CELEBRATING 131 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION
APRIL 2011
VOLUME 61 NUMBER 04
Horticulture practises the honourable art of lobbying KAREN DAVIDSON Make every word tell. That prescription, from Strunk and White’s 1918 book “The Elements of Style,” holds true today in a different arena: lobbying. It’s the art of persuading, cajoling, communicating the facts to legislators. And it’s not necessarily about asking for money or for supporting a piece of legislation. Broader than lobbying, sometimes it’s straightup advocacy that works – asking for support of a cause. That’s what the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) and Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) did recently by inviting Members of Parliament to attend an Ottawa event called Hort for Health. The key message is simple. No legislation is required to make half your plate fruits and vegetables. Horticulture holds the card for reducing the health care bill in Canada. And to garnish the plate, horticulture’s contributions to the economy are worth $44 billion. What politician is not going to like that message? Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz (BattlefordsLloydminster) and federal fisheries and oceans minister Gail Shea (Egmont) agreed as did 23 other MPs who attended such as Larry Miller (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound), Peter Milliken (Kingston and the Islands), Wayne Easter (Malpeque). During a political week that saw heightened preelection tensions on the Hill, a canapé of cucumbers looked easy
INSIDE Mobile marketing connects to sustainable strawberries Page 5
Focus: Containers
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Essex County bees quarantined
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Let food be thy medicine. Hippocrates’ prescription resonates at the Horticulture for Health event held March 8 in Ottawa. A swath of politicians slipped away from the House of Commons to meet with members of the Canadian Horticulture Value Chain Roundtable. From left to right: Earl Kidson, chair of the Canadian Horticulture Value Chain Roundtable; federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz; Larry Miller, MP Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound; Andy Vermeulen, past-president, Canadian Horticultural Council and Brian Gilroy, chair, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. Photos by Patrick Doyle. to digest. Beyond the hor’s doeuvres, strategy is at work explains Anne Fowlie, CHC executive vice-president. The event was a chance for face-to-face relationship-building for a working group that’s been meeting for months. Horticulture for Health, in fact, is one of a seven-point platform led by the Horticulture Value Chain Roundtable co-chaired by Earl Kidson, Nova Scotia. One of its key objectives is to gain increased recognition by government of the value of horticulture, edible and non-edible, to the Canadian economy. Because horticulture is so diverse in its crop make-up, it’s not as easy to gain profile for
broccoli or pears as it is for grains and oilseeds. What does success look like? “Sometimes the metrics are difficult to measure when it’s encouraging the minister to talk up horticulture amongst cabinet colleagues,” says Fowlie. “It’s about connecting the dots with other departments on policy development. A salad bar in every school? That could be one outcome.” “Better access to fruits and vegetables is one key goal,” says Brian Gilroy, chair, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. “Statistics show that up to 1.7 million Canadians don’t have access to fruits and vegeta-
bles. I was just reading in the local newspaper that a family relying on the food bank had no fruits and vegetables, except for an onion, in their weekly basket. They were actually feeling sick at the end of the week.” Horticulture’s lobbying efforts are as much with health officials as agriculture officials. The nonedible partners in horticulture – the nursery segment – are keen to promote the mental health benefits of gardening. Hence their many contributions and presence at the event. The next major milestone is June 2011 when the working group will sew together its plan. One thread is to identify federal
representatives to speak in support of horticulture across a range of public events and also within other government departments such as health. “Unlike the American political system, which provides opportunity for horse-trading between and amongst the legislative and executive branches, political power is far more concentrated in Canada,” says Scott Proudfoot, principal of Hillwatch, a lobbying firm in Ottawa. “Aligning selfinterest with the public interest as defined by the Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet of the day is critical to lobbying success.” Contined on page 3
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AT PRESS TIME… Food Safety and Traceability accepting applications April 5 The Food Safety and Traceability Initiative (FSI) will be accepting applications for 2011, starting April 5 at 10 am EST. FSI provides cost-share funding to a maximum of $25,000 per operation to assist agri-food producers and processors to: - support the implementation of written food safety programs - support the implemention of a working traceability system - assist in the purchase and installation of equipment to improve food safety or traceability; or - train staff increasing the adoption of food safety and traceability The updated application form and application guidebook version 3.0 are now available on the Growing Forward website: www.ontario.ca/foodsafety. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their complete application form version 3.0 on time as annual funding is limited and applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications may be submitted by email, fax, mail or in person. If applicants have any questions, contact the Growing Forward Contact Line at 1-888-479-3931.
New Fees for the Destination Inspection Service (DIS) After many years of effort,
regulatory amendments were introduced in Canada Gazette Part II on February 16, 2011, which will begin the three year phase-in of full cost recovery for the Destination Inspection Service of CFIA. This was in response to the produce industry's request for a number of improvements in this important service. Effective May 16th, 2011 inspection fees will change from a weight based structure to an hourly rate of $99 per hour.
New restrictions could affect shipments on wooden pallets between Canada, U.S. A new proposal from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) would remove the exemption from ISPM 15 on wood packaging material moving between Canada and the United States in both directions beginning in 2011. “If adopted, the proposal will have a significant impact on shipments on pallets,” says Gary Sharon, vice-president, Litco Intl Inc., which supplies presswood pallets that are already exempt from ISPM 15 without further treatment. “Right now, wooden pallets move back and forth between Canada and the United States without the special treatment that's required under ISPM 15, the regulation that applies to wood products shipped into most other countries,” Sharon explains. Beginning in
NEWSMAKERS spring 2011, there will be a period of “informed compliance.” During this time, wood packaging material that is not treated will be allowed to enter. However, the carrier will be notified that wood packaging will be required to comply once ISPM 15 is fully implemented.
Will Bank of Canada change interest rates April 12? The Bank of Canada has a tricky balancing act given that the U.S. “Fed” is keeping rates at record- low levels. Any increase by the Bank of Canada could put upward pressure on the loonie, already at three-year highs. Future direction on Canadian monetary policy may become clearer when the central bank publishes a new quarterly forecast the day after Mark Carney’s April 12 decision. Will policy makers adhere to their two per cent target for inflation and will they stick to their forecast of the economy running at full tilt at the end of 2012? Quickly evolving global events in Japan and Libya may alter those projections. Several bank economists have been quoted in the business press that the benchmark interest rate should rise to a more “neutral” setting of about 3.5 per cent. However, the fragility of the recovery would likely dictate gradual increases.
The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) has selected Ron Lemaire as the new president to succeed Dan Dempster who retires this spring. After spending many years with CPMA as executive vice-president and director of marketing until 2008, Lemaire rejoins the team April 1. Most recently, he has been vicepresident of market development for the Canadian Green Building Council.
Jack Bates, a blueberry and potato grower from Ladner, British Columbia assumes the helm of the Canadian Horticultural Council. He is joined by vice-president Murray Porteous, Ontario; Tony Kirkland, Alberta; Claude Daniel, Quebec and Alvin Keenan, Atlantic Canada. Andy Vermeulen is pastpresident and Anne Fowlie is executive vice-president. The Ontario Tender Fruit Board has hired Sarah Marshall to fill the newly created position of marketing director. She was formerly the new projects coordinator for both tender fruit and apple boards. She will collect and disseminate crop and market intelligence for growers, marketers and retailers to aid production and marketing decisions. The move is effective April 1. Congratulations to Wes and Briar Wiens, Gemmrich W. Nursery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, who won Ontario’s 2011 Outstanding Young Farmers competition. They are thirdgeneration propagators of grape vines. Runners-up are John and Maxine Zekveld who operate a garden market near Reeces Corners. Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association recently honoured several members. Tom Wilson and Nicole Judge of Spirit Tree Estate Cidery won the Outstanding Farm Market Award. Frank, Mike and Suzanne Whittamore of Whittamore’s Farm Market were presented with the Leadership Award. Anita Stewart won the inaugural Ontario Farm Fresh Food Ambassador Award for her commitment in promoting local food producers. The 2011 board of Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association is headed by president, Jesse Lauzon, Milton; vice-president Steve Smith, Port Elgin; past-president Amy Strom, Guelph; Leslie Forsythe, Uxbridge; Jay Howell, St George; Brian Hugli, Pembroke; Hollis Murphy, Alliston; Colleen Pingle, Hampton; Geri Rounds, Elmvale. Cathy Bartolic, Aurora, remains secretary-treasurer.
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British Columbia’s new agriculture minister is Don McRae, a Vancouver Island Comox Valley MLA who will serve under premier Christy Clark. As the second agriculture minister to serve in six months, he will also be involved in the province’s Environment and Land Use committee. Ms. Clark’s first major announcement was to raise the minimum wage from $8 to $8.75 per hour effective May 1. The wage is expected to rise to $10.25 by May 2012.
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The Ontario Pesticides Advisory Committee has a new chair in Frank Ingratta. Since retiring as deputy minister, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Rural Affairs, he has been active as a consultant. The committee reviews the content and operation of the Pesticides Act and its regulations, reviews all Ontario government publications on pesticides and pest control, reviews and makes recommendations on the classification of all new federally registered pest control products prior to their sale and use in Ontario, and advises the Minister on matters relating to pesticides and pest management. Murray Porteous, Waterford, Ontario has been appointed to the board of directors of AgriCorp which administers crop insurance and market revenue programs to provide farmers with protection against disasters and low-income years. Ken Slingerland, OMAFRA tender fruit and grape specialist, based at Vineland Station, took retirement March 31. He started as a peach technician 35 years ago.
APRIL 2011 –– PAGE 3 THE GROWER
The honourable art of lobbying Continued from page 1 While Hillwatch has no ties with the horticulture industry, their 2004 article “The Elements of Successful Lobbying” offers insight into how to deal with big government in a more manageable, predictable and productive way. “The elements stay the same, “says Proudfoot. “Social media has added another medium but has not changed the methodology.” Through almost 30 years of observation, Proudfoot says that farm-based organizations must be able to mobilize and engage their members to compete against many other interests. They are competing for face time and “mind share” with ministers. Precision is required in the “ask.” What exactly do you want? In the current pre-election hyperbole – both federal and
provincial -- lobbying doesn’t work very well. “It’s one of the worst times to reach out to politicians who do not have the time to understand the details of serious issues. If you send your organization’s wish list, you’ll just get a standard answer from the party’s platform. If I was a farmer, my time would be better spent out on the land this spring.” With that advice in mind, a simple cocktail party is what the doctor of lobbying ordered.
Anne Fowlie (R), executive vice-president of the Canadian Horticultural Council, poses with Jane Proctor, Canadian Produce Marketing Association, who organized the Hort for Health event along with the Canadian Ornamental Alliance.
Canadian Horticultural Council blooms in Ottawa The 89th annual general meeting, held March 8 – 11, represented the pinnacle of a year’s work from diverse commodities and committees. Here are the highlights with a full report on resolutions starting on page 22. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz addresses AGM The minister announced $743,000 to help increase exports and improve record-keeping through GPS technology for potato growers. The monies are to develop promotional materials, participate in trade shows and international trade missions. The CHC will also develop a longterm international strategy for the greenhouse vegetable sub-sector. Governance model to be amended The CHC executive and finance committees will be merged into one executive committee and will include the past-president. A separate three-person audit committee will be established, determined by members and supported by the executive vice-president and financial controller.
Greenhouse industry agrees on greenhouse definition To protect the reputation of vegetable greenhouse produce, the industry has come to consensus on a detailed definition that spells out the structures and methods of production. This definition will be submitted to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency so that greenhouse can be clearly regulated. Feasibility study needed to assess national promotion and research agency Pending a positive outcome from a feasibility study, the CHC will establish a national promotion and research agency through the Farm Products Agencies Act. This allows a fee to be collected on fruit and vegetables imported into Canada for research and promotion activities of like crops. The United States currently collects a check-off on such crops as blueberries. Potato Committee Executive renamed Canadian Potato Council
Potato Committee Chair Keith Kuhl advised that the Potato Committee Executive had adopted a resolution to rename the group as Canadian Potato Council. This group represents more than 1,400 commercial potato growers in Canada who generated more than $1 billion at the farmgate from 360,000 acres in 2010. Dan Dempster receives Honourary Life Membership Dan Dempster, former executive vice-president of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, was given an Honourary Life Membership to the Canadian Horticultural Council. Set to retire in April, Dempster joins the list of only six honorees since 1922 who have been recognized for exemplary service to the horticultural sector. Adrian Huisman receives Outstanding Achievement Award For 45 years of service, Ontario member Adrian Huisman was recognized for his strong advocacy of the fruit industry.
INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
FOOD SAFETY
MARKETING
INNOVATION
SEEDS
Blueberry sorter launched in Belgium
Japan tests food radiation
Australia breeds novel citrus fruit
New seed station in Culiacan, Mexico
Belgian Electronic Sorting Technology (BEST) is launching a blueberry sorter. It comprises the latest optical components to sort on colour, reject off-spec produce and further inspect blueberries to remove structural defects using lasers. The belt is thin and round to ensure gentle handling and a “white bloom” on the berries. The machine can be equipped with a different number of belts to suit different varieties. It also features a simple graphical user interface so operators can easily increase or decrease sensitivities on red, green or soft fruit. Other types of fruit can be sorted such as cherries, cranberries. For more information, go to www.bestsorting.com. - BEST news release
Radiation exceeding government limits was detected in milk and spinach produced close to the Fukushima Dai-Ichi plant, which was damaged by Japan’s March 11 earthquake and tsunami. “Unless the authorities are clear about the levels of contamination in produce and regions, there are going to be harmful rumors,” said Toshihiko Baba, a spokesman for the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives, which represents more than 4.8 million farmers. A very high reading came from a sample of spinach collected on March 18 from Hitachi city, 97 kilometers (60 miles) south of the crippled plant. The spinach, which didn’t enter the food chain, contained 27 times the safe limit of radiation. -- FreshPlaza.com
New wholesale market opens in Philadelphia
The winner of the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award 2011 was the citrus fruit Limeburst Fingerlimes (Australia). The juice of this fruit is contained in vesicles similar to caviar that burst when chewed, releasing a tangy lime flavour. The fruit was introduced to the market in spring 2010 and weighs 25-30 grams. Fifteen years of research and development are behind the new product. Second and third place honours went to the herbs and vegetables in the Jamie Oliver "Grow Your Own" range (Gasa Group, Denmark) and the Almond Mushroom (Prime Champ, Netherlands), a mushroom with a distinctive nutty flavour. - Fruit Logistica news release
Nunhems, the vegetable seed business of Bayer CropScience, has opened a new breeding station in Culiacan, in the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa. The mandate is to develop new varieties of greenhouse tomato, hot and sweet pepper, and cucumber. On an area of 17.45 hectares (43.12 acres) of greenhouses and open fields, the station offers space to cross, evaluate and select new hybrid seed varieties with added value for vegetable growers in Mexico and beyond. New varieties are carefully examined for their performance with regard to yield, quality and growing habits, and only the best varieties are selected for commercialization. - Nunhems news release
After a decade of planning, the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market opens a new state-of-the-art, 700,000 square foot facility on Sunday, April 3. The new market will maintain the cold chain more effectively, promising fresher products with a longer shelf life. It serves a 500mile radius. For more information, visit www.pwpm.net.
