the grower newspaper_january 2012

KAREN DAVIDSON

For all that women contributeto horticulture, they are still asrare as hen’s teeth in policy-making leadership roles. Manywomen are now executive directors of associations, but onlya handful are elected to sit onboards of directors.

Yet on farms across Canada,women are partners in many busi-nesses. That deep reservoir ofknowledge and experience couldbe tapped for leadership positionsthat more often than not, requiresthe strengths of women: consen-sus-building and stakeholder relations.

Director skill sets today mustbe broader than in the past,stretching beyond financial andindustry-specific knowledge, saysKellie Garrett, senior vice presi-dent, strategy, knowledge andreputation, Farm Credit Canada.Freshly graduated with anInstitute Certified DirectorDesignation from Rotman, Garrettobserves that board recruiters arelooking for skills which haven’ttraditionally been found onboards, such as strategy, communications and leadership.

“Women face a double wham-my if they hold these skills,” saysGarrett. “They may be the onlywoman on a board, with expertisein an area that the accountantsand lawyers think of as ‘soft.’ Soit’s very important to ensure thattheir opinions are heard andincorporated in decision-making,which requires great influencing

skills, that is, backing up yourposition with how it will benefitthe business.”

Mary Shabatura is one of thoseexamples of leadership, farmingall her life with either her father

or her husband for 33 years, andnow sitting on the board of theOntario Fruit and VegetableGrowers’ Association (OFVGA).She was the first woman to graduate from the farm business

management course at FanshaweCollege in 1978. Just as comfortable inputting data toSimply accounting as program-ming a tomato sorting machine,Shabatura is at home in a variety

of environments. “I think of myself as a team

player,” says Shabatura.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

JANUARY 2012 CELEBRATING 132 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION VOLUME 62 NUMBER 01

Women just do it. Leadership comes naturally to many women in horticulture who run businesses, supervise work teams and negotiate suppli-er deals. However, the table is not automatically set for those who wish to serve on boards. Mary Shabatura is a rare example who sits onthe board of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. Last June, she took a moment to pose for our camera during the fieldworkers’ break from strawberry picking at Windham Centre, Ontario. Photo by Denis Cahill.

Leadership is more than speaking into a microphone Multi-tasking women are an untapped resource

INSIDEMore Caribbeans seek workon Canadian farms Page 5

Spray drift videos launch at OFVGA 1

Focus: food safety and traceability Page 12

www.thegrower.org

P.M. 40012319

The border deal promises benefits for horticultureKAREN DAVIDSON

The Joint Action Plan forPerimeter Security and EconomicCompetitiveness holds the seedsof good news for horticulture.

When Prime Minister StevenHarper and U.S. President BarackObama signed the December 7deal in Washington, the CanadianHorticultural Council’s (CHC)executive director, Anne Fowlie,was there. No accident, that was,after years of lobbying for someof the key tenets of how agricul-ture wishes to do business.

In the 29 action items of theRegulatory Cooperation Council,there are keys to competitivenessin the following: • Develop common approaches tofood safety and enhance collabo-ration to allow for assessment and

possible recognition of systemcomparability• Further align crop protectionproduct (e.g. pesticides) approvalsand establish maximum residuelimits/tolerances in both countries• Develop a perimeter approach toplant protection with a view toleverage each country’s efforts tomutual advantage and, where possible, streamline certificationrequirements for cross-bordershipments • Develop comparable approachesto financial risk mitigation toolsto protect Canadian and U.S. fruitand vegetable suppliers from buy-ers that default on their paymentobligations• Develop a harmonized approachto screening inbound cargo arriv-ing from offshore that will resultin increased security and the

expedited movement of securecargo across the Canada-UnitedStates border, under the principleof “cleared once, accepted twice.”

• Provide a single windowthrough which importers can elec-tronically submit all informationto comply with customs and otherparticipating government agencyregulations• Invest in improving shared bor-der infrastructure and technology

So encouraging are thesedevelopments that CHC’s vice-

chair Murray Porteous is arguingfor a large mobilization campaignthat will lobby elected politiciansand bureaucrats to act expedi-tiously on the agreement.

“We need to have the lobbyingtools in place to mobilize ourmembership across Canada,” saysPorteous. “In March, the launchof our on-line lobbying tool willbe a start, but we need to encour-age our members to tell their sto-ries of how these regulatorychanges will benefit them on thefarm.”

From his perspective, it’simportant to position a harmo-nized pesticide regulatory systemthat does not give up Canada’ssovereignty, but eliminates tradebarriers and helps farmers on bothsides of the border.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

The time for tastingis when the tarts arebeing passed. For ourindustry, the oven doorjust got opened.” Murray Porteous

“

– JANUARY 2012THE GROWER

NEWSMAKERSCondolences to the family of Doug Connery, Portage la Prairie,Manitoba who died suddenly December 15. As a past-president ofthe Canadian Horticultural Council (2003) he led tireless efforts onthe foreign worker program and was currently chair of the council’shuman resources committee. This past spring, he was a frequentguest on national television as a grower impacted by the Manitobagovernment breaking the dam on the Assiniboine River next tohis Riverdale Farm.

Effective December 12, FareedAmin became Ontario’s newdeputy minister of agriculture, foodand rural affairs. He replaces JohnBurke who is retiring in early Jan-uary. In his new role, Amin willconclude the first scheduled reviewof the clean energy Feed-in-Tariffprogram on behalf of the energyministry, a task which he’s beenleading since August. He has hadseveral deputy minister posts in thepast. Fareed Amin

Adrian Huisman, long-time general manager of the Ontario Tender Fruit Producers’ Marketing Board, retires effective January31. But he’ll be in the wings on a consultative basis as Sarah Marshall, currently marketing director, moves into his chair Febru-ary 1. As this transition takes place, the marketing director positionwill cease to exist. Larissa Osborne, formerly the board’s treasur-er and manager of grape and tender fruit (Ontario) Ltd. moves intoa new position of market and production analyst, a role cost-sharedwith the Ontario Apple Growers.

Grape Growers of Ontario recently hosted their annual wine tastingevent with the newly elected speaker of the Ontario legislature,Dave Levac. Official wines to be served in the Legislative Assembly for 2012 are: 2010 Strip Room (red) from Burning KilnWinery, St. Williams and 2009 Riesling (white) from Good EarthFood and Wine Company, Beamsville.

Jayna Hart is the new communications officer for the CanadianHorticultural Council.

The Holland Marsh Growers’ Association recently re-elected AlexMakarenko as chair. Kyle Horlings, a 23-year-old farmerreplaces founding member Bill Scotch on the board. Also on theboard are: Herman Gasko, Joe Srebot, Dan Sopuch, Paul Smith,Doug Weening, Doug Van Luyk, Avia Eek, Jason Verkaik andDomenic Riga.

The Ontario Potato Board recently re-elected Glen Squirrell aschair and Chris Kowalski as vice-chair. Directors are: HarryBradley, Mac James, Shawn Brenn and Rick Wallace.

OMAFRA welcomes Kristy Grigg-McGuffin as acting pome fruitIPM specialist in Simcoe, who is replacing Kathryn Carterpresently on leave.

As well, Deanna Nemeth joined the ministry as the nutrient management horticulture crops program lead. She has previouslyworked as a special project coordinator with the Ontario Soil andCrop Improvement Association. She can be reached at OMAFRA’sVineland Resource Centre.

Fresh Vegetable Growers of Ontario kept their slate of directors for2012 with Tom Miedema, Newmarket, remaining as chair. HenkDroogendyk is a new addition to the board, replacing AlbertStreef.

AT PRESS TIME…On the Hill

The Canadian HorticulturalCouncil and Canadian ProduceMarketing Association executed ajoint lobby of key politicians onParliament Hill in late November.The produce industry delegationmet with Revenue Minister GailShea and Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Gerry Ritz aswell as other MPs.

“The MPs we met with were

interested in the issues webrought to their tables,” said TomByttynen of Thomas Fresh, Calgary, Alberta and CPMAchair. The agenda focused onbiosecurity, financial risk mitigation and the overall impactof the produce industry on thehealth of Canadians.

Century-old Siegersgrows again

Siegers Seed Company is celebrating its 100th anniversary

by doing more of the same. TheMichigan-based developer ofcommercial vegetable seeds is ingrowth mode, opening a newoffice in Plant City, Florida.

“Our seed company wasfounded as N. Sluis & Sons in1912 in Chicago by my greatgrandfather, Nanne Sluis, a Dutchimmigrant,” explains RickSiegers. “In 1957, the companywas divided between my uncleand my father, Don Siegers, who

moved Siegers Seed Company toMichigan and later bought out myuncle's share. I took over thecompany in 1973 and have continued the family tradition.”

In Canada, Siegers operates anoffice in Tilsonburg, Ontariowhere Ernie Szucs operates trialplots on his farm.

“We continue to add productdevelopment staff,” says JeffSiegers, seed consultant. “We’revery open to our Canadian customers suggesting what theywant in trials.”

For a nostalgic tour of seed

development over the years,download an electronic version ofthe 2012 catalogue atwww.siegers.com.

Wal-Mart expands inCanada

To counter the arrival ofAmerican chain Target in 2013,Wal-Mart is aggressively expand-ing in Canada in 2012. It plans toopen 73 stores this year and renovate some existing stores.

Celebrating womenleaders

Since 2006, Farm CreditCanada (FCC) has been sponsor-ing the Rosemary Davis Award,honouring women who are activeleaders in Canadian agriculture.The award is named after the firstfemale chair of the FCC board ofdirectors.

To date, 25 women have beencelebrated for leadership in theircommunities, industries andbeyond whether they are growers,agribusiness operators, teachersor agrologists.

This year, five winners fromacross Canada will be announcedin March. They will receive a tripto Boston to attend the April 5,2012 Simmons School of Management’s leadership conference for women.

Deadlines for applications forthe Rosemary Davis Award aredue no later than January 23,2012. For details, go towww.fcc-fac.ca

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“This is something that has frustrated our members for a very long time,” he adds. “Access toa broader range of new, environmentally responsibleproducts will help improve our farmers’ ability to begood stewards of the land.”

Expect the idea of a long-term lobbying

campaign to come forth at the January 9 to 11 annu-al general meeting of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association and again in Marchat the CHC.

“The time for tasting is when the tarts are beingpassed,” quips Porteous. “For our industry, the ovendoor just got opened.”

Benefits for horticulture

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“Whether it’s payroll, labourissues, human resources or clean-ing the bunkhouses, I do it all.”

At peak season, her multi-task-ing capabilities are in demandwith up to 200 employees on theWindham Centre farm where sheand husband John grow every-thing from strawberries to tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn,cabbage and melons. Back in the1980s and 1990s, she wasinvolved in the strawberry growers’ organization and localprocessor marketing board as secretary. Taking the minutesmade her acutely aware of issuesof the day, leading her to ventureher own opinions.

“Get your facts and figures inline, then take a position,” shesays, recalling her days at the processing board where she wastrained how to negotiate and arbitrate.

Sitting on the crop insuranceboard furthered her understandingof the interconnectedness of agriculture and the issues facingunrelated commodities like hay.She has also been a director onthe board of Foreign AgriculturalResource Management Services,providing input on the culturaldifferences of Mexican andCaribbean workers.

“I bring a passionate voice tothe table,” says Shabatura. “Iinvest in relationships and canfind a place for all workers toshine. We strive to do whatever isin our power to make the relation-ships work and that means they’recomfortable with their duties –feeling safe, being well trainedand having no fear of expressingconcerns or asking questions. It’simportant they are happy to workalongside us to get the work doneeach day.”

Find a mentorCommon themes emerge

among those women who haveserved on boards. “What’s missing is mentorship forwomen,” says Brenda Lammens,former chair, OFVGA and a current director, Ontario Asparagus Growers’ MarketingBoard. “The dynamics of agriculture have changed, so thatmany women are now workingoff-farm to sustain their lifestyle.Operations have grown in size.There’s no time to waste time andwomen pick very carefully wherethey’ll invest their energy.”

For many, the concept of mentorship is formal, yet Garrettpoints out that asking someoneyou admire to be a mentor is notthe right approach. By theirnature, these are successful,

time-starved people so they won’tcommit to a sustained relation-ship. Rather, follow and observeat close range, then ask them outfor coffee to ask for advice abouta specific situation. Call it mentorship by minutes, this waywill yield more relationshiprewards than asking for largeswaths of time.

Engage in listeningOnce women are elected to a

director’s role, what do they bringto the board table? “We’re goodstudents,” says Lammens, nowserving as vice-chair, AgriculturalManagement Institute. “If wedon’t understand all the acronymsin the discussion, we’ll go homeand research the topic. We’re alsogood listeners. We like to com-prehend before we comment.”

In her own experience, farm

leadership is not necessarilyfound in the senior ranks of theindustry or even the best speakerat the microphone. Leadership isoften behind the scenes, buildingrelationships and investing in therenewal process. That’s wherewomen have enormous strengthsin communications and interpersonal skills.

Invest in trainingThe process of leadership is

very much like the 4-H motto:learn to do by doing. For thosewho want to stretch their abilities,a new crop of courses is emergingfor 2012. Farm Credit Canadahas just announced that it’sunderwriting some of the majorcosts of Cultivate, a strategic agricultural leadership programfor directors and managers ofagricultural commodity boards tobe delivered at the Richard IveySchool of Business.

“When you’re a farmer, you’remanaging yourself,” says DaveSparling, chair in agri-food innovation at Ivey and one of thedesigners of the course program.“It’s a complete shift to helpingguide an entire industry.”

The course will help both menand women in directors’ roles,built around the core themes ofstrategy, innovation, policy, leadership and governance, and

marketing. Slated for March 4 to9, the course will be held at theIvey Spencer Leadership Centrein London, Ontario.

For agriculture, a male-dominated industry that still hasits sacred cows, Sparling says thatskill levels need to be strength-ened and attitudes changed at theboard level.

“Men will be required to modify behaviours to makewomen feel comfortable,” hesays. “Too often, if there’s onewoman in the room, she’ll beasked to take the minutes. Menshould be proactive in saying thatrequest is not appropriate becauseit stereotypes women.”

Seek new talent The next decade is ripe for

profound changes in governanceas senior directors retire andthere’s a shallower pool for newrecruits. Who has time? Who cantravel?

As Maureen Vander Marel,business administrator of theOntario Beekeepers’ Associationpoints out, retiring baby boomersare surprisingly interested in join-ing boards. A new director of theassociation, a recent convert tobeekeeping, brings an enviablefundraising skill set from anational health society. She’s awelcome asset.

JANUARY 2012 –– PAGE 3THE GROWER

INTERNATIONAL

COMPETITION

Chile aims tobecome food power

Making the Chilean foodindustry more competitive globally is the reason why theNetherlands-based WageningenUR (University and InvestigationCenter) will be in the country in2012. Thanks to the InnovaChileprogram, funded by Corfo, thecountry encourages foreign enti-ties to help stimulate innovation.

Wageningen's plan includes a10-year budget of US$39 millionpartly financed by the universityand other Chilean public and private interests.

"To arrive in Chile is part ofour internationalization strategy,”says Peter Zuurbier, director ofWageningen UR Latin AmericaOffice. He leads an excellencecenter in Chile dubbed ‘ICEFood.’

Source: FreshPlaza.com

SUSTAINABILITY

Irrigation systemscoops green award

An irrigation and fertigationsystem used by a Staffordshire,U.K. strawberry grower hastaken an award for its sustainableuse of water and fertilizer. TheAutoAgronom system, developedin Israel by the company of thesame name, uses sensors in theroot zone to detect plants' needsbefore applying water and fertilizer automatically - amethod it calls capillarity controlof irrigation and feeding.

The manufacturer claims thesystem can save up to 30 percent on water use and 70 percent on fertilizer.

The grower observed goodresults on a 60-day crop thatyielded 20 per cent higher thannormal, but said water savingswere not as robust as promised.


DISEASE

Death of a sales icon

Golden kiwifruit was theglamour fruit of New Zealand,famed for its stunning goldenflesh, sweet taste, health traitsand premium returns for growers.But the sun is setting on the 20-year track record of Hort16Aor Zespri Gold.

