potatoes affect-ed, but carrots, onions and radish-es which are rendered less valu-able due to the larval tunnelinginto the root crops.

“Wireworms have a long lifecycle, so lots of growers don’tappreciate there’s a problem untilpopulations have built up,” saysTed Labun, Syngenta’s seed treatment specialist for westernCanada. “In potatoes, damageisn’t observed until the daughtertubers are forming. With late-season potato varieties, no damage might be evident untiltwo weeks prior to harvest.”

Also speaking at the informa-tion day, Labun shared his perspective of what’s happeningin Manitoba, Saskatchewan andAlberta. The impact of wirewormin vegetables is more in terms ofquality not quantity.

“Deformities and tunneling inharvested crops are not attractive,” he says.

In collaborative surveys withAAFC’s Vernon in 2010 and

2011, Labun found that wirewormis more prevalent than previouslythought in all prairie soil zones.Three species, especially the S.destructor species, is living up toits name. It’s doing more damagedue to its large size.

“Crop rotation is a soft toolthan can also keep populations incheck,” says Labun. Crops suchas legumes appear to be lessattractive to the click beetles lay-ing eggs compared to cerealcrops. However, more researchneeds to be done to determinehow effective this rotation is.Potato growers should also keepclose tabs on field history andscout for larvae in the field sothat potatoes aren’t planted intoheavily infested fields. The aim isnot to kill every wireworm but tosuppress populations to a tolera-ble economic threshold.

With that backdrop, Vernonreviews control options. “If thereis granular or liquid wireworminsecticide in the seed furrow orif the seed piece has been treatedwith insecticide, there’s a betterchance of killing or managingwireworm in a well-fallowedfield.”

However, he points out thelimited arsenal of controls com-pared to U.S. potato growers whostill have access to older productssuch as Thimet and Mocap, andnewer actives such as fipronil andbifenthrin. Canadian potato grow-ers are now pinning their hopesthat fipronil and/or befenthrinmay one day be registered toreplace Thimet.

What’s most encouraging isVernon’s research on wheat witha blend of thiamethoxam (10 gAI/100 kg seed) and fipronil (1 gAI/100 kg seed) applied to seed,just as was done for wirewormcontrol with the now de-regis-tered Lindane. Field resultsdemonstrate 95 per cent kill ofresident wireworms in a field,with populations not recovering

to economically damaging levelsfor the next three years.

“This is proving even moreeffective than the formerly usedLindane,” says Vernon. Withblend-treated wheat crops inthree-year rotations with othercrops, such a potato, wirewormpopulations would be virtuallyeliminated, thus reducing the needfor more highly toxic insecticideslike Thimet for preventive con-trol. This approach requires onlya few grams of “blend’ insecti-cides per hectare of wheat andother cereal crops (barley), whichare very commonly grown inrotation with potatoes in majorproduction areas across Canada,including PEI.

If fipronil is not ultimately reg-istered in Canada, alternativechemistries are always underevaluation at Agassiz, B.C., and asearch for new treatments that killwireworms to the same degree asfipronil is the research focus forthe next five years. Once identi-fied, these treatments can be usedin the blended seed-treatmentmodels developed by Vernon tocontrol wireworms with minuteamounts of insecticides.

Insecticide blends and crop rotation promise control of wireworm

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Deformities and tunneling in harvestedcrops are not attractive.”

~ Ted Labun

“

PETER VANDER ZAAG

Is uniform plant spacingimportant or is it just the seedrate? There is a strong push toplant at slower speeds, in order toget more uniform plant spacing in

commercial crops. How importantis this?

In 2012, under drought condi-tions (dry land with little rain andno irrigation) and in 2013 underoptimal growing conditions (rainplus irrigation) we grew three andfour chipping varieties

respectively as main plots, atthree different plant spacings of12 inch uniform: 16 inch - 8 inch:as well as 20 inch and 4 inchspacing with the same total plantpopulation in all three plant spacing sub-treatments, we usedwhole seed of a uniform size forall subplots. Both experimentswere replicated four times.

The results were not what weexpected. The two irregular spacings: 16 inch - 8 inch as wellas 20 inch - 4 inch yielded statistically similar to the uniform12 inch spacing for all varieties inboth years. Differences betweenvarieties and tuber number weresignificant. Yield differencebetween 2012 and 2013 was very

large. The conclusion from this

experiment suggests that irregularspacing is not a significant issue.Seed rate would be a more important consideration and isvariety dependent.

Peter Vander Zaag is ownerSunrise Potato Storage Ltd.Alliston, Ontario.

FOCUS: POTATOESTHE GROWER


Irregular spacing not as important as seed rate

73 day bicolor.

79 day bicolor.

77 day bicolor.

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View of 16 inch and 8 inch spacings withtubers placed in the furrows

View of plant spacing experiment

Marketable yield for 3 different plant spacings for 4 varieties under optimal growing conditions

Marketable tubers perplant for 3 differentplant spacings for 4varieties under optimalgrowing condition

Marketable yield for 3different spacings for 3varieties under droughtgrowing conditions.

THE GROWER


FOCUS: POTATOES

Thanks to Eugenia Banks, Ontario potato specialist, growers have aone-stop review of the latest products registered for the potato industry. These handouts will be available at the Ontario PotatoConference scheduled for March 6, Delta Hotel, Guelph Ontario.

What’s new in potato products?

�

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��RECENTLY REGISTERED POTATO INSECTICIDES & FUNGICIDES

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VERIMARK

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Colorado Potato beetle Potato flea beetle spring adults.�

45 ml\100 Kg seed

New chemical family

VERIMARK

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Colorado Potato beetle Potato flea beetle spring adults.

300- 400 mL\acre

12-hr re-entry interval

EXIREL

��

Colorado Potato Beetle Aphids Variegated Cutworm European Corn Borer Armyworms

300 -400 mL\acre 200 -600 mL\acre 200 -300 mL\acre 200 mL\acre

New chemical family. 12-hr re-entry interval PHI: 7 days

�CLOSER

!"#��

Aphids

20-60 mL\acre

12 hr re-entry-interval PHI: 7 days

SUPERIOR 70 OIL

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Aphids

4 L\acre

Mineral oils are aphid deterrents and reduce the spread of viruses vectored by aphids. Thorough coverage is essential. Spray at one -week intervals as soon as aphids are detected.

VERTISAN

��

Rhizoctonia Suppression

0.7 L\acre

New chemical family 12-hr re-entry interval

VERTISAN

��

Early Blight Suppression Botrytis Gray Mold

0.4 - 0.7 L\acre 0.5 - 0.6 L\acre

!2-hr re-entry interval PHI: 7 days

QUASH FUNGICIDE

��

Early Blight:

70 – 112 g\acre

12-hr re-entry interval for scouting. PHI: 1 day

LUNA TRANQUILITY

��

Early Blight Brown Spot White Mold Black Dot Suppression

243 mL\acre 320 mL\acre

Contains a fungicide of a new chemical family plus the a.i. of Scala 12-hr re-entry interval PHI: 7days

QUADRIS TOP

��

Early Blight Brown spot Suppression Black Dot Suppression

229 – 400 mL\acre

Contains the a.i. of Quadris and Inspire 12-hr re-entry interval PHI: 14 days

ZAMPRO

��Late Blight 0.32 – 0.40 L\acre Contains a fungicide of a

new chemical family plus the a.i. of Acrobat. PHI: 4 days 12-hr re-entry interval. Use an adjuvant to improve control

CONFINE EXTRA

��

Late Blight Suppression Pink Rot Suppression

2 – 4 L\acre

Phosphite: Contains salts of phosphorous acid DO NOT USE ON SEED POTATOES PHI: 1 day 12-hr re-entry interval

Green peach aphids

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Second instar, Colorado potato beetle

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Trade Name: OUTLOOK Pre-emergence

Rate ranges from 756- 963 mL\ha according to soil type, organic matter and target weeds.

Foxtail (green, yellow, giant) Crabgrass (smooth, large) Old witchgrass Barnyard grass Fall panicum Redroot pigweed Eastern black nightshade Nutsedge yellow

In cold and wet growing conditions OUTLOOK application may result in delayed emergence or early season stunting of potatoes. If OUTLOOK has been applied to potatoes and crop failure occurs due to adverse weather or other reasons, replanting of potatoes is not recommended. 24-hr re-entry interval

��

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Trade Name AIM

233-350 mL\ha

� Burndown of crop and weeds

Needs an adjuvant e.g. Agral 90 or Ag.Surf If a second burndown application is needed use 233 – 305 mL\ha

THE GROWER


FOCUS: POTATOES

What’s new in potatovarieties?