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The sustainability trend is impacting key global commodities KAREN DAVIDSON Sustainability may seem like a topic to be discussed at the 60,000-foot level. But when a major grocer asks what pesticides you are using and if they contribute to sustainable practices, then suddenly it’s a ground zero conversation. It’s worth knowing how these business conversations are evolving around the world says Philippa Guest, Agronomica Limited based in the U.K and keynote speaker at the recent annual meeting of the Canadian Horticultural Council. “The voluntary standards for food safety are now shifting to voluntary standards for sustainability,” she says, citing the policies of international food giants such as Unilever, Nestle, Pepsi-co and Walmart which are sourcing mainstream product lines from sustainable producers. “Food safety is important but sustainability is taking centre stage. And in this dynamic and fast-moving landscape, there will be winners and losers.” Markets for sustainable products have expanded significantly over the last five years, growing much faster than those for conventional products. The volume of compliant goods is still less than 10 per cent of global production in certain sectors, says
“
The voluntary standards for food safety are now shifting to voluntary standards for sustainability. Food safety is important but sustainability is taking centre stage. And in this dynamic and fast-moving landscape, there will be winners and losers.” - Philippa Guest
Guest, but look at the trends in coffee, tea, bananas and cocoa, for starters. Sustainable coffee sales have quadrupled in the last five years, prodded by partners such as Kraft and Starbucks. Tea growing practices have changed to allow the sustainable moniker to be placed on almost eight per cent of global exports, under the direction of Twinings and Sara Lee. Sustainable banana production now comprises 20 per cent of global sales a 63 per cent increase in the last two years – pulled through the chain by Chiquita and Dole. Not to be outdone, Cadbury and Kraft have encouraged changes in cocoa production, although only 1.2 per cent can be deemed sustainable at this juncture.
Emerging initiatives should be watched closely, says Guest, with palm oil, soy, cotton and now fruits and vegetables on the sustainability plate. With these global trends gaining momentum, many questions need to be answered on the actual impacts on agronomic practices, whether growers have a voice in the supply chain and just as significantly, whether consumers can distinguish between the initiatives. To date, these are voluntary
sustainability initiatives, however Guest asks if complementary government policy initiatives can help. Not surprisingly, the United Nations launched the International Institute for Sustainable Development in 2008 to forge a common language. Environmental criteria include soil, biodiversity, GMO prohibition, waste, energy, greenhouse gas emissions, water and synthetic inputs. Social criteria revolve largely around International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions as well as
health and safety and employment conditions. No sustainability effort would be valid without economic criteria. These invariably include such things as product quality and minimum wage requirements. For a more in-depth look at how sustainability is working in the field of fruits and vegetables, look at Tesco, the world’s thirdlargest retailer. In 1992, the U.K.headquartered company launched Nurture as an independently accredited quality program that audits and monitors fruit and vegetables. Today, 15,000 growers from 70 countries adhere to the company’s exacting standards. Want to be a Tesco supplier? You must prove rational use of plant protection products, fertilizer and manure, prevent pollution, protect human health, practise efficient use of energy and water, recycle and re-use materials, respect wildlife and conserve the environment. As growers contemplate their 2011 seasons and beyond, consider that the impact of voluntary sustainability standards is significant and increasing globally. Canadian growers have a good story to tell in not only food safety but environmental and social sustainability. The sciencebased regulatory environment is supportive. “You are well-placed to make a significant contribution to the future global food security challenge,” says Guest. “It’s vital to be aware, informed and actively engaged with key influencers and decision-makers, both nationally and internationally. Learn the lessons from Europe!”
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APRIL 2011 –– PAGE 5 THE GROWER
Mobile technology connects sustainability-conscious consumers with local growers KAREN DAVIDSON Top 10 Produce, based in California’s Salinas Valley, has launched a strawberry brand called Locale that is 100 per cent traceable to the farm of origin. Ten independent growers in the Salinas Valley currently supply the brand, which allows them to use the GS1 barcode on their produce as a quick response code for consumers. By downloading ShopSavvy, a free smartphone application, consumers can scan the GS1 barcode and instantly link with the grower’s profile, website, production practices and a map of the farm -- right at the point of purchase. If that information isn’t enough to tip the strawberries into the grocery cart, the consumer can check out the grower’s Facebook and Twitter accounts to understand more about the grower’s personal growing philosophy. “We expect to sell 500,000 cases of strawberries under the Locale brand this season,” says John Bailey, executive director of Top 10 Produce LLC. Bailey reports that some cases will be shipped as far as Ontario and Quebec. “The Locale brand is not just about local – it’s about transparency. This kind of branding means explaining where the produce comes from and how it was
that allows smaller growers to compete in an era of hypercompetitiveness, while exceeding the case-level traceability recommended by the Produce Traceability Initiative. Interestingly, the business arose out of the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act which requires traceability, an additional regulatory burden on American growers. “Satisfying all these regulatory requirements is a complex and time-consuming legal issue, and our growers would prefer to have us handle their legal issues, so that they can focus on farming,” says Bailey, himself a practising attorney. When he founded Top 10 Produce in June 2009, he was motivated to protect many of the smaller independent growers at risk of losing their farms or
grown. The actual grower serves as the spokesperson for the brand, as opposed to a cartoon character as has often been the case with produce brands of the past.” Alexander Muse, co-founder of ShopSavvy, is excited about how the shopping app is taking off for produce. One week after the Locale strawberry brand launched with “Know Your Farmer” traceability in mid-March, 287,000 downloads of the ShopSavvy app
were recorded in just one week across the United States – an alltime record prompting national and international media coverage. “Top 10 Produce is taking a leadership role in providing grower information to sustainabilityconscious grocery shoppers,” says Muse. His software also allows “hyper relevant” advertising, coupons, warranty offers, promotions and other information at the point of highest purchase intent
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while shoppers are standing in the retailer’s store with a potential purchase in hand. With Locale strawberries pioneering this new turf, many other commodities are set to follow. Growers can remain independent and profitable while aggregating produce at a central cooler, adhering to Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) label requirements imposed by larger retailers and marketing under a unified brand, to maximize economies of scale. “Basically, Top 10 Produce is about providing leverage,” explains Bailey. “Growers who sign up pay $280 per year for the service and we provide the GTINs and label design for them to comply with the Produce Traceability Initiative. We also provide point-of-sale marketing materials to help growers achieve some return on investment for their traceability program.” While presumably receiving premiums for the Locale brand, growers can also save money by buying containers together and sharing the costs of hydro-cooling. Top 10 Produce is a service
“
We expect to sell 500,000 cases of strawberries under the Locale brand this season. The Locale brand is not just about local – it’s about transparency. This kind of branding means explaining where the produce comes from and how it was grown. - John Bailey leases. The trademark name pays homage to the highest quality grade or top label. The number 10 references the fact that all growers are encouraged to contribute at least 10 per cent of their crop to supply local restaurants, retail stores, institutions and farmers’ markets. Confident of future success, Bailey also trademarked Top 10 in Canada, hoping that a Canadian partner would one day replicate the idea with local growers north of the 49th parallel. With mobile technology proliferating at a rapid rate, the timing seems ripe.
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Communicating IPM – A potato industry collaboration with McDonald’s LEIGH MORROW AND YVES LECLERC, MCCAIN FOODS USA, EASTON ME; MCCAIN FOODS (CANADA), FLORENCEVILLE, NB During late winter 2009, the potato processors McCain Foods, Lamb Weston, and Simplot were approached by McDonald’s Corporation to participate in a response to a shareholder request to identify opportunities for pesticide use reduction in their potato supply. This shareholder activity was reported in the May 2009 issue of the Spudman magazine and many other news outlets. Since that time the processors, McDonald’s and others have been working toward the
Section
similar markets and regions. The web survey is expected to be functional during March 2011 and the reports activated during summer 2011. Participants in this process have been the processors noted above, McDonald’s, the National Potato Council (NPC), the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC), several growers from each country, and the IPM Institute of North America. In addition, the Northeast IPM Center has granted $15,000 toward building the web site. Initially the team scoped out existing surveys, such as the Canadian Environmental Farm Plan and the NPC National IPM Protocol For Potatoes, and others to develop a comprehensive list of best practices.
# BPs
Management & worker protection Soil pesticide applications Seed Planting Cultivation Weed control Insect control Disease control Advanced crop & pest management Pesticide handling & application Nutrient management Irrigation water management Post-harvest Soil & water conservation
12 7 20 11 4 16 20 13 7 12 16 16 5 15
implementation of an industry-wide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) survey to be delivered over the internet and updated annually by growers. In addition to the survey, the web site will also provide public reports, general in nature, and secure grower reports with detailed information allowing benchmarking against
cumulative points systems to score the relative success of IPM implementation on the farm. In our survey we developed a ‘tiered’ approach whereby each practice belongs to one of four categories on a lowinput to high-input continuum referred to as the Basic, Steward, Expert, and Master levels. During development it naturally
survey are the scoring system, which should be understandable to the general public; the web delivery of survey to growers, allowing for easy updating in subsequent seasons; and the accessible public and grower reports. Feedback from McDonald’s and the shareholder interest group is that they are
occurred that more practices emerged for the low-input versus the high-input levels. Scoring is simply reporting the percentage of practices implemented within each level. An index can be calculated by summation of the four levels with a maximum possible of 400 per cent or 4.0. Examples of the web reports are shown above. The first chart shows pilot survey results and the second set of charts show examples of public and grower custom reports that will appear on the website over time. The unique features of this IPM
pleased with this approach to date. The overall objectives of this project have been to 1) communicate IPM implementation to consumers, 2) provide a benchmarking system to growers, and to 3) identify and transfer best practices. Leigh Morrow, director of agronomy, McCain Foods USA, presented this information to the recent 19th Annual Northeast Potato Technology Forum, Fredericton, New Brunswick. Yves Leclerc is director of agronomy, McCain Foods Canada.
Type of practices Training and management Chemical & alternative Cultural Cultural Cultural Chemical & alternative Chemical & scouting Chemical & scouting Monitoring & reporting Chemical procedures Cultural Cultural Chemical & cultural Cultural
Through a series of deliberations and pilot testing with growers the final list of 174 best practices was established. The survey sections and number of practices in each are listed here. Any growing and resource management practice that could impact the health of the crop was considered. Past IPM surveys have resorted to
Projects decided at Biopesticides Priority Setting Workshop LESLIE CASS The Pest Management Centre’s Pesticide Risk Reduction (PRR) Program held its second annual Biopesticide Priority Setting Workshop in Ottawa on Monday, March 21, 2011. More than 130 stakeholders including growers, biopesticide industry representatives, provincial specialists, researchers and other
federal government representatives took part in discussions to select priority pest management problems for which registrations of biopesticides would be pursued. Biopesticides include microorganisms, semichemicals, pheromones and other nonconventional products which can be used for pest management. Most biopesticides have a low
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Crop Group
Crop
Target pest
Biopesticide Product
Type of Registration
Major Field Crops and Pulses
Canola
Diamond back moth Xentari
New product
Major Field Crops and Pulses
Hops
Downy mildew
New product
Outdoor fruits and vegetables
Strawberry
Tarnished plant bug Naturalis
Outdoor fruits and vegetables
Cranberry
Sedges and rushes
Munger Vinegar New product Plus
Greenhouse food crops
Tomato
Powdery mildew
Prev-Am
New product
Greenhouse food crops
Cucumber
Thrips
SorbiShield
New product
Ornamentals
GH Ornamentals
Thrips
Suffoil-X
New product
Ornamentals
Turf (sod, golf course)
Hairy chinch bug
MBI-203
Label Expansion
risk profile, short or no preharvest interval requirements, and new modes of action which contribute to improved resistance management for growers. The PMC’s PRR Program works with growers, researchers, biopesticide manufacturers and the PMRA to facilitate the development and registration of biopesticides, through research funding, generating regulatory data, and preparing regulatory submissions to the PMRA. Since
2005, 20 regulatory submissions have been made resulting in the registration of close to 200 new uses. Biopesticides can improve competitiveness of Canadian growers as effective solutions for the management of economically important pests, and when incorporated into an integrated pest management system, by enhancing resistance management. These products also can contribute to the reduction of
Sonata
Label Expansion
trade barriers, since most biopesticides are exempt from Maximum Residue Level (MRL) and pre-harvest interval requirements. Two priority projects were selected for each of four crop production groups: the eight selected priorities are indicated in the table above. Leslie Cass is manager, Pesticide Risk Reduction Program, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
APRIL 2011 –– PAGE 7 THE GROWER
Grapes worth celebrating PURE PROTECTION LEADS TO PURE PERFECTION
Spray Oil 13E. Protection at its purest – CAS# 8042-47-5 Introducing Spray Oil 13E, from the largest producer of white oils. It’s proof that not all oils are created equal, and not all grapes achieve perfection. It is an innovative isoparaffin oil that offers the highest purity levels on the market with CAS# 8042-47-5. Spray Oil 13E effectively protects your high value grape crops by quickly eradicating pests and disease and then continuing to provide extended protection. All without any phytoxicity or burning issues. So use it early
to avoid problems from developing, as it won’t damage your crop and it reduces the need for resorting to traditional toxic chemicals later. As many pesticides have been delisted, your choices are limited and becoming more so every day. So when you have a choice to make, be sure to choose the purest – Spray Oil 13E. It’s an effective choice with unlimited possibilities. For more product information call 1-866-335-3369.
PAGE 8 –– APRIL 2011 THE GROWER
Lobbying the system
BRIAN GILROY CHAIR, OFVGA
The most difficult part of writing this piece for The Grower is deciding what to write about. The most topical/newsy item is how the federal budget failed to gain the support of any of the opposition parties and the federal election rhetoric has reached a fevered pitch. It has been interesting listening to the different political parties explaining why we are probably headed for an election. An election that very few Canadians want. I heard one reporter state that it sounded like everyone was blaming everyone else for a pending election call,
she even commented on how the budget/potential election bantering sounded like one that was suited for a school yard. Early in March representatives from the horticulture sector spent a week in Ottawa to discuss and stategize how to improve the profitability of our sector and to network with some of our federal government’s elected and employed public servants. Generally speaking the meetings and networking opportunities can be classed as successful. The farmers of horticultural commodities across Canada spoke about the
benefits that we contribute to the economy of Canada and how we can and want to do more to improve the health of Canadians. The challenges facing many in the horticultural sector are very real and very serious but recommended solutions to the problems are always part of the presentation to government. The health care crisis, related to poor diet, is one of the most significant challenges that Canadians are faced with today and we feel strongly that we can be part of the solution and the Horticulture for Health initiative will hopefully
gain significant traction in the near future. I can only hope that “The System” will be able to embrace the multiple winwin-win opportunities that we see in working to ensure that all Canadians have access to reasonably priced fruit and vegetables. If we are now into a federal election campaign let us hope that 2011 will go down not only as a year we had both a federal and provincial election but as a year when being a farmer of horticultural crops was profitable.
Ten commandments of fruit and vegetable marketing
ART SMITH CEO, OFVGA The winter snow has all but disappeared and it is time to get fields ready for planting. Now we all know that planting is just one of the first steps toward the ultimate goal of harvesting the crop for maximum returns. Harvest for most may seem like a long way off but trust me it is not. The steps that are taken between now and harvest will go a long way in determining
your returns. From seed and varietal selection to cultural practices and market preparation, everything you do has the potential to impact your returns. Back in university, we had a professor who shared with us his rules to better fruit and vegetable marketing. Unfortunately, I did not keep my original notes on this subject but I have come across a similar set published in the Australian Citrus News in September of 1980. I believe they are as pertinent today as they were back then and in fact in light of global trading, probably even more so. With that in mind, I thought I would share with you these “Ten Commandments of Fruit and Vegetable Marketing”: 1. This is the First Commandment. It is the Law of Profits that good markets exist only where demand goes ahead of supply. Therefore, build demand and yet more demand for your fruits and vegetables.