Kiwifruit Vine Health, respon-sible for helping the industryovercome the vine-killing diseasePsa-V, is gloomy about its future."Gold 16A almost definitely doesnot have a future in the Psa-Venvironment and this cultivarwill need to be eventuallyreplaced.”

The gap will be felt most inAsia and Japan where ZespriGold’s sweeter taste foundfavour over its green-fleshedcousin.


TECHNOLOGY

Hydro cultivationpromising for leafyplants

Open air hydro cultivation isshowing promising results atProeftuin Zwaagdijk, an agricul-tural research centre in theNetherlands. Researcher MatthijsBlind (see photo) says the system beats field-grown productin sustainable use of water. In awet season, field growers face

Leadership is more than speaking into a microphone

lower yields and loss of quality,but also the problem of dirtyproduct due to soil splash. Thoseissues don’t occur with hydro cultivation.

In 2007, tests started withhydro-cultivated lettuce, but wereextended to include cauliflowerand spinach. In a floating systemthe plant always has sufficientwater and the risk of drying up isalmost nil. In addition, a floatingsystem in an outside cultivationis easier and cheaper to construct– a saving in labour.Source: FreshPlaza.com

There’s no timeto waste time andwomen pick verycarefully wherethey’ll invest theirenergy.” Brenda LammensPast chair, OFVGA

“

The Self-Directed Risk Man-agement (SDRM) program allowsOntario producers to depositfunds into an SDRM account and

receive an equivalent governmentmatching contribution. Produc-ers with a self-declared risk canwithdraw funds to help mitigate

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PAGE 4 –– JANUARY 2012THE GROWER

KAREN DAVIDSON

The industry already knowsthat extreme weather took a tollon potatoes – Ontario’s crop isdown 20 per cent – but what’sencouraging is how well the recommended price is workingfor fresh potatoes.

“We moved from a regulatedprice for fresh potatoes to a recommended price,” reportedGlen Squirrell, chair, OntarioPotato Board at its recent annualgeneral meeting. “This past season was either the worst or the

best time to have made thischange. The crop was short,therefore maintaining a reason-able price was not as difficult asit could have been.”

The full advantages of thatpricing system will be known better during 2012, as last year’scrop works its way to market.Taking note of the five-yearstatistics of potatoes marketed,the board reported 5,397 millioncwt marketed in 2010-2011 compared to a low of 4,286 million cwt in 2007-2008. Valueis at a five-year high of $80.3

million dollars. This includes allfresh, chips, pre-peel and soupsand stews markets.

Some of that extra value isattributed, in part, to better rela-tionships with retailers. TheOntario Potato Board met withmajor retailers four timesthroughout the past year in meetings coordinated by IanMacKenzie, Ontario ProduceMarketing Association (OPMA).“The more open communicationsis working very well,” saysMacKenzie, who reported anexchange of needs of buyers and

sellers, sharing the Novemberstorage holdings and promotionalefforts of the board.

The OPMA and the board planto hold two-hour potato gradetraining courses on the backdocks of distribution centres tohelp the chains better evaluatequality. While these efforts maynot address problems of rejectinga load based on one or two badpotatoes, the concept is toimprove the relationship.

Growers continue to heavilypromote their potato crop duringSeptember, but also throughout

the year on a newly revampedwebsite: www.ontariopotatoes.ca.Among other improvements,Kevin Brubacher, website andpromotions coordinator, hasadded a ‘growers only’ sectionwhere potato prices are posted at1 pm every Tuesday.

The processing council led byHarry Bradley also reported storage quality problems in chipping potatoes, due to growingconditions. “In the next fewmonths, we will be negotiatingnew agreements with our process-ing customers,” he reported.

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THE GROWER

JANUARY 2012 –– PAGE 5

Caribbean countries want to send more farm workers to CanadaRemittances pay for education, lift living standards

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KAREN DAVIDSON

It takes more than a village to harvestOntario’s fruits and vegetables. The equiv-alent population of a small town – 15,712 -- arrived in 2011 to thin apples, plant broc-coli and cut kale. Just under half (7,431)came from the Caribbean while Mexico(8,281) sent the rest. Those numbers are upby 277 workers from the previous year,signaling an ongoing critical need forlabour.

While those statistics underscore theeconomic importance of these off-shoreworkers, they don’t entirely communicatethe sense of enthusiasm for the ForeignAgricultural Resource Management Ser-vices (FARMS) that is celebrating 25years. It’s the non-profit agency thatadministrates the federal Seasonal Agricul-tural Worker Program.

The labour ministers of severalCaribbean countries – Barbados, Grenada,Montserrat, St. Vincent and TheGrenadines, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago– were recently in Niagara Falls for theSAWP’s annual review. And to a person,they extolled the virtues of a program thatoffers an honest day’s work for an honestwage.

“This program is paying for the educa-tion of children, payment of houses andsmall business,” says Glynis Roberts, min-ister of labour for Grenada. “We’re lookingfor opportunities for additional workersincluding women.”

Jamaica, currently experiencing 17 percent unemployment, sends more than 6,000workers under the seasonal program.“While global GDP has increased, thisdevelopment has not been translated intoemployment for us,” says Alvin McIntosh,permanent secretary, Ministry of Labour,Jamaica. “We need a more sustained effortat employment,” he says, noting the posi-tive impact on family and community lifefrom Canadian remittances.

In fact, Jamaica is actively seeking toreplicate the success of the SAWP in othersectors such as health care, automotive andthe oil industry. “Opportunies abound,”says McIntosh. “The population is aging sofast in Canada that the declining workforce will need reinforcements.”

About 80 per cent of off-shore agricul-

tural workers come to Ontario fruit andvegetable farms says Henry Neufeld,Human Resource and Skills DevelopmentCanada. “We have a high caliber, reliableworkforce,” he says. “It’s an organizedmigration whose best practices are copiedin the south Pacific.”

With the media spotlight increasinglyon agriculture and how food is produced,there is more scrutiny than ever on labourpractices. The Globe and Mail and otherlocal media have reported that a statementof claim was filed November 17 with theSuperior Court of Ontario, charging fami-ly-owned strawberry growers TigchelaarFarms, Vineland, Ontario with wrongfuldismissal of three Mexican workers inAugust 2010. In a precedent-setting move,political defendants were named including

the minister for Human Resources andSkills Development Canada and ministerfor Citizenship and Labour. FARMS, theadministrator of the labour program, wasalso named.

The workers – Manuel Ruiz Espinoza,Salvador Reta Ruiz and Jose Ruiz Sosa –are seeking $50,000 each for breach ofcontract and breach under their charterrights.

Until now, brothers Jeff and DanTigchelaar have had no problems in the 10years of hiring hundreds of workers underthe seasonal program says legal counsel,John Craig, Heenan Blaikie.

“Once again, we hire legal defence in acase that could take five to seven years inthe system,” says Ken Forth, chair,FARMS.

That legal case aside, the larger issue iscommunicating to the public how offshoreworkers are treated, housed and paid, andthat they provide labour that Canadiansrefuse to do.

“Everything we do is out there in thepublic medium with cell and videophones,” says Ron Bonnett, president,Canadian Federation of Agriculture andguest speaker. “We need to start thinkingabout the effects of instant communicationsand be more proactive in telling our storyof how these workers bring the harvest tothe table.”

APPLES

A gentle buzz was in the orchard as workers harvested apples at Tom Haskett’sfarm, Vittoria, Ontario. Photo by DenisCahill.

PEACHES

This happy worker was harvesting peachesat Fred Meyers’ farm near St. Catharines,Ontario. Photo by Denis Cahill.

BROCCOLI

A crew of Jamaicans tackle spring plantingof broccoli at the farm of Ken Forth, Lynden, Ontario. Photo by Denis Cahill.

TOMATOES

Staking tomatoes is painstaking inside thiscovered tunnel at a southwestern Ontariofarm. Photo by Sarah Fraleigh.

LABOUR

Participants of the review meeting of Canada-Caribbean Seasonal Agricultural WorkersProgram pose for a group shot. Photo by Eric Silveira.

THE GROWER

PAGE 6 –– JANUARY 2012

Before getting into my com-ments, I would like to wish eachand every one of you a happy,healthy and prosperous new yearand I hope that you all had awonderful holiday season.

As we get ready for the Annual General Meeting andupcoming year I thought I wouldmake a few comments regardingthe year gone by.

Again a busy year, but one thatbore fruit in the form of Self-Directed Risk Management(SDRM).. A good program to becertain and also one that willimprove next year when newAllowable Net Sales (ANS) percentages are implemented.Even though under the newguidelines there will still bereduced ANS coverage at thehigher ends this new level willallow for better coverage than thispast year, most significantly therewill be no farmer capped out ofthe program. This has been aposition of the OFVGA for manyyears and I am glad to see it final-ly implemented. There will beother changes as well such asmandatory linkage to Agri-Stabil-ity and premises identification,additionally program deadlineswill be different. Last month andagain this month that informationis in this paper. Please refer to

page four ---and also for moreinformation contact Agricorp at1-888-247-4999.

By early December, 3,687deposit notice packages had beensent out and 1,108 depositrequests had been returned toAgricorp. Remember there aredeadlines here for the 2011 yearand all returns need to be madeby February 2, 2012. It’s a greatprogram so please use it.

Water is becoming a biggerand bigger issue both in accessingthe liquid for irrigation and alsoin discharging it. This issue is notgoing to go away! Populationgrowth and the separation ofurban and rural Ontario and plac-ing one group’s needs and wishesabove the other is one of the keyproblems, the other, at least in myview is the lack of understandingof the needs of the agriculturalsector by those creating the rules.Again it’s why we need a foodpolicy in this country.

Here at the OFVGA we haveasked the government to coverthese water-related dischargeissues under the Nutrient Man-agement Act. Additionally that amoratorium on the requirementfor Environmental Certificates ofApproval (ECAs) by the Ministryof the Environment regardingwash water and rain run-off beestablished until such time that itcan be shown scientifically thatthese pose a significant risk to theenvironment.

The Premier has recognizedthat we are mired in too manyregulations, which all too oftennegatively impact reasonablebusiness growth and sustainabili-ty. He established the Open forBusiness dialogue a year or soago, which unfortunately gotbenched because of the fall elec-tion. This water issue clearly fallsinto the category of over regula-tion and is threatening both thegrowth and sustainability of many

farm operations. We need to getback to the Open for Businesstable.

On the labour side of thingswe were fortunate this past springwhen the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the exclusion ofthe Labour Relations Act and theapplication of the AgricultureEmployees Protection Act areboth indeed constitutional. To saythe labour union(s) was upsetwould be an understatement. Thisis another issue that is not goingto disappear. What was previous-ly a single focused approach bythe groups looking to unionizefarm employees has now becomemultifaceted, utilizing universitytheatre, targeting farmers andeven threatening legal actionagainst host country governments.The saga continues.

At Vineland Research Innova-tion Centre, our work regardingnew world crops continued andwas once again successful. The

take-up by different ethnic communities is very encouragingand we hope to be expanding thisproject in 2012 with a greaternumber of growers participatingand as well by expanding thenumber of crops being tested. Tobe certain this is a slow processbut it must be remembered thatour traditional crops were notalways grown here. It takes time;it has been and will continue tobe an evolving process.

Once again the grower associ-ations benefitted from our healthyfinancial position when we creat-ed a $300,000 research and pro-motion fund. This money wentback to commodity associationsbased on the origin of containerand association fees paid to theOFVGA. In addition we contin-ued to pay about $130,000 to theCanadian Horticultural Councilon behalf of our members. Thebenefit of these two funds is thatthe associations get the benefit of

the programs without having toraise additional money from theirgrower members.

The OFVGA coordinated freshfood for the northern schoolsnack program again this year andwhile the Ministry of Health Promotions was eliminated afterthe provincial election, the pro-gram is continuing. It is our hopeto develop a new program thatwould send fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as other foodto communities in Canada’s farnorth. We currently have the support of a number of federalministries to do the initial background work; the challengewill be to get the real funding toput the program together.

These are a few of the thingswe have worked on, been able toachieve and will continue to workon throughout the coming year.

Once again all the best in theNew Year!

ART SMITHCEO, OFVGA

STAFFPublisher: Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ AssociationEditor: Karen Davidson, 416-252-7337, [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 expressedin The Grower are those of the newspaper’s editorial staff and/orcontributor, and do not necessarily reflect the view of the association.

All rights reserved. The contents of this publicationmay not be reproduced either whole or in part without theprior written consent of the publisher.

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OFFICE355 Elmira Road North, Unit 105

Guelph, Ontario N1K 1S5 CANADATel. 519-763-8728 • Fax 519-763-6604

The Grower is printed 12 times a year and sent to allmembers of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association who have paid $30.00 (plus G.S.T.) per year forthe paper through their commodity group or container fees.Others may subscribe as follows by writing to the office:

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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 2011

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEChair Brian Gilroy, MeafordVice-Chair Mac James, LeamingtonFruit Director Ray Duc, Niagara-on-the-LakeVeg Director Jason Ryder, DelhiDirector Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin

BOARD OF DIRECTORSApples Brian Gilroy, MeafordFresh Vegetable - Other Mary Shabatura, Windham CentreTender Fruit Fred Meyers, 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’ Doug Bradley, TillsonburgGreenhouse Jan Vander Hout, WaterdownGreenhouse Don Taylor, Durham

OFVGA SECTION CHAIRS

Crop Protection Charles Stevens, NewcastleResearch Harold Schooley, SimcoeProperty David Lambert, Niagara-on-the-LakeLabour Ken Forth, LyndenSafety Nets Mark Wales, AlymerCHC Murray Porteous, SimcoeAGCare/Nutrient Man. Charles Stevens, Newcastle

Many efforts bore fruit

The past year has been diffi-cult to assess. Significant gainshave been made in areas like theFraser case ruling and the imple-mentation of the Self DirectedRisk Management program, butsome of the ongoing and newchallenges could have seriousimpact on farmers’profitability/viability. One of theconstants with growing apples,like most horticultural crops, isthat no two years are the same.2011 will certainly not be remem-bered as a dry year with more

than ample rainfall in almost allareas. Most hort farmers have hada good production year anddemand has been strong. The keyfactor is whether our returns fromthe marketplace will be sufficientto exceed the ever increasing costof production.

One of the major contributorsto our increased cost of produc-tion has been government policy.The few farmers that remain needto work together to strengthenfarming in general and I remainhopeful that the cooperative spirit,

which has been developing overthe past couple of years throughOntario Agriculture SustainabilityCoalition, will continue to grow.With all levels of government

needing to deal with significantdeficits, hard decisions will bemade. I hope that we as farmersare involved in exploring theoptions and making the decisionsthat impact us.

One of the divisive forces inagriculture is the organic vs. conventional debate. It is a debatethat often seems to be similar to a

debate on religion or politics. Theongoing myth that organic meansno pesticides and the organicposition that organic isbetter/safer than conventionalgrown needs to be addressed,somehow.

It has been a privilege to bethe OFVGA chair for the past twoyears. I am proud of the work thatthe organization has done and amconfident that the staff and boardwill continue to work hard toensure that edible horticulture iswell represented.

Government policies contribute to costs

BRIAN GILROYCHAIR, OFVGA

Photo by Glenn Lowson

Re: “Many consumers confusedabout local food traits”

As a full time grower of fruitsand vegetables, which are purchased by local chefs and consumers, I find that OwenRoberts’ assertions about localfood and consumers are inaccu-rate and disappointing. Robertsstates that, “Local food is local,period,” and then tries to prove

his point. To us, the overriding benefit

of producing local food is that weare in close touch with our con-sumers. This allows us to adjustproduction practices to meet con-sumers’ needs. Far from beingconfused, we have found our cus-tomers to be generally clear andarticulate about what they wantand don’t want. As a result, wehave reduced pesticide and chem-ical fertilizer, built up soil healththrough green manure crops androtations, increased crop biodiver-sity, giving consumers an exciting

array of fresh produce. Much ofour produce is consumed by ourcustomers within hours of har-vest, insuring the highest possiblefreshness and quality. We are notalone in realizing these benefits –the local food sector (ie. directfarmer to consumer sales) isexpanding rapidly across thecountry. Details vary, but thecommon, and perhaps definingelement of local food is that pro-ducers and consumers can be inclose contact and listen to eachother- whether on farm, at farm-ers’ markets, or through weekly

food boxes, known as CommunitySupported Agriculture. Throughdirect communication, local foodpromotes both consumer choiceand farmer integrity.