�

�

Always read the label before applying a pesticide

�RECENTLY REGISTERED POST-HARVEST PRODUCTS

��

STADIUM

Fusarium Dry Rot Suppression of Silver Scurf

32.5 mL per tonne Final spray solution of Stadium and water should deliver an application rate of 2 L per tonne of potatoes

Contains the active ingredients of Quadris, Maxim & Inspire NOT FOR SEED POTATOES

CONFINE EXTRA �

Suppression of: Late Blight Pink Rot Silver Scurf

Dilute at 1:5.13 ratio with water. Apply 2 L of this solution as a spray to 1,000 kg of potatoes prior to storage

Phosphite: Contains salts of phosphorous acid. NOT FOR SEED POTATOES

RAMPART

�

Late Blight Pink Rot

APPLICATION PRIOR TO STORING POTATOES Dilute 190 mL of Rampart in 1L of water. Apply 2L of this solution as a spray to 1,000 kg of harvested tubers.

Phosphite: Contains salts of phosphorous acid. In general, application of phosphites to seed potatoes is not recommended due to lack of sufficient data to support this use

APPLICATION TO STORED POTATOES Dilute 190 mL of Rampart in 1L of water. Inject 2 L of this solution per 1.000 Kg of stored potatoes into water used For storage humidification.

SMARTBLOCK

��

Sprout control in storage

Maximun 530 mL per tonne per storage season

New active ingredient Effective after sprouting has started. It burns the sprouts.

KAREN DAVIDSON

Fifteen new potato varieties were unveiled by Agriculture andAgri-Food Canada (AAFC) researchers last month in simultaneousevents in Fredericton and Lethbridge. Through the AcceleratedRelease Program, the Potato Research Centre offers growers theopportunity to evaluate these frontrunner cultivars in their own fields.

“It’s an exciting time for the fresh market,” says Benoit Bizimungu,AAFC potato breeder. “Red-skinned types with white flesh or yellowflesh are now being developed.”

More emphasis is placed on sustainability these days, so look forfuture potato varieties that are disease- and pest-resistant. By usinggenetic markers, researchers are speeding up the process of identifyingthe genes for these agronomic traits. By 2020, Bizimungu anticipatesvarieties that are resistant to late blight and have longer storabilitytimes. Researchers, aware of the need for consumer traits, are alsoworking on cultivars with improved levels of antioxidants and slowlydigestible starch.

For growers in such disparate regions of the country, some cultivarsmay work better than others. In Alberta, for example, 80 per cent ofthe industry is devoted to processing. That’s why growers there areinterested in two chipping varieties and one suited for French-fry production.

“Among the strong features of AR2014-02 chip selection are high-yield, uniform tubers, very low tuber defects and a high specificgravity that means less oil absorption and crispier chips,” saysBizimungu. (Specific gravity refers to solids content). The low incidence of tuber defects makes this cultivar better than Atlantic, now considered the standard in North America.

Another chipping variety, AR2014-03, exels in cold, 7° C storage.What’s notable is that a marketable colour appears after reconditioningthe potato at a higher temperature. This is an important trait sincedesirable colour must be maintained as potatoes are shipped to processors throughout the year.

Bizimungu also points out the benefits of AR2014-01, a French-fryspecific variety. This new cultivar outyielded the Shepody cultivar, apopular variety in southern Alberta. He says it has more consistentspecific gravity and offers a mealy texture that’s suited to manufacturing French fries.

How the Accelerated Release Program works

Each February, selections are offered for non-exclusive field testing. These early favourites are typically at year six of a testing andselection program that normally takes 12 years. For $100 per selection, growers receive a limited quantity of breeder’s selectionseed and non-exclusive rights to conduct their own field performanceand quality evaluation trials for two years.

Following grower testing, the Potato Research Centre invites companies to submit cash bids to procure a further three years ofexclusive testing. At the end of this cycle or sooner at the request ofthe company, a six-year, renewable license to commercialize a selection may be negotiated.

All growers are encouraged to participate in this program forfirst-hand experience with new genetics.

Ivan Noonan (L) and Ray Keenan, Prince Edward Island potato industry representatives review the 15 selections for 2014. Photos courtesy AAFC.

What’s new in potato products?

THE GROWER

PAGE 22–– MARCH 2014

BITS AND BITES

JIM CHAPUT, OMAF/MRA,PROVINCIAL MINOR USECOORDINATOR

The Pest ManagementRegulatory Agency recentlyannounced the approval of aminor use label expansion regis-tration for Revus Fungicide forcontrol of a number of importantdiseases on basil, ginseng andedible podded beans.

Revus Fungicide was alreadyapproved in Canada on Brassicavegetables, several bulb vegeta-bles, several leafy vegetables,cucurbit vegetables, fruiting vegetables, potatoes, grapes andhops.

These minor use projects were

co-sponsored by the Agriculture& Agri-Food Canada, PestManagement Centre (AAFC-PMC) and the U.S. IR-4 programbetween 2008 and 2009 inresponse to minor use prioritiesidentified by producers and extension personnel.

The following table provides ageneral, abbreviated outline of thenew disease registrations on theCanadian label for RevusFungicide. For detailed instruc-tions consult the full RevusFungicide label.

Revus Fungicide should beused in an integrated disease man-agement program and in rotationwith other management strategies.Follow all other precautions anddirections for use on the Revus

Fungicide label.For copies of the new label for

basil contact Melanie Filotas,OMAF/MRA, Simcoe (519) 426-

4434, for ginseng contact SeanWesterveld, OMAF/MRA,Simcoe (519) 426-4323, for beanscontact Elaine Roddy,

OMAF/MRA, Ridgetown (519)674-1616 or visit www.syngenta-farm.ca

Label expansion approved for Revus fungicide for new cropsand new diseases

LABELPAC Inc. is a new fruitlabeling solutions provider in theproduce labeling industry servingfruit and vegetable growers withflexible options for both machinesand labels.

“We design and develop fruitlabeling machines and manufac-

ture our own labels for singulatedfruit, packaged produce, flowpack and clamshell labelingincluding PTI compliance solutions,” says Sam Sleiman,new sole owner and president ofLabelpac, based in Tecumseh,Ontario and Michigan, U.S.

“The advantage is that ourclients have options and flexibili-ty when it comes to machine andlabel requirements,” saysSleiman. “We offer themflexibility to accommodate theircustom labeling requirements.

With 15 years’ experience in

the fruit labeling industry and acombined 30 years’ experiencewith the LABELPAC team,Sleiman advises on the most costeffective solutions from handlabeling to high-speed labeling.

“All our fruit labels are compostable and eco-friendlyyet can stand up tothe rigours of the produce environ-ment,” says Sleiman. “Ourlabelers are designed andbuilt for reliability andaffordability.”

For more information,call 586-933-3006 or go towww.labelpac.com.Source: Labelpac news release

New Crop(s)addition

Disease(s)addition

Rate (mLper ha)

Application Instructions

Basil (field andgreenhouse)

Downy mildew 583 Apply prior to disease development and continue on a 7day interval. Apply in a spray volume of 95 – 280 L perha. Maximum of 4 applications per year with a 1 daypre-harvest interval.

Ginseng Phytophthorablight and rootrot

583 Apply prior to disease development and continue on a 7day interval. Apply in a spray volume of 470 – 1,400 Lper ha. Maximum of 4 applications per year with a 3day pre-harvest interval.

Edible poddedbeans (snap beans,wax beans, runnerbeans, etc.)

Phytophthorablight

600 Apply prior to disease development and continue on a 7- 10 day interval. Apply in a minimum spray volume of100 L per ha for ground application. Maximum of 4applications per year with a 1 day pre-harvest interval.

More flexibility for fruit labeling solutions

With mountains as a symbolic backdrop, the Canadian ProduceMarketing Association is holding its annual convention and trade showin Vancouver from April 2 to 4. Attracting more than 3000 participants from all segments of the produce supply chain, the eventprovides a unique forum for industry leaders to enhance their businessopportunities.

Don’t miss keynote speaker Spencer West on the topic “Redefinepossible: Lessons for tackling mountains in the corporate world.”

Spencer West invites corporate audiences to experience the transformation that can occur when we “redefine possible.” With histrademark humour and humility, Spencer spins a spellbinding story ofthe challenges he faced after losing his legs from the pelvis down atage five, and the journey of discovery that lead him to accomplish alist of feats, including building schools in poverty-stricken villages inKenya and India, and walking 186 miles from Edmonton to Calgary,in Alberta, Canada to ultimately summit Mount Kilimanjaro using hishands and wheelchair.

Spencer is the author of the best-selling book Standing Tall: MyJourney, and star of the documentary Redefine Possible: The Story ofSpencer West, which premiered at the Toronto International FilmFestival in 2012.

Also mark your CPMA schedule for a retail panel discussion andlaunch of CPMA’s new Consumer Marketing Program. The panel willbe moderated by Reggie Griffin, former senior vice-president atKroeger in the U.S. Panelists will focus on Canada’s vibrant retaillandscape and highlight in-store programs aimed at helping Canadiansmake healthier food choices. Canada’s five leading retail chains willshare their philosophy and stories on their “fresh identity” and howthey are supporting Canadians in their quest for better dietary choices.