2. And the Second Commandment is like unto the First: Teach your customers diligently the merits of fruits and vegetables; for only a fool buys that for which he knows no use. Prepare the market carefully in advance; for education costs only cents per box but the price of ignorance is in dollars.
vegetables, for the seller of a million boxes attracts the hard cash buyers, but the push cart peddler must hunt the byways and alleys for a bad check customer.
3. A thousand growers shall not attempt to sell their product to seven buyers; for verily the growers will cut each others’ prices to pieces and the buyers will think and laugh. But seven sellers make a firm market and fatten the pocket book of all. 4. He who sells by undercutting his neighbour’s price has thrown a boomerang which will return to smite him. His neighbour shall cut in his turn and both will be sorely wounded in the hip pocket. 5. You shall not attempt to market a puny volume of fruits and
6. Unless you are a professional salesman as well as a grower, hire yourself a salesman; for the amateur cannot compete equally with the professional and the buyers of fruits and vegetables today are surely professionals. 7. Guard diligently against overfilling the nearby market, for a glut ruins the price level and the blight speeds rapidly over land and sea. Offer your produce to many cities, for fruits and vegetables grow only in certain spots of this terrestrial ball, but all the people of all nations hunger for fruit and vegetables.
price cutters enter, the merchant withholds buying lest his competitor buys cheaper or tomorrow’s price will be lower; and the unsold fruits and vegetables pile up like a dammed river into the bursting thereof. 9. An honest grade is a delight to all merchants and brings reorders; but a deceitful or a sloppy pack induces wrath and rejection. 10. Forget not that the eye controls the purse strings; that bruises are repulsive and poor produce looks shabby; and that your product must sell alongside 100 other fruits and vegetables. Adapted from Australian Citrus News, September 1980, by Michigan State University Cooperative Extension Service.
8. Strive mightily for a stable market, for therein the merchant buys tomorrow’s needs freely and with confidence. But when the
Retailers raise the bar on food safety requirements
ADRIAN HUISMAN ONTARIO TENDER FRUIT PRODUCERS
Recently, one of our major retail partners stepped up their supplier’s food safety requirements. Effective in 2012, all their suppliers as well as the growers who ship product to those suppliers will be required to be on the CanadaGAP (or equivalent) Program. This means that all growers, regardless of size, must be on the CanadaGAP Program during the 2011 season and have an audit certificate. All tender fruit and fresh grape shippers are already on the program, now all their growers must be as well. The
shippers will be required to supply their retailers a list of all their growers and be prepared to provide copies of those growers’ certificates upon request. This is not a request. It is a demand and one that must be taken seriously if you want to keep shipping to those retailers. There was a good article in the March issue of the American Fruit Grower on “Food Safety Bonuses” and the many benefits growers should consider from having food safety programs which included: • Liability - Being able to
STAFF Publisher: Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Editor: Karen Davidson, 416-252-7337, kdavidson@ecomente.ca Production: Carlie Robertson, ext. 221, production@thegrower.org Advertising: Herb Sherwood, 519-380-0118, hsherwood@cogeco.ca
OFFICE 355 Elmira Road North, Unit 105 Guelph, Ontario N1K 1S5 CANADA Tel. 519-763-8728 • Fax 519-763-6604
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 next issue. 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 the sole owner of The Grower. All editorials and opinions expressed in The Grower are those of the newspaper’s editorial staff and/or contributor, and do not necessarily reflect the view of the association. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either whole or in part without the prior written consent of the publisher. P.M. 40012319
The Grower is printed 12 times a year and sent to all members of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association who have paid $30.00 (plus G.S.T.) per year for the paper through their commodity group or container fees. Others may subscribe as follows by writing to the office:
$30.00 (+ G.S.T.) / year in Canada $40.00/year International Subscribers must submit a claim for missing issues within four months. If the issue is claimed within four months, but not available, The Grower will extend the subscription by one month. No refunds on subscriptions.
demonstrate due diligence in the event of a recall • Crisis Management – Proof that your product is not included in a recall of like product from other suppliers in order to maintain and or expand your market • Market Retention and Preferential Access – If you want to retain your market access or have preferred access, you must be on a credible program • New Market Access – Better chance if you are on a credible program • Increased efficiencies resulting from a thorough inspection and
ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2011 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Chair Vice-Chair Fruit Director Veg Director Director
Brian Gilroy, Meaford Mac James, Leamington Ray Duc, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Ryder, Delhi Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Apples Fresh Vegetable - Other Tender Fruit ON Asparagus Grws’. Mkg. Brd. GGO/Fresh Grape Growers Fresh Vegetable - Muck ON. Potato Board Small Fruit/Berries ON. Ginseng Growers’ Greenhouse Greenhouse
Brian Gilroy, Meaford Mary Shabatura, Windham Centre Fred Meyers, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Ryder, Delhi Ray Duc, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Verkaik, Bradford Mac James, Leamington Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin Doug Bradley, Tillsonburg Jan Vander Hout, Waterdown Don Taylor, Durham
improvements to packing and storage operations One final point made in the article was that regardless of how innocent you may be, when a product gets recalled, it affects everyone not just the guilty party. All you can do is try to mitigate your losses and recover through proving that you are on a credible food safety program. My final point – YOU HAVE NO CHOICE AND IT MUST BE DONE THIS YEAR IN ORDER TO HAVE ASSURED MARKET ACCESS FOR 2012.
OFVGA SECTION CHAIRS Crop Protection Research Property Labour Safety Nets CHC AGCare/Nutrient Man.
Charles Stevens, Newcastle Harold Schooley, Simcoe David Lambert, Niagara-on-the-Lake Ken Forth, Lynden Mark Wales, Alymer Murray Porteous, Simcoe Charles Stevens, Newcastle
APRIL 2011 –– PAGE 9 THE GROWER
Trumpet your bounty of real, normal food
OWEN ROBERTS UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH The majority’s interest is a burning issue in our polarized society. In agriculture, it’s a huge matter for policy makers trying to take into account public opinion when making evidence-based decisions on food production. The vocal minority works hard to influence opinion about food, especially if it can demonize technology. But the silent majority tends to vote with its wallet, typically patronizing low-cost food options. That means farmers have to
use every advantage possible to produce low-cost food, and processors and retailers have to go to increasingly great lengths to keep it real. Such measures start in the field, greenhouse, and even the garden. But they don’t stop there. At an international food and agriculture summit sponsored by the Reuters news agency in March, global leaders underlined how much they’re paying attention to concerns about matters such as processing. For example, Kerr Dow, vice-president of global food technology for Cargill Food Ingredients and Systems, said people are reluctant to “eat stuff that's weird.” He said consumers want “normal food.” And Julia Stewart, CEO of the company that controls the popular Applebee’s restaurant chain, said a poll of her patrons showed they’d be inclined to become regulars if they believed the food was prepared on-site. She says that’s made her company “maniacally focused on…getting away from making food taste like it came out of the can at the back of the house.”
This bodes well for Ontario fruit and vegetable producers. What can be less artificial than “normal” fruit and vegetables? I suspect that in their zeal for real food, most people are unconcerned about storage- and transportation technology used to keep it looking and tasting fresh for extended periods. As the global leaders intimate, it’s the image (and taste, of course) that counts, and the most successful companies and farmers will be those who convince consumers their food is “normal food.” But since when is normal food profitable? For decades, Ontario farmers produced good old normal food, and many went broke. People thought normal was blasé and not worth a premium. Now, though, it’s in fashion, thanks to the local food movement. And no matter how you roll the dice, Ontario food – whether it’s baskets of fruit and vegetables, or acres of corn headed for distillers – is local food. The key for farmers is to capitalize on local food’s popularity and make it profitable. Some consumers would be aghast if they thought the farm sector
was thinking this way. But they need to realize that if Canadian farmers aren’t profitable, food production of any type is unsustainable. Last month I was fortunate to meet Ottawa native Nancy Levandowski, the director of dining for midwest U.S. powerhouse Iowa State University. She and her crew of mostly students serve thousands of meals a day at their campus, which is totally committed to agriculture. It’s smack in the middle of farming country, in one of the U.S.’s most important farming states. She wanted to introduce local food options, knowing they’d be more expensive than cheap imports (from other than Canada, of course), and keenly aware that students are on a tight budget. So in 2008, she surveyed 1,000 students and asked if they would be willing to pay more if the University purchased food from Iowa farmers. Almost three-quarters of them said yes. More than half said they’d pay up to six per cent more. And that was even before the local food movement really took off.
Now, local food is firmly entrenched in the university’s cafeterias. Through various promotions, and by working with the school's Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, students learn about the Iowa farmers who are producing their meals. Levandowksi’s biggest problem is sourcing local food. It’s one thing for farmers to sell it at a roadside stand; it’s another thing to supply it on a regular basis to a campus full of hungry students. That said, her local food purchases (dairy, produce, meat and honey) neared $640,000 last fiscal year. In this case, the majority ruled, and everyone wins. Levandowski does indeed offer lower-cost alternatives for those who said they didn’t want to pay more. But intuitively, people are coming to understand someone, usually farmers, get shafted by cheap food. And in places where farming is increasingly on the radar screen – places such as Iowa and, I maintain, Ontario -- that’s no longer acceptable. Owen Roberts can be reached at owen@uoguelph.ca.
buying more of their food from independent grocers, on-farm markets (40%) and pick-yourown (29%), as well as buying a share of the crop − communityshared agriculture (11%). These humble yet mighty markets are showing how to heal the obesity crisis with more homeprepared food and a greater intake of fresh fruit and vegetables. For some, the farmers’ market is the best way of connecting ‘field to table’ in their search for local food. They want fresh: it tastes better closer to the source, and these shoppers want to support
Ontario farmers and rural communities because they are learning that there are real benefits to buying and eating local food. There’s no doubt the health and environmental impacts of global-reach food production and access are reaching a receptive audience. Hélène St.Jacques is President of Informa Market Research based in Toronto and has been conducting consumer research on food and agricultural issues for more than 30 years. She can be reached at helene@informaresearch.com.
What’s the magic in farmers’ markets? HÉLÈNE ST. JACQUES Imagine that you are an urbanite, waking up after a 30-year Rip Van Winkle sleep and shopping for food. Whether you’re in a neighbourhood that’s become a ‘food desert,’ an ever-sprawling suburb, or the core of a big city,
you’ll be stunned. While you slept, ‘supermarket’ took on a whole new meaning. The supermarket where you used to shop is likely either not there any more or it’s morphed into a 24/7, sevenday-a-week, one-stop-shopping megastore that offers everything from food to pharmacy, clothes, kitchen supplies, electronics, books and music. In fact, the market today is owned by a handful of Canadian supermarket giants albeit operating under a number of franchise names. Once in the door, you’re confronted with ‘miles of aisles’ with more than 45,000 SKUs, many of them brightly packaged eatables, drinks, snacks, and imaginationdefying ‘foods.’ Michael Pollan, one of the new heroes of local
and ‘real food,’ warns not to buy anything our grandmothers wouldn’t recognize. Now, there’s a challenge! If you’re lucky, you might find a familiar, smaller-sized grocery store or a natural health food store.
But if it’s late spring, you might happen upon a farmers’ market. And you might wonder how this ‘old’ way of selling food is faring in the transformed world of mega-stores. In fact, the number and popularity of farmers’ markets is growing. Based on a 2010 study conducted by Ontario’s Greenbelt Farmers’ Market Network, about half of nearly 100 markets in and around the Greenbelt started up in the last five years. This study provided a picture of a complex market dynamic from the perspective of farmers/vendors, market managers and market shoppers. So why are farmers’ markets such a draw?
Two-thirds of market shoppers go weekly to their local market. Most come for must-have items: the new crop of strawberries, scrumptious home-baked goods, farm-fresh eggs and lovely little chickens, or that hard-to-find local artisan cheese. But they also come for the ‘market experience’: the buzz of conversation with neighbours and farmers, the chance to inquire about that oddlooking heirloom tomato that tastes like no other, tips on how to cook beets to get maximum flavour. No ‘industrial,’ microwavable food here; it’s the real goods, and that’s what shoppers are hankering for. And market shoppers spend $40.10 on market goods, which is significant: according to 2010 Statistics Canada figures, Ontario households spend $86.97 a week in grocery stores and another $38.93 on restaurant/takeout food. Yes, good things do grow in Ontario, but there are other payoffs: 90 per cent of market shoppers improved their diets, 75 per cent tried cooking new foods, and 25 per cent are eating more meals together as a family. They’re also deepening their knowledge about challenges facing local farmers and learning that, in Ontario, ‘to everything there is a season.’ And market shoppers are also
PAGE 10 –– APRIL 2011 THE GROWER
Making a difference in ten minutes a day LILIAN SCHAER, AGCARE Are you frustrated by people who don’t understand what you do on your farm? Do you wish more consumers knew how food was produced or more politicians had a sense of the realities of farming? Many of us in agriculture have had these sentiments at some time and often feel helpless to do anything about them. There is an answer though – social media. It’s easy to use, reaches a wide base of people you wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to interact with and it’s free. Three of the most popular social media tools are blogs, Facebook, Twitter. Blogs are interactive websites with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, photos or video or other material posted by one or more users. Facebook is a social networking site that allows users to become friends with each other and share photos, information, links and more through the site. Twitter is a popular social media tool that allows users to connect with each other and share information through short posts of up to 140 characters. Why social media for farmers? Farmers across Ontario are starting to immerse themselves in social media as a way to connect with consumers, promote their products or just simply to have a forum to share news and thoughts from the farming world with the
98 per cent of Canadians who aren’t directly involved in food production. Wayne Black, an Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) board member, farms in Huron County and started using Twitter about a year ago after some encouragement from his wife, a regular Facebook user. To him, Twitter presented an ideal way to get messaging out to fellow OFA members, connecting with other farmers in North America, sharing ideas and concerns, learning about issues and current events and keeping in touch with family and friends. “I use Twitter because it is brief, light on bandwidth and byte consumption and I took the plunge because social media was driving traditional media,” he says. “Farmers need to get their positive messaging out there before the naysayers or activists do. Media has a blank page and I want our good news stories and positive news stories, with the facts, filling that page before others have a chance to engage the reader.” Trevor Herrle-Braun is a sixth generation fruit and vegetable grower from Waterloo Region, where he is part of the family’s farm and country market business. He became interested in social media as a way to connect with his customers outside of business hours, answer questions, respond to problems and be transparent in the community. “We can put a ‘personal’ element, a connection to our business that people see us as approachable,” says HerrleBraun, who’s been tweeting as
@HerrlesMarket since March 2010. “It's a way to educate our customers and community about agriculture in a high-tech region, how vegetables grow, what’s in season, what it takes, and the stresses, triumphs and failures.” Stewart Skinner, a young hog farmer from Perth County, is an active blogger, both on his own website and as part of the “Farmers Matter” initiative. His blog, http://modernfarmer.wordpress.com, is a collection of musings on daily life on the farm as well as thoughts and opinions on some of the broader issues facing the future of agriculture, such as supply management, globalization and local food. He’s also active on Twitter (@modernfarmer) and Facebook, using those tools to help spread the word about his blog. For Black, known on Twitter as @waynekblack, the biggest benefit he’s experienced is the ability to connect with people who are critical of agriculture but don’t necessarily understand what farmers do and why. “I engage in conversation with people who are critical of what farmers do to shed some light on the subject so they can see from my perspective why we do what we do and how we do it,” he explains. “But all without bashing or criticizing their beliefs - you need to respect the other person's opinions.” He’s also had the chance to interact directly with MPPs, cabinet ministers and even the Premier, which he says has been great to help get a point across or shed some light on key issues from a farmer’s side of the fence.