Roberts, in reporting the sur-vey conducted by Ben Campbell,misses this important point. Anattempt is made to understandlocal food by defining what it isnot. Instead, we need to under-stand the traits which are likelyto be associated or correlated withlocal food. As far as I am aware,such studies have not yet beenconducted. However, we would

expect that local food will be cor-related with greater freshness,reduced pesticide and fertilizeruse, and other associated healthand environmental benefits.

Rather than suggesting thatconsumers need educating, Iwould suggest that the “experts”such as Roberts and Campbellmay need to overcome their confusion and bias about localfood, and then design and carryout more appropriate studies.

Ken Riley Bracebridge, ON

THE GROWER


Price wars are being predictedthis year for Canadian food, and itlooks like fruit and vegetableswill be right in the middle of thebattle.

According to the 2012 FoodPrice Index report from econom-ics Profs. Sylvain Charlebois andFrancis Tapon at the University ofGuelph, vegetables were a bigpart of last year’s food price spike

(they didn’t measure fruit prices .. . but say they will next year).

In fact, vegetable prices werenearly at the top of the list offoods that spiked this year, havingclimbed 10 per cent. That wasjust one per cent lower than dairy,which rose the most.

Now, the economists expectthis year’s increase to be a muchmore moderate three per cent.Input costs have leveled out,which should put less pressure ongrocery prices.

But who knows for sure? Theeconomists take a highly educatedshot at it, but by their own admission some fascinating scenarios have arisen that willhave a big influence on prices.

The first, they say, is weather.Unpredictable heat, cold and rain-fall continue to influence farmingin ways never experienced inmodern-era agriculture.Charlebois doesn’t know if, orwhether, we’re experiencingshort-term or long-term climatechange. He just knows that when

he looks into the future of foodprices these days, he gives a nodto Mother Nature. “It’s the first thing we mention inour report,” he says. “If theweather cooperates, our predic-tions will be fine. But how canwe know what Mother Naturewill do?”

Generally, bad weather meansless production and higher con-sumer prices.

But equally as unpredictable isthe global economic situation.Europe is a chronic mess. TheU.S. recovery is sluggish and faltering. Even China is experi-encing a slowdown as consumerseverywhere tighten their belts. Still, though -- and this hasalways been agriculture’s ace inthe hole -- people have to eat.And they have to shop somewhere to buy food.

Lately, they’ve had more interest in buying local food. Yetthey also have a drive to buy foodas cheaply as possible. The latteris well-understood by retailers,

and it’s sparked massive grocery competition.

The economists predict turfbattles will only intensify whenthe Target chain moves intoCanada.

Target competes head to headwith Walmart, which has said itwants to capture as much as fourper cent more of the food retailmarket this year. That’s huge. Theeconomists say that will turn thecurrent price battles into an epicwar.

For his part, Charlebois saysprice pressure on farmers willcontinue as the war catches fire.Grocers will need to take profitsfrom somewhere, and if con-sumers won’t pay at the finishedend, farmers and processors couldtake a hit.

Yet even through all this,there’s good news for farmers andeven for fans of local food. Target has supply arrangementswith Sobey’s, which Charleboisdescribes as being among themost receptive of the grocery

chains to local preferences. So even though a price war islikely, more opportunities couldexist to put local food in front ofgrocery store shoppers yearround.

However, those opportunitieswill depend not just on availability, but also on price.And that’s where research comesin.

Through research programssuch as those at the University ofGuelph sponsored by the OntarioMinistry of Agriculture, Food andRural Affairs, faculty are able tocome up with new technologies,techniques and varieties to helpfarmers be as efficient as possible.

Because if costs are going up,so must profit.

And in an era of small marginsand price wars, research is neededto help profitability grow.

Forecast for 2012: Price wars and profitability pressures

OWEN ROBERTSUNIVERSITY OFGUELPH

PERSPECTIVE

LETTER TO EDITORWhat is local food?

Ontario Ministry of Environment responds to cover storyYour readers should know that

the article, Pressures on waterare rising, which appeared in theDecember 2011 issue, contained a

number of factual inaccuracies. The Ministry of the Environ-

ment has not served growers inthe Holland Marsh area withwarning notices about washwaterdischarges. I can confirm that ourBarrie district office, the ministryoffice responsible for inspectinggrowers in the area, has notissued any such correspondence.

Also, no operations are underthreat of shut down, nor is it theministry’s intent to shut down anyoperations.

Furthermore, there have beenno changes to environmental stan-dards or compliance require-ments. Growers face the samestandards and requirements asbefore. What is new is that theministry has introduced a stream-lined environmental complianceapprovals process.

The ministry will continue to

work with individual growers, theHolland Marsh Growers Associa-tion and the Ontario Fruit andVegetable Growers Association toensure the sector is aware of theministry’s environmental rules

and requirements when it comesto washwater. Ensuring the waterused to wash and process vegeta-bles is treated and dischargedaccording to environmental lawsprotects important local water-

ways such as Lake Simcoe.

Kate JordanCommunications BranchMinistry of the Environment

SUPERIOR SEEDS, SUPERIOR SUPPORTMichel Grat ton

Montreal Area, QuebecTel: 514-332-2275

Fax: 450-682-4959

Gilliane Bisson, t.h.Montreal Area, Quebec

Tel: 514-332-2275Fax: 450-682-4959

Yves Thibault, agr.Central and Eastern

Quebecand Atlantic ProvincesTel: 418-660-1498Fax: 418-666-8947

Warren PeacockOntario

Tel: 519-426-1131Fax: 519-426-6156

2914, Cure-Labelle Blvd, Laval (Quebec) Canada H7P 5R9Tel: 514-332-2275 Toll free: 800-561-9693Fax: 450-682-4959 Toll free: 800-567-4594

Following are highlights fromthe OFVGA board meeting heldDecember 15, 2011. The purposeof this 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.

Audit reportRepresentatives from Tonin &

Co. LLP reviewed their auditreport with the Board for theOFVGA fiscal year ended October 31, 2011. Final financialstatements will be presented tothe OFVGA membership at theannual general meeting in January2012.

Crop protectionThe Pesticide Advisory Com-

mittee, which typically meetswith the Pest Management Regu-latory Agency (PMRA) in con-junction with the Grow CanadaConference when that event isheld in Ottawa, has been post-poned until March 2012. TheGrow Canada Conference thisyear was held in Winnipeg andnot all committee members wereable to attend.

The registration for Telone, asoil fumigant used in ginseng androot crop production, will end onDecember 31, 2011. It is beingwithdrawn from the market by itsmanufacturer. A search remainsongoing for a replacement prod-uct growers can use that will protect their crops.

An updated list of productsapproved for import by farmersunder the Grower Requested OwnUse (GROU) program is expectedto be available at the end of Janu-ary 2012. Under GROU, farmerscan import approved crop protec-tion products from the UnitedStates for their own use.

LabourThe Foreign Agricultural

Resource Management Service(FARMS), Citizenship and Immigration Canada and HumanResource and Skills DevelopmentCanada have been named in alawsuit by three seasonal agricultural workers. The work-ers, who were dismissed by aCanadian farm employer in 2010,are alleging charter violations andwrongful dismissal.

ResearchSection Chair Harold Schooley

is a member of the steering committee of OFVGA’s worldcrops project. The VinelandResearch and Innovation Centrehas completed some crop trials

this year and produce resultingfrom the trials was sold at marketprice to various retailers and foodprograms that serve ethnic com-munities. The crops, whichincluded Indian kaddu, Chinesered hot pepper, okra, yard longbean, Asian eggplant, amaranth,fuzzy melon, round eggplant,maca, tomatillo, bottle gourd,daikon radish and Indian red car-rot, have been well received andexpanded crop trials are beingplanned for 2012.

Sensory research involvingconsumers from Asian, SouthAsian and Caribbean communi-ties was also conducted. Respon-dents claimed by a large majoritythat they look for freshness firstwhen purchasing produce.Researchers also found that produce origin doesn’t seem tomatter as much when buying;appearance and price are stated asthe primary drivers of purchase.

PropertyThe OFVGA has written a

letter to Minister of the Environ-ment (MOE) Jim Bradley concerning Environmental Certificates of Approval (ECAs)for some horticulture farms. TheMinistry is requiring the ECAsfor wash water (water used towash soil from produce prior to itgoing to market) and rainwaterrunoff disposal. The process ofobtaining an ECA is costly andnot used elsewhere in agriculture.It includes direct application feesthat must be paid to the MOE andpotentially expensive consultingengineer costs to complete therequired studies necessary to sup-port an application. OFVGA isrequesting to have the fruit andvegetable sector included in theNutrient Management Act andthat there be a moratorium placedon the need for ECAs for rainwater and wash water untilsuch time that any potential environmental implications canbe scientifically quantified.

OFVGA has made a fundingapplication to the wildlife lossworking group for a study toidentify the amount and type ofdamage to the fruit and vegetablesector by wildlife and to developa best practices document. Adecision is expected in February2012.

Canadian Horticultural CouncilThe CHC is changing its gov-

ernance regulations to allow theCHC president to serve more thanone year. The president is thevoice of the organization and itcan take more than one year to

build the relationships needed foreffective lobbying. Murray Porteous is letting his name standfor the President position at theMarch annual meeting of theCHC.

CHC has been issued a warning by clothing retailer TheGap to change its CanadaGAPfood safety program trademark orthey will pursue legal action.CHC has asked The Gap to provide detail as to how the foodsafety program is being confusedwith its clothing lines.

CHC is being sued in the Federal Court of Appeals for notallowing the use of N-Virobiosolids product on fresh vegetable crops if the crops are tobe certified under the Canada-GAP food safety program. Theuse of N-Viro is not allowedunder CanadaGAP becausealthough the Canadian FoodInspection Agency (CFIA) hasstandards for heavy metals etc.,which N-Viro meets, they do notset standards for human pharma-ceutical residues and human sanitary products which theirproduct may also contain. TheCHC position is that the use ofthe product will not be accepteduntil a standard is established forthese residues by CFIA.

Murray Porteous and CharlesStevens represent OFVGA on the

Canadian Horticultural Council.

New Commodity Council Chairsought

Mark Wales has stepped downas chair of the Ontario Agricultur-al Commodity Council due to hisrecent election as President of theOntario Federation of Agriculture.The horticulture sector has 14months remaining in its tenure aschair of the organization and hasagreed to seek out and nominate areplacement for Mark.

Research and Promotion Fund The OFVGA board passed a

motion to allocate $300,000 toprovincial sector groups forresearch and promotion in 2012.The distribution of these funds in2012 will be based on the per-centage of container and associa-tion membership fees collectedduring 2010. This is the secondyear of the pilot fund, which wasfirst established in December2010.

CHC Legacy Project Murray Porteous reported that

a new strategic plan, called theLegacy Project, is being devel-oped for CHC that will serve as aroad map for the organizationleading up to the celebration of itscentennial in 2022. Key proposedtarget areas include harmonizing

pesticide registrations betweenCanada and the United States,creating a PACA-like trust pro-gram that ensures farmers receivetimely payment for produce, acommon food security system forNorth America to reduce the riskof introducing invasive speciesand diseases, collecting and dis-tributing levies from importedproduce to be used for genericresearch and promotion in Canadaand having the fruit and vegetableindustry involved in the develop-ment of national food security,sustainability and health promo-tion policies.

The OFVGA board voted tomatch any financial support fromother provincial horticulture orga-nizations of the CHC Legacy Project up to $50,000 per year forfive years, starting in 2012. Thissupport will be subject to thedevelopment and acceptance ofthe Legacy Project plan by thenational sector members.

Annual General MeetingThe annual general meeting

will take place in Niagara FallsJanuary 10 and 11, 2012, with theOFVGA banquet and silent auction to be held the evening ofJanuary 9. Additional meetingand registration information isavailable at www.ofvga.org.

THE GROWER


Board briefs

A program designed to help Ontario farmers with water taking permit needs

Surface Water Services

Ground Water Services

George ShearerSurface Water Specialist

Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association105-355 Elmira Road NorthGuelph, Ontario N1K 1S5ph: 519-763-6160 ext. 219

cell: 519-222-3272 fax: 519-763-6604email: [email protected]

THE GROWER


New organization created by amalgamating AGCare, OntarioFarm Animal CouncilLILIAN SCHAER

The amalgamation of two pio-neering Ontario farm coalitionsbecomes official January 1, 2012.That’s when AGCare and theOntario Farm Animal Council(OFAC) formally unite to becomeFarm & Food Care Ontario.

The new organization willwork on behalf of all of agricul-ture and focus on ensuring publictrust and confidence in Canada’sfood supply by providing aware-ness, appreciation and objective

information on farmers and thefood they grow here in Ontario.It will be located in the sameoffice space that AGCare andOFAC currently occupy inGuelph’s Ontario AgriCentre.

“Our new structure will pro-vide a clearer and more effectivevoice for public outreach andproactive communications,” saysCrystal Mackay, executive direc-tor of Farm & Food Care Ontario.

“The need for and challenge ofreaching the 94 per cent of ourpopulation who know little or

nothing about farming continuesto grow, as do the associatedcosts. Our goal is to position agri-culture positively to a broaderaudience, while being cost-effec-tive and efficient.”

The joining of AGCare andOFAC marks the first time inCanada that crop, horticulture andlivestock sectors have cometogether with other agri-foodstakeholders under a commonmandate of promoting food andfarming. Both groups were alsothe first of their kind in Canadaover 20 years ago when Ontario’sfarm leadership developed acoalition approach to dealing withissues like animal welfare andenvironment. The two coalitionshave been working towards amal-gamation over the last two yearsin an effort to streamline services,co-ordinate communicationsefforts and broaden their publicoutreach.

An interim Board of Directorswith representation from bothOFAC and AGCare has beenelected to serve between January2012 and the new organization’sannual meeting in April. At thattime, a new board will be elected,consisting of four livestock andfour crop representatives, andfour members at large. The inter-im board will meet this month toselect its chair and executive. Two advisory councils, onefocused on animal care and oneon environmental issues, will playimportant roles in the new struc-ture, building on the work thatOFAC and AGCare have estab-lished on farm animal care andenvironmental issues respectively.

“This new structure isdesigned to be responsive toemerging issues while also creat-ing an opportunity for proactivework and dialogue on animal careand environment for the wholesector,” says Mackay. “Thesecouncils are part of our industry’scommitment to ‘do the rightthing,’ including programs andprojects that deal with legitimateconcerns that need improvement.”

Membership in Farm & FoodCare is divided into five levels:platinum, gold, silver, affiliate

and supporter. Each category hasa corresponding service level;platinum, gold and silver mem-bers have voting privileges. Allplatinum members have represen-tation on one or both advisorycouncils as they wish, and goldmembers have a seat on either theanimal care or the environmentadvisory council.

The new organization willfocus its efforts on consumer andmedia relations, issues manage-ment, industry relations andstrategic partnerships, and mem-ber relations. Its base services –which include a newsletter, E-news updates, photo and videolibrary, website links and researchnews – will be available to allmembers. Additional services,such as speaker services, work-shops, training programs, weeklyissue-specific email updates, willbe available to platinum and goldmembers as part of their member-ship fee and to others on an à lacarte basis.

The Ontario Fruit and Veg-etable Growers’ Association hasbeen a member of AGCare sinceits inception. Grape grower RayDuc is OFVGA’s representativeto AGCare.

To learn more about Farm andFood Care Ontario, including howto become a supporter, visitwww.farmfoodcare.org.