This session will provide relevant information to all delegates,including a group of Vancouver area retail produce managers who willbe joining the luncheon. CPMA will be launching a new consumeroutreach program: Half your plate.

For more details on the convention and trade show, visit www.convention.cpma.ca.

CPMA preview

THE GROWER


THE GROWER


PAM FISHER, BERRY CROPSPECIALIST

Spotted Wing Drosophila(SWD) is an invasive, direct pestof berry crops and other soft-skinned fruit. In just a few yearsthis pest has permeated all of themajor fruit growing regions in theU.S, British Columbia, andEastern Canada.

Spotted wing drosophila is aserious problem because it layseggs in fruit as the fruit is ripen-ing. SWD eggs, larvae, and pupaeare present in the fruit at harvest.Fruit loses its integrity and breaksdown early. The pest has multiplegenerations a year and popula-tions build up very quickly. Late-season fruit, such as fall-bearingraspberries, blueberries and day-neutral strawberries, are almostsure to be infested with SWDunless growers actively managethis pest.

Control of SWD is a challengefor organic as well as convention-al growers.

Organic insecticides:Insecticides are an important partof a SWD management program;weekly applications can provideSWD control while fruit is ripeand ripening.

We anticipate an emergencyuse registration for the insecticideENTRUST SC on berry and stonefruit crops for SWD control in2014. Entrust (spinosad) is veryeffective for SWD and is accept-able in most organic programs.However, there will be limitationson the number of applications perseason, which means you mightnot have enough applications toprotect crops with a long harvestperiod. Also, Entrust (insecticidegroup 5) should not be usedrepeatedly because resistancemanagement is a concern. It isimportant to alternate insecticidesfrom different groups. InCalifornia, SWD has alreadydeveloped resistance to the organ-ic insecticide Pyganic, when thisinsecticide was used repeatedly.

Watch for updates on emer-gency use registrations of organicproducts for SWD control atwww.ontario.ca/spottedwing.

Insecticides alone will not pro-vide adequate SWD control, and

researchers are actively searchingfor more sustainable options. Many other management practices must be incorporatedinto a SWD program.

Harvest schedules: The mostimportant management strategyfor SWD is to harvest frequentlyand thoroughly. Ideally all ripefruit should be harvested everyday or two. On pick-your-ownfarms, where harvest is seldomthorough, growers should sendworkers in after the customers, toclean up the field. By adjustingharvest schedules to accommo-date thorough and frequent harvest, growers have found goodSWD control in raspberries, andday-neutral strawberries.However, this is not a very practical option for blueberries orblackberries which are pickedonce or twice a week.

Removing over-ripe or damaged fruit: Removingunmarketable fruit from the fieldcan reduce the build-up of SWD,but the cost benefits of thisexpensive management practiceare not really clear. However, inorganic settings, where insecticideoptions are limited, removing unmarketable fruit can pay off(Figure 1). This waste fruit shouldbe buried daily at least 30 cmdeep, or held in sealed containersfor a few days. Don’t leave it inexposed piles to compost.

Post- harvest cooling: Cooling to1.6˚C (35˚F) degrees immediatelyafter harvest will slow the devel-opment of SWD in harvestedfruit. If fruit is held for three daysat this temperature, many eggsand small larvae will die.However, once SWD has laideggs in fruit, shelf life is compro-mised because the surface of thefruit has been damaged. Post-harvest cooling should be usedtogether with immediate market-ing of fruit.

Crop management: SWD populations are favoured by moderate temperatures and highhumidity. Growers can influenceSWD populations by making surecrops are pruned to facilitate airflow, reduced humidity aroundthe crop canopy, and ease of

harvest. Prune brambles andinstall trellis systems (Figure 2).Blueberries should be pruned toopen up the canopy. June-bearingstrawberries should be renovatedas soon as possible after harvest.Runners should be clipped onday-neutral strawberries to reducecrop debris on the beds.

Ground cover management:Dropped fruit can be a source ofSWD flies. Factors which favourdessication of fruit, such as shortgrass, dry cultivated soil, or land-scape fabric, could help to reduceSWD emergence from fallen fruit.Landscape fabric as a groundcover can also make it possible torake dropped fruit from theground and dispose of it. Use oftrickle irrigation, instead of over-head sprinklers, can help maintaina dry environment in the cropalleys and reduce humidityaround the planting.

Management of wild hosts:SWD has many wild hosts (i.e. mulberries, honeysuckle,brambles, pokeweed, dogwood,buckthorn, pin cherry) that arecommon in Ontario landscapes.These wild hosts are importanthabitat for pollinators and otherbeneficial insects. It is not practical or desirable to removeall wild hosts around your farmfields. However wild blackberriesand wild raspberries should beremoved where possible, ormowed below the fruiting zoneeach spring.

Biological control: SWD has fewnatural enemies. Wasps parasitiz-ing SWD have been identified inOntario and elsewhere in NorthAmerica, but biological controlsare not providing economic con-trol at this time. Most parasites ofdrosophila do not seem to beadapted to find this new invasivespecies, and parasitism rates arelow, one to two per cent.Research is underway in areas ofAsia where the pest is well established to identify predatorsand/or parasites. Otherresearchers are studying the efficacy of biopesticides, with little success so far.

Exclusion: Exclusion of SWDfrom the crop canopy has been

tried on a small scale for blueberries, and could also beused in high tunnels. The nettingused to exclude SWD is commer-cially available, has a very finemesh, and is heavier than birdnetting. It must be installed over astructure that is sturdy enough tohold the extra weight. The bottomedge of the netting must betrenched in at ground level, orinstalled to prevent any gapsbetween the ground and the net.In addition, doors must be keptclosed, something difficult to dowhen pickers are moving in andout. Negative side effects fromreduced light and ventilation canbe caused by the netting.Research is continuing on thisoption for SWD control.

For more information: For current and extensive informationon Spotted Wing Drosophila,please see our website atwww.Ontario.ca\spottedwing.

Growers can also listen to arecorded webinar by Dr. H.Burrak at North Carolina StateUniversity and Dr. V. Walton ofOregon State University,“Biologically Based OrganicManagement Strategies forSpotted Wing Drosophila.” Someof the information in this presen-tation was used in the writing ofthis article. http://www.exten-sion.org/pages/70121/biological-ly-based-organic-management-strategies-for-spotted-wing-drosophila

Organic options for Spotted WingDrosophila management

Figure 1: Removing over-ripe and unmarketable fruit from the fieldcan help reduce SWD populations

Figure 2: Crop management can affect SWD damage. Although totalyields might be higher in the planting in middle photo, SWD will beeasier to manage in the field on the bottom photo, where trellising isused to facilitate harvest. Landscape fabric as a ground cover canhelp dessicate fallen fruit.

WWW.THEGROWER.ORG


THE GROWER

BERRY FOCUS

Two practices to improve on-farm water use efficiencyREBECCA SHORTT, OMAF/MRA WATERQUANTITY ENGINEER

Are you considering improving your on-farm water useefficiency? Do you know what practices are eligible forcost-share funding under the Growing Forward 2 (GF2)Implementation Funding Assistance program for producers?

The following paragraphs outline my top two recommended practices for improving water efficiency –and they are both eligible for GF2 funding.

Importance of Monitoring Water Use with a Meter

Knowing how much water you use is the first step toincreasing farm water use efficiency. Installing a watermeter- is a beneficial step for any farm practice which useswater.

A water meter provides an instantaneous reading of theflow of water for the application (e.g. irrigation system)and helps to diagnose if the system is operating asdesigned.

• Higher than usual flow? Check the system for leaks,worn nozzles and malfunctioning valves.

• Lower than usual flow? Check the system for plug-ging, malfunctioning valves and pump station perfor-mance.

Monitoring the water flow from an application over aperiod of time, and tracking the total flow reading willhelp to assess the on-going water use from each application and will help you to evaluate new practices orequipment.

• Assesses the impact of new management practices onthe basis of their water usage.

• Allows for an optimization of water use by comparingthe water use and associated costs of different practices.

Under scenarios of climate change and where watersupplies are stressed, a water monitoring program is thefirst tool needed to identify water-efficient opportunities.

References:- Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Plan (EFP),

Worksheet #13, question 1: “Knowledge of water use andsupply system”. Using a meter and logging the data fromthe meter is rated as a “Best” practice.- Technical Bulletin, Ministry of Environment, Permit To

Take Water Program, Monitoring and Reporting of WaterTakings: Continuous metering at the point of water takingis the normally accepted, most accurate, and easy-to-usemethod of monitoring the volume of water taken daily.

In addition to the meter itself, wireless transmission ofthe meter readings, loggers and software to graph the out-put are all useful tools to assist you in making good use ofthe data collected in a timely manner.