From Herrle-Braun’s perspective, his engagement and building of relationships with key community members has led to a “getting things done” environment. For example, this meant that he was able to mobilize support from the public and a regional councillor to keep his local road – and with that, access to his farm market – open during a recent water main construction project. What you can do in ten minutes a day? In only minutes a day, you too can help make a difference by speaking up for food and farming. The latest Ipsos Reid study on public attitudes towards food and farming, commissioned by AGCare and the Ontario Farm Animal Council, showed that Canadians want to learn more about where their food comes from – and they consider farmers to be highly credible, authentic
spokespeople. Your commitment to sharing your food and farming story doesn’t have to be big, but every little bit will help. Consider this: if 50 farmers each spent only 10 minutes a day for five days per week using social media, that adds up to an impressive 2,500 minutes. That could be two tweets from your phone while you’re waiting for a wagon to unload, for example. The average employee working a seven and a half hour day five days a week racks up only 2,250 minutes. This means 2,500 minutes of communicating and 50 credible sources speaking out about how they grow and produce our food. “As a farmer you can be seen as the brand for our industry,” says Black. “But you also have to recognize that social media is transparent. Do not type anything you would not want to read on the front page of the Globe and Mail or on the bulletin board at the local coffee shop.”
COMING EVENTS 2011 April 6
Grape Growers of Ontario Annual General Meeting, Club Roma, St. Catharines, ON
April 13 – 15
86th Canadian Produce Marketing Association Annual Convention and Trade Show, Palais des congres de Montreal, Montreal, QC
April 26
Ontario Tender Fruit IPM Spring Tune-up, Rittenhouse Hall, OMAFRA, Vineland Station, ON
June 9, 10
2011 Riesling Experience, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON
July 7, 8
Federal/provincial/territorial agriculture ministers’ meeting, St Andrews, New Brunswick
August 24
OFVGA Summer Tour and BBQ, Norfolk County
September 1 – 3
Canada’s Fruit and Vegetable Technology X-Change, St. Williams, ON
Sept 13 - 15
Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, Woodstock, ON
November 4 – 13 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Direct Energy Centre, Toronto, ON November 22, 23 Essex County Associated Growers Bounty of the County, Kinsmen Recreation Complex, Leamington, ON Nov. 29 – Dec 1 Grow Canada Conference, Winnipeg, MB December 6 – 8
Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Market Expo, DeVos Plaza Convention Centre and Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI
APRIL 2011 –– PAGE 11 THE GROWER
Ontario ginseng growers to raise profile in Asian markets Canadian ginseng will get a promotion boost in lucrative Asian markets, including Hong Kong, with an investment of more than $63,000 from Agriculture and AgriFood Canada (AAFC). “Enabling Ontario ginseng growers to better promote Canadian ginseng in international markets benefits the entire value chain and stimulates the local economy,” said Minister Diane Finley. “Our ginseng growers are a great example of how an industry is able to take advantage of emerging markets and continue to drive our economy." This investment will help strengthen the position of Canadian ginseng in the established export markets of Hong Kong, Mainland China and Taiwan and to uncover new markets. “This funding helps to brand our product, engage new customers and develop promotional strategies for Ontario ginseng in Asian markets,” said Marvin Karges, Executive Director of the Ontario Ginseng Growers Association. Research studies are being conducted for Canadian ginseng in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, prevention of respiratory infections, and improvement of memory, as well as leading edge work on breast and prostate cancer. Canadian ginseng exports reached $95.3 Million in 2009; 3.4 million kgs of roots were exported in 2009.
Exports in 2009 increased significantly from 2008 (exports in 2008 amounted to $70.2 Million), making Canada the leading exporter of North American ginseng in the world. This investment is provided through the $88 million AgriMarketing Program, under Growing Forward, which helps industry associations implement long-term international strategies which include activities such as international market development, consumer awareness and branding and industry-to-industry trade advocacy.
Left: Doug Bradley, chair of the Ontario Ginseng Growers, displays some of the 2010 harvest for Diane Finley, MP Haldimand-Norfolk.
Rejection: the last thing a carrier wants to hear when they deliver a shipment . . . How do you protect yourself from the nightmare of arriving at the customer’s dock, and they are rejecting the load back to you for breach of contract to haul. It happens all too often. You arrive at the customer’s dock and they tell you the pulp temperatures of the product is reading too hot, or too cold. The load is damaged, and the customer is telling you they will have to reject the load, or handle it for your account whereby losses and costs will be your responsibility. Well, beep, beep, beep, let’s back the truck up here! Are you at fault, and responsible for damages? First, are you at fault? Is there a temperature recording device in the shipment? Most likely yes. The temperature recorder needs to immediately be recovered and read. If possible (some of the new digital units have limited options here), it should be sent to its manufacturer for calibration, if there is any concern that you have done all you were supposed to, and the issue is not making sense. The same is true of the on board micro processors (commonly called smart units). These units are no different than the pumps at the fuel depots. The technology is great, but of little value if not recorded, retained, and checked for accuracy. But most importantly, ensure an inspection on the shipment has been requested and insist that the nature of the inspection request is for damages caused by freezing or excessively high temperatures. And also importantly, make sure you understand what the value of the cargo is. This can range from a load worth $5,000.00 to $75,000.00 and higher. Naturally, the higher the value, the more care and attention to detail is an absolute. With fresh fruits and vegetables, the inspection services
available within the produce industry have inspectors trained for dealing with “chilled” or “hot” loads. As a matter of fact, inspections of these natures, are ranked in the highest of priority and in most cases will be dealt with almost immediately. Once the product is unloaded, if possible, have your refrigeration unit calibrated by an independent third party, to ensure it is/was performing properly. You need to know that the temperature you were asking your unit to manage, is in fact the temperature the unit could deliver and that it was calibrated properly. Finally, what needs to be understood, if that you have damaged the cargo, then that has to be verified and proven. The bottom line is, unless damage can be proven, you cannot be held liable for damages that cannot be substantiated. Bad temperatures on a shipment is not good, however, you need to have proof that the cargo has in fact been damaged and an inspection will reveal the condition of the cargo and verify damages, if they exist, and to what extent. So, we have gotten that far, you have a temperature problem, how badly have you damaged the product? Step by step, you eliminate, or recognize where you’re responsibility does lie, and where it doesn’t lie. Lastly, you have insurance, get them involved and have their adjuster involved. You don’t want to have done all you can and have your insurance company tell you, you did not provide us the opportunity to send out an adjuster to assess the damages, resulting in a claim denial. The steps you need to take at the onset of a claim being presented to you, requires attention to detail and process, and will
take time and energy to effectively cover your bases, but you do have rights, and damages and causes of the damages need to be proven, before you become responsible for losses and costs that become out of your control. Always be cognizant of after
the fact, is TOO late!!! Being proactive at the time can prevent the costly learning curves of reactiveness. Your membership with the Dispute Resolution Corporation provides you a valuable resource to assist you with support and
advice. Engage them for direction and the necessary steps you should take on how to protect yourself. Happy Hauling. Article courtesy of Dispute Resolution Corporation.
EvolveGreen.Ca THIS MONTHS QUESTION: WHAT IS IN A MICROFIT COMPLAINT 10KW SOLAR SYSTEM AND HOW MUCH IS IT? BELOW IS A COMPLETE 60% MICROFIT SOLAR SYSTEM....
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PAGE 12 –– APRIL 2011 THE GROWER
CONTAINERS
A box is more than a box with customized board strengths KAREN DAVIDSON The packaging business has come a long way in customizing solutions for growers. Waxed versus unwaxed. Different grades of corrugated board with up to triple layers of fluting. Highgraphics advertising. Containers today are different than a decade ago, thanks to innovation from Norampac, one of the largest container board manufacturers in Canada. The sprawling plant in Etobicoke, Ontario speaks to its ability to service individual growers with sophisticated technology. About 10 per cent of its business is Ontario’s fruit and vegetable growers says Nick Lippa, sales manager. “We just visited with a celery grower solving his problem in moving boxed product on an uphill ramp,” says Rob Stodart, quality and health safety manager. “It was a minor adjustment in piling and shipping orders, making sure the skid was shrink wrapped twice for a secure load.” It’s that kind of logistical advice which is sought by small and large customers alike. Any crop that requires hydro-cooling – asparagus, green onions, broccoli – needs a waxed application to withstand moisture. As of two years ago, a new wax alternative product called Norshield can be used for peppers, cucumbers, cabbage and cauliflower. It has the strength required for the weight of the produce but still meets new requirements of
In this example, Norampac's creative staff produced custom-packaging that duplicates the nostalgic look of old wood. While maintaining green content standards, the company can create packaging that communicates "just harvested from the local orchard." grocers such as Loblaw for water-resistant, recyclable and repulpable packaging. Norampac is happy to run sample orders for board strength, simulating a bumpy trip to California in its laboratory. Different produce must be matched with
the appropriate board strength and use. Sometimes how growers stack and move produce makes a difference in the longevity of the cartons. “Manufacturers have changed their habits,” says Lippa, “but growers need to change too. They
can’t stack the product just the same as always. With Norshield boxes, for example, it’s better to column stack. The shoulders should be aligned with no overhang.” Waxed boxes have changed too. For a year now, Norampac
uses a 40 per cent soyablend to replace some of the petroleumbased paraffin wax. Any byproducts from waste cuttings can be incinerated by greenhouses to help with heating bills. The greening of packaging is such that Norampac plants its own hybrid spruces in designated lands near Trenton, Ontario, for example. “All fluting – the squiggly reinforcement between board layers – comes from our own reforestation,” says Lippa. With this greener packaging comes the desire for greener printing. For some growers, there is a need to use each box as real estate for branding. Is it important to know that a cooperative stands behind the product? Is it important to know that a product is locally grown? These attributes can be designed by Norampac’s in-house artists and reproduced with vegetable-based inks. If growers band together, they can save money on the die charges. This spring, Norampac’s sales force has already clocked many breakfast meetings to meet new needs. Some growers are changing their produce mix to be more competitive or they may want an attention-grabbing box that stands out at the Ontario Food Terminal with “locally-grown” messaging. Grow local should also mean buy local, says Lippa, who is promoting Norampac’s Canadianmade boxes. “It’s a virtual loop where dollars for produce and packaging are all cycling within the same economy.”
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APRIL 2011 –– PAGE 13 THE GROWER
CONTAINERS
Corrugated stacks up JOHN MULLINDER Corrugated containers are a good sustainability story whichever way you stack it. First off, they’re made from a renewable resource. What does that mean? It means they’re not made from oil or natural gas or other non-renewable fossil fuels. Like other paper-based materials, corrugated containers originally come from growing trees.
Corrugated edge Trees are good, and our forests are in good shape. In fact, Canada leads the world in sustainable forest management. Almost 150 million hectares of Canadian forest (or 90 per cent of it) is certified to independent third-party standards (CSA, FSC or SFI), compared to the next country’s 45 million hectares. Some 42 per cent of the whole world’s third-party certified forest area is right here in Canada (www.certificationcanada.org). Not that we use a lot of trees to make corrugated containers in the first place. It may come some-
what as a surprise to growers that the average recycled content of corrugated boxes shipped domestically is an impressive 68 per cent. That means most of it is made from old boxes collected from both supermarkets and homes and recycled for re-use. The balance, on average, comes from wood chips, shavings and sawdust (left over from lumber operations) with only 14 per cent coming directly from trees (groundwood pulp). So while the industry needs trees to keep the whole recycling loop going, relatively few trees are actually harvested to make new boxes. This is why being labeled “tree-hungry” by our commercial competitors is so offensive. The trees we do use are replaced sustainably, something our competitors can’t claim for the natural resources they use to make their products. A growing percentage of corrugated boxes are being re-used (we call them re-trippers), although this is more common in industrial sectors than in produce. The great majority of boxes are recycled into new boxes with a recovery rate of more than 80 per cent from industrial sources such as the back of supermarkets and
factories, and in the case of Ontario, an amazing 92 per cent
Double wall corrugated corrugated recovery rate from households (www.stewardshipontario.ca Table 1: Generation & Recovery, 2009). And when they can’t be recycled for some reason, they can be sent for composting, a secondary market the industry’s environmental council (PPEC) pioneered way back in the early 1990s. Our plastic competitors make a lot of noise about waxed corrugated but in fact waxed boxes represent only about four per cent of all corrugated. In the fresh produce market, however, depending on the icing needs of the crop, their usage climbs to about 20 per cent. The challenge with waxed cases is that the very property that makes them moisture-resistant also makes it difficult for them to disintegrate into individual paper fibres when being repulped at a
mill to make new corrugated board. Apart from promoting the composting of waxed boxes after use, the industry has been very active in suggesting where waxed barriers can be eliminated, and in developing recyclable and/or repulpable barriers (commonly called wax alternatives). Some 23 different wax alternatives now meet the industry standard of performance, with a 105 per cent increase in their use between 2002 and 2008. That’s good news. Our plastic competitors seize on the waxed box and blow its impact out of all proportion in an attempt to diminish corrugated’s impressive overall environmental performance. They quote and use so-called life cycle studies and economic calculators. Isn’t it strange that the considerable revenues that retailers get for recycling their old corrugated boxes from the back of the store are not included in these economic calculators? Wouldn’t you as a retailer be interested in the real bottom line, not just part of the story? And where are the details on the environmental burden of using chemicals and water to sanitize plastic crates for re-use? Shouldn’t these be considered too, as well as the environmental impact
of shipping crates all over the place to ensure a sufficient pool or float? Our plastic buddies are quite fond of quoting from one particular life cycle study (which they paid for) to knock corrugated. This despite the authors’ very clear disclaimer: “This report makes no claims regarding the superiority or equivalence of the container systems studied … The
Flutes authors discourage the use of this study as the sole basis for comparative assertions of environmental superiority or preferability.” Yet that is exactly what our friends are doing in their promotional literature and on their websites. Buyer beware! John Mullinder is Executive Director, Paper and Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council. www.ppec-paper.com
Gather market intelligence at Canadian Produce Marketing Association The Canadian Produce Marketing Association has a well-earned reputation for the quality of its business sessions and keynote speakers at their annual general meeting. This year’s April 13 – 15 annual general meeting at the Palais des Congres, Montreal promises a stellar line-up. First, plan to attend a panel
presentation on “Marketing the Healthy Message of Produce.” This session will focus on efforts underway to support healthy messaging in store, in menus and in produce labeling. Mike Furi, produce manager with The Grocery People and Carol Dombrow, a nutrition consultant with Health Check, will explain how to
provide nutrition information via the Single Ingredient Nutrient Database and how to use health messages as a marketing tool. Hot topics such as food safety, buy local and produce traceability initiative will be explored by industry experts. They include: Jim DiMenna, J-D Marketing Inc; Eric Biddiscombe, Loblaw
Companies; Ed Treacy, Produce Marketing Association; Tom Stenzel, United Fresh Produce Association and Dan Martin, Sysco Canada. A second hot topics session will focus on transportation, border issues and financial business risk mitigation. Look for these panelists: Guy Milette, Courchesne Larose; Fred Webber,
Dispute Resolution Corporation; Savvas Tsoukalas, C.H. Robinson Worldwide; Karla Whalen, USDA PACA Branch; Lance Jungmeyer, Fresh Produce Association of the Americas ad Dave Dever, Pandol Bros. No agenda would be complete without a marketing session. Continued on page 14
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PAGE 14 –– APRIL 2011 THE GROWER
CONTAINERS
Functional and convenient, containers match innovative produce Mucci Farms, a greenhouse grower which markets vegetables from 300 acres in the Leamington, Ontario area, is an innovator in packaging. Their innovative gourmet mini-produce demands it. Just launched last fall is a polybag with holes punched in it for easy washing under the kitchen water faucet. This “grab and go” strainer bag contains two CuteCucumbers (smaller than minis), two to four cocktail tomatoes and one bite-sized Bella Sweets mini pepper. “Consumers love the convenience of about two servings of vegetables that they can eat in the car,” says Sandra Dick, marketing coordinator, Mucci Farms. “Look for samples at our booth at the upcoming Canadian Produce Marketing Association trade show.” Their “slicer” beefsteak tomatoes and eggplant are also sold in innovative containers on a thin 100 per cent recycled and recyclable cardboard tray, with graphics that link consumers to a recipe. A minimum of 65 per
cent of this recycled material is post-consumer content. All of these products are sold at major retail chains and club stores.