Jan 3 – 6 United Potato Growers of America Meeting, Orlando, FLA and Potato Expo 2012

January 4, 5 Southwest Agricultural Conference “Seizing the Opportunities,” University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, Ridgetown, ON

Jan 8 – 11 International Fruit Tree Association 55th annual conference, “High-Density – High Profit: Competitiveness in the Southern Hemisphere,” Santiago, Chile; www.ifruittree.org

Jan 9 – 11 Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Annual General Meeting, Crowne Plaza, Niagara Falls, ON

January 12 Farm Credit Canada Learning Tour: Food Safety and Technology for Better Management, Delta Hotel & Conference Centre, Guelph, ON 9:30 am – 1:30 pm

January 21 OSCIA FarmSmart Conference, Rozanski Hall, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON

January 23 Ontario Lavender Association Education Event, Agri-tourism and Festivals, 1 Stone Road, Guelph, ON

Jan 24, 25 Ontario Processing Vegetable Industry Conference, Hilton Hotel and London Convention Centre, London,ON

Jan 26, 27 B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association 123rd Annual General Meeting, Coast Capri Hotel, Kelowna, BC

January 26 – 28 Pacific Ag Show, Tradex, Abbotsford, BC

Jan 26 – 29 Guelph Organic Conference and Expo, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON

Jan 30, 31 Scotia Horticultural Congress, Old Orchard Inn, Wolfville, NS

February 2 Farm Credit Canada Learning Tour: Food Safety and Technology for Better Management, Old Orchard Inn, Wolfville, NS 9:30 am – 1:30 pm

February 6 Farm Credit Canada Learning Tour: Food Safety and Technology for Better Management; Club de Golf Triangle d’Or, St-Remi, QC 9:30 am – 1:30 pm

Feb 7, 8 Canadian Food Summit, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON

Feb 7, 8 Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association Annual Meeting, Lamplighter Inn, London, ON

Feb 7 – 9 Canadian International Farm Show, Toronto, ON

Feb 8 – 10 Fruit Logistica, Berlin, Germany

Editor’s note: Go to www.thegrower.org for a listing of events pastFebruary.

COMING EVENTS 2012

THE GROWER


KAREN DAVIDSON

It’s not quite Academy Awardseason, but two new “spray drift”videos will certainly be toppingthe charts for growers this winter.

OMAFRA horticultural spe-cialists Kristen Callow and JasonDeveau have taken a page fromCBC’s Rick Mercer to create twovideos complete with rock musicand acting talent. The first is“What is Spray Drift?” whichhighlights the causes of spraydrift and various factors thatimpact drift. The second is“Equipment and Methods toReduce Spray Drift” which focus-es on how applicators can reduceincidents of drift ranging fromawareness of surroundings tomodifying mechanical equipment.Both are scheduled to be launchedat the Ontario Fruit and VegetableGrowers’ Association (OFVGA)annual general meeting on Janu-ary 11.

The year-long project is thebrainchild of Kristen Callow,OMAFRA’s weed managementprogram lead, who notes increas-es in documented off-target spraydrift events and trends towardsincreased glyphosate use.

“With several new technolo-

gies in herbicide tolerance emerg-ing, crops will be treated withactives that may potentially bemore volatile than glyphosate,such as 2,4-D and dicamba. Thereis the potential under certainspray situations to have height-ened drift events. Applicators willneed to be aware of spray driftdynamics.”

The obvious partner wasCropLife Canada and RusselHurst, managing director, stew-ardship and sustainability, who

contributed one-third of the fund-ing. Collaborating and co-fund-ing on this project is an exampleof an industry-government part-nership that serves the diversestakeholders of both parties whileusing OMAFRA communicationexpertise. The ambitious scriptincluded hiring a professionalactor, animation by SpongeLaband halogen lighting for nightvideo shoots.

“Crop protection spraying isoriented mostly to field crops,”

says Jason Deveau, OMAFRA’sapplication technology specialist.“But this video shows a variety of

scenarios with horticultural cropsthat use airblast and boom-typesprayers. We use unconventionalmusic. We use short, digestiblegraphics.”

Since no other high-definitionvideos like this exist in Canada,distribution is expected farbeyond Ontario’s borders. WithOMAFRA specialists such as Jan-ice LeBoeuf, Evan Elford andMelanie Filotas tweeting aboutthe spray videos, the impact willreach other key extension workersas well as manufacturers of noz-zles and sprayers, certified cropadvisors, members of the OntarioAgriBusiness Association and theOntario Pesticide Education Pro-gram.

Translated into French, thevideos are available atwww.ontario.ca/spraydrift. Inaddition to the videos, this webpage hosts the most up-to-dateresources on pesticide drift.

CROP PROTECTION

Edutainment on the serious subject of crop spraying

Roundup injury on tomatoes. Night spraying is demonstrated on the video.

A familiar nematicide isno longer available KAREN DAVIDSON

Telone, a soil fumigant widely used to control nematodes, is nolonger available for sale or use as of January 1, 2012. Dow Agro-Sciences, the manufacturer, has not re-registered the product for use inCanada, after the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) ques-tioned the potential for toxic effects in water of the active ingredient,1,3-Dichloropropene. When the liquid Telone is injected into the soil,it changes into a gas that fumigates the soil where nematodes live.However, in cold soil, there’s a chance that the active ingredient does-n’t change into gas and some of it can reach the water table.

Loss of the product presents a major issue this spring for growers ofroot vegetables, cucurbits and high-value crops such as ginseng andstrawberries.

“There’s not a country in the world that hasn’t used Telone,” saysCharles Stevens, chair, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Associa-tion (OFVGA) crop protection committee. “Most of the U.S. still hasaccess to the product. As upset as Canadian growers are with the lossof this product, we’re happy that PMRA did their due diligence on thisproduct. Safety and stewardship are paramount.”

There have been very few new nematicides developed over the past40 years, but as luck would have it, there are two or three new onesjust coming along for evaluation, says Craig Hunter, OFVGA.

These other replacement products for root knot nematode controlare a couple years away from registration. There has been an emer-gency registration to extend the use of chloropicrin on all the root andbulb crops which were left with no registered nematicide. Growerswill be scratching their heads about what to do when April arrives andthere is no Telone product available for soil fumigation. They willhave to use available products while research is done to find replace-ments.

With severalnew technologies inherbicide toleranceemerging, crops willbe treated withactives that maypotentially be morevolatile thanglyphosate, such as2,4-D and dicamba.”Kristen Callow,OMAFRA

“

THE GROWER


HEATHER GALE

EnrollmentAs of December 2011, nearly

2,000 producers across Canadaare enrolled for CanadaGAP cer-tification. Over 40 per cent ofparticipants are signed up forgroup certification. In collabora-tion with the Conseil québécoisde l'horticulture (CQH), CHCdeveloped materials for a one-dayworkshop explaining the benefitsand obligations of group certifica-tion under Option B. Thanks toprovincial funding secured byCHC members in Saskatchewan,the first workshop was held inSaskatoon on December 3, 2011.CQH is coordinating a workshopfor its members in February 2012.For more information, contactEmily Dickinson at the CHCNational Office.

ManualsThere will be updates to the

CanadaGAP (OFFS) manuals for2012. The changes proposed byCHC have been submitted toCFIA for review, and CHC antici-pates releasing the updated ver-sions by February 2012. For cer-tification purposes, the revised

manuals and an updated auditchecklist reflecting the changestake effect on April 1, 2012.

BenchmarkingThe CHC is currently re-

benchmarking the CanadaGAPprogram to the Global Food Safe-ty Initiative (GFSI). In January2011, GFSI issued a set of newrequirements for food safety pro-grams seeking recognition. Allcurrently recognized programsincluding CanadaGAP must initi-ate re-benchmarking this year. Afew of the new requirementsrelate to: 1) provisions for FoodDefense (bioterrorism); 2) addi-tional requirements to controlpotential allergens; and 3) morestringent requirements for quali-fying CanadaGAP auditors,among others. Changes made toCanadaGAP to meet new GFSIrequirements will take effectApril 1, 2012. News of recentGFSI activities and the newrequirements are available at:www.mygfsi.com

WebinarA CanadaGAP webinar hosted

by QMI-SAI GLOBAL is sched-uled for March 1, 2012. All thoseinterested in learning more about

the program are encouraged toregister for this one-houroverview. The free webinar willalso feature a speaker fromLoblaw Companies Ltd., offeringa great opportunity to dialoguedirectly on customer expectations.A second webinar is planned forlate April, to be hosted by theGueph Food Technology Centre.For more information, check theCalendar of Events on theCanadaGAP website atwww.canadagap.ca

UpdateCanadaGAP will also be fea-

tured during a presentation enti-tled "Global Food Safety Perspec-tives and the Impact on Canada”at the Ontario Apple Growers'AGM the morning of January 10in Niagara Falls.

Technical Working GroupNominations to the CHC On-

Farm Food Safety TechnicalWorking Group are being accept-ed until January 15, 2012. Any-one is welcome to submit thename of a nominee. Nominationsare reviewed by the CHC FoodSafety Management Committeeand appointments made to theTechnical Working Group for a

one-year term. TWG memberswill be announced at the CHCAGM in March 2012. Nomina-tions must be received in writingand can be sent to: [email protected]. More info about theTechnical Working Group,including a Terms of Reference,is available through the CHCNational Office at 613-226-4880Ext. 218 of [email protected].

Food Safety Modernization ActCHC has been actively moni-

toring developments in the UnitedStates relative to the Food SafetyModernization Act, which wassigned into law in January 2011. In recent months, the CHC hassubmitted comments on FDAdockets relative to import con-trols, third party certification andpreventive controls. CHC repre-sentatives also participated in a“listening session” with U.S.Food and Drug Administrationofficials, hosted in Ottawa byAgriculture and Agri-Food Cana-da and the Canadian Food Inspec-tion Agency. The session wasdesigned to allow Canadianindustry to share their concernsand priorities with U.S. officials.

Alongside other industrygroups, the CHC had opportunityto present its views and to engagein direct dialogue with FDACommissioner Michael Taylorand his colleagues about theimplications of the new legisla-tion for Canadian producersexporting to the U.S. Commentswere well received, and follow-upquestions and answers demon-strated that FDA welcomes con-tinued input from the Canadian

horticultural industry. Acknowl-edgment was made of the com-mendable work done to developand implement the CanadaGAPprogram for fresh fruit and veg-etable producers. The challengeof addressing a wide range ofcrop groupings and their varyinglevels of risk was highlighted bythe Commissioner, and CHC’sexperience in this area was recog-nized.

Many challenges lay ahead inFDA’s development and imple-mentation of specific rules forproduce safety, third party certifi-cation and preventive controls.These were the key topicsaddressed by CHC’s comments,along with a request for recogni-tion of CanadaGAP, and consid-eration for the role that interna-tional standards (ISO) and mar-ket-driven benchmarking initia-tives such as the Global FoodSafety Initiative could play inassisting FDA to meet its overallobjectives. FDA officials encour-aged industry associations andtheir individual members to con-tinue commenting through opendockets and to participate in therule-making processes as theyunfold through 2012.

Heather Gale is CanadaGAPnational program manager,Canadian Horticultural Council.

FOOD SAFETY AND TRACEABLIITY

2000 growers are enrolled in CanadaGAP. What’s next?

The Annual “Muck” Conference is moving!!!!

The 61st Annual Muck Vegetable Conference and Trade Show

will be located at the . . .

Bradford & District Memorial Community Centre

125 Simcoe StreetBradford, ON L3Z2A8

Phone: (905) 775-3317 Fax: (905) 775-3318sitehttp://www.uoguelph.ca/muckcrop/muckconference.html

NEW LOCATION

COLLEEN HASKINS

The new season will soon behere, as will the demands of yourfarm operation. Parts of thesedemands include ensuring yourfood safety program is up-to-dateand functional. Your food safetyprogram includes all aspects ofthe food production process onyour farm, such as Worker Poli-cies, Training, Farm Buildingsand Access, Equipment, Water,Cleaning and Sanitation, FarmInputs, Shipping, Traceability,and additional items if you pro-duce crops or livestock and poul-try.

Whether you’re developing afood safety program or currentlyhave one, the fundamental part ofany program is the supportingdocumentation and records youmaintain.

It is essential to demonstratedue diligence of your farm prac-tices, not only to support whatyou do but to increase the trace-ability of the products you pro-duce. Several resources are avail-able to assist you with develop-ing; implementing and maintain-ing your program throughOMAFRA using ADVANTAGEGAP for on-farm food safety.

Available are the ADVANTAGEGAP manual (in print) or elec-tronic, interactive version iGAPCD, risk identification table, 3-2-1- self assessment, producerchecklist, procedure and recordtemplates, several food safetyposters and much more. Theseresources can help you stay ontrack, monitor your progress, andupdate your system to account forany changes at your farm.

To help you get started indeveloping a program or refresh-ing your current one, includedbelow are items that requireongoing records, needed through-out the season.• Worker Policies: Food Safety &Hygiene, Worker Practices • Procedures, schedules and ver-ification records for detailed tasks• Training records with date andworker signoff for verification(upon arrival, and refresher ifneeded before harvest)• Visitor log-in• Equipment Calibration & Main-tenance: ( e.g. sprayers, scales,spreaders, tractors etc)• Water Use and treatment: forhuman consumption, agriculturalpurposes (irrigation, fluming)• Cleaning and sanitizing of allfood related items (equipment,harvest tools, pack house equip-

ment, etc).• Verified water tests (accreditedlaboratory ISO 17025)• Traceability: trace product “oneup, one down” (e.g. back one stepfrom the farm and forward to thefirst point of sale)• Procedure and records for prac-ticed Mock Recall• Detailed farm map with farmreferences for main buildings,first aid, toilet and hand washingfacilities, etc. • Agricultural Chemicals: validpesticide license for any individ-ual in contact with or applyingchemicals, application records,chemical lot numbers, invoicesand receipts, current chemicalinventory and proper chemicalcontainer disposal

This above list is not inclusive,but provides a good starting pointfor areas of focus to work on dur-ing the off-season. It is impera-tive that you familiarize yourselfwith the requirements of the foodsafety program you wish to fol-low, and use the variousresources available to help youdevelop, maintain and be success-ful with your food safety prac-tices.

Contact us for advice, copiesof our resources, or to attend atraining workshop

Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300Email: [email protected]: www.ontario.ca/food-safety

Colleen Haskins, On-FarmFood Safety Program, OMAFRA

THE GROWER

FOOD SAFETY AND TRACEABILITY

Off season: a great time to get ahead on your food safety program


Reduce our risk of food contami-nation and expand your customerbase by putting in place a foodsafety and traceability program.Need some help? Let OMAFRA’sfood safety workshops help getyou started on good agriculturalpractices.

We are here to help you keepup-to-date on the latest food safe-ty practices by mix and matchingany of the following topics to cre-ate a workshop tailored to yourfarm group's needs.

Getting Started in Food Safety(45 mins)

Have you thought about mak-ing food safety improvements onyour farm, but weren't sure whereto start? Evaluate food safety pro-grams and practices, write a basicfood safety plan and discoverwhat food safety resourcesOMAFRA has for you.

3-2-1 Assessment of Your FarmOperation for Food Safety (45mins)

Thinking of adopting a foodsafety program on your farm butconfused as to where your opera-tional farm practices already ratefor food safety? This workshop isan interactive approach that takesyou through a series of questions

rating your present farm practicesfor food safety. The end result isa summary of what you need todo to ensure safe practices. (Com-puter resources required for work-shop.)

Hygiene and Sanitation (1.5 hr)Did you know that dirty hands

play a major role in the transferof human pathogens to food?Reducing this risk on the farmmeans implementing a programof worker hygiene and buildingand equipment sanitation. Thisworkshop will help you under-stand the risks associated withhygiene and sanitation. In theworkshop you will become famil-iar with the good agriculturalpractices you need to customizeand implement a program on yourfarm that reduces these risks.

Pre and Post Harvest WaterUse (1.5hr)

(Also available via webexonline presentation: February 14,2012. Call 1-877-424-1300 formore details.)

Did you know that water cancarry germs from dirty produce toclean produce? A pre and postharvest water use program is animportant step in reducing risks.Evaluate your risks, and discuss

how to construct and monitor awater sanitizing program.