Importance of Monitoring Soil Moisture with anInstrument

Monitoring soil moisture is the key to getting the rightamount of water to crops at the right time. The use of soilmoisture monitoring equipment will benefit decision-making on all irrigated farms.

Monitoring soil moisture and taking action to use theinformation provided in irrigation decisions will helpgrowers manage soil moisture. Choosing the right timesand the right amounts to irrigate can lead to:

• Higher yields• Better product quality

• Improved plant vigour• Reduction in disease• More effective use of water (water efficiency)• Reduced irrigation costs

Soil moisture instrument demonstrations have occurredin southern Ontario and cooperating farms reported thefollowing outcomes:

• “My understanding of soil moisture monitoring hasimproved. I now know the field capacity, wilting pointand my optimum irrigation trigger points.”

• “Soil moisture monitoring helps me determine whenirrigation is beneficial.”

• “Now I know what is going on in the soil profile;before I was guessing.”

• “The soil moisture instruments taught me the best timing and quantities to apply; you can see the trends inthe graphs to see if you’ve applied enough or too much.”

• “From the soil moisture instruments I learned that Iwas not applying enough water.”

References:- Environmental Farm Plan (EFP), Worksheet #13,

question 7 “Irrigation Scheduling.” Using a soil moisturegauge is rated as a “Best” practice.- Monitoring Soil Moisture to Improve Irrigation

Decisions. OMAF Fact Sheet www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/irrigation.htm- Best Management Practices: Irrigation Management.

2004. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. p. 29-37

In addition to the soil moisture instruments themselves,wireless transmission of the moisture readings, loggers andsoftware to graph the output are all useful tools to assistyou in making good decisions based on the data collected.

“Pack ‘N Cool” provides farmers with mobile refrigeration PAM FISHER, OMAF AND MRA(Adapted from the Plants for HumanHealth Institute website)

Here is something I saw at the NorthAmerican Strawberry Growers Associationannual meeting last December. Dr. PennyPerkins Veazie and other researchers atN.C. State University have developed anew mobile cooling unit for farmers. Thefive-by-eight-feet refrigerated trailer –called the “Pack ‘N Cool” – is designed tokeep fruits and vegetables at ideal tempera-

tures during transport to and from farmers’markets and satellite stands or as they’reharvested in farm fields. It provides farm-ers with a mobile, cost-efficient alternativeto commercial cooling units.

The Pack ‘N Cool unit combines themobility of a cargo trailer with the refriger-ation capabilities of a commercial cooler.The model unit cost around $3,400 to con-struct, including a new cargo trailer pricedat $1,500 (a pre-owned trailer can reducecosts). Construction guidelines, step-by-step photos and a sample budget are avail-able on the Plants for Human Health

Institute website.The Pack ‘N Cool utilizes CoolBot tem-

perature technology to maximize the outputof a basic window air conditioner unit. TheCoolBot adapter interfaces with the ACunit, which typically bottoms out at 60° F,to generate temperatures as low as the ‘30sin the trailer. It’s simple and energy-effi-cient. An electrical extension cord (110V)or a generator powers the unit.

For more information , see http://plants-forhumanhealth.ncsu.edu/2012/08/20/pack-n-cool/

Sprayer workshops for berry growers

Airblast 101 is a four-hour classroom-based course designed to provide participants with practical tools to apply

pesticides, plant growth modifiers andfoliar nutrients. Developed by the OntarioMinistry of Agriculture and Food in association with Croplife Canada, thiscourse was created to introduce a newoperator to spraying, or to refresh a seasoned veteran.

At the core of the course is theParticipant’s Handbook. It is designed toprovide a solid grounding in the basics ofairblast sprayer operation, as well as introduce advanced techniques. The result

is that the participant is empowered tomake changes to the spray program, significantly improve the effectiveness andefficiency of the application and reduceunnecessary environmental impact.

Two workshops will be offered forberry growers in 2014, by the highly entertaining and informative Jason Deveau,application technology specialist withOMAF and MRA. A standard course willbe delivered with a focus on berry crops,but all are welcome to participate.

Although the course content was developedfor airblast sprayers, Jason will addressinformation for boom sprayers used instrawberries. Lunch is included. Cost is$25 per person and includes lunch and theparticipant’s handbook. Space is limited.Mar. 7, 2014: 8:30-1:00 p.m. Brighton,Ontario Mar. 10, 2014: 8:30 to 1:00 p.m.Vineland, Ontario

To register, see http://sprayers101.ca/upcomingcourses/

Leah Erickson (BC/AB)604-957-2359

Marc AndréLaberge (QC)514-984-4589

Jim Robinson (ON/MB)905-715-8595

Paul Banks (ON/NS)905-688-4300

Henry Zomer (ON/MB/SK)905-308-4396

Rob Hovius (ON/PEI/NB)519-580-3231

Laura Caralampides (QC)514-984-0662

~ Quality Seed Since 1881 ~

Quality Seed Quality Service Quality Information

www.StokeSeeds.com

THE GROWER


The Pest ManagementRegulatory Agency (PMRA) isunder fire these days, and while Imay have some bones to pickwith them, my sympathies are allwith them for what they arefacing. While that may be a surprise to both them, and manygrowers, please let me explain inmore detail.

Back in the day when the PestControl Products Act was beingcompletely rewritten, growerstried to get many changes made tothe versions that were createdsolely by government staffers.Amongst the changes asked forwere small details with hugeimplications. One of these was“…the minister SHALL initiate aspecial review of a pesticide…”There are three scenarios wherethis applies and removes anyopportunity for ministerial discretion to apply. One is when aprovincial or another federaldepartment provides evidence ofthe possibility of environmentalor health effects of a pesticidethat warrants a special review.Another is when the minister hassuch information available to him(her) that would warrant such areview. The third scenario however is disturbing, in as muchas it forces a minister of theCanadian government to initiate aspecial review if ANY OECDcountry bans the use of ANY pesticide for either health or environmental reasons! We askedat the time for that to be softenedto “may initiate” a special review.That change never happened.

Fast forward to 2013. One single country of the

Organization of Economic

Cooperation and Development(OECD), Norway, decided to banthe use of 23 different pesticides.(Actually there were 29 but uponinvestigation, not all uses werebanned for four of them, whiletwo others had never been regis-tered here.) Every one of those 23remaining has been recently fullyreviewed under the provisions formandatory re-evaluation every fif-teen years provided for under thePCP Act. Not surprisingly, thePMRA felt that since these recentreviews had been done, there wasno ‘need’ to initiate a specialreview. That is, until a non-governmental organization (NGO)group sued the minister andHealth Canada for not following,to the word, the PCP Act provisions.

The PMRA is now forced tocreate 23 ‘special review’ teamsjust because a foreign country didsomething? Just to complete theloop on the inanity of the situation, Norway still importsvirtually all its food and mainlyfrom other EU countries likeSpain, France and Italy, butNONE of them has acted to banthese pesticides! All the residues,all the worker and public andenvironmental issues (if they evenreally exist) remain in play.Norway gets to eat its (political)cake while facilely acting out afantasy experiment. It wasNorway and some otherScandinavian countries that widely pronounced the banning ofseveral pesticides back in theeighties, and nineties, yet all thewhile kept them available forforestry use, which just happensto be virtually all their use patternthere anyway as compared to thepaltry uses of their small (rela-tively) agricultural production.Now Canada gets hoisted on apetard of its own making by hav-ing to conduct a redundant reviewfor 23 pesticides because Norwaydecides to ban them.

What is wrong with this picture?

All the while this goes on thePMRA could/should be dealingwith matters far more valuable toCanadians’ health and environ-ment. The senior staff must bepulling out their hair over this.

The rest of the staff will onceagain be stressed beyond what isacceptable- all because one wordcould not/would not be changed!

Now we could go from theridiculous to the sublime on this.What if the quid pro quo (afterall, fair is fair!) was to beapplied? That would create theuntenable position that if anyOECD country was to REGIS-TER a pesticide, the minsterwould be required to do so here.On the basis that any OECDcountry had determined a productwas SAFE for its health and theenvironment, Canada could justaccept that decision. Maybe itshould even say MUST acceptthat decision! I do not think anyone would totally agree withthat process, for the very samereason we shouldn’t have ourhands tied as they are at present.There are some peculiar regulato-ry approaches out there thatCanadians might not want toaccept in toto.

Back at PMRA it is anythingbut business as usual. The ‘nor-mal’ work is piling up, and com-panies are complaining aloudabout delays that may mean theloss of 2014 sales for some newproducts/uses. In addition, the lastfew remaining re-evaluationshave yet to be completed, andsome of them are for key products/uses for this industry.We cannot tolerate further delays,nor any decisions made for expe-dience rather than from a fulsome

evaluation and with our input.The same staff will be taskedbeyond their limits as a result of“The 23.”