LLOYD BAG CO. (www.lloydbag.com)
Established in 1939
BURLAP (JUTE) TREE WRAP / LINERS / SHEETS WOVEN POLYPROPYLENE
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
MARK ALLOTT General Manager
BEV ADDEMAN
Gather market intelligence Continued from page 13
JASON LONG
Sales
Sales
1-800-549-2247 114 St. Clair Street • P.O. Box 208, Chatham, Ontario N7M 5K3
Telephone (519) 352-9300 • Fax (519) 352-3413 E-Mail: info@lloydbag.com
1-800-265-2397 • www.wwp.on.ca Mount Forest 519-323-1060 • Leamington Area 519-326-2394
This year, Eric Richer, president and CEO, Metro Richielieu, will offer his insight into how to maintain loyal customers who have high expectations with less time to shop. For the big picture, listen to keynote speaker Jeremy Gutsche. He’s founder of Trendhunter.com and author of “Exploiting Chaos.” Routinely the go-to spokesperson for future trends, he’s a regular media personality from CNN to the New York Times. He will speak about how to create a culture of innovation in your company, maximize the exposure of your marketing message and think big while acting small. For inspiration, don’t miss Paralympian Chantal Petitclerc. She’ll share her experiences as a wheelchair track and field athlete who competed at the 2008 Beijing Olmpics. This year, the trade show will feature more than 40 new products. For more information and to register, visit www.convention.cpma.ca.
APRIL 2011 –– PAGE 15 THE GROWER
PAGE 16 –– APRIL 2011 THE GROWER
CONTAINERS
The new story is healthy food, sustainable packaging The entire food chain is more sensitive than ever about sustainable packaging from both environmental and economic perspectives. A reusable pallet wrap, called Envirowrapper, was pioneered in the late 1990s by Frank Gallucci, president of Amici Enterprises Inc in Calgary, Alberta. Western Canadian companies, most notably Overwaitea Food Group, quickly adopted the durable, polyproplene sheet fitted with rods, straps and buckles. Only in the last couple years has a wider audience experimented with it. “I’ve traveled the world in this business and many companies don’t talk environmental with their dollars,” says Gallucci. “The eastern seaboard has been slowest to come onside.” But that’s changing with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario currently testing the product. The objective is to reduce internal usage of plastic film in warehousing and operations. The Envirowrapper replaces singleuse stretch-wrap film. Its rugged, reusable rods, belts and buckles
provides superior tension to the load for added stability. The average cost for a 72-inch wrapper is about $60 which can last up to 10 years if properly cared for. It is offered in customized sizes to fit specific needs, including refrigerated products. Clearly, this is a system which works in closed-loop environments where the grower/packer has the ability to retrieve it. One-way usage is too expensive. The patented pallet wrap is currently under trial with an
organics company in the San Francisco, California area where growers are using reusable totes for transferring products instead of boxes. The Envirowrapper can be easily applied and removed from a pallet load by one person with quick-release buckles, complemented by another buckle with a belt for easy roll-up and storage. The wrappers are manufactured in Vietnam and Calgary, Alberta. For more information, go to www.envirowrapper.com.
The Ontario Food Terminal is an ideal place to see the wide variety of containers available to the horticultural industry. For any packaging inquiries, contact Alison Robertson, OFVGA at 519-763-6160 ext. 121 or arobertson@ofvga.org
APRIL 2011 –– PAGE 17 THE GROWER
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PAGE 18 –– APRIL 2011 THE GROWER
POLLINATION
Corn and honeybees: the perennial problem of pesticides PETER G. KEVAN AND THOMAS S. WOODCOCK, CANADIAN POLLINATION INITIATIVE, SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Introduction Sweet corn (Zea mays L.) is grown extensively in southern Ontario. Because of the demand for high quality produce for the processing and fresh markets, pesticide applications or other strategies must be used to protect this valuable crop. Problems for beekeepers arise from time to time because honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) and other insects forage in fields of corn to obtain pollen, and sometimes other resources such as honeydew and water. If insecticide applications coincide with the foraging activities of honeybees on sweet corn fields, pesticide intoxication and loss of bees may occur. The use of genetically modified corn that has intrinsic mechanisms (expression of insecticidal Bt proteins) to protect itself from insect pests has also raised concern. Recent research, however, suggests that bees suffer minimal harm from exposure to this compound expressed in corn pollen. There are also potential emerging problems related to seed treatments containing systemic insecticides, particularly clothiandin or its precursor thiamethoxam, as dust blowing from fields during planting, or oral uptake of residues that may be found in nectar, pollen and guttation droplets, causing bee kills. Honeybees and Pollen Pollen is the source of protein for the colony and is especially
important for nutrition of the larvae and the worker bees that feed the larvae and queen. The nutritional value of pollen is important to the growth and development of individual bees, their bodily maintenance, and to the queen in her capacity to produce thousands of eggs per day as the colony develops and grows.
shed from the anthers corn pollen has a certain stickiness, but dries rapidly on exposure to air. This may be important to honeybees in that dry pollen is slippery and difficult for them to handle and to pack into their pollen baskets. Because bees use pollen as a food for themselves and their larvae, its chemical composition is
light, but it has been suggested that pollen from sweet corn contains more free sugars than does pollen from field corn, which is richer in starch. Weather may influence the patterns of honeybees collecting corn pollen. It has been reported that more bees are attracted to forage on corn pollen after a light
The pollen requirements of honeybees have been estimated at 20 to 40 kg/colony/year (100 mg/larva , or 66.5 mg/bee). In general, honeybees prefer a mix of sources because pollen from single species of plants does not provide balanced nutrition to the colony.
important. Most of the pollen preferred by honeybees is rich in protein and other chemical building blocks for the growth and maintenance of larvae and adults. Corn pollen is relatively low in proteins (14.33 to 28.30%) and lipids (1.48 to 3.67%), but higher in carbohydrates (33.79 to 36.59%), and contains residual ash (1.79 to 3.46%) in small amounts. No data on differences between varieties has come to
shower, and that bees collect corn pollen at any time of day during damp weather. In dry weather bees forage for corn pollen only in the mornings. These observations are in concert with the difficulty bees may have in packing dry, spherical pollen into their pollen baskets. Thus the faster corn pollen dries, the shorter the collecting period for bees becomes. Wind also reduces attractiveness of corn to honeybees. Seasonal patterns in honeybee foraging on corn pollen probably reflect the pattern of pollen availability, and that depends on the growth and maturation of the corn plants. Development to maturity varies for each variety. Year-to-year patterns have not been rigourously studied but it may be suggested that more pollen is collected in damp years than in dry years because of the greater time available for pollen collection when the weather is damp. Problems encountered in Ontario (and elsewhere), however, suggest that honeybees forage more extensively on corn pollen in dry years, possibly due to fewer resources available from other plant species.
Honeybees and Corn Plants Honeybees sometimes forage for corn pollen. When freshly
BEES FOR POLLINATION SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BEES We help to bring you fruit and sweeten your day with honey. The following Ontario Beekeepers offer Honey Bee Pollination Services:
Glen Ackroyd Tara 519-934-0006
Dan Davidson Watford 519-849-5959
Tim Greer St Catharines 905-934-5904
Mike Parker Beamsville 905-563-7285
Guy Anderson Kincardine 519-396-3529
Joe DeVillers Penetang 705-533-3655
Zenon Kohut Lynden 519-647-9796
Dirk Schapp Lasalette 519-879-6392
Jim Coneybeare Fergus 519-843-7328
Jerry Dietrich Alma 519-846-5839
Bill Minnick Smithville 905-957-3667
Henry Van Lingen Belmont 519-269-3923
Roger/Tom Congdon Cottam 519-839-4000
Dutchman's Gold/ John VanAlten Carlisle 905-689-6371
Munro Honey Davis & John Bryans Alvinston 519-847-5333
Kale Wilson Eden 519-866-3928
Please contact the beekeeper nearest you. Sponsored by Ontario Beekeepers’ Association Phone 905-636-0661, fax 905-636-0662 www.ontariobee.com
Pesticide Use on Corn There are several pests of corn that may require insecticide treatment, which may impinge on honeybee activity. The European Corn Borer (ECB, Ostrinia nubilalis) generally attacks stems of field corn, but in sweet corn can damage the ears and kernels. The Corn Ear Worm (CEW, Helicoverpa zea) specializes on feeding on the ears and thus has the greater potential for economic
damage. Most damage is in the tip of the ear and great economic damage is known in sweet corn, with some varieties more resistant than others. The corn flea beetle (CFB, Chaetocnema pulicaria) may also cause damage to sweet corn that requires chemical control during the blooming period, and is the vector for Stewart's wilt, although this bacterial infection has largely been controlled through breeding of resistant corn. The advent of genetically modified corn (Bt corn), which expresses a bacterial endotoxin in its tissues for control of insects which feed on it, can reduce the need for insecticides for corn growers that choose to plant these products. Traditional protection is by calendar spraying regimes, with as many as two to four weekly applications of broad spectrum insecticide from time of tassel to near harvest. In concert with more modern approaches to pest management, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs have been advocated and are widely used in Ontario. By monitoring pest populations, a number of possible methods for predicting appropriate spraying time can be used. The number of male CEW adults collected with sex-pheromonebaited traps has been proven to be a highly effective means of population assessment and timing sprays for maximum effect. Ear damage can be reliably predicted by number of male CEW caught during silking (less than or equal to 125 males per night indicates less than 3% injury level). Pest management scouts are an important part of sweet corn management in Ontario. Current recommendations in Ontario for control of ECB and CEW on sweet corn are cyhalothrin-lambda, cypermethrin, carbaryl/carbofuran, and neonicotinoids (clothiandin, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam) for CFB. With the exception of cyhalothrin-lambda, these products are highly toxic to bees through physical contact, or if they ingest the products while foraging. Thus, the results reported of up to 90% mortality of bees foraging for pollen in sweet corn fields during applications of insecticide are not surprising. Areas where honeybee kills have been noted in Ontario have coincided with areas where sweet corn growing and processing are carried out. In addition, according to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) website two bee kills affecting over 230 hives were associated with use of clothiandin on sweet corn in Quebec in 2009. Recommendations to Reduce Bee Kill There are various ways that pesticide poisonings of honeybees can be avoided. Continued on next page
APRIL 2011 –– PAGE 19 THE GROWER
POLLINATION
Corn and honeybees Although beekeepers can take some precautionary actions, they are impractical for beekeepers having colonies spread widely over the agricultural landscape. Such recommended practices as covering the hives with wet burlap, screening hive entrances to prevent bees from flying, or moving hives away from areas to be sprayed, are labour intensive and detract seriously from honey production, and from the pollination services which the bees are present to provide. Moreover, beekeepers must be continually on the alert for warnings of projected spray operations, often scheduled at short notice and highly dependent on weather conditions. In an agricultural mosaic, such as in the areas of Southern Ontario where sweet corn is grown, the logistics for beekeepers to cover or move bees are impractical The best policy for minimizing honeybee kills is for applicators to avoid spraying sweet corn fields during bloom whenever possible. Recommendations to spray during the corn flowering period (i.e. for CEW, OMAFRA factsheet 95-065) should not be followed. Applicators should avoid morning spraying, or in windy conditions to prevent pesticide drift onto nearby uncultivated areas where bees may forage, or into the apiaries themselves.
Growers should be aware of which varieties are being grown in which locations and monitor, on the basis of heat units, when corn in a particular location is likely to bloom. Pest management scouts could inspect crops as the bloom is expected to start and confirm when to avoid spray applications for the short duration of the bloom. Growers may wish to plan a spray application in the few days just prior to corn bloom, and immediately after bloom has finished. The need to spray is reduced on Bt corn, which appears to be relatively benign to honey bees, although research is required to assess long-term health of bee colonies that collect and store large quantities of Bt corn pollen. If the endotoxin is expressed in the pollen, there may be effects on larval health and reproductive success of the colony, even if lethal effects on adult bees are not evident. Research is also required to assess potential problems associated with insecticidal seed treatments. For further guidance, see OMAFRA’s factsheet entitled "Code of Practice to Prevent Bee Poisoning in Fresh Market Sweet Corn", authored by E. Roddy and D. McRory in 2008 (No. 08-031, AGDEX 253/616).
Bee hives are quarantined in Ontario’s Essex County Essex County, the canary in the goldmine when it comes to pests, has been placed under quarantine for small hive beetles. On March 7, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) issued an order under the Bees Act to prevent hives from moving out of the county and southwestern Chatham-Kent. First identified in the area last September, the small hive beetle has proven a tough adversary for honeybees also trying to thwart varroa mites. It’s too early to have tallies of winter kill,
OMAFRA to the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association, there will be relief to import about 300 hives and to conduct research. Keith Wright, an apple and vegetable crop producer near Harrow, gives credit to Tom Congdon for sticking with the growers. “There’s no money in pollination,” he says. “Normally, the spring bees would be kept separate from the summer bees. It’s a harsh environment to pollinate vine crops like cucumbers, zucchini and melons due to the heat and possible contact with insecticides.”
Small Hive Beetle according to Ontario apiarist Paul Kozak. The southernmost tip of the province is home to about 30 to 40 commercial apple, cherry and plum growers who will need pollination services by the first of May. Congdon Apiaries, the biggest provider of hives, forecast a potential quarantine and wintered their hives in Wellington County near Guelph. Now the task will be to import hives specifically for the spring pollination season. Thanks to $200,000 from
Like other growers in the county, he notes that native bees aren’t as prevalent with loss of woodlots and natural habitat. Bumblebees might be one answer since they are known to forage under cool and windier conditions than honeybees with no susceptibility to this new pest. Small hive beetles are well-known in the United States for their ability to lay eggs in bee colonies. Their larvae are sustained on the bee brood, pollen and honey, while making tunnels through the wax comb and defe-
cating in the honey comb before departing and pupating in the soil. The range of the adult beetle is up to 14 kilometres, a fact that raises the question of whether a second and broader quarantine might be needed.