Manure, Compost and CompostTeas (45 mins)

Do you know your dirt? Doyou know what is required to cre-ate or maintain a good growingbase for your agri-needs? Thisworkshop will outline Good Agri-cultural Practices when usingmanure and compost teas, demon-strating proper implementationfor better soil, growing for tomor-row.

Food Safety on Multi-Commod-ity Farms (30 mins)

Multi-commodity farms pre-sent a unique challenge when itcomes to food safety. Do youknow where your risks lie? Con-struct a map linking farm prac-tices to food safety to determinewhere cross-contamination couldoccur. Discuss how to develop arisk reduction program for yourfarm.

Preparing for an On-FarmFood Safety Audit (50 mins)

Do you need an on-farm foodsafety audit? Anxious about whatmay be required? This workshop

will help you interpret what toexpect from an audit, the generalrequirements of a food safety pro-gram, and applying the toolsneeded for a successful audit.

An Introduction to Traceability(1 hr)

Tracing agri-food productsfrom farm inputs, their productionthrough consumer consumption isan important part of a safe foodproduction system. Learn thebasics of traceability, the driversand benefits for adoption, detailsof premises identification, howtraceability works in a farmingoperation, selection of technologyin setting up a system and whatother operations have piloted.

Livestock - Animal HealthProducts Use (45 mins)

Improper use and administra-tion of animal health products canintroduce food safety hazards toanimal food products. This work-shop will help you increaseawareness of terminology, under-stand food safety risks, select theright animal health product work-ing with a herd/flock veterinarian,learn proper use and handling ofproducts and equipment to applyor administer and develop written

practices and records to keep. Using Food Safety to MarketYour Products (40 mins)

Make your food safety prac-tices work for you in the market-place. This workshop will suggesthow you can keep your customersinformed about the efforts youhave made on their behalf. Letyour customers know that youtake food safety seriously and thattheir welfare is important to you.

Who Should Attend our Work-shops?

Farm operators, managers andstaff.

What is included?Course materials, OMAFRA

Food Safety Resources and lunch.

Registration DetailsCall the Food Safety Team

Lead to help you put together aworkshop specific to your group'sneeds. These workshops are idealfor producer groups of 10 or morepeople. Workshops can be held ata location of your choosing or ata local OMAFRA office. The costis $45 +HST per person. We arehere to help!

Book your food safety work-shop today! Call 1-877-424-1300.

THE GROWER


FOOD SAFETY AND TRACEABILITY

Tailor food safety training with OMAFRA’s workshops

Protect your business by putting in place a food safety program.OMAFRA is here to help keep up-to-date on the latest food safetypractices! Join us for this online workshop from the comfort of yourhome or business. All you need is an internet and phone connection.

Pre and Post Harvest WaterUse – Tuesday, February 14,10:30 am – 12:00 pm (noon)

Did you know that watercan carry germs from dirty produce to clean produce? A preand post harvest water use program is an important step inreducing risks. During thisworkshop, evaluate your risksand discuss how to constructand monitor a water sanitizingprogram.This online workshop will helpyou to evaluate your risks anddiscuss how to construct andmonitor a water sanitizing pro-gram. You will:• Examine risks associated withwater and assess risks on yourfarm• Learn how Good AgriculturalPractices can be used to reducerisks associated with pre- andpost- harvest water• Learn when and how to testyour water and what it means• Develop a written practice fortesting your water• Discuss when and how to sanitize your water

Register today! Call 1-877-424-1300 or register online at www.ontario.ca/foodsafetyRegistration closes the day prior to each workshop. A confirmationemail will be sent following registration with the online presentationand teleconference details.

Get a jump on springwith OMAFRA’s onlineAdvantage workshop

Photo by Glenn Lowson

PETER KEVAN

The busy bee just got moreefficient by being tasked withbiocontrol of plant pests.

The proven method relies ondispensers that fit onto bumblebeeboxes or honeybee hives. Whenthe bees leave to pollinate, theybrush by the dispensers, pickingup biological agents that are lefton the flowers. The one-way system prevents the agents fromentering the bee hives on thereturn home with pollen or nectar.Various beneficial agents haveproven effective in economic suppression of a number of croppests on various crops.

Strawberries and raspberrieswere early targets for this innova-tive research. Dispensers carryingbeneficial fungi were set into theentrances of honeybee hives. Thebees delivered the fungi to theflowers while pollinating them.The beneficial fungi took up residence in the flowers, butremained more or less inactiveuntil the pollinated flowers pro-duced ripening fruit. The resultwas the suppression of greymould to such an extent that theshelf-life of the fruits was extend-ed by about a week. Great forfresh markets, stores, and ship-ping! The effectiveness and costwas the same as the application ofchemical fungicides.

More recently, the same ideahas been applied in greenhouseswhere bumblebees are state-of-the-art pollinators of tomatoes,peppers and eggplant. The beevector technology is now beingused to suppress grey mould andseveral insect pests such as tar-nished plant bugs, western flowerthrips, white flies, peach aphidsand cabbage looper. Other cropsthat have been tested include

blueberries and sunflowers. For sunflowers, tests from

2011 indicate that yields wereboosted by more than 20 per cent,that banded sunflower moth wassuppressed to below economicloss levels, and that the incidenceof sclerotinia head rot was suppressed.

For lowbush blueberries inMaritime Canada, the incidenceof grey mould and mummy berrywas suppressed in tests completedin 2010 and 2011. The sametechnology can be applied tohighbush blueberries.

Greenhouse growers now haveaccess to commercial productionof these biological agents for sup-pression of grey mould and insectpests, except cabbage looper. Forsunflowers, strawberries and rasp-berries commercial availability isassured for the 2012 season forsuppression of both fungal disease and some insect pest suppression. For blueberries,lowbush and highbush, some further testing is needed but interested growers can contributeas collaborator-growers.

At present the technology is

tailored to bumblebee pollination.By 2013, it will become applicable to honeybees and theirmanagement.

More crops are being added tothe list to receive the quadruplebenefits of better pollination, bigger and better crops, and pro-tection from pests and diseases.These include apples and pears,canola, other small and tenderfruits, and so on.

Costs are generally competi-tive with those for conventional,

chemical, treatments but varydepending on various grower'spractices, investments into polli-nation, crop blooming times, andother factors. At present, use ofthe technology is tailored to individual grower’s needs.

The research and developmenthave been a joint effort of scien-tists at the University of Guelph,Agriculture & AgriFood Canada,and partners in the Canadian Pollination Initiative (NSERC-CANPOLIN).

Growers interested in tryingthe technology for themselves,through buy-in or pre-commer-cialized testing can contact thescientific team [email protected]. Aweb-page should be operational soon.

Peter Kevan is the scientificdirector of the Canadian Pollina-tion Initiative (NSERC-CAN-POLIN) www.uoguelph.ca/canpolin

THE GROWER


Pollinating bees can now suppress crop pestsVector biocontrol costs the same as conventional fungicides

Grey mould on raspberries.Grey mould on strawberries.

EUGENIA BANKS

The viruses that infect potatoescan cause serious economic lossesnot only to the seed industry butto the commercial production aswell. The most common virusattacking potatoes in North Amer-ica is PVY0 which causes com-mon mosaic and forms part of thePVY complex. Some varietiessuch as Russet Norkotah and She-pody rarely show PVY0 symp-toms, but can carry the virus andserve as sources of infection.

Some of the strains of thePVY complex that have beenidentified differ by the symptomsthey cause in potatoes and tobac-co. PVYN, the necrotic strain,generally causes mild potatofoliage symptoms, but it is ofserious concern to tobacco grow-ers because of the necrosis andyellowing and browning ofleaves, which render the tobaccocrop unmarketable.

A few years ago, the PVYNTN

strain was detected in NorthAmerica. While PVY0 and PVYN

do not cause tuber damage,PVYNTN causes necrotic rings andarcs on the tubers that may pene-trate a short distance into thetuber flesh. These necrotic symp-toms on tubers may be detected atharvest or develop in storage.

In the absence of externalsymptoms, there may be lightbrown internal rings, arcs andblotches deep within the tuberflesh.

Cultivars react differently toPVYNTN infection. Symptoms inthe growing plant vary from very

mild to severe mosaic and in thetuber from strong tuber necrosisto none. There is, often, a poorrelationship between the develop-ment of symptoms on the grow-ing plant and on the tubers of acultivar. Consequently, the corre-lation between the level of virusdisease in the growing crop andthe incidence of necrotic rings ontubers is frequently weak. Thisdifference between symptomexpression on plant and tubercaused by cultivar may be exacer-bated by environmental condi-tions. Moreover, isolates ofPVYNTN appear to differ in theirability to cause tuber necrosis.Yukon Gold is particularly sus-ceptible to tuber necrosis. Lossesof up to 75 per cent have beenreported for this variety.

On tubers for processing, peel-ing losses may be increased sig-nificantly because additional peelhas to be removed to achieve anacceptable product and this is

impractical in an industrialprocess. However, as the symp-toms are usually superficial, dis-eased tubers can be seen andremoved at sorting to make a cropacceptable for its end use. Therewill be a practical and economiclimit to the amount of tuberswhich can be discarded.

All the viruses of the PVYcomplex are transmitted byaphids in a non-persistent man-ner. This means that aphidsacquire the virus from infectedhost plants within seconds, andare able to transmit it to a healthyplant just as fast. Because infec-tive aphids carry the virus on

their stylet, they lose their infec-tivity when fed and introduce thevirus to healthy plants. Thus,insecticides, are not effective incontrolling the spread of PVYviruses because aphids canacquire and transmit the virusvery quickly, before insecticidescan kill them. The green peachaphid is the most efficient vectorof the PVY strains but severalother aphids including the potatoaphid and the soybean aphid cantransmit viruses of the PVY complex. Also, aphids that do notcolonize potatoes (visitor aphids)may be responsible for consider-able spread of these viruses. Ahigh level of infection resultsfrom high aphid numbers and ahigh incidence of infected plants

in a potato crop or in adjacentpotato crops or volunteer pota-toes. The use of non certifiedseed (farm-saved seed) is veryrisky.

Transmission of PVYNTN by thegreen peach and the potato aphidhas been reported to be twice ashigh (46 and 34%, respectively)from the hairy nightshade weed topotato than from potato to potato(20 and 14%). These results showthat hairy nightshade may be anequal or better virus reservoirthan potato and thus, important inthe epidemiology of the PVYstrains.

Management Practices thathelp to reduce the incidence ofPVY strains

• Plant certified seed tubers• Eliminate cull piles and volunteer potatoes• Eliminate weeds that surroundpotato fields. Hairy nightshade isan efficient host of PVY and itsstrains.• Manage aphids

Incidence of viral diseasestransmitted by aphids can bereduced with the application ofmineral oils. Mineral oils canreduce the spread of PVY by pre-venting the virus from adhering toaphid mouthparts, but these prod-ucts must be applied at frequentintervals.

Eugenia Banks is potato specialist, OMAFRA.

THE GROWER


PVYNTN, a formidable foe for Yukon Gold

An interactive workshop with Dr. Jason Deveau,

Application Technology Specialist from OMAFRA,

that includes hands-on demonstrations and

dialogue with an experienced airblast technician.

Learn how to calibrate, maintain and adjust your

sprayer to the crops you spray.

To register call (Nancy): 416.622.9771$20 Workshop Fee. Space is limited.

Workshop Dates and Locations

February 27, Brighton: 8am – noonCordington Community Centre

February 28, Simcoe: 8am – noonLittle River Inn

February 29, Vineland: 8am – noonOMAFRA Vineland

March 1, Harrow: 8am – noonHarrow Research Centre

Operators plan now to attend:

Airblast Sprayers 101

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NOTICE of MEETINGis hereby given that the

153rd Annual Members and Directors’ Meetingof the

Ontario Fruit andVegetable Growers’ Associationwill be held in

Niagara Falls, Ontario at The Crowne Plaza Hotel

January 9, 10 and 11, 2012

Election of Directors of the Association will takeplace as well as dealing with resolutions and any

other business that may arise.

StrainDisease

Common NameSymptoms on Potatoes

Potential yield losses

PVY0 Common mosaic Stunted plants. Yellowish, mottled and crinkledleaves.Necrotic spots on leaves Lower leaves turn yel-low and die. Dead leaves cling to the stem (leafdrop symptom)No tuber symptoms.

Losses of up to 80%have been reportedin Europe

PVYN Tobacco veinalnecrosis

Usually symptoms are very mild. PVYn mayinduce slight mottling in plants with current-sea-son infection.If infection occurs late in the season, leaf symp-toms may not appear, but tubers harvested fromsuch plants may carry the virus.No tuber symptoms.

Yield reductions ofup to 30% mayoccur

PVYNTN Potato tubernecrotic ringspotdisease (PTNRD)

Mild mottling on leaves. Some varieties maydevelop symptoms similar to PVY0On tubers, necrotic rings that protrude slightlyfrom the skin.

Up to 70% lossesdetected in YukonGold

From the Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Common PVY, PVYn and PVYntn are considered regulatednon-quarantine pests in Canada and the United States. They are regulated through the seed potato certifi-cation program tolerances for PVY in the crops, the Post Harvest Test programs and the internal tuberdefect tolerances. With a stronger emphasis on laboratory testing for all PVY strains, it should be veryeffective to maintain PVY occurrence and variants below an acceptable threshold.

THE GROWER


PAM FISHER, BERRY CROPSPECIALIST, OMAFRA

Raspberries are notorious fornot reaching their yield potential.Yields vary tremendously fromfarm to farm and from year toyear. Researchers estimate lessthan 20 per cent of the potentialyield is actually realized. Figure 1provides a possible scenario ofwhat happens to the rest.

There are many productionpractices that affect raspberry pro-ductivity and yield. This discus-sion will focus on three areaswhere attention to detail is impor-tant: microclimate and irrigation,pruning, and pest management.Trellising is another importantmanagement practice and will bediscussed in a future article.

Microclimate and irrigation“Warm roots, cool shoots”

simplistically describes the condi-tions raspberries like for optimumgrowth. When air temperaturesare too warm, (i.e. > 25C), photo-synthesis slows dramatically.However, raspberry roots appearto grow better in warm soils.Growers can use black plasticmulch over the raspberry row inthe planting year to warm the soil.

This mulch helps conserve soilmoisture, control weeds, andencourage strong root develop-ment. After the first year, the ben-efits of plastic mulch are reduced,because of shading. As the plasticbreaks apart, primocanes are ableto grow up and fill the row. Strawmulch is not as useful for raspber-ries, partly because it keeps thesoil cool, and partly becausedamp conditions around thecrown can encourage Phytophthora infection.

Windbreaks are importantaround a raspberry planting.Plants in windy sites have shortercanes and smaller foliage. Fruitcan be easily damaged by wind.However, last year we saw theworst winter injury near wind-breaks and hedgerows. Plan yourwindbreak so it breaks the windbut doesn’t prevent cold airdrainage out of the planting.There should be about 50 per centbarrier and 50 per cent airspace ina good windbreak.

Generally, berries benefit nineyears out of 10 from irrigation.Trickle irrigation is preferred tooverhead irrigation, because over-head irrigation spreads diseases.Raspberry roots typically extend45-120 cm deep. Most water istaken from the top 10 cm. If the

soil in this area dries out, thelower roots cannot increase wateruptake to make up the difference.Growers should monitor soilmoisture on a regular basis to pro-vide just the right amount. Aninch of water/week is only aguideline for irrigation amounts.The actual water needs go up ordown depending on the soil type,weather conditions and stage ofcrop growth. The most criticaltime for irrigation in raspberriesis from pre-bloom through thegreen fruit period. Primocanes,fruit and roots are all competingfor resources at this time.

PruningIn a typical planting of flori-

cane –producing varieties, whererows are 2.5-3 m apart, prune outraspberry canes in late winter orearly spring to approximately 15-18 canes per m of row. Whererows are further apart, cane num-bers should be increased. Overthe whole area, the optimum canenumber is about six to eight canesper square metre. In primocanefruiting systems, cane density canbe much higher, typically 25-30canes per metre. (For moredetails on cane density, refer to“The Ideal Red Raspberry CaneDensity”, by Becky Hughes andAdam Dale, University ofGuelph, in the Ontario BerryGrower January 2011.)