The PMRA has just recentlygone through its full share of budget cuts, staffing cuts, and re-alignment of work. Now that theyare down to parchment-like skinstretched over bare bones, theyare expected, somehow, to carryout this extra chore. Growershave a long list (see my first paragraph) of bones to pick aswell. It is even less likely nowthat we will see further actions to‘fix’ the CODEX internationalMRL setting process to bring itup to the standard required fortimely decisions. We are veryunlikely to see much time spenton fixing the flaws in the DataProtection Policy and as a resultthe generic pesticide entries intoCanada will ebb from a trickle tojust a seepage. We are unlikely tosee the final barriers to true (ourversion) of pesticide harmoniza-tion get listed and dealt with, andas a result Canadian growers willcontinue to pay more, get less,and be forced to compete even inour home marketplace with U.S.and other foreign producers whoare not burdened with uniquelyCanadian legislation.

Oh Canada- what a mess wehave made here!

I guess I should offer a solu-tion! “The minster shall conduct aspecial review.” Okay! Open aspecial review and then file the

latest re-evaluation report.Suggest that there is nothing newor significant in the reasons whyNorway (or any other OECDnation) banned a pesticide. Closethe file. Further public consulta-tion should not be required as ithas already recently happenedduring the re-evaluation process.Move on to the next one. Etcetera!

Maybe it could all be done in amorning! While some might howlabout it, the rest of us shouldhowl even louder about the leg-islative requirement that binds aminister’s hands due to any for-eign government decision!

Folks, we just have to movealong and deal with the issuesimportant to Canadians! Can any-one envision having our handstied if any other HealthLegislation was committed to aspecial review on the basis ofanother country’s legislation? Thefirst thing that needs to be done isto change that wording in the PCPAct. That Act just happens to beup for mandatory public reviewright now! While we deplore theopening of the Act for anythingelse, this fiasco should never happen again.

My condolences go out toPMRA staff and managementwhile they are forced to deal withthis (to me) frivolous waste oftime and resources. Even whenwe agree to disagree on muchelse, I am firmly on your side onthis one.

CRAIG HUNTEROFVGA

MINOR USE

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It was Norway and some other Scandinavian countries that widely pronounced the banning of several pesticides back in the eighties, andnineties, yet all the while kept them available for forestry use, which just happens to be virtually all their use pattern there anyway as compared to thepaltry uses of their small (relatively) agricultural production.

THE GROWER


THE GROWER

MARCH 2014 CELEBRATING 134 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION SECTION B

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

KAREN DAVIDSON

Like many farm partners, Cheryl Magalasis a multi-tasker. But when it comes to cropprotection, she has a laser focus on safety. Asa supplier of everything from strawberries tozucchini to the major grocery chains, the company follows CanadaGAP protocols.

She holds the certificate for pesticide application for Magalas Produce, Waterford,Ontario. What’s also been helpful is theOntario Pesticide Education Program (OPEP)that certifies her to teach farmer assistants.

“The training manuals are excellent,” shesays. The resources help her train her ownstaff on the farm. It’s a refresher on how tohandle chemicals safely and which protectivegear to wear.

The train-the-trainer course is half a daysays Susan Kelner, program coordinator,OPEP. Assistants can’t choose or buy pesticides. They must operate under the supervision of certified farmers who directwhat product, the rate and which crop. Part ofthe training includes first aid and how torespond to an accident.

Those who train are farmers themselves.Joe Lindley, for example, is well-known togreenhouse operators in the Niagara peninsula.

“We instill that great care must be takenwith crop protection products,” says Lindley.“Farmers like these courses because there’scredibility in another farmer giving the course.Everyone knows the practical situations in thefield or greenhouse.”

The Ontario Pesticide Education Programis in full swing during March and April. Fortimes and locations, go to www.opep.ca.

Crop protection training is a requirement for workers at Magalas Produce, Waterford, Ontario which grows strawberries, zucchini, sweet corn, cantaloupe and tomatoes. On thisJuly morning, employee Shane Thompson was spraying canteloupes. Photo by Glenn Lowson.

Pesticide training protects workers, protects food

a aragiN

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THE GROWER

PAGE B2 –– MARCH 2014

Update on Nova Scotia strawberry virus FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

JOHN LEWIS

Last year was a tough year forNova Scotia’s strawberry industry. An outbreak of twoaphid-vectored viruses (in 2012)resulted in 200 acres of fruitingfields being proactively removedin early spring and many moreinfected acres being removedimmediately after harvest. Lessthan half a normal crop was produced and the four nurseriesproducing inspected plants operated under an unprecedentedlevel of uncertainty as they

strived to produce disease-freestock in a high-inoculum environ-ment. The rapidity and severity ofthe virus disease emergence madeextension planning difficult andexposed many unknowns thatneeded to be answered before theindustry could recover and moveforward.

How widespread is the complex? When and how long isthe high-risk flight period of theprimary vector – the strawberryaphid? What are the most effective virus managementstrategies and how should theindustry best move forward?

Are there emergency use orminor use needs to combat theproblem? How do we ensure thatthe inspected nursery stock beingproduced in the province is disease free? Huge questionsindeed but ‘necessity is the moth-er of invention’ and out of neces-sity much was accomplished in2013 and there is hope as the

industry moves forward.The first course of business

was to inform growers about thedisease, its cause, and availabletools to manage it. This was facilitated by a series of ‘virusmanagement’ workshops in earlyApril as the new seasonapproached. Concurrently, funding was obtained to conductstrawberry aphid monitoring on23 farms and nurseries across theprovince as well as to assess thedistribution of the two viruses onfarms across the province. Byearly June it was known that thetwo viruses were not isolated inone or two hotspots but distrib-uted from one end of the provinceto the other. In fact, both viruseswere found on 65 per cent offarms tested and 29 per cent moretested positive for at least one ofthe two viruses. Certainly thiswas the first concrete proof thatthe entire industry was facing amajor crisis and not just a fewlarge farms.

Interestingly, research into thearchives of the KentvilleResearch Station revealed that inan exhaustive aphid monitoringsurvey of several farms in theAnnapolis Valley from 1961 –1965, the strawberry aphid,though present, was an extremelyminor colonizer of strawberries atthat time (Stultz, 1968). The mon-itoring work conducted in 2013quickly revealed that (not surpris-ingly) this was no longer the caseand strawberry aphids are now amajor colonizer of strawberries.Moreover, the flight period wasfound to begin in early June and,unlike in other areas that report ashort intense flight, Nova Scotia’swas more sedate and extended anagonizing eight weeks.

There was a tremendous levelof consultation with virus andaphid experts during this time andultimately a ‘recovery strategy’was prepared by Dr. RobertMartin (USDA Corvallis) in consultation with local research,extension, government, andindustry leaders.The strategy outlined the way forward and,among other things, provided thefoundation for the ‘Canada-Nova

Scotia Strawberry AssistanceInitiative’ that was announced asthe year closed. This programprovides replant assistance togrowers who removed acreage tothe viruses in 2013 as well as anincentive for the removal of additional acreage prior to May15th 2014. Inoculum reduction isa key requirement for recoveryand this program will be veryhelpful in this regard.

The recovery strategy outlinedthree major requirements forrecovery – vector control,removal of infected fields, andensuring that growers replant withdisease-free stock. The latterrequirement is a difficult one withno known nursery plant producersselling ‘virus-tested’ stock at theG4 or certified plant level. Withthis in mind, a testing protocolwas developed in consultationwith Dr. Martin that ensured G4‘blue tag’ stock produced in NovaScotia was virus-tested and pro-vided assurance of an extremelylow risk of virus infection. Allstock was tested under this newprotocol and blue tag stock isavailable to growers for the com-ing season.

The final major initiative of2013 was a virus survey of allnewly planted fields in Septemberso as to provide an indicator ofwhat we might expect for lossesto the viruses in 2014, as well asto provide a benchmark for com-parison in future surveys.Twenty-six percent of all samplestested positive for strawberrymild yellow edge virus, the morecommon of the two viruses, and16 per cent tested positive forstrawberry mottle virus, the second of the two viruses causingproblems across the province.These results suggest we stillhave work to do before we returnto normal but we are confidentthat we are moving in the rightdirection and that the industry hasthe resilience to overcome thisdifficult challenge. Stay tuned!

John Lewis is Horticulturist,Perennia.

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THE GROWER

KAREN DAVIDSON

No visa was granted, yet thisEast Asian pest has become firmly entrenched on Canadiansoil. Brown Marmorated StinkBug (BMSB) also has an unrefined palate, sustained bymore than 170 North Americanplant hosts that range from fruitsand vegetables to landscape treesand shrubs.