Spring and summer of 2011 will test the fruit and vegetable industry as apiarists study the biology and learn more about the risks of small hive beetles spreading. Wright notes that Essex County’s proximity to the U.S.
border and prevailing southwestern winds means diseases and pests are first noticed here. Late blight and emerald ash borer are two other examples.
PAGE 20 –– APRIL 2011 THE GROWER
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APRIL 2011 –– PAGE 21 THE GROWER
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PAGE 22 –– APRIL 2011 THE GROWER ment Program (APP) financing is available by January 1st and the interest-free portion is on all balances less than $200,000. 2011-12 Formation of a Potato Marketing Task Group CARRIED Prince Edward Island Potato Board Allocation: Potato Committee
CHC AGM resolutions 2011-01 Grade Name Declaration CARRIED New Brunswick Potato Shippers’ Association Allocation: Trade and Industry Standards Committee THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CHC lobby the CFIA to have “adjacent to the grade name” added to Part II Section 26 of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Regulations so it will read: No label of produce graded pursuant to these Regulations or imported into Canada shall be marked with any word or words adjacent to the grade name declaring or implying that the produce packed therein is superior in quality to the grade marked thereon. 2011-02 Rejected Agri-Science Cluster Projects CARRIED Conseil québécois de l’horticulture Allocation: Research and Technology Committee THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CHC request AAFC to provide detailed justification and explanation regarding the Canadian Agri-Science Cluster for Horticulture projects which were submitted and rejected, including the project to combat the Delia pest in vegetable crops.
Conseil québécois de l’horticulture Allocation: Apple and Fruit Committee
that current uses for soil fumigants in the fruit and vegetable industry are maintained until suitable replacements are registered.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CHC respond to AAFC to state its disagreement with the response to the AgriFlexibility application and explain the importance of revitalizing the Canadian apple industry through an orchard removal and replant program.
2011-08 National Research and Promotion Agency CARRIED AS AMENDED Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Allocation: Finance and Marketing Committee
2011-05 Financial Support for Improving Food Safety Programs CARRIED AS AMENDED Conseil québécois de l’horticulture Allocation: Food Safety Committee THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CHC encourage the Government of Canada to implement a financial support program to improve food safety programs based on the new US federal government requirements. 2011-06 Labelling of Genetically Modified (GMO) Vegetables DEFEATED Conseil québécois de l’horticulture Allocation: Vegetables Committee
2011-03 CHC Governance WITHDRAWN Conseil québécois de l’horticulture Allocation: Committee of the Whole
2011-07 Soil Fumigants CARRIED Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Allocation: Crop, Plant Protection and Environment Committee
2011-04 AgriFlexibility and Revitalization of the Canadian Apple Industry TABLED TO APPLE WORKING GROUP
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CHC work together with members to lobby the appropriate ministries, departments and companies to ensure
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that CHC work with members, stakeholders and the Farm Products Council of Canada to assess the feasibility of implementing a national research and promotion agency for horticulture in Canada; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the CHC, pending a positive outcome from a feasibility study, move to establish a national promotion and research agency. 2011-09 National Research and Promotion Agency for Asparagus WITHDRAWN Ontario Asparagus Growers’ Marketing Board Allocation: Finance and Marketing Committee 2011-10 Communications DEFEATED Horticulture Nova Scotia Allocation: Committee of the Whole 2011-11 Advance Payment Program Start Date CARRIED AS AMENDED Horticulture Nova Scotia Allocation: Finance and Marketing Committee THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that CHC lobby Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to ensure that Advance Pay-
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a Potato Marketing Task Group be formed as a sub-committee of the Potato Committee Executive dedicated to resolving consumption-related issues; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Potato Marketing Task Group be funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 2011-13 Support for United Potato Growers of Canada Initiative to Obtain National Marketing Information CARRIED Prince Edward Island Potato Board Allocation: Potato Committee THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Potato Committee Executive endorse and support United Potato Growers of Canada in their endeavour to obtain federal funding for national industry information on the potato category. 2011-14 In Support of the Alliance for Potato Research and Education CARRIED Prince Edward Island Potato Board Allocation: Potato Committee THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Potato Committee, on behalf of CHC, support the Alliance for Potato Research and Education to help educate consumers about potato and French fry nutrition. 2011-15 Test Market for Onions CARRIED AS AMENDED Peak of the Market Allocation: Trade and Industry Standards Committee THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CHC
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request that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency restrict the test market to ½ inch – 1 inch and ½ inch – 1½ inch size onions packed in containers of less than 1.36 kg (3 lbs). 2011-16 Definition of “Locally Grown” Fresh Fruit and Vegetables TABLED TO CHC EXECUTIVE Peak of the Market Allocation: Trade and Industry Standards Committee THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CHC propose a new definition of “locallygrown” that gives real meaning to the term and is realistically possible to achieve for many local producers/sellers; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the proposed definition for “locally grown” food that is grown, stored, washed, packed or processed within 400 kilometres of the marketplace, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the CHC lobby the CFIA to adopt the new definition of “locally-grown.” 2011-17 Definition of “Greenhouse” CARRIED AS AMENDED Syndicat des producteurs en serre du Québec Allocation: Greenhouse Committee THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CHC: • Submit a definition to the CFIA so that "greenhouse" can be clearly defined and regulated; • That this definition reads as follows: “A Vegetable Greenhouse or Hothouse” means a fully enclosed permanent aluminum or steel structure clad either in glass or impermeable plastic for the controlled growing of greenhouse vegetables which must: (a)Use automated irrigation and climate control systems, including heating and ventilation capabilities: and (b)Utilize hydroponic methods” “Vegetable Greenhouse/Hothouse Production Standards” include; i) Produce must be grown in a medium that substitutes for soil; ii) Facility must use hydroponic methods; iii)Facility must use a water source free from microbial, chemical and viral contamination; iv)Facility must practice Integrated Pest Management; and v) Facility must utilize a globally accepted Food Safety program. A certified organic greenhouse/ hothouse vegetable facility must meet the greenhouse definition, with the exception of (b), i) and ii), as, according to Canadian organic standards (CAN/CGSB32.310-2006), hydroponics are not allowed and a “soil” media must be used. Continued on page 24
APRIL 2011 –– PAGE 23 THE GROWER
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CHC AGM resolutions Continued from page 22 2011-18 Partnership for the Common Management of CanadaGAP and the CPMA Repacking and Wholesale Food Safety Program CARRIED AS AMENDED Conseil québécois de l’horticulture Allocation: Food Safety Committee THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Horticultural Council evaluates the prospect of deriving fees from the new corporate entity through licensing of the intellectual property associated with the CanadaGAP manuals, in order to finance the Council’s involvement in food safetyrelated activities. 2011-19 Active Ingredients WITHDRAWN Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia Allocation: Crop, Plant Protection and Environment Committee 2011-20 Harmonization of Data Requirements CARRIED AS AMENDED Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Allocation: Crop, Plant Protection and Environment Committee THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CHC lobby the federal government, particularly the Ministries of Health and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to immediately streamline all remaining data requirements
The remainder of the resolutions can be read at www.thegrower.org
that differ from those of the United States EPA for pesticide registrations and for the maintenance of the registration for existing products on horticultural (specialty and minor use) crops to allow for speedier registration of products to meet the long list of needs for our sector in Canada. 2011-21 Increase in Research Funding for Primary Agriculture CARRIED Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Allocation: Research and Technology Committee THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CHC lobby the federal government for an increase in research funding for primary agriculture, particularly in light of resistant insects, diseases and weeds, ever-changing variances in environmental conditions (whether climate related or not), and the influx of invasive pest species (from the stink bug to Jointed Goatgrass); and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the CHC actively lobby the federal government to immediately begin hiring more scientists for the Agriculture and Agri-Food sector in Canada – for primary agriculture related issues rather than those mainly addressing consumer interests – which will lead to more effective programs for farmers addressing on-farm concerns, such as weed, disease, pest issues and cultural practices. 2011-22 Non-BRM On-Farm Infrastruc-
ture Program CARRIED AS AMENDED Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Allocation: Finance and Marketing Committee THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that CHC lobby the federal government to establish a non-BRM on farm infrastructure program that would be available to all farmers in Canada and that it be funded based on a farmer’s ANS and at the rate of 50% government dollars and 50% farmer dollars. 2011-23 Business Risk Management Programming CARRIED AS AMENDED Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Allocation: Finance and Marketing Committee THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that CHC lobby the federal government to immediately fund a national SDRM program. 2011-24 Fair and Ethical Trading / Risk Mitigation CARRIED Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Allocation: Trade and Industry Standards Committee THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that CHC work with all its member organiza-
tions in all provinces to actively engage in this effort and relentlessly pursue the legislation required to bring a PACA-like trust to Canada. 2011-25 Integration of CanadaGAP and the CPMA Repacking and Wholesale Food Safety Program CARRIED CHC Executive Committee Allocation: Food Safety Committee THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that CHC members, after consideration of the two options, approve OPTION 1 to proceed with integration of CanadaGAP and the CPMA Repacking and Wholesale Food Safety Program in 2011-12 by implementing the roadmap presented in the feasibility study, starting with Phase 2 and a commitment of up to $30,000 from the CanadaGAP operational budget. 2011-26 Inclusive Wording on Canadian Pesticide Labels for New and Invasive Species of Economic Importance CARRIED BC Greenhouse Growers’ Association Allocation: Crop, Plant Protection and Environment Committee THEREFORE BE IT RESLOVED that the CHC petition the Pest Management Regulatory Agency to revise their policy for pesticide labels to have more inclusive wording to cover a wider range of target organisms using the Order or Family level instead of the Genus or species level.
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What’s new with swede midge research? HANNAH FRASER, ENTOMOLOGY PROGRAM LEAD – HORTICULTURE, AND DR. REBECCA HALLETT, SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH Growers in Ontario have been dealing with swede midge (SM) in cole crops and canola for over ten years. Successful management requires a combination of sanitation, crop rotation, shifting planting dates, and in most cases, the use of insecticides. Collaborative efforts between industry, OMAFRA, and researchers at the University of Guelph (U of G) and Cornell have certainly advanced our understanding of the pest’s biology and of what is required to limit economic injury. Pheromone traps are commercially available to help detect SM in the
so several applications of insecticides are often required to protect the crop. Pheromone-based action thresholds using the Jackson trap have been developed and can provide effective control of SM in cabbage with fewer insecticide applications than a calendar spray program. Research conducted by the U of G determined that for cabbage, an action threshold of 5 males per trap per day can successfully reduce damage to acceptable levels. Unfortunately, the threshold approach is less effective for broccoli, which remains susceptible to attack through to the heading stage. Depending upon the residual efficacy of registered products, it may not be necessary to apply an insecticide each time the threshold is exceeded. Trials conducted with Assail (acetamiprid) and Matador (lambda-cyhalothrin) both demonstrated about 7 days residual activity against
Mesh barrier fencing has demonstrated efficacy at reducing damage caused by other pests of crucifers, including the cabbage maggot, by interfering with their movement into the crop. Fencing is being evaluated for its ability to exclude Swidge Midge. The material used here is silt fencing about one metre high. Pending funding, future trials will evaluate barriers of different heights, materials and designs. Photo by J.D. Heal.
field. Products have been evaluated and registered for use to help protect vulnerable transplants and susceptible crops through to harvest. So what else is new? Here we report on new and ongoing research on this difficult-to-manage pest.
SM. Registration labels for both insecticides specify a minimum 7 day re-treatment interval, which is supported by residual efficacy results. Coragen (chlorantraniliprole) has recently been registered for use against SM, but has not been evaluated in terms of action thresholds with pheromone traps.
Thresholds Physical barriers Effective decision-making tools for timing insecticide applications are critical parts of any successful IPM program. There are multiple overlapping generations of SM,
For some pests, physical barriers can provide effective control by preventing movement into a crop. Field trials
to examine the potential of exclusion fences to prevent infestation of various cole crops by the SM have been evaluated in both Europe and Ontario. One of the key principles when using physical barriers is that they must be put in place before the pest is present in a block. In other words, the area that the barriers surrounds must be free of the pest, otherwise any individuals that are confined within will go about their usual business of attacking the crop. Results conducted by the U of G indicate that fence barriers may provide good protection of broccoli from SM damage for almost 1 month after transplanting. For those with a limited land base that makes effective rotation difficult, it may even be possible to use barrier fences in areas previously infested with SM: The combined practices of late planting in the spring – after the overwintering generation has emerged and moved out of the area in search of host plants - and use of a fence barrier appears to be a promising method for use in preventing damage (2010 trial). More work is required to optimize the use of barriers and to adapt their application to larger plantings, but this management technique has value for both organic and conventional growers. Natural enemies As with many invasive species, the SM appears to have been introduced without its associated natural enemies that would normally help keep populations low. Soil entomopathogenic (or insect pathogenic) nematodes (EPNs) have been used effectively as biological control agents for a number of soil-dwelling insect pests. The SM is present in the soil in three life stages (i.e. larvae, pre-pupae before cocoon formation, and pre-pupae after cocoon formation), making it vulnerable to attack by EPNs. Lab studies (Corlay et al., 2007) examined the susceptibility of SM larvae to three species of EPNs (Steinernema feltiae, S. carpocapsae, and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora), and found that H. bacteriophora caused 90-100% mortality in four different soil types. Preliminary field trials conducted in 2009 (U of G – R. Hallett), indicate that applications of EPNs can reduce subsequent emergence of SM adults from treated soil. Research to determine the best strains and species of EPNs, to optimize timing, and to develop protocols for use are ongoing. Ultimately, the goal of the U of G project is to develop a pest management program for SM that adheres to guidelines for organic vegetable production in Ontario. Biopesticides are also being evaluated. Stay tuned for additional information. For more information about SM biology and management, visit the following website: www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/ crops/facts/08-007.htmb
APRIL 2011 –– PAGE 27 THE GROWER
Damping-off, wirestem and bottom rot in cole crops MICHAEL CELETTI, OMAFRA PLANT PATHOLOGIST HORTICULTURE CROPS PROGRAM LEAD, GUELPH One of the most common problems encountered in cole crop seedling transplant production this time of year is “damping-off” (Figure 1). Damping-off is a disease that results in the rotting, collapse and finally death of seedlings just before or soon after they emerge. It often starts out in a few plants in a flat of seedlings growing in the greenhouse but can spread quickly throughout the entire flat and into neighbouring flats.