Cut back the fruiting cane tipsto a convenient height for pick-ing. Be sure to cut off dried-upfruiting clusters from the tips ofNova and Prelude.

Use a mower for your summerpruning. Keep unnecessary pri-mocanes mowed off from the rowedges. The earlier these shoots areremoved the better.

After harvest, old fruitingcanes should be removed fromthe row. We used to think thatthis job should be done as soon aspossible after harvest. Howeverwe now know that nitrogen andother nutrients are transported outof fruiting canes after harvest,back to the crown. There is alsoanecdotal evidence that, in a mar-ginal year, winter injury can beworse on varieties pruned rightafter harvest. On winter-sensitivevarieties you should probablydelay pruning out the fruitingcanes until the plants are dormant.

Finally, make sure that canesare pruned close to the ground.

Do not leave long pruning stubs.Several insects overwinter in thelower portion of fruiting canes,and careful pruning can help con-trol these pests. Also, old canestubs are a source of spores forsome diseases.

Pest managementFour cane diseases are com-

mon in Ontario. These includecane blight, cane botrytis, spurblight and anthracnose. Control-ling cane disease is very impor-tant. Winter injury can be muchmore serious in plantings withsignificant levels of cane diseases.

Lime sulphur should beapplied between bud break and1/4 inch green. This fungicideworks on the overwintering fun-gus as it starts to grow. Applica-tion too early is not as effective.Application too late can causeleaf burn.

Growers can choose Ferbam76 WDG or Tanos 50 DF to pro-tect new growth, both primocanesand laterals, before bloom. Afterbloom, choose fungicides forbotrytis fruit rot that will alsocontrol cane diseases. Tanos,Captan or Maestro are goodchoices for post-harvest control ofsome cane diseases. Fungicidesafter harvest are also importantfor cane disease control.

Another pest that can causeharvest losses is two-spotted spi-der mite. Outbreaks of this pestare more likely after multipleinsecticide applications, or in hotdry weather. Autumn Britten isvery susceptible to two-spottedspider mite, and this cultivarshould be monitored carefully formites. In Ontario, raspberry grow-ers have four miticides to choose

from, but only Acramite 50 WSand Apollo SC can be used beforeharvest.

Raspberry crown borer is prob-ably the most serious insect pestof raspberries. Typically, popula-tions build up gradually but aremis-diagnosed for several years.Canes infested with raspberrycrown borer wither and die or arestunted with small fruit. Canesthat grow out of infested crownscan sometimes be pulled ortugged away from the crown toreveal borer damage and insectfrass. Eventually, primocanesbecome so few in number that theplanting dies out. At the first signof damage, dig up suspectedplants to look for crown borers inthe crown. Control options arechanging, look for information inOMAFRA publication #360Guide to Fruit Production.

Attention to detail can help increaseraspberry yields

VEGETABLE EQUIPMENT FOR CARROTS, ONION, POTATOES

FOR SALE - 3-30 HP, Bitzer Refrigeration compressors/condensers. Complete.- 5000 lb Cascade forklift rotator, $3,500. Referbished.- Onion digger, new chains and cutter bar. $3500 - Self propelled carrot harvester, $24,000.- 1300 gallon Gregson sprayer 100ft booms, chemical

eductor, floatation tires, mint condition. $55,000 used 2 seasons

- Self propelled 785 Willmar sprayer. $40,000 or best offer.- Thomas B88 air Vac harvester, Good condition. $35,000 - Lockwood 2 row harvester, Good condition. $8,000- Hill Machinery telescopic bin piler with 36” sizer and

grading table. $6500- 4-row Lockwood potato planter, $4,500.- 12ft x 4ft Weening Bros. potato drum washer.- 48” Kerian sizer.- John Deere 6420 4wd, front 3PTHitch/PTO, flotation tires, $40,000.

3211 - 8th Line Bradford, ON

L3Z 2A5Ph: [email protected]

w w w. a g r i v e g . c a

The new strawberry variety “Herriot” has beenrecently named by Courtney Weber, at Cornell Uni-versity. This variety has some promising featureswhich include:

High yieldsIn trials and with commercial growers in New

York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Minnesota andOntario, ‘Herriot’ yielded as much as 60 per centmore than ‘Jewel’, the predominant mid-seasonvariety for perennial matted-row production thatwas also developed by Cornell. In trials at the NewYork State Agricultural Experiment Station, Gene-va, N.Y., ‘Herriot’ harvest consistently begins twodays before ‘Jewel’ with yields greater than or equalto that variety most years.

Beautiful berries‘Herriot’ produces large (up to 25 grams, averag-

ing about 11 grams), heart-shaped, shiny red berrieswith a bright green calyx. Fruit is generally larger

and more uniform than ‘Jewel.’ Flavour is sweetand mild with light pineapple overtones.

Disease resistance‘Herriot’ shows good resistance to common leaf

diseases, and holds up well to summer renovation,allowing for wider adaptation to variable soils. InGeneva, ‘Herriot’ blooms in mid-May, avoidingmost damaging frosts.Weber’s small fruits breeding program at Cornell isfocused on developing improved strawberry andraspberry varieties for New York growers. Previousreleases from Weber’s program – including‘L’Amour’ and ‘Clancy’ strawberries and ‘Prelude’,‘Encore’, and ‘Crimson Giant’ raspberries – haveshown wide adaptation throughout New England,the Mid-Atlantic States and the Midwest, as well astemperate regions of Europe.

This variety will not be widely available inOntario for several years, due to the propagationprocess.

New ‘Herriot’ strawberry from Cornell University

COLLEEN HASKINS, ON-FARM FOOD SAFETYPROGRAM LEAD, OMAFRA

As more foodborne illness out-breaks surface and hit the news, a“ripple” effect results, creatingheightened awareness about producing safe food.

Although still voluntary, on-farm food safety programs arequickly becoming a “must” forprimary producers at the buyers’request. Increasing access toglobal markets is only part of thereason for producers to adopt afood safety culture on their farms;today it is customer demand.Being able to answer questionsabout how your products wereproduced, are they safe for con-sumption and can they be traced

back or fully identified in theevent of a recall, demonstratesdue diligence and instills confi-dence in customers about you andyour products. This is the drivingforce for on-farm food safety pro-grams.

How does one decide whichfood safety program is best suitedfor their operation? The main fac-tors that determine which pro-gram to follow are how you mar-ket or sell your product (your cus-tomers) and what commodity youproduce. Certain commoditiessuch as livestock and poultryhave a regulated food safety pro-gram that is required.

On-farm food safety programsfor crops typically fall into twocategories, audited and non-audit-ed programs. Your customer will

determine which type you need tobe following. In many cases,large retailers require an auditedprogram to help ensure productsare being produced in the same,safe manner following a predeter-mined standard.

A food safety audit is an eval-uation of a person or system, toassess how well the program stan-dards have been met and if thereis existing proof of proper imple-mentation of the program. Exam-ples of audited on-farm food safe-ty programs are GlobalGAP,CanadaGAP, SQF 1000 andPrimus. A successfully auditedprogram provides a certificate asproof that food safety has beenmet. These programs are veryprescriptive, and typically usedfor single commodity certification

purposes. If you’re following anaudited program, be prepared tohave at least three months of supporting documentation prior toyour audit, and for the audit tooccur during the production orharvest season.

Non-audited food safety pro-grams such as ADVANTAGEGAP offered through OMAFRA,provide a strong back bone andstarting point for any audited pro-gram, or as a stand alone programfor producers that do not requirean audit. Programs such asADVANTAGE GAP are benefi-cial for multi-commodity farms,farm gate or u-pick operations, asthey can be tailored to suit yourneeds and are not prescriptive.This type of program is great forproducers just starting to develop

an on-farm food safety program,as there are many user friendlyresources, training tools and tem-plates to follow. This will set youup for an easy transition, shouldyou be required at a later date tobe on an audited program.

So, if you’re trying to decipherwhat food safety program youneed or whether or not you needto be audited and it is still as clearas mud, give us a call!

For more information abouton-farm food safety, training, oradditional resources, visit ourwebsite at www.ontario.ca/good-ag-practices, or call 1-877-424-1300.

THE GROWER


On-farm food safety programs and audits…..clear as mud?

Ontario Berry Growers annualmeeting, Feb 21, 2012 and the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, Feb 22-23, 2012,will be held in Niagara Falls atthe Embassy Suites Hotel (OBGA) and New Scotia BankConvention Center (OFVC) .Watch the conference website fordetails at www.ofvc.caReserve a room at the EmbassySuites: www.embassy-suiteshotelfallsview.com/Condensed version of the berryprogram below:

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 –Embassy Suites, Niagara Falls• Introducing Summer Evening –A New June Bearing Strawberry

Selection, Adam Dale, Univ. ofGuelph• Grower Profile – AvonmoreBerry Farm, David and PamPhillips• Virus Diseases in Strawberryand Raspberry, Pam Fisher,OMAFRA• Innovation and Project Resultsfor Raspberries in California,Mark Bolda, Univ. of California• How To Get Day-NeutralsReady For Winter and OtherResearch Results, B. Hughes,Univ. of Guelph

OBGA Annual Meeting &Lunch• New Regulation 119/11 - Impli-cations for Labeling and Packag-

ing Berry Crops, Suzete Moniz,OMAFRA• Employee Recruiting and Management, Michelle Herrle,Herrle’s Country Farm MarketThe Do’s and Don’ts with Herbicides in Plasticulture, Kristen Callow, OMAFRA

Round Table Discussions1. Food Safety Audits and Trace-ability – What you need to know,Colleen Haskins, OMAFRA, 2. Labeling and Packaging Regu-lations, Suzete Moniz, OMAFRA3. Wildlife Management, MikeGatt, MNR4. Employee Recruiting and Management, Michelle Herrle5. Dealing with Charitable

Donations: Paul Ralph, Cedar HillFarm and Alf Krause, KrauseBerry Farms

Wednesday, February 22, 2011– Scotiabank Convention Cen-ter, Niagara Falls• Why Raspberries Like Tunnels,Dr. Adam Dale, University ofGuelph • Marketing and PromotionOpportunities for Berries, JennVanDeVelde, Wholesome Pick-ins, Delhi• Managing Wildlife on the Farm,Mike Gatt, Ministry of NaturalResources• Management of Nematodes inBerry Crops (with or withoutfumigants), Dr. George Bird,

Michigan State University • Farm Profile – Krause BerryFarms, Alf Krause, Krause BerryFarms, Langley, BC• National Berry Marketing Initiative Update, Karen Fenske,StratPoint Solutions, B.C. • California Strawberry Produc-tion and Innovations, MarkBolda, University of California • Biology and Management ofSpotted Wing Drosophila inBerry Crops, Rufus Isaacs, Michigan State University• Managing Black Root Rot inStrawberries, Michael Celetti,OMAFRA

Ontario Berry Growers Association annual meeting

Fundamentals of raspberry and blackberry production workshop

At the NARBGA Annual Conference, Sandusky Ohio

Tuesday, January 17, 2012: 8 AM – 12 PM

For new growers, prospective growers, or moreexperienced growers who want a refresher in thebasics. Learn bramble botany and physiology, planning and variety choices, planting, basic careand nutrition, trellising and pruning, and more. Allparticipants will receive a copy of the Raspberry &

Blackberry Production Guide for the Northeast,Midwest, and Eastern Canada (158 pages, spiralbound, NRAES, Ithaca, NY, listprice $37). The early registration price for NARBAand OPGMA members is $40; the non-memberprice is $50. The workshop is limited to 40 participants. Advance registration is required.

For more information: http://www.raspberry-blackberry.com

Growing strawberries organically“Growing Strawberries

Organically” is the newest hand-book published by CanadianOrganic Growers (COG) in itsPractical Skills series of techni-cal manuals for organic agricul-ture. The book and the seriescontinue COG’s commitmentand success in educating organicand transitioning growers. A highlight of COG’s hand-books are success stories fromorganic growers across Canada.The strawberry growers profiledhere share their experiences withtarnished plant bugs, weedergeese, cover crops, marketingand more.

To order this publication, visitthe Canadian Organic GrowersWebsite at www.cog.ca and lookunder Publications.

A new refrigerated warehousenear Los Angeles InternationalAirport is poised to capture a big-ger slice of perishable producefrom South America. By bigger,the Mercury Air Group says its16,000-square-foot warehousecan handle up to 100 tons a day.This new facility increases coldchain capacity in the Los Angelesarea by 35 per cent, according tothe Los Angeles Times.

For Argentine blueberries thatnormally fly through Miami’s air-port and then get trucked threedays to California, distributionpatterns are likely to change. Theflight to LAX from South Ameri-ca is longer than the flight toMiami, but it eliminates the longtruck drive by land. Time is cru-cial to preserve the freshness andnutrition of perishable fruits andvegetables.

When the facility opened lastOctober, it was holding watermel-ons, dates, blueberries, cauli-flower, tomatoes and severalcrates of roses. The area outsidethe freezers, leading from theloading docks, is kept at a crisp47 degrees Fahrenheit.

Southern California dominates

maritime freight, with the ports ofLos Angeles and Long Beachhandling 40 per cent of the coun-try’s Asian imports, writes RonWhite, Los Angeles Times. Theneighboring ports make up thelargest cargo container complexin the U.S.

But Miami International, byvirtue of being the shortest majorair route between the U.S. andSouth America, is top of the heapin receiving perishable products.Miami International handled 73per cent of the more than 181,000tons of fruit and vegetablesimported to the U.S. by air lastyear, according to Los AngelesWorld Airports, the city depart-ment that operates LAX.

In flower imports - mostlyroses -- the Miami airfield waseven more dominant, receiving 89per cent of all U.S. imports lastyear. By contrast, LAX came inthird in fruit and vegetables,behind Miami and New York'sJohn F. Kennedy InternationalAirport, with a 5.02 per centshare. LAX was second in flowerimports, with a 4.91 per centshare.

Other airports have been

expanding cold-chain facilities --New Orleans, Atlanta andPhoenix – providing even morelures to handle perishables. Overall, LAX ranked third in totalair freight value last year, at

$77.4 billion, behind JFK ($159.6billion) and Chicago O'HareInternational Airport ($110.8 bil-lion). The new refrigeration facili-ty was built inside an existing37,000-square-foot warehouse

over three months at a cost ofabout $900,000. Source: FreshPlaza.com

THE GROWER


DISTRIBUTION

New cold warehouse near LAX expands capacity for perishables

•

Agricultural * Commercial * Industrial

50 Years of Excellent Service

Refrigeration (All Types)

Heating, Air Conditioning

Controlled Atmosphere

18 Seapark Drive, St Catharines ON, L2M 6S6

905-685-4255

www.pennrefrigeration.com

[email protected]

Over 60,000 buyers came through the doors during the last 3 editions!

See anything and EVERYTHING to do with farming in Ontario!

Show Open Daily from 9:00 am – 4:30 pmAvoid the line-ups, pre-register at www.CanadianFarmShow.ca

AWARDS WILL BE GIVEN OUT ONCE AGAIN IN 2012!

Congratulations to our 2011 Canadian International Farm Show Youth in

Agriculture Bursary winners Rachel Jebson and Alan Nanne.

Roma tomatoes from Mexico move into an X-ray machine for a TSA security check at the new ApolloFreight cold storage warehouse near Los Angeles International Airport.

COMPETITION

Calling cider producersAll Ontario cider producers are invited to submit their best sweet

cider to the 2nd Annual Ontario Sweet Cider Competition. lt will beheld at the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention in Niagara Falls onFebruary 22, 2012. Please bring two (2) L jugs of your cider to theConvention on February 22. Winning entries will be available for tast-ing before the Apple Session on February 23.

PLEASE NOTE - This competition is open to all Ontario cidermakers, including those who use a custom presser. Cider entries canbe freshly made or can be frozen until February. Be sure to fill only tothe shoulder of the jug to allow for expansion. Also, practise thawingfrozen cider to ensure the jug is thawed for competition time. lnMichigan, where cider makers have been competing for 15 years,some cider makers freeze samples from several batches, and select thebest entry later.