“2014 will be an importantyear,” says Hannah Fraser, entomology program lead, horticulture for the OntarioMinistry of Agriculture and Food(OMAF). “We anticipate findingmore areas in the province withestablished populations, based inpart on confirmed homeownerreports and our ongoing survey.”

In August 2012, an establishedpopulation was documented inHamilton but since then therehave been confirmed homeownerfinds in Burlington, CedarSprings, Milton, Newboro,Toronto, Vaughan and Windsor.Last fall, new captures were confirmed in Niagara-on-the-Lake, London and Kincardine.Paris, Niagara Falls, Fort Erie andStoney Creek were added to the

rapidly expanding list as recentlyas January. Many of the findshave come from homeowners.“BMSB adults like to moveindoors in the fall,” says Fraser.

There are several insecticidesregistered for either control orsuppression of BMSB in Canada(Lannate, Malathion, Clutch andActara), with others in the regis-tration system. Thresholds forBMSB have not been establishedin the U.S. where growers havebeen grappling with the pest forseveral years now. But as each

feeding probe causes injury, thereis very little tolerance in horticul-tural crops. Managing BMSB willrequire a combination of insecti-cides, biological controls, attract-and-kill strategies, physical barri-ers and other novel approachesthat are still in development.

Surveys are ongoing in agri-cultural areas and other sites thatare at high risk for introduction.In 2013, BMSB was monitoredusing visual surveys at more than260 sites across Ontario and thisnumber will increase in 2014.

Adults, nymphs and eggs werefound on a wide variety of land-scape hosts including buckthorn,ash, Catalpa sp., choke cherry,crab apple, dogwood, Americancranberry bush, honeysuckle,lilac, American basswood,Manitoba maple or box elder,mulberry, rose, tree of heaven,walnut and wild grape.

“Buckthorn appears to be anexcellent season-long host for thispest,” says Fraser. “If you arescouting your farm, make sure tocheck for BMSB on buckthornnear crop borders.”

BMSB is a tree-loving speciesthat typically builds up on land-scape plants or woodlots beforemoving into crops. It is a highlymobile pest, and adults will movebetween hosts during the growingseason. Some crops, such aspeaches, are at risk early andthrough harvest, while others,such as vegetable crops, are typically attacked when fruitingstructures begin to develop.

Although BMSB has not beenfound in a crop, it has been captured in pheromone traps setup on farms near Burlington andCedar Springs, indicating populations are most likely pre-sent nearby. The number of pyra-mid-shaped pheromone traps thatare being evaluated as monitoringtools will be increased this yearas they may be useful for earlydetection. With the occurrence ofboth overwintered and new-gen-

eration adults in the field by mid-July, Fraser says there maybe potential for a partial secondgeneration of BMSB in south-western Ontario.

“Based on other areas, it isn’tlikely but we need to study thiscarefully next summer,” she says.

A better understanding of thephenology, occurrence and spreadof the pest in Ontario is needed todevelop an IPM strategy for economically important crops.Research is also underway todetermine if native natural enemies are attacking BMSB.Besides OMAF and MRA, theresearch and survey team includesCynthia Scott-Dupree, Universityof Guelph and Tara Gariepy,Agriculture and Agri-FoodCanada.

Fortunately, Fraser is pluggedinto a North American workinggroup which meets twice a yearto compare notes. She chairs theCanadian Technical WorkingGroup on BMSB which wasestablished in 2012. It’s an initiative led by the CanadianHorticultural Council and the PestManagement Centre.

“This is a big, showy insectthat may show up in your crop orin your house,” says Fraser.“Look for it and don’t be shyabout submitting specimens foridentification.”

For more information on howto distinguish BMSB from look-alikes, www.ontario.ca/stinkbug.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is on the move FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

MARCH 2014 –– PAGE B3

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The two white bands on each antenna are key distinguishing features on BMSB adults and late instar nymphs. Photos by Hannah Fraser.

Adult Nymph

PAM FISHER, OMAF ANDMRA

Spotted Wing Drosophila(SWD) is a new pest and thereare a lot of questions about howthis insect will behave in Ontariofruit crops. Fortunately there is agreat deal of research underwayacross North America which willhelp us learn how to monitorSWD and how to manage it economically. OMAF and MRAspecialists are working with colleagues in Canada and the U.S.to collaborate on projects andshare information.

Here in Ontario, there are several projects in progress. It isimportant that stakeholders beconnected to these projects tohelp keep these projects relevantto the needs of Ontario fruitgrowers.

Enhanced monitoring and management of spotted wing

drosophila, an invasive pest ofsoft skinned fruit in OntarioProject team: Rebecca Hallett,Rose Buitenhuis, Tara Gariepy,Hannah Fraser, Justin RenkemaSource of funding : OMAFRA/Uof G Research Program2011/2012 (Production SystemsPlants: Plant Protection)

Objective: 1. To develop better traps, animproved attractant and molecular identification tools tomonitor spotted wing drosophila(SWD). 2. To learn more about the popu-lation dynamics in Ontario,including which crops and wildhosts support SWD.3. To develop a novel push-pullmanagement strategy using plantvolatiles to repel and attractSWD. 4. To assess endemic parasitoidsand predators that may attackSWD.

Findings so far: Traps withlarge entry areas and large surfaceareas for attractant volatilizationimproved captures of SWD.Yeast-sugar-water lures improvedcaptures compared to apple cidervinegar, but synthetic blends offruit volatiles did not improvecaptures. Field edges appear to beimportant overwintering habitatand certain wild host species support SWD populations, butspecific movement patterns fromfield edges to crop interiors werenot always evident. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

THE GROWER

Spotted Wing Drosophila research


PAM FISHER AND HANNAHFRASER, OMAF AND MRA

When it comes to monitoringfor Spotted Wing Drosophila,(SWD), early detection is impor-tant. Traps for SWD, baited withapple cider vinegar or yeast baitare useful, especially when trapcatches from several locations ina region are combined. However,in 2013 we found SWD larvae infruit at approximately the sametime we found the first SWD intraps. This means that on-farmtrapping is not sensitive enoughto detect the earliest SWD infes-tations on the farm. Until betterbaits, traps and thresholds forSWD are developed, growersneed a second tool for monitoringthis invasive pest. Fruit samplingat harvest is recommended todetect early infestations, and todetermine the effectiveness ofyour SWD control program.

Larvae from infested fruit willfloat out if fruit is placed in saltwater. Dissolve one part salt in16 parts water (1/4 cup salt infour cups water). Place a sampleof sound, marketable fruit(approx. 100 ripe, healthy-lookingfruit) in a shallow dish or tray.Pour salt water over the fruit untilfruit is completely covered. Mashfruit lightly with a potato masher.In 10- 15 minutes, larvae willfloat to the surface of the

solution. To detect very small larvae you will need a hand lensand good lighting. Look forsmall, white larvae, tapered atboth ends, and one to four mm inlength. It is impossible to distin-guish SWD from other drosophilalarvae at this stage; however onlySWD attack sound marketablefruit. If you are using ripe, notoverripe, fruit in the tests, emerging larvae are probablySWD.

Salt water fruit immersion provides a quick test to determineif SWD is present in fruit,although numbers observed mayunderestimate the level of infesta-tion. Success with this techniquecould be improved if fruit is

collected and held at room tem-perature for one to two daysbefore immersion in salt water.This will provide time for eggs tohatch and larvae to grow to a sizethat is easier to see in the salt water solution.

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THE GROWER


In the laboratory, several plantessential oils were highly repel-lent to SWD flies and reducedegg-laying in ripe fruit. On asmall scale in the field, oils alsoreduced egg-laying in fruit. Weare currently exploring technolo-gies to more effectively disperserepellents throughout the crop andtest their efficacy in combinationwith attract-and-kill systems. Thegenetic structure of SWD inOntario is being determined usingmolecular barcoding; these resultsare being used to assess a preda-tory beetle species and will beused to study endemic parasitoidsfor biological control.

Life history and seasonal move-ments of the spotted wingdrosophila, Drosophila suzukii,in a multi-crop settingProject team: Dr. RoseBuitenhuis, Vineland Researchand Innovation Centre; HannahFraser, OMAF & MRASource of funding: NiagaraPeninsula Fruit and VegetableGrowers Association

Objective:1. Study spotted wing drosophila(SWD) life history and seasonalmovement between overwinteringsites, alternative hosts and cropsin Niagara. 2. Provide industry with knowl-edge on local SWD occurrence,biology and behaviour which isessential to predict outbreaks andto develop more effective controlmethods.

Findings so far: SWD persistsin the landscape well into the coldseason. No SWD were recoveredlate winter to spring. Although itis suspected that SWD overwin-ters in Niagara, this could not beconfirmed. In 2013, the firstSWD in Niagara was found July4th. Early detection of SWD atthe beginning of the season canbe accomplished by trapping orby fruit collections. For traps,ACV bait is recommendedbecause of its ease of use andsimilar performance compared tothe yeast + sugar bait. No clearpatterns of movement betweenwild hosts and crops wereobserved.