lesions. Often the lesions will develop concentric rings as the pathogen colonizes the lower leaf petioles and leaves. Eventually the pathogen colonizes the entire head which appears to rot from the bottom up. The following are a few tips to help cole crop growers avoid or reduce the risk of damping-off, wirestem and bottom rot from becoming established in their greenhouse and field production. Sanitation: Many outbreaks of damping-off and wirestem can be traced to poor sanitation practices in the greenhouse. Rhizocotnia solani produces persistent sclerotia that can stick to surfaces of
Figure 1: Damping-off of cole crop seedlings infected with Rhizoctonia solani. The most common dampingoff pathogen encountered in cole crop seedling production is Rhizoctonia solani which can also cause seed and root rot on many vegetable seedlings. Other pathogens such as Pythium and Phytophthora can cause severe damping-off particularly if the soil is kept too wet for a long period of time. Proper identification of the damping-off pathogen is critical since seed treatments that control damping-off caused by R. solani are different than those that control Pythium and Phytophthora. Seedlings that survive damping-off prior to transplanting may succumb to R. solani infection later in the field. Often, R. solani will rot young secondary roots and girdle the stems of recently transplanted cole crop seedlings just above or below the soil line, leaving only the stiff vascular tissue to hold up the seedling. The stiff vascular tissue looks and feels like a wire with the plastic insulation removed from which the disease gets its name "wirestem" (Figure 2). Infected plants appear stunted, wilted and blue or purple in colour. They are easily pulled out of the soil due to the absence of secondary roots that would normally anchor the seedling. Bottom rot on cabbage, Chinese cabbage and other headforming cole crops is a disease also caused by R. solani (Figure 3). The symptoms are often noticed much later in the season. Leaves and petioles of head-forming cole crops that come in contact with R. solani infested soil develop dark brown to grey oval
seedling trays and benches. Power washing dirt off of surfaces and disinfecting equipment, benches, and particularly seedling trays in the greenhouse with a one-part bleach to four-parts water solution before planting will significantly reduce the potential of the damping-off pathogens surviving on these surfaces and re-infecting. Growing medium: Use sterilized or heat-treated growing mediums. Soil-borne pathogens that cause damping-off can occasionally occur naturally in peat moss and soil-less mixes. Seed treatment: When ordering seed, be sure to choose the correct seed treatment. Maxim 480 FS is a good seed treatment for reducing damping-off in seedling flats caused by Rizoctonia but will not control damping-off caused by Pythium or Phytophthora. Apron XL LS seed treatment controls damping-off caused by Pythium and Phytophthora but not Rhizoctonia. Seed treatments usually provide protection for about 4-6 weeks depending upon the environmental conditions. As the seedling grows, the seed treatments either get diluted within the plant or are broken down rendering them less effective particularly if conditions that favour damping-off persist during the spring. However, by the time the seed treatments are no longer effective, plants are usually well established and less susceptible to dampingoff. Chemical Drench: Maestro and No-Damp are fungicides that can be applied as drenches to vegetable seedlings or soil to help control damping-off. Always read and follow the directions on
Fertilizer: Provide seedlings with the proper nutrients. Applying too much or too little fertilizer will affect the health of the seedlings and their ability to defend against disease. Watering: Avoid over watering seedlings and always allow the seedling plugs to dry out between watering. The longer the soil stays wet or saturated, the more likely water molds will infect and cause disease problems. However, allowing soil to dry too much between watering may stress the
seedlings and encourage wirestem caused by Rhizoctonia. Transplanting: Avoid transplanting diseased seedlings into the field. Inspect all transplants growing in seedling trays for disease symptoms prior to planting. It is best to discard entire trays that have seedlings with symptoms if possible, since the pathogen could have spread to adjacent seedlings in the tray even though they may appear healthy at the time of transplanting.
Figure 2: Broccoli seedling with wirestem symptoms. Note the lack of secondary roots and the stiff wire-like main root. fungicide labels carefully prior to mixing and applying. Seeding Depth: Never plant seeds too deep and ensure that the right temperature is maintained for rapid seedling emergence and growth. Deep seeding causes stress on seedlings as they emerge through the soil and results in a greater area of susceptible stem tissue exposure below the soil line to the wirestem and damping off pathogens.
Figure 3: Bottom rot symptoms appear as dark brown or grey lesions on lower leaves and petioles of head forming cole crops that come in contact with Rhizoctonia infested soil.
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PAGE 28 –– APRIL 2011 THE GROWER
ONTARIO POTATO CONFERENCE
Top 10 things to know about phosphorous acid DR. JEFF MILLER, MILLER RESEARCH AND DR. NORA OLSEN, UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
6) Phosphorous acid can be applied as a post-harvest application to tubers prior to tubers being placed in storage for management of both late blight and pink rot. 7) Most effective rate for post-harvest application is 417 ml/mt (12.8 fl oz/ton) of tubers. 8) Idaho research shows that a post-harvest application of phosphorous acid applied to a seed crop is safe. 9) Post-harvest application volume should be 2.09 L/mt (0.5 gal/ton) tubers. 10) Care must be taken to account for the many logistics of making a post-harvest application.
Phosphorous acid-based fungicides are an effective tool for managing Oomycete-caused diseases of potato such as late blight and pink rot. They have been used in Idaho for many years. Research and experience with these products have helped growers learn the benefits and risks to using these fungicides. The top ten things to know are: 1) Phosphorous acid is a FRAC 33 group fungicide. These products have also been called phosphates and phosphonates. They are phosphite salts. 2) Phosphorous acid is a relatively weak fungicide that also induces a natural disease resistance response in plants. These fungicides are relatively safe (signal word is caution). 3) Foliar applications are effective against pink rot and the tuber phase of late blight. A foliar phosphorous acid program is effective against pink rot pathogen populations that are resistant to metalaxyl and mefenoxam. Other effective, less expensive products are available for late blight tuber blight control, but foliar programs against pink rot also offer protection against tuber late blight. 4) The most effective rate and timing for the foliar program is 11.7 L/ha (10 pt/acre) starting when the largest tubers are
dime-sized, and repeated on a 14-day interval for three total
applications. 5) Phytotoxicity has been
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APRIL 2011 –– PAGE 29 THE GROWER
When it comes to potato seed pieces, size matters What seems so simple to control is costing potato growers big bucks: seed size. “It is a big surprise,” says Mark VanOostrum, agronomist for W.D. Potato Limited at Beeton, Ontario, a broker for chip processors. He released the results of a 2010 survey of set cutter and planter performance at the recent Ontario Potato Conference. The survey in Prince Edward Island, Maine and Ontario represented 35 per cent of W.D. Potato growers and more than 5,000 acres of chipping potatoes. “We are cutting our seed smaller than ideal,” says VanOostrum. “We cannot eyeball our seed cutting. We should hire someone to measure the size profile and cut type and make adjustments to ensure we reach the 75 per cent range.” Average seed size should be two ounces with a range of 1.5 to 3 ounces, says VanOostrum, but only 50 per cent of the volume tested were on target. In addition, the survey found that plant spacing is erratic. Only 59 per cent of the plantings were on target, resulting in plant populations that were 84 to 91 per cent of the maximum. Again, planter performance should be supervised so spacing is measured and adjusted if needed. The survey was prompted by a conversation with a consultant from the UK hired by Frito Lay, a large buyer of potatoes. Whole seed versus cut seed is an ongoing debate, but one that has real economic and quality consequences.
Ontario Planter Summary Skips = 16.9% Accuracy = 58.5%
Doubles = 8.0% Population = 84% (91%dbl)
“Seed size, uniformity and planter speed have the greatest impact on seed spacing accuracy and population,” says VanOostrum. “Cost of misses totals $10 to $20 per acre with a one per cent skip or miss, using the example of Dakota Pearl.” In North America, growers tend to buy 1.5 to 10 ounce
maximum top size potato seed, but generally these larger mother tubers cut poorly. They have blind or low stems, create slivers and chips, have two or three cut surfaces and are difficult to plant. VanOostrum recommends keeping three ounce seed pieces whole and avoiding any seed more than 10 ounces. Research shows that as average seed size increases, yield increases, but only to a point. The benefits decrease when seed size is more than 2.5 ounces. Growers need to reduce seed pieces under 1.5 ounces because they are less productive, highly susceptible to pathogenic breakdown and have low reserves for sprout development. Planting undersized seed costs growers anywhere from 50 to 60 cwt per acre. Planters are also under scrutiny. Misses result from seed rot, planter skips or blind seed pieces. Results form the survey showed an average of 17 per cent skips. “We should target misses below five per cent,” VanOostrum advises. Plants next to misses will compensate and produce more yield, but will never overcome the zero yield of the missed plant. Furthermore, tuber quality next to misses is often poor due to excessive oversize, hollow heart, brown center and increased bruising. Further trials are planned for 2011 in the same locales with the addition of some Quebec sites. “There is a huge opportunity to make significant changes to our cutting and planting performance that will pay huge dividends to our grower base,” VanOostrum concludes.
Wheat-straw thermal wall system insulates organic potatoes When Marcus Koenig, an organic potato grower near Grand Bend, Ontario, wanted to build a storage facility for his potatoes, he didn’t need to go far to find the building supplies. In fact, the insulation for the walls was grown in the field next to the building site. The wheat straw, which normally would have been either burned or turned back into the ground, was baled and used as the insulating core in the wall system for the building. At first glance you might not think of straw as a viable building material, especially after hearing the children’s story of “The 3 Little Pigs.” However, straw bale construction has become increasingly popular in recent years. What is old is new again, based on the pioneers of the Sand Hills in Nebraska. Some of the original buildings from the late 1800s are still around today. This building style quickly faded out of fashion after the industrial revolution. But with the trend turning back to natural materials, Ontario Ther-
mal Wall Systems (OTWS) launched its business in 2009 in Welland. The company assisted Koenig in the construction of the prefabricated modular wall system. Normally the walls are built in the factory, but because of building size and the distance to Lake Huron, it made sense to build the walls on-site. The walls were built in forms on the concrete floor and tilted up and
installed into place, much like tiltup concrete slab construction. “Since I want to build a house this way, it seemed practical to start with a farm building first,” says Koenig, who grows 50 acres of organic potatoes. “It’s a holistic way of operating the farm, using materials that hold true to my ideals.” In building the walls himself with farm-produced materials, the cost was significantly cheaper. His potatoes have stored well over the winter, despite a minus 16 degree Celsius freeze in March. “The potatoes remained at six degrees, with no internal
storage changes at all.” In most cases, green building choices come at a premium, but because the walls use such simple, low-cost materials, they are cost competitive with conventional construction. Since the potatoes are stored in the building, it’s important that they are not exposed to any volatile organic compounds or other off-gassing chemicals found in some conventional building products. Lastly, because of the walls’ large thermal mass (an 8’ x 8’ wall weighs about 1 tonne) and excellent insulating properties, the walls are
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able to maintain a constant temperature for the potatoes, which is essential for their well keeping. This construction technique is most commonly used in residences. There are an estimated 1,000 straw bale buildings in Canada alone, most of which are houses. Normally straw bale construction takes place on site by stacking the bales like bricks and then applying an inch thick coat of plaster to both sides of the wall. This has really limited this form of construction to smaller buildings because of the highly labour intensive plastering. The OTWS wall system is different since the walls are formed lying flat allowing for gravity to help create the flat wall surfaces. “By building in this manner, we are able to build a more consistent product, in climate controlled conditions, with much flatter wall surfaces at a more cost competitive price,” says Ian Weir, owner of OTWS and a member of the Ontario Straw Bale Building Coalition. “Another advantage is that since the walls are produced off site, they can be built in advance and installed as soon as the foundation is ready, greatly speeding up construction time.”
PAGE 30 –– APRIL 2011 THE GROWER
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Canada’s Leading Greenhouse Manufacturer
Tel: 519-582-3081 Fax: 519-582-0851 Toll Free: 888-786-4769 RR 1, Simcoe Ontario, Canada info@decloetgreenhouse.com www.decloetgreenhouse.com
EMPLOYMENT You love finding a better way to do things, have high ethical standards and want to be part of a growing, visionary team. We need an experienced crop manager to take full control of growing 750 acres of potatoes and Squash in the Vancouver area for this season. If that`s you, come join the Heppell`s team and enjoy a challenging, innovative and rewarding team-working environment. We are looking for a self-motivated team player who is willing to learn and can contribute to a positive working environment. Duties include: • Tractor/truck/equipment operation and maintenance, • Crop management • Team leadership and planning - and all other tasks associated with planting, cultivating, irrigating and harvesting a potato crop in the Abbotsford and/or Cloverdale growing areas. Farm or equipment experience is an asset. Pay dependent on skills and experience. Full-time. Email resume to: info@heppells.ca Heppell’s Potato Corp. Cloverdale, BC
PICKLED VEGETABLES
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 anywhere in Ontario! Simply the best approach to this important factor of fruit production
Call Dave (519) 372-0604
BENEFICIAL FUNGI
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) 945-1149 or call toll-free
1-800-361-8515 SOLID SET
IRRIGATION PIPES FOR SALE! 20 acres of 2ʼ pipe 3",4",5" and 6" pipe available. Located in Eastern Ontario 613-821-1230 or 613-858-1935
Soil Beneficial Fungi Trichoderma spp. colonize soil around the roots, making nutrients available to the plants, taking space from the pathogenic fungi and results in bigger healthier plants. Customly designed for your soil and crop. Order yours today. Phone: 519-822-6743 or 519-830-1767
AUCTION
Jack Morris Auctions Inc. Auction Sale Greenhouse Construction Equipment & Other Good Shop Tools Saturday, April 30 at 10:00 am For Mr. Herman Neufeld, Kingsville, Ont, at Mr. Neufeld’s farm at 728 Seacliff Dr., approx. 2 km east of Kingsville. Sky Jacks: five Sky Jacks model SJ7027, 600 series, three are 4WD, two are 2WD units, all in good working order; Gradall: G6-42A-6000 lb. telehandler w/J.D. dsl engine, 4391 hrs., works very well; Truck: Volvo ’93 FE series dsl, 216,528 km w/24’ van box, was safetied in Apr/2010, sells as is; plus small forklift, welders, tools & other shop equip. Details & photos at www.jackmorrisauctions.com Proprietor: Herman Neufeld, 519-733-2487 Auctioneer: Jack Morris, 519-687-2530
APRIL 2011 –– PAGE 31 THE GROWER
MARKETPLACE
To advertise phone: 519-380-0118 • 866-898-8488 x 218 • Fax: 519-380-0011 NURSERY AND ROOTSTOCK
SCOTT-WHALEY NURSERIES LTD.
The best producing orchards start with exceptional trees. Apples Apricots Cherries Nectarines Peaches Plums
RR2 Ruthven, ON. N0P 2G0
Specializing in Service to Commercial Fruit Growers Apple & Peach Trees
Phone: 519-326-9330 Fax: 519-326-3083 gwfarm@wavedirect.net
Quality Fruit Trees for 60 years. Mori Nurseries
1695 Niagara Stone Rd., RR#2 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S1J0 T: 905-468-3217 F: 905-468-7271 Email: fruittrees@morinurseries.com
www.morinurseries.com
Alpine Nurseries
(Niagara) Limited
SPECIALIZING IN FRUIT TREES & GRAPE VINES & ELDERBERRIES. VARIETY AND PRICE LIST AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
Howard A. Colcuc Nursery Manager R.R. #4 Creek Road Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON. L0S 1J0 Tel: (905) 262-4971 Fax: (905) 262-4404 howardcolcuc@rogers.com
STRAWBERRY PLANTS ***CERTIFIED*** RASPBERRY CANES Producers 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 brochure
G.W. ALLEN NURSERY LTD. 7295 Hwy 221 Centreville, N.S. B0P 1J0 ph. 902-678-7519 fax: 902-678-5924
Email: sales@gwallennursery.com
C.O.