THE GROWER


MARKETPLACETo advertise phone: 519-380-0118 • 866-898-8488 x 218 • Fax: 519-380-0011

POLLINATION

LOUTH & NIAGARA ORCHARDSP.O. Box 43 • Virgil, Ontario • L0S 1T0 • 905-468-3297

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

CONTAINERS

1-800-265-2397 • www.wwp.on.caMount Forest 519-323-1060 • Leamington Area 519-326-2394

Manufacturer & Distributor

Produce PackagingoduPr ackaginguce P

31st ANNUAL GUELPH ORGANICCONFERENCE & EXPO

Jan. 26-29, Guelph University Centre

Seeds of Co-operation - multiple themes & educationalstreams, including organic seed production + organic co-op development (2012: U.N. International Year of Co-operatives)

A highly diverse 34 workshop program for growers, gardeners,processors & livestock researchers - by paid admission.

Free Expo/Tasting Fair, 154 booths (Jan. 28-29 only) + an Organic Food & Wine Dinner (Jan. 27)

EXPO: meet ag. suppliers, certifiers, organic vendors. Leadingorganic names: Field Gate, Organic Meadow, HomesteadOrganics, SunOpta, Willsie, Harmony Dairy, Pfenning, GlobalRepair/Compost + dozens more.

Brochure, info & prices: (519) 824-4120 X56205Full details & exhibitor list: www.guelphorganicconf.ca

CONFERENCE

THE GROWER


866-HAYGROVEhaygrove.com tunnelbuzz.com

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

Vacuum Coolers, Refrigerated Dehumidifiers.KOOLJET®

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

Oriental Vegetable Seeds

AgroHaitai Ltd. Ph: 519-647-2280 • Fax: 519-647-3188

[email protected]• www.AgroHaitai.com

Szechuan Red

Black Pearl

Korea Green - F1

Dan Fong

ORIENTAL VEGETABLE

THE GROWER



EQUIPMENT

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

Now is the best time of year to buy, lease, or trade for best pre-seasonpricing and more time to recondition, advertise, and sell your trade.NEW 2012 models with tall spray towers are here!

Turbo-Mist 500 gal, Narrow, (High Output) Almost New . . . . . . . $16,500Turbo-Mist 500 gal, Narrow, Hydraulic Controls, Like New . . . . . $15,900SPECIAL: 2012 Turbo-Mist 400 gal, (Only one at this price). . . $16,750* Tall Spray Towers in Stock Fit New and Used Turbo-Mists * FMC 252 500 gal, (Complete or for parts) Good Piston Pump, Gearbox,14.5L Tires, New C.V. PTO - Outlets RustedPerfect KG220, H.D. Flail Shredder - New Hammers. . . . . . . . .$6,500Seppi 200 H.D. Flail Shredder - Almost New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,500Seppi 250 (8ft) H.D. Flail Mower/Shredder, Nice Condition. . . . COMINGPerfect DR365, Variable 7ft to 12 ft Rotary Mower . . . . . . . . .COMINGPerfect ZA380, 13ft Rotary Mower, New Blades . . . . . . . . . . .$5,500

GOOD CLEAN TRADE-INS NEEDED** Instant photos to you by e-mail - all advertised items **

SEE OUR BIG DISPLAY ATFRUIT & VEG CONVENTIONNIAGARA, FEB. 22, 23. Made in

Canada

ALL STAINLESS STEEL

Pipe& Fittings

for Water Systems• PVC, ABS, Poly, Copper

• Stainless, Brass, Steel

Product Lines

• Drip & Micro Irrigation

• Septic & Sewer

• Drainage & Culverts

• Berkeley Water Pumps

Winona Concrete & Pipe Products Ltd.

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

Phone (905) 945-8515

Fax: (905) 945-1149or call toll-free

1-800-361-8515

SPRAYERS FOR SALE3 John Bean Modulars

Coming Soon• NEW Hardi 3pt. Air

Cannon, $4500.00• NEW 100gal 3pt JB

Air, $7500.00• New Durand Vineyard

Sprayer, $25,900.00 list $35,000.00.

• Barely used Hardi Mercury, $8,900.00 only used 1.5 seasons

• 1 Hardi 800 gal sprayer ,Tandem, 50 ft. Hyd.$8800.00• 1 Used Hardi 950, 80ft.Hyd., Raven, AmazingShape. $18,000.00

GOOD TRADES WELCOME

NURSERY AND ROOTSTOCK

The best producing orchards startwith exceptional trees.

ApplesApricotsCherriesNectarinesPeachesPlums

The best producing orchards startwith exceptional trees.

ApplesApricotsCherriesNectarinesPeachesPlums Quality

Fruit Treesfor 60 years.

Mori Nurseries1695 Niagara Stone Rd., RR#2

Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S1J0 T: 905-468-3217 F: 905-468-7271

Email: [email protected]

QualityFruit Trees

for 60 years.

Mori Nurseries1695 Niagara Stone Rd., RR#2

Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S1J0 T: 905-468-3217 F: 905-468-7271


W W W. T H E G R O W E R . O R G • W W W. O F V G A . O R G

EQUIPMENT

RR 3, PO Box 3613 Guelph, ONPhone: (519) 763-2400 Fax: (519) 763-3930

THE GROWER



NURSERY AND ROOTSTOCK

Exclusive grower of select grafted nut trees and minor fruits.Cultivars are tested in our own experimental orchards.

Choose from Persian and black walnut, heartnut, butternut,chestnut, hazel, pecan, hickory, gingko, pine nut, mulberry,

persimmon, pawpaw, fig & more.

Proprietor Ernie Grimo

979 Lakeshore Rd, RR 3, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON Canada L0S 1J0Tel.: (905) YEH-NUTS (934-6887) E-mail: [email protected]

Fax: (905) YEL-NUTS (935-6887) Catalogue Site: www.grimonut.com

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]

STRAWBERRY PLANTS***CERTIFIED***

RASPBERRY CANESProducers of Quality stock for 46 years. Grown under the

Nova Scotia Certification Program. Shipping across North America.

Contact us for more information and a free brochureG.W. ALLEN NURSERY LTD.

7295 Hwy 221Centreville, N.S. B0P 1J0

ph. 902-678-7519 fax: 902-678-5924Email: [email protected] www.gwallennursery.com

R.R. #4 Creek RoadNiagara-on-the-Lake, ON. L0S 1J0

Tel: (905) 262-4971Fax: (905) 262-4404

[email protected]

Howard A. ColcucNursery Manager

SPECIALIZING IN FRUITTREES & GRAPE VINES &

ELDERBERRIES. VARIETY AND PRICE LISTAVAILABLE ON REQUEST

AlpineNurseries(Niagara) Limited

KEDDYC.O.

• Certified Strawberry Plants & Raspberry Canes• All popular varieties available

• Grown under the Nova Scotia Certification program. Plants shipped across North America.

Contact us for a FREE brochure!

982 North Bishop Road, Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada B4N 3V7Ph: (902) 678-4497 Fax: (902) 678-0067


PRUNING

Good Reasons to Contract Your Pruning:

• Experienced crew• Exact costing• Free estimates• Job completion on time• No additional costs

associated with general labour• Improved quality• reduced harvesting and

maintenance costs

Available anywherein Ontario!

Simply the best approach tothis important factor of fruit

productionCall Dave (519) 372-0604

ASPARAGUS ROOTSJersey Giant

Wrightland FarmRR 1 • 1000 Ridge Rd. Harrow, ON N0R 1G0

Keith: 519-738-6120Fax: 519-738-3358

CLASSIFIEDWANTED: Used apple orchardsprayer. Boom or wand type. 75- 100 gal tank for smallerorchard. Halton Hills area. Con-tact [email protected] or callDan at 416-297-5665

100’s of 40’L X 32"W X 29"Hwood crates available. Must sell!Below market pricing.We deliver or you pick up.Call Phil: 519-835-0295

Turn your used farmequipment into cash. For

classified informationcall 866-898-8488

ext 221.

THE GROWER



REAL ESTATE

Gerry Loeters for Royal LePage,

RCR Realty.PH. 519-765-4217Cell. 519-773-6460

ORCHARD FOR SALE. Outstanding orchard Farm in fullproduction with very good varieties including strawberries andyounger trees. List of varieties available with age and quantityof trees, crops not included in asking price, but available. Alsolist of equipment available but not included. The orchard is rec-ognized as the best or one of the best orchards in Ontario.Very good home and storage buildings on property.Great opportunity to get into the business with increased pro-duction in the coming years. Asking $1,300,000.00.Address: 5893 Sawmill Road and 5894 Sawmill Road, RR2Aylmer, Malahide TWP, Elgin County

BLUEBERRIES

WATER TREATMENT

The 'AQUA Wetland System'“A new breed of constructed wetland”

AQUA Treatment Technologies Inc. designs and installs the 'AQUA Wetland System' (AWS) for tertiary treatment of many types of waste water including sanitary sewage, landfill leachate, dairy farm & abattoirwastewater, greenhouse irrigation leachate water & mushroom farm leachate water (i.e. manure pileleachate) and high strength winery washwater.

The 'AQUA Wetland System' is operated out of doorsand can achieve year-round tertiary treatment of waste-water. This sub-surface, vertical flow constructed wetlandconsists of sand & gravel beds planted with moisture tolerant plant species. Water is pumped vertically fromcell to cell. There is no open or standing water. Treatmentoccurs through physical filtration & biological degrada-tion. Plants shade & insulate the cells, cycling nutrientswhile preventing algae growth. There is no production ofsludge.

The AWS has been approved for use by the Ontario Ministry of Environment through over 40 EnvironmentalCompliance Approvals. Recently the Region of Niagara began approving the AWS for treatment of 'smallflow' winery washwater I.e. < 10,000 liters per day. Other agencies who have issued approvals includeHealth Canada, USEPA and OMAFRA. Recent projects include:1) treatment of cider mill washwater at Bennett's Apple and Cider in Ancaster2) treatment of winery washwater at DiProfio Wines and Lincoln Farm

Winery in Niagara3) treatment of pond water at Hihojo Farms for supply of hog drinking water

For additional information please Contact LloydRozema at:

cell. 905-327-4571email. [email protected]

NEW! GREAT RETAIL BUSINESS LOCATED CLOSE TO GTA! 130 ac fruit farm with 86 ac workable. Year round irrigation, water supplyvia river fed pond. Large cold storage facility with excellent rental income,CA storage and 3 phase electrical, large office, shop and implement sheds. 3houses: 1-3 bedroom bungalow beautifully updated fronting pond, 1- 4 bed-room cape cod style with many recent upgrades, and 1- 4 bedroom duplexwhich could house employees. Additional 4 acre parcel with 6 bedroomhome for additional $795,000. By Appointment Only! $3,690,000 C148

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Call Herb Sherwood

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THE GROWER


ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION105-355 Elmira Road, NorthGuelph, Ontario N1K 1S5Ph: 519-763-6160Fax: 519-763-6604

Tuesday, January 10, 20127:00 a.m. - Registration Office Opens - Brock Room7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - Breakfast Buffet

8:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.Ontario Apple Growers Board AGM - Elizabeth RoomUnregulated Veg - Canadian A/BUnregulated Fruit - King George Room

10:00 a.m.Annual General Meeting Welcome - Niagara RoomOpening Remarks - Minister Ted McMeekin, OMAFRA

10:30 a.m. - 11:45 p.m.• Chair’s report • CEO’s report • Bylaws • Election of Directors • Financial report

11:45 p.m. - 12:00 p.m. Election of Chair Person - Lobby Board Room(Board members only)

11:45 p.m. - 12:00 p.m.Guest Speaker - Sandra Jones, Foodland Ontario12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. - Foodland Sponsored Luncheon

12:45 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.Safety Nets Section Business Meeting• Chair report • Committee BusinessSafety Nets Guest- Kevin Ferraro, OMAFRA

2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.Property Section Business Meeting• Chair report • Committee BusinessProperty Guest - George Shearer, OFVGA Water Specialist

- John Kelly, Erie Innovation-

3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Break

3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.Crop Protection Section Business Meeting• Chair report • Committee BusinessCrop Protection Guest - Greg Northey, CFA

- Hannah Fraser, OMAFRA

Wednesday, January 11, 20127:00 a.m.Registration Office Opens - Brock Room

7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.Buffet Breakfast - Brock Room

8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.Research Section Business Meeting - Niagara Room• Chair report • Committee BusinessResearch Guest - Tania Humphrey, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.Break

10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.Labour Section Business Meeting• Chair report • Committee BusinessLabour Guest- Jeremy Shorthouse, Vincor Canada

11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.Chemtura Sponsored Golden Apple Award

12:00 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.Lunch

12:45 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.Guest Speaker – Kristen Callow, OMAFRA

– Russel Hurst, CropLife Canada– Jason Deveau, OMAFRA

1:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.Annual General Meeting continues.• Resolutions • Adjournment

* * * *

3:15 p.m. - Lobby BoardroomInaugural Meeting of the new Board of Directors

THE ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION

153rd Annual General MeetingJanuary 9, 10, & 11, 2012

agendaMonday, January 9, 2012

3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.Registration Office Opens- Brock Room5:00 p.m.Reception & Banquet Cocktails- 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Opening Remarks Dinner - 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Niagara RoomChair address Award of Merit Guest Speaker - Dr. Joe Schwarcz, McGill UniversitySilent Auction - 3:00 - 9:30 p.m.

OFVGA 153rd Annual Meeting and ConventionSilent auction contributors

Via Rail Kubota CanadaPioneer EquipmentParks BlueberriesRicter Web PrintingData MediaPremier Equipment Union GasDeKalbMicro 50Sarjeant Co. Ltd.Sherwood MarketingDelhaven Orchards Ltd.

Chatham MazdaBlenheim ChryslerVan Kesteren Hyundai, ChathamMamma Maria’s, ChathamReif Estate WineryStrewn Winery Lailey Vineyard WineryBurning Kiln WineryEmbassy Suites, Niagara FallsBest Western, Simcoe Simcoe Comfort InnCasa Bella, Chatham T-Bones, Chatham

Romero's Restaurant, Guelph Turtle Jack, Guelph Boston Pizza, Chatham PlasponicsDiamond Detailing, Guelph Borealis Grille & Bar, Guelph Shoeless Joe’s, GuelphSwiss Chalet, GuelphCity of Niagara FallsCrown Plaza/Sheridan, NiagaraAyr Farmers MutualRumble Homes, ChathamCardinal Golf Club

Farm Credit Canada Essex County GrowersLinks of Kent, Chatham Travel Lodge, ChathamRidgetown Golf Club, RidgetownDeer Run Golf Course, BlenheimBlenheim Golf Club, BlenheimLandini CanadaDuPont CanadaLicks, GuelphOntario Bee KeepersKent Farm Equipment, BlenheimRJ Equipment, Blenheim

McGrail Farm EquipmentElm Hurst InnAberfoyle Mill RestaurantVictoria Park Golf Club West,GuelphSupreme Full Service Carwash,GuelphAndrews Scenic Orchards TD Bank, Ag Services

Canada’s Fruit & Veg Tech

XChangeRichmond VW Motors, ChathamDuPont

Below is a list of the generous contributors who have donated items to the association on behalf of the 153rd annual general meeting. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their generosity.

ANDREA MUEHLCHEN

For any crop plant, healthyroots are the foundation for sus-tainable, high quality yield.Healthy roots are dependent onhealthy soils that are biologicallyactive, have a porous, stablestructure, and high water-holdingcapacity.

In organic perennial fruitcrops, soil health can be manipu-lated through irrigation and theapplication of organic materialsand organisms. At Agricultureand Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)in Summerland and Agassiz,B.C., researchers Gerry Neilsen,Denise Neilsen, and Tom Forgeare examining the use of thesestrategies to improve soil and roothealth of four important fruitcrops: apples, grapes, blueberriesand raspberries.