Temperature-dependent devel-opment and overwintering inthe spotted wing drosophilaProject team: Jonathan Newman,Gerry Ryan, Lisa Emiljanowicz,Aaron LangilleSource of funding : OMAFRA/Uof G Research Program

Objective:1. To investigate how life historyparameters (e.g. stage-specificdevelopment time, reproductiveoutput, mortality and lifespan) arelikely to fluctuate with tempera-ture2. To investigate the ecology ofoverwintering in SWD and3. To create a population model

of SWD to allow spatial and temporal forecasting.

Findings so far: Temperaturecurves have been generated forSWD. Current work is focussedon identifying upper and lowerdevelopmental critical points. Anewly initiated overwinteringexperiment will investigate howSWD overwinters in Ontario cli-mates and how this depends ondiapause induction, developmen-tal stage and ecotype. The fore-casting model is now almost com-plete and should be submitted forpublication in late February 2014. A population demography studyof SWD by our group is currentlyin press in the Journal ofEconomic Entomology (details tofollow).

Monitoring and management ofspotted wing drosophila inOntario 2013 Project Team: Pam Fisher, AnneHorst, Denise Beaton, HannahFraser, Leslie Huffman, MargaretAppleby, Melanie FilotasSource of funding: Ontario BerryGrowers Association, OntarioHighbush Blueberry GrowersAssociation. This project wasfunded in part through GrowingForward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. TheAgricultural Adaptation Councilassists in the delivery of GrowingForward 2 in Ontario.

Objective: To monitor for spot-ted wing drosophila using trapsand fruit monitoring and to pro-vide growers with accurate, cur-

rent information on SWD control.

Findings to date: Spotted wingdrosophila was trapped acrossOntario in both 2012 and 2013, asfar north as New Liskeard and inall major fruit growing regions inOntario. First trap captures ofSWD were coincident with latestrawberry –early raspberry har-vest in most regions. When trapcaptures were pooled by region,populations showed similar pat-terns in each region, but werehighest in southwestern andsouthcentral Ontario. Infestedfruit was detected slightly earlierthan the first trap captures. Frommid-July to mid-September,infested fruit was common.

Growers can monitor for SWDusing traps for adult flies, howev-

er on-farm trap captures are not agood indicator of early SWD pop-ulations. Weekly salt water fruitimmersion is more effective thanon-farm trapping to detect earlyinfestations and to evaluate thesuccess of SWD control pro-grams. Actual infestation ratescan be underestimated with saltwater immersion tests, however itseems to be a good predictor ofpresence or absence.

Research on SWD in recentyears has supported the develop-ment of much information toinform growers on how to recog-nize and manage this pest.

Where to get more informa-tion: www.ontario.ca\spottedwing

Spotted Wing Drosophila research in OntarioFOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

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Developments in the control of onion maggot and thrips on onions


MARY RUTH McDONALD

Onion maggot (Delia antgua)and onion thrips (Thrips tabaci)are the most damaging insectpests of onions in Ontario, andmany other regions of the world.Growers spend a lot of time andeffort to protect their crops fromthese pests.

The feeding of onion maggotlarvae can kill 70 to 100 per centof onion seedlings in the spring,and further generations of mag-gots damage onions later in theseason. Onion thrips attack theleaves of onion plants and manyother crops. Thrips are tinyinsects that feed by rasping thesurface of leaves. The populationsbuild up quickly in hot, dryweather. The feeding of largenumbers of thrips can cause theleaves to lose the green pigmentsand turn silver. This results insmall onions and low yields.Onions with heavy thrips damagedo not have enough green leavesto absorb sprout inhibitor, so can-not be put into long term storage.

Trials have been conducted atthe Muck Crops Research Stationto find the most effective andenvironmentally friendly methodsto control these insect pests.There have been several newinsecticides developed lately andmost are reduced risk materials,meaning that they are relativelyenvironmentally friendly.

Research on onion maggotcontrol has focused on insecticideseed treatments. These can bevery effective at low rates. Theyare easy to handle and there areno worries about product rate orplacement. They always end upwith the seed. One product,Entrust (80% spinosad), isapproved as an organic materialin the United States. The fieldtrial in 2010 had very high onionmaggot damage. Over 73 per centof the onions in the untreatedcheck were killed by maggots.

One of the best treatments wasEntrust plus Cruiser (spinosadplus thiamethoxam) with threeper cent maggot damage. This isthe combination of insecticides inthe FarMore FI 500 seed treat-ment. Another excellent treatmentwas Sepresto (clothianidin56.25% + imidacloprid 18.75%),also with three per cent damage.Sepresto is also a commercial for-mulation. The standard seed treat-ment Governor (cyromazine75%), and Avicta 400 (aber-mectin 37%) were also veryeffective, with seven and eightper cent damage. The organicproduct, Entrust alone had 18 percent maggot damage, still muchless than the check. Recent workhas compared pyrethroid in-fur-row treatments with the seedtreatments and a spinosad bait.

Onion thrips can be extremelydifficult to control when tempera-tures are warm and there is littlerain. Thrips reproduce rapidly atwarm temperatures, while heavyrains sometimes wash the thripsoff leaves. We have been testing aspray program developed by Dr.Brian Nault in New York Stateand it is working well in our trialsin the Holland Marsh. The

program starts with two sprays ofMovento (spirotetramat) followedby two sprays of Delegate (spine-toram) Both are now registered inCanada. This combination washighly effective. For instance, inAugust of 2011, this combinationresulted in five thrips per plant, ascompared to 169 thrips per planton the untreated check.

For the most up-to-date resultson control of thrips, onion mag-got, and Stemphylium leaf blighton onions and issues such asnematodes and weed control incarrots, plan on attending theAnnual Muck Vegetable GrowersConference in Bradford, on April9 and 10. The conference featurestwo days of local and invited

speakers and a large trade show.There is no registration fee,thanks to the generosity of thesponsors. For more information,check the Muck Station web site:www.uoguelph.ca/muckcrop.

Mary Ruth McDonald is pro-fessor and associate chair, PlantScience, University of Guelph.

Onion maggot damage on onionsOnion maggot damage on seedling onions

THE GROWERMARCH 2014 –– PAGE B7

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A major change of processwill be undertaken at the 2014national minor use priority-setting

meeting to be held in Gatineau,Quebec says Jim Chaput,Ontario’s minor use coordinator.

There will no longer be a separateday for prioritization of biopesticide priorities for

Canadian producers, but insteadbiopesticide priorities will be discussed at the beginning of each

of the discipline days: entomolo-gy, pathology and weed science.AAFC-PMC will now only support the development of newbiopesticide active ingredients orexpansion of biopesticides to newuse site categories only. Registrants will have the opportunity to present newbiopesticide solutions to thegroup each day and based uponan assessment of national crop-pest priorities, registrantsupport and applicability to avariety of crop-pest situations,several new biopesticide projectswill be chosen.

In addition at this year’snational minor use meetings, aseparate day for a special, inter-national working group derivedfrom the Rome 2012 GlobalMinor Use Summit will be meeting to discuss a global minoruse priority-setting process thatcan benefit all countries and helpidentify critical global pest management issues. Ontario hasbeen directly involved in developing a template for thisprocess and will be working withfederal and international partnersto chart a path forward.

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4000 Jordan Road • Jordan Station, ON • 905-562-8825

Supplying Fruit and Vegetable Growers with:

• Baskets • Berry Boxes• Masters • Waxed Cartons• Fertilizer • Crop Protection Material• Vineyard Trellis Supplies

AUCTION

Jack Morris Auctions IncFarm Machinery Auction Sale

Saturday, March 22 at 10:00 am

For Bob-a-Lou Farms Ltd., Tilbury, Ont., selling exceptionally wellcared for farm machinery. Sale held at 17700 Essex Cty. Rd. 2

between Gracey Sideroad & Lighthouse Cove Road.Sale includes 6 tractors -Case IH 140 Maxxum mech. front drive,

8910 Magnum mech. front drive, 5250 Maxxum, 5240 mech. frontdrive, 5230 Magnum, Int. 5088; tillage includes Salford 570 -18’ cult.,

Case IH 496 hydr. fold 22’ disc, Kongskilde 5 bar 2600- 23’5” cult,Case IH Ecolo-till 2500 – 5 tooth subsoiler, RJ 24’ crowfoot packer,etc; Kearney Classic 8 row pull type planter w/new seed disc open-ers; new 2013 Hardie Ranger 550 sprayer w/60’ boom, etc; 45’ pulltype ATV sprayer; Hiniker pull type 18’ chopper; Eagle Pro Sleepertruck, must be seen to be appreciated; two Bauer Rain Star E31 irri-

gation reels w/220’ booms & 1500’ hose; high capacity irrigationpump; some irrigation pipe; two Black Welder tomato harvesters, 2

sets trains, 11 tomato wagons, plant trailers, other tomato equip; etc.All equipment is immaculate, up to date & in excellent condition.