Mulches serve many purposesin organic production systems:controlling weeds, altering soilproperties and influencing soilbiology. The team of B.C.researchers explored the use ofmulches of shredded paper, com-posts, alfalfa hay, and polyethyl-ene fabric under apple trees andcompared them to conventional,weed-free bare soil. Their find-ings suggest that the abundanceof protozoa and beneficial nema-todes, and the consequent cyclingof nutrients, were greater underorganic mulches when comparedto bare soil or plastic mulch.Additionally, root growth wasincreased under mulches, andpopulations of the damaging rootlesion nematode appeared todecrease under some organicmulches and increase under plas-tic mulch.

In a study on apples led byDenise Neilsen, the effects ofreduced irrigation and crop loadon root growth and parasiticnematode populations are beingexamined. Root growth is beingstudied with minirhizotrons:clear acrylic tubes inserted in theground through which a specialcamera photographs root growth.With climate change expected toreduce water availability, usingless water is important for bothorganic and conventional fruitgrowers. Reducing irrigation mayalso result in healthier root sys-tems and more resilient crops.

Replant disorders can result inpoor establishment of neworchard plantings and subsequentyield reductions, and are a partic-ular problem for organic growers,who are unable to fumigate thesoil and apply chemical fertilizersat planting. Louise Nelson andMolly Thurston of UBC Okana-gan, in collaboration with GerryNeilsen, are exploring the use ofcomposts in the planting holes oftrees and the application of bacte-ria to the roots to improveorchard establishment. Somebacteria can improve plant growthby increasing nutrient availability,producing plant hormones, orreducing the effects of plantpathogens. The current focus ison phosphate-solubilizing

bacteria.Replant disorder is also a con-

cern for raspberry growers in theFraser Valley, where pathogenbuildup necessitates frequentreplanting. Current practices offumigation and leaving the soilbare over the winter may be con-tributing to nitrate leaching intogroundwater. Forge is looking atorganic alternatives to fumigation,with the goal of improving over-all soil health. Trials compare theuse of a fall cover crop and springapplications of manure and com-post to fumigation. He is evaluat-ing crop growth and the buildupof plant pathogens, particularlyroot lesion nematode, and moni-toring nitrate leaching.

Preliminary results indicatethat the cover crop reduces leach-ing. The fumigated plots have thebest growth and fewest nema-todes, indicating that pathogens

are truly a problem, but compostand manure also reduced nema-todes and increased growth.Forge says the next step is to lookat a combination of a fall covercrop, spring application of com-post at planting, and immediate

seeding of a between-row covercrop to take up any extra nitro-gen.

The AAFC team is also com-paring different rates of fertiliza-tion and irrigation, manure appli-cations, and the use of annual andperennial between-row covercrops in an established raspberrycrop. They are looking at nitrateleaching and soil health factorsincluding fungal and nematodepathogens, earthworm numbers,and soil structure. Although littledata is yet available, the covercrops do not appear to reduceyield, a concern that has keptthem from being widely adopted.

Nematode pests of blueberryand grape are of increasing con-cern in B.C. Forge has discovereda new nematode pest, Paratri-chodorus renifer, on blueberriesin the Fraser Valley. In microplotstudies, populations of the nema-

tode increased rapidly and causeda 30 per cent drop in growth andyield. Forge and the Neilsens arealso looking at the effects of irri-gation and nitrogen inputs on ringnematode, a nematode they havedemonstrated to be damaging tograpes. Higher nitrogen andgreater irrigation tend to increasepopulations.

While agricultural practicesare usually aimed at optimizingshort-term yield, research is need-ed to determine if these tech-niques are conducive to maintain-ing long-term crop health andproductivity. Sustainable soil androot health continues to be a goalof the research conducted onperennial fruit crops at AAFC.

Andrea Muehlchen authoredthis article for the Organic Agri-culture Centre of Canada withfunding provided by Canada’sOrganic Science Cluster.

THE GROWER


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THE GROWER


The start of any year is anopportunity to give plaudits forachievements and to recognizethose who may feel they labour inisolation. I hope they take theopportunity from being men-tioned here to let their hierarchyknow that someone (me and prob-ably many others) feels theydeserve honour and recognition. Iknow there are many recognitionprograms out there, but for somestrange reason they do not seekout my help….

Firstly, I would like to recog-nize the contributions of threeyoung scientists at the Pest Man-agement Regulatory Agency(PMRA). Firstly, Michael Haber.He has had the difficult task oforganizing the Canadian Grow-ers’ Minor Use Priority Databasesince its inception. Michael hasbeen able to gather the relevantdata by soliciting help from adiverse set of grower and industryreps. He also managed to collateand prepare a document on thedatabase that brought together atleast three versions that meteveryone’s approval. This docu-ment will appear in the GlobalMinor Use Summit in 2012.Michael is moving on to advancehis career in Health Canada, and Iwish him the best.

The next to earn kudos hasbeen Haley Fredrick (McKinnon).She was on ‘loan’ from the Cana-dian Food Inspection Agency(CFIA) to the PMRA last year,and she handled the often delicatenegotiations with growers on thefate of Phorate (Thimet) insecti-cide. Never an easy task, she wasable to gain the confidence of the

group. This was a new area ofwork for her, but she was able todo it well. Our loss is that she isheaded off back to CFIA. I wishher well back there, but hope thatan opening arises back at PMRA!

The efforts of Martine Main-guy on the diazinon transitiongroup also deserve recognition.This is a long-used active withmany key uses, and it has beenarduous to deal with a widely var-ied set of users and their needs.Perhaps it is her ability to staycalm and find a path forward andto reach consensus that has madethis difficult task seem (relative-ly) easy. She (as far as I know)plans to stay with PMRA and Ihope her path ahead is swift asshe has the ability to deal withstakeholders!

I think that everyone can agreethat the Team at the Minor UseCentre should get recognition forthe work they accomplished overthe past two years. From thedepths of a serious backlog, alack of focus on grower needs,and a static growth curve in newprojects, they have managed towhittle the backlog down to a lowlevel, they have hugely increaseddata and submission output, rela-tions with IR-4 are at an all-timehigh with 25 new joint projectson the line for next year, andmore good stuff happens everyday. It takes strong leadership,but it also takes the good effortsof every team player there- theyhave that covered! The Pest Man-agement Centre (PMC) seems tobe the place to go at Agricultureand Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)to get things done, the way theold research branch was 35 yearsago. Just one example is the efforton dislodgeable foliar residueswhich have been a roadblock togreenhouse registrations. Theirefforts along with PMRA shouldresolve that issue- when it lookedlike we would always be withoutsome uses. I would nominate thewhole group at PMC to the Min-ister’s “A” Team if one exists!

Peter MacLeod of CropLifeCanada is leaving (he actuallydeparts today while I am writingthis) and heading to Australia.Their gain is definitely our loss.

Peter has been at CropLife forover 10 years. In his calm, quietand professional way he has madehuge strides in advancingCropLife goals at every venue hehas attended. He has the completesupport of all their members- avery hard thing to achieve in anyorganization. His peer respect isoutstanding. I believe it has beenhis “Ron McLean” role that hasallowed others to be the “Don

Cherry” on contentious issues.Peter was always willing to takeon tough tasks- like golfing withstakeholders when he really did-n’t feel up to it! He is a trulyGood Sport, and it shows in allthe other things he does. CropLifewill miss him, growers will misshim, and I believe that PMRAwill miss him and his approach tothese issues. Good luck with yourfuture Peter, and keep up with themarathon running!

I would like to also recognizean industry member who is retir-ing this year. I first met Dr. (hewill hate that because he nevertraded on his Ph.D status) ChrisWarfield when he was at HealthCanada (in the years beforePMRA existed when AAFC wasin charge of pesticide registra-tion). He was deeply involved inpesticide residues and human

health in those days. We hadplenty of discussions (I lostalmost- [probably all!] my argu-ments but respected him for theway he convinced me!) Chris leftgovernment and spent the secondhalf of his career with BayerCropScience as head of their reg-ulatory group. He was willing togo to great lengths to supportMinor Use inclusions on newsubmissions. He was the one who

decided to push for total harmo-nization within their company onall U.S. and Canadian products.He led a charge at NAFTA torally similar action in other com-panies. (Successfully- and thanksto all the other companies whoare doing it as the norm today!) Ialways thought that Chris wassuccessful because he has muchmore in his life than just work.He is a ‘regular guy’ with a greatfamily group, a cottage, boats, oldcars, and even a backhoe and adump truck! It may be the bal-ance all those bring that allowhim his perspective. I am not surewhat his future plans will be, butI hope he is available to others inthe future to bring the balancedperspective to bear on problemsthat may elude solution in thehands of others.

On a personal level I need to

thank my curling team-mates forputting up with the frequentabsences on Monday nights! Itseems that even the best-madeplans can fall awry, and it seems Ihave missed an increasing num-ber of games this year. Curling isthe ultimate team sport, where theactions and results of each mem-ber impinge on all the others. Tomiss any team member makes thejob of all the others that muchtougher. Dan, Al and Larry- Iowe you big time for your will-ingness to accept my schedule!For the spares who filled in forme- my thanks as well!

The last kudos I want to giveis for the efforts of Mark Good-win from Pulse Canada. He hasstood up and been a leader in theGrower Requested Own Use(Pesticide Import Program) for allCanadian growers. It was Markwho set up the website to explainthe program, and to collect thecontainer fees. It was Mark whoso often made contact with com-panies to get their cooperation.This was on top of a busy ‘DayJob’ as a consultant with PulseCanada on pesticide issues. (Ontop of that he juggles the needs ofa large family while carrying afull travel schedule). Mark is oneof those people who has success-fully segued from government tothe pesticide industry and then onto the grower community. Allalong he was concerned aboutwhat was right for the grower.Our paths often cross in the year,and I know there are some keysolutions that he and other mem-bers of the Pulse Canada Execu-tive fought and won this year thatmean $$millions for their mem-bers. It is the above and beyondefforts that I think makes Markstand out among his peers.

I know there are many othersworthy of mention. I could fill thepaper with more examples. Theseare the ones I felt needed to cometo the forefront this year. I wisheveryone a joyous and HappyNew Year. May all your projectscome to fruition, may all yourproblems diminish, and may allthose near and dear to you seekyou out to thank you too!

CRAIG’S COMMENTS

Kudos for a job well done

CRAIG HUNTEROFVGA

MINOR USE

THE GROWER


JIM CHAPUT, OMAFRA, MINOR USECOORDINATOR, GUELPH

The Pest Management RegulatoryAgency (PMRA) recently announced theapproval of a minor use label expansion forPoast Ultra herbicide (sethoxydim) for con-trol of labeled weeds on Brussels sprouts inCanada. Poast Ultra herbicide was alreadylabeled for use on a wide range of Canadi-an specialty and minor crops includingmost Brassica vegetables, spinach, carrots,dry bulb onions, beets, potatoes, lettuce,chicory and many other fruit crops andfield crops.

This minor use submission was original-ly sponsored by OMAFRA in 2000 inresponse to minor use priorities identifiedby Brussels sprouts producers and exten-sion personnel. After significant datarequirements were issued by PMRA, theproject was taken on by the Agriculture &Agri-Food Canada, Pest Management Cen-tre (AAFC-PMC) in 2003.

Weed management has been a priority

for producers of Brussels sprouts and theregistration of Poast Ultra herbicide willprovide Brussels sprouts producers with aneffective and useful weed managementtool.

Poast Ultra herbicide can be applied at arate of 1.1 L product per ha in one postemergent application in a water volumethat ensures thorough coverage as per thecurrent label directions. For Brussels

sprouts use only one application per yearand apply between the one to six leaf stageof grasses. Do not exceed the maximumrate of 1.1 L per ha per season. The pre-harvest interval for Brussels sprouts is 70days.

Poast Ultra herbicide should be used inan integrated weed management programand in rotation with other managementstrategies. Follow all other precautions anddirections for use on the Poast Ultra herbi-cide label.

We also wish to acknowledge the assis-tance of the personnel of BASF CanadaInc. for their support of this registrationand the personnel of the Pest ManagementRegulatory Agency for evaluating andapproving this important pest managementtool.

For copies of the new minor use labelcontact Marion Paibomesai, OMAFRA,Guelph (519) 826-4963, Kristen Callow,OMAFRA, Ridgetown (519) 674-1335 orvisit www.agro.basf.ca/basf/agsolutions/SelectRegion.htm

MINOR USE

Expansions granted for weed control on Brussels sprouts

Bayer CropScience hasannounced the divestment of twofungicides to FMC Corporationheadquartered in Philadelphia.

The transaction includesRovral (active ingredient: iprodi-

one) and Sportak (active ingredi-ent: prochloraz) brand familiesfor worldwide agricultural usesoutside Europe.

“We are pleased to add theseestablished fungicides to FMC’s

broad portfolio of herbicides andinsecticides,” said Milton Steele,president, FMC AgriculturalProducts Group. “These arehighly effective, resistance man-agement technologies that are

used worldwide, primarily in thetree, fruit and vegetable markets,as well as in a wide range ofcrops, including cereals, canola,and soybeans.

Financial terms of the transac-

tion were not disclosed. Source: Bayer CropScience newsrelease, FMC news release

FMC acquires two fungicides from Bayer CropScience

THE GROWER

PAGE 28 -- JANUARY 2012

MINOR USE

Fresh vegetable growers push back pests with new armour KAREN DAVIDSON

Invasive species, onion thrips,cutworms, nematodes. Vegetablegrowers saw it all in 2011 as theyfought predators through rain andthen drought.

“Minor use is our number onepriority,” says Tom Miedema, re-elected as chair of Fresh Vegetable Growers of Ontario.

Access to crop protection prod-ucts for minor use and specialtycrops is improving says Jim Chaput, OMAFRA’s minor usecoordinator. Speaking at therecent Fresh Vegetable Growersof Ontario annual general meeting, Chaput says that 10years ago, growers had access to30 per cent of the reduced riskproducts that American competi-tors did. Today, that number iscloser to 66 per cent.

“Occupational exposure assess-ments are stricter in Canada,”says Chaput. “These differentassessments between the U.S. andCanada lead to non-harmonizedlabels with differing re-entryintervals, differing pre-harvestintervals, different rates and differing number of permittedapplications.”

In terms of new products in thepipeline, Chaput is excited aboutseveral new nematicides that arecurrently under review by the

Pest Management RegulatoryAgency (PMRA) or being devel-oped by registrants. Furthermore,several registrants are seekingglobal registrations of new products so that the label will bethe same in all jurisdictions.

At the international level, theconcept of determining globalresidue data zones is being seriously considered.

“I never thought I would seethis in my lifetime,” says Chaput.“It’s a revolutionary and progressive concept to have global residue zones establishedaround the world.”

The concept of global residue

zones will be further discussed ata meeting in Rome in February(www.gmup.org), hosted by theUnited Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization. “Anyscheme to eventually use globalresidue zones, if it ever comes tofruition, would require the agreement of all regulatory bodieswhich establish maximum residuelimits in individual countries andvia Codex.

In the meantime, changes areunderway locally in terms of howOntario’s ag ministry publishesits crop protection recommenda-tions. In February 2012, a newVegetable Crop Protection Guidewill be available as publication838. This guide is expected to beupdated every other year with asupplement in odd years. TheField Vegetable Guide, to beknown as publication 839, willcontain detailed agronomics andis destined for a longer shelf life.Expect this publication in 2013.

For some problematic fungisuch as downy mildew on cucur-bits, growers have pointed outthat some products don’t work.Efficacy tables will be included tohelp growers make informeddecisions on whether productswill offer control or suppression.

“The pest has to be listed on theproduct label in order to be in theguidebook,” says Elaine Roddy,OMAFRA vegetable specialist.

Growers were pleasantly sur-prised to learn that funds remainavailable for applied or adaptiveprojects through the AgriculturalAdaptation Council's (AAC)Canadian Agricultural AdaptationProgram (CAAP). Funding mustbe distributed by October 31,

2013. Eligible applicants includeorganizations and associations,non and for-profit companies andindividuals. According to DarylVermey, an AAC program coordinator, another round ofapplications will be reviewed January 26, 2012.

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It’s a revolutionary and progressive concept to haveglobal residue zones establishedaround the world.”Jim Chaput, OMAFRA

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the grower newspaper_january 2012

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