No Reserve.Terms: cash, debit or personalized cheque day of sale.

Auctioneer: Jack Morris, 519-687-2530Details, photos & sale order atwww.jackmorrisauctions.com

THE GROWERMARCH 2014 –– PAGE B9


SEED AND ROOTSTOCK

SquirrellFarms

SEED POTATOESHeritage Varieties

• Banana Fingerlings• Irish Cobbler• Russian Blue

Old Favourites• Yukon Gold• Chieftain• Kennebec• Superior• Dark Red Norland• Eramosa

Newer Varieties• Dakota Pearl• Gold Rush• Cal White• Dark Red Chieftain• Adirondike Red• Adirondike Blue• Yukon Gem• AC Chaleur

All seed is C.F.I.A. inspectedand is tagged as to variety and

level of certification.

Contact Penny and Glen SquirrellRR 2, Shelburne, ON L0N 1S6

Ph: 519-925-5247Fax: 519-925-5603

email: [email protected] for pricing.

Small orders Welcome!Delivery can be arranged!

SEED POTATO

QUALITY FRUIT TREES

• APPLE on M9, B9 and M26

• Peach on Bailey

• PEAR on Quince

ORDER NOW FOR BEST SELECTION

WARWICKORCHARDS & NURSERY LTD

7056 Egremont Rd. R.R. #8Watford, Ontario

N0M [email protected]

Tel: (519) 849-6730Toll free: 877-550-7412

Fax: (519) 849-6731

THE GROWER



CONTAINERS

LABELS

EQUIPMENT

[email protected] EQUIPMENT

OUR SPECIALITY

NEW . . USED . . SERVICE

YOUR SOURCE FORJOHN BEAN ANDDURAND-WAYLAND

YOUNOW

have beento the rest,

call theBEST!!P

HIL

LIP

SFA

RM

SU

PPLIE

S

DON ARTHUR ORCHARD EQUIPMENT(519) 599-3058 [email protected] Clarksburg, ON

** LOW DRIFT SPRAY TOWERS TO FIT ANY TURBO-MIST --- IN STOCK NOW **

Swanson 50 gal, stainless steel, very clean, A-1 condition $1,800Turbo-Mist 400 gal, 30” fan, hydraulic controls, nice clean $11,950Turbo-Mist 400 gal, stainless steel Tall Spray Tower (new) $14,500Turbo-Mist 500, electric controls, centrifugal pump $8,900Turbo-Mist 500, hydraulic controls, tower $12,500Turbo-Mist 500, centrifugal pump, hydraulic, almost new $16,900Turbo-Mist 500, centrifugal, low-drift Tall Spray Tower (new) $19,700Turbo-Mist 600, centrifugal pump, hydraulic, good condition $10,500Turbo-Mist 600, Myers, hydraulic, used only 3 seasons, A-1 $16,900Seppi SMO 200 flail mower, 6 1/2 ft, nice cond, new hammers $5,250Perfect KG-220 Flail mower, (2011) A-1 condition $6,900Perfect KG-220 Flail, good solid condition, new hammers $5,900Woods 7ft off-set rotary mower, almost new $3,500Apple Bin Carriers (5 - Bin) 3 in stock from $2,900

** All Turbo-Mist Parts in stock** Seppi Flail Mulchers for Grass and Prunings** Perfect Rotary Mowers & Heavy Duty Flail Mowers

ABOUT 20 NEW AND USED

SPRAYERS IN STOCK Made inCanada

ALL STAINLESS STEEL

P: 519-326-8200 F: 1-888-567-1297www.madleyglobal.com

• VEGETABLE SEEDERS

Planet Jr. Gaspardo Cole

• CASH CROP PLANTERSConventional – Pneumatic (Air)

• FERTILIZER ATTACHMENTS

(SideDressers)

• ROW CROP WEEDERS, ETC.• DISC HILLERS

• SPECIALIZED ROW CROP EQUIPMENT

Cultivator Steels, Sweeps, Hoes, Furrowers,

Hillers, Etc.

JOHN C. GRAHAM CO. LTD.DISTRIBUTORS

88 Erie Street North • P.O. Box 13Leamington, Ontario • N8H 3W1

Tel:(519) 326-5051 Fax: (519) 326-0480

ASPARAGUS

ASPARAGUSCROWNS

Available for Spring 2014

MillenniumMary Washington

Sandy Shore Farms Ltd.(519) 8753382

[email protected]

Used wooden bins – 4 x 4 hardwood

$30.00/each

Contact Bill Nightingale at519-429-1183 or

[email protected]

TRANSPLANTERWANTED

RJ or Cheechi & Magliplanting units. 6 rows by36” frame with 4 or more

planting units. (we will be planting 6

rows@ 36”)

Call 519-877-2372

BOGBALLE “L” SERIES ORCHARD SPREADERS

- 550 KG TO 1150 KG CAPACITY- NARROW HOPPER PROFILE

- 2 -ROW STAINLESS STEEL CONVEYOR- ADJUSTABLE SPREAD WIDTH- "INTELLIGENT SPREADING"

Robert H. Laning & Sons Ltd.Waterford, Ontario, Canada N0E 1Y0

1-800-461-9691 Email: [email protected] www.laning.ca

THE GROWER


CONTAINERS


IRRIGATION

Pipe& Fittings

for Water Systems• PVC, ABS, Poly, Copper

• Stainless, Brass, SteelProduct Lines

• Drip & Micro Irrigation• Septic & Sewer• Drainage & Culverts• Berkeley Water Pumps

Winona Concrete & Pipe Products Ltd.

489 Main St. W., Grimsby, ON. L3M 1T4

[email protected] (905) 945-8515 Fax: (905) 945-1149

or call toll-free

1-800-361-8515

One-Piece and Portable Skid-Mount Systems, Hydro-Coolers, Medical and Process Chillers, Blast Freezers,

Vacuum Coolers, Refrigerated Dehumidifi ers.KOOL JET ®Reliable Refrigeration Systems

1-866-748-7786 www.kooljet.com Visit our website to view our complete line

Custom Built Designs • Domestic and International Markets

REFRIGERATION

ONTARIO FARM FOR SALE

99 acres of Very productive land North ofwind turbine freeLeamington. 1700 sq. ft.home with many structuraland cosmetic renovations.Municipal water and goodwell and natural gas. 5year old 48 x 80 polebarn with 20 x 48 livestock lean to, grain

storage. Bring your tractor and your animals and your desire tolive on a quiet country road. The possibilities are endless.Call 519-322-8065 or [email protected]

CALL ABE FIRSTFOR BETTER PRICES, MORE

CHOICES, FAST, AND FRIENDLY SERVICE. BUY A DIESEL ENGINE

PUMP UNIT FROM THE DIESEL MECHANIC.

NEW IRRIGATION PUMPUNITS ON TRAILER

• Cummin 4 cyl & 6 cyl• John Deere, 4 cyl & 6 cyl• Iveco/Cummins, 4 cyl & 6 cyl• Kubota & Deutz etc, etc.

Rovatti PumpsBerkeley Pumps, etc.

And many more new or used up to 550 HP.

We build them all big or small.Also couplers, hoses, clamps, forsuction, camlock, ringlock, bauer

etc.

A. KOOLMEESR.R. 1, Otterville, ON N0J 1R0

(519) 879-6878 Fax: (519) 879-6319

WANTED: Dilts Wetzel potatoseed cutter and 3 PT hitchsprayer. Call 519-846-9915

Transplanter,one row " Lannen "3pth c/w 150 gal. water tank.Stored inside,excellent condition$4000, 905-531-9819

1830 John Deere tractor w/ fork-lift. Asking $4,000. Call 905-304-1406

Potato Equipment, complete lineof planting,harvesting, washing/packing equipment suitable forgrowing 10-100 acres. Used lastseason,package deal @ $40,000.Call for detailed listing of allequipment. 905-531-9819

Turbo-Mist orchard sprayer forsale. Turbo Steer, 400 gal., 30”fan. Excellent condition. Alwaysstored inside. Call 905-765-2027

CLASSIFIED

REAL ESTATE

GLADIOLUS BULBSWide variety selection for retail sales and

commercial cut flower productionCatalogue available upon request or visit our website at www.lmbolle.com

L.M.Bolle & Sons813083 Baseline Norwich, ON(519) 468-2090 Fax 468-2099email: [email protected]

FLOWER BULBS

Kennco style sled bedder, $1250obo. Decloet High clearancesprayer, late model, set up forsweet corn $4500 obo. Jacobsgreenhouse walkway $4 /ft.Call519-768-1590.

THE GROWER


the grower march 2014

Documents

minimumwage labour

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minimum wagewould

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