ASPARAGUS ROOTS Jersey Giant
Wrightland Farm RR 1 • 1000 Ridge Rd. Harrow, ON N0R 1G0 Keith: 519-738-6120 Fax: 519-738-3358
TRACEABILITY
www.gwallennursery.com
KEDDY
• 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 3V7 Ph: (902) 678-4497 Fax: (902) 678-0067 Email: keddynursery@xcountry.tv
ScoringAg.com for EXPORTING to USA every case needs to be labeled to meet the Food Safety & Modernization Act. Our on case barcode traces back to a database in a human & electronic readable format.
lenhardt@thot.net 705 324 2709
WWW.THEGROWER.ORG
PAGE 32 –– APRIL 2011 THE GROWER
MARKETPLACE
To advertise phone: 519-380-0118 • 866-898-8488 x 218 • Fax: 519-380-0011 EQUIPMENT
REFRIGERATION
CALL ABE FIRST FOR BETTER PRICES, MORE CHOICES, FAST, AND FRIENDLY SERVICE. BUY A DIESEL ENGINE FROM THE DIESEL MECHANIC.
KOOL JET
®
Reliable Refrigeration Systems
1-866-748-7786
One-Piece and Portable Skid-Mount Systems, HydroCoolers, Medical and Process Chillers, Blast Freezers, Vacuum Coolers, Refrigerated Dehumidifiers.
www.kooljet.com
Custom Built Designs • Domestic and International Markets
Visit our website to view our complete line EQUIPMENT
AVAILABLE NOW NEW IRRIGATION PUMP UNITS ON TRAILER • Cummin 4 cyl, 80 HP, $11,900 • Cummin 4 cyl turbo, 105 HP $13,850 • John Deere, 4 cly, 80 HP, $13,175 • Cummin 6 cyl, 165 HP-5.9L, $15,750 • Iveco/Cummins 130 HP (134-H), $12,950 All with Rovatti Pumps, etc. And many more new or used up to 550 HP. We build them all big or small. Also couplers, hoses, clamps, for suction, camlock, ringlock, etc.
A. KOOLMEES R.R. 1, Otterville, ON N0J 1R0 (519) 879-6878 Fax: (519) 879-6319
WANTED NOW: CLEAN USED SPRAYERS
ALL STAINLESS STEEL Made in Canada
LOW DRIFT SPRAY TOWERS to fit any TURBO-MIST - IN STOCK NOW Turbo-Mist 600 gal. Narrow, centrifugal pump (used 2 yrs) . . . . $15,500 Turbo-Mist 500 gal Narrow, Hydraulic Controls, Low, Low hours . $16,500 Turbo-Mist 500 gal, Narrow, Hydraulic Controls, Used 40 Hrs . . . $17,900 Turbo-Mist 400 gal, Big 30” Fan, Almost New . . . . . . . . . . . . . $16,500 J.D. 125HP Diesel Air O Fan, 500 Gal, 37” Fan, 1700 Hrs . . . . . . $16,500 FMC CP4000, 85 HP Diesel, Ravens Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,500 John Deere H.D. 10 ft Rotary Mower, Centre Pull, Hydraulic Wide Offset, New Blades, Paint, Low Profile Tires . . . . . . . . .$5,500 Seppi 200 Flail Mower/mulcher, Almost New . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,900 Perfect KV220 7ft. HD Flail Mower, Almost New Hammers. . . .$3,400 Brush Fork - 3PH or Loader Mount - 6’ wide . . . . . . . . . . . . .$300 Price Reduced Over $1400 - New Perfect Flail Mowers Due To High Doller/Low Euro ** Instant photos to you by e-mail - all advertised items ** Trades, Consignment, Leasing, Delivery Anywhere
RR 3, PO Box 3613 Guelph, ON Phone: (519) 763-2400 Fax: (519) 763-3930
D O N A RT H U R O R C H A R D E Q U I P M E N T (519) 599-3058 donarthur@georgian.net Clarksburg, ON
WARWICK ORCHARDS & NURSERY LTD. R.R. #8 Watford, Ontario N0M 2S0 Tel: (519) 849-6730 Toll free: 877-550-7412 Fax: (519) 849-6731 Email: warwickorchards@brktel.on.ca
Orchard Equipment & Supplies Munckhof Orchard Sprayers Votex Shredders Votex Mowers Tree Stakes & Tie Material
Orchard Equipment for sale: • 1 FMC 250 series speed sprayer 500 gallons, $7000 • 1830 John Deere tractor with fork lift, 2377 hours, $5000 • 1 fertilizer spreader, $600
Contact Ibrahim Call after 7 pm 905-304-1406 NURSERY
Ibrahim_elahmed@hotmail.com
• VEGETABLE SEEDERS Planet Jr.
Gaspardo
Cole
• CASH CROP PLANTERS Conventional – Pneumatic (Air)
• FERTILIZER ATTACHMENTS (SideDressers)
• ROW CROP WEEDERS, ETC. • DISC HILLERS • SPECIALIZED ROW CROP EQUIPMENT Cultivator Steels, Sweeps, Hoes, Furrowers, Hillers, Etc.
JOHN C. GRAHAM CO. LTD. DISTRIBUTORS 88 Erie Street North • P.O. Box 13 Leamington, Ontario • N8H 3W1
Tel:(519) 326-5051 Fax: (519) 326-0480
APRIL 2011 –– PAGE 33 THE GROWER
MARKETPLACE
To advertise phone: 519-380-0118 • 866-898-8488 x 218 • Fax: 519-380-0011 IRRIGATION
CROP TUNNELS
ORIENTAL VEGETABLE SEEDS
Oriental Vegetable Seeds
Hot PepperSuper Banana
NURSERY/ROOTSTOCK
Advertise your used farm equipment here.
Hot PepperLong Hot H
Hot PepperDalong D11
Baby White Pak ChoyNabai Queen
Kabocha-Litian
AgroHaitai Ltd. Ph: 519-647-2280 • Fax: 519-647-3188 seed@agrohaitai.com• www.AgroHaitai.com
866-898-8488 ext. 221
CLASSIFIED ADS CLASSIFIED ADS John Deere 4 x 6 Gator with hydraulic dump. Howard 5ft. rototiller. New Hypro centrifugal pump. Model #9303C-HM2C. 1 hecter of mature highbush blueberry plants. Comes with netting and drip system. 519484-2633
Bird banger for sale. Made by Frensch Ltd. Includes tri-pod, 40 lb propane tank. Banger on a timer and batteries. Asking $700. Call 519-695-3365 Knight Slinger. Spreads mulch, manure, $10,500. Toyota forklift, 3000 lb, air tires, 3 stage lift, $4,800. FMC cherry harvester. All excellent condition. 905-8926380 or email mlh@cogeco.ca
1 acre of high tunnel. Excellent condition. No longer needed. $26,000. 519-410-8798 RJ 1-Row, 3 PTH Plug Planter. 150 gal. water tank. Tray racks. 2 sets of shoes. 2 sets of press wheels. Excellent, $4,500. 2-Row Powell pocket planter. 200 gal tank. Very good, $1,800. 519-264-1377
PAGE 34 –– MARCH 2011 THE GROWER
APRIL 2011 –– PAGE 35 THE GROWER
MINOR USE CRAIG’S COMMENTS
What if we woke up one morning to …?
CRAIG HUNTER OFVGA There have been many schemes and programs developed over the years intended to benefit growers. Most of them are from the government--either federal or provincial and often both. Others have come from the efforts or coffers of their associations, including the OFVGA. The return to growers is usually intended to either bolster their market returns now (cash payments) or in the future (research). The oftexpressed concern from the prospective beneficiaries is the mountain of paperwork needed every time. Usually the donor already has most or all of this data--somewhere! Then there is the cost of administration. This eats into the value of the announced value of the program and reduces the net value going back to producers. Putting caps onto payments disadvantages the largest producers-unfairly they would say. Likewise, if there were ever to be a
minimum qualifying amount of volume or dollar value of production there would be a howl at the other end of the economic spectrum. One without the other is indeed favouritism at its worst. I have also seen situations where program uptake is far less than 100 per cent of eligible growers. There are some legitimate reasons for this, such as unwillingness to share cost of production numbers that could negatively impact the industry if released (as seems to happen with many such ‘personal’ data entries). Other times it may be simply a lack of ability or desire to face the paperwork. There are some programs where it may appear that a cash cost up-front is a barrier, but as many know, the banker is pleased to lend that amount if it can be doubled and returned to the grower if a trigger is reached. It may be sheer laziness. It does have a negative impact on all growers when the uptake is low (<75%). The donors may feel their hard fought-for budget is underappreciated. There are some very understandable reasons why a program such as crop insurance is poorly subscribed. Some of the crop-specific programs simply do NOT work for producers. In fact, the uptake on some of these might well be lower except the grower is forced to sign up by a banker or to qualify for another program such as advance crop payment. There is still much to achieve for the betterment of these programs
to the hort sector. It is in the research sector where much frustration with funding of programs arises. A recent example arose when the explanation of exclusions and limitations on how and who could be included in a proposal led to the demise of several otherwise legitimate projects. Growers could care less about the rules -what they want is to get the work done! It is the pencil pushers with obscure ‘rules’ used that have denied a year’s work on desperately needed research. Surely an ‘executive decision’ could have allowed these to be re-written in terms that met the needs of the system and still make it in this year’s budget? Does the system have no understanding of why this research is needed? Do they not realize the impact of even one year’s loss of work might have on grower outcomes? It is the work that is important -- not the petty ‘rules’ around distribution of funds to get the work done! Who if anyone is at the helm and do they get it? All of this comes about as government took away the funding model that used to allow the research system to operate. Yes, there was a need to validate the projects before approval, and yes there is a need for grower input. Oops! We did once have such a system in place, but when it faltered, it was eliminated rather than fixed. Ever since then we have had a series of changed approaches, leading to an ever-
increasing bureaucratization of the process. We have also seen huge cost increases in the projects as we contend with high overhead fees to pay for it. The last money (and sometimes the least) is what goes to get the actual work done. Is it any wonder that commodity groups seek ways to use their own funds in ways that get more bang for the buck? Is it any wonder there are still projects that need work but cannot get through the maze to get them started? Is it any wonder that some groups prefer to work outside the ‘Canadian’ system to get their work done? There is now interest in getting involved with a national checkoff on domestic crop production for research and promotion to leverage a similar check-off on comparable imports. This is a NAFTA approved approach, and one that the U.S. has used for years. The danger for producers is the impact it could have on government funding. We need the same boiler-plated language they often use in agreements as an assurance that all current funding will be considered ‘over and above’ the ‘new’ funds we may achieve from this program. In other words, a guarantee that if
we can leverage this new money, it won’t be off-set by cutbacks or elimination of government current research funding. Since it will be ‘grower money’ it should also be able to leverage government funds and not face double jeopardy like we are currently experiencing. There is a cute ad for ‘Tims’ this winter that features Sidney Crosby, where they reprise an old tape of him at the age of 12. In it he says, “…wouldn’t it be great to wake up every day and do something you loved to do…” In our situation, wouldn’t it be great if we woke up one morning and government funding for all programs was straightforward, with minimal data needed other than a request to be included, and the ‘rules’ were set to allow the program to work, rather than to confuse, contraindicate, and constrain participation? It would be even better if growers wanted to participate in all of them because they truly did meet our needs and did what the original concept intended! It is hard to be an optimist in the face of what we currently have to deal with, but I still wake each morning in everlasting hope!
Pest Management Centre studies posted on web The Pest Management Centre at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has new information available on its website. Visit the PMC website www4.agr.gc.ca. The following four projects have been completed and summaries of the results are now available on the PMC website, Implementation Projects section. PRR09-020
Facilitating the adoption of reduced risk approaches to pest management in apples in Ontario
apple
PRR07-350
Identification of efficient sprayer application tools to maximize onion thrips control
onion
PRR07-530
Development of a synergistic control technology for root weevils in Strawberries
strawberry
PRR07-800
Weed Management Systems for Strawberries: a project to evaluate and to provide tools to assist growers in adopting alternative strategies
strawberry
Technical Support Provided by
For more information on the BASF family of products, contact AgSolutions® by BASF at 1-877-371-BASF (2273) or visit www.agsolutions.ca
®
®
TM
® - Registered trade-mark of the BASF group of companies. TM - Trade-mark of the BASF group of companies. © 2011 BASF.
TM
®
®
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Always read and follow label directions.
®
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PAGE 36 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C; APRIL 2011 THE GROWER
MINOR USE
Pristine fungicide receives minor use label expansions J. CHAPUT, OMAFRA, MINOR USE COORDINATOR, GUELPH The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of several minor use label expansions for PRISTINE WG Fungicide (boscalid + pyraclostrobin) for suppression of Septoria leaf spot on lowbush blueberries, control of anthracnose on grapes, control of gymnosporangium rust on outdoor ornamentals, control of apple scab on crabapple trees and suppression of powdery mildew on greenhouse lettuce in Canada. Pristine WG Fungicide was already labeled for use on a range of Canadian specialty and minor crops in the field and greenhouse
Anthracnose on grapes and has a proven record of efficacy and safety. Disease management has been
a high priority for fruit, vegetable and ornamental producers and the registration of Pristine fungicide
will provide producers with an effective and useful disease management and resistance management tool. The specifics of each new minor use label expansion are outlined on the updated Pristine fungicide label. Users should consult the complete label before using Pristine WG Fungicide. Pristine fungicide should be used in an integrated disease management program and in rotation with other management strategies. Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Pristine fungicide label. These minor use submissions were sponsored by the PMC and provinces as a result of priorities established in consultation with producers. We also wish to
thank the personnel of BASF Canada Inc. for their support of these registrations and the personnel of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency for evaluating and approving this important pest management tool. For copies of the new minor use label for grapes contact Wendy McFadden-Smith, OMAFRA, Vineland (905) 5623833, for GH lettuce contact Gillian Ferguson, OMAFRA, Harrow (519) 738-1258, for outdoor ornamentals, contact Jennifer Llewellyn, OMAFRA, Guelph (519) 824-4120 ext. 52671 or Jim Chaput, OMAFRA, Guelph (519) 826-3539 or visit www.agro.basf.ca/basf/agsolutions/SelectRegion.htm and www.engageagro.com
Controlling mites on tree nuts The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of a minor use label expansion for ACRAMITE 50WS miticide (bifenazate) for control of twospotted spider mite (TSSM) and red mite on tree nuts, crop group 14 in Canada. Crop group 14 includes beechnuts, almonds, butternuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts [filberts], hickory nuts, pecans and walnuts. Acramite 50WS was already labeled for management of mites on apples, caneberries and grapes in Canada. This is the first minor use registration in Canada for these pests on tree nuts. Access to new mite management tools is a high priority for tree nut producers and the label expansion of Acramite 50WS will provide tree nut producers with an effective mite management and resistance management tool. Acramite 50WS miticide can be applied at a rate of 568 grams product per ha (10 pouches per 4 ha) for TSSM and at a rate of 851 grams product per ha (15 pouches per 4 ha) for red mite in spray volume of 1000 L per ha as soon as mites appear. A maximum of one application per season is permitted. The pre-harvest interval for tree nuts is 14 days. Acramite 50WS miticide should be used in an integrated pest management program and in rotation with other management strategies. Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Acramite 50WS label. For copies of the new minor use label contact Melanie Filotas, OMAFRA, Simcoe (519) 4264434, Hannah Fraser, OMAFRA, Vineland (905) 562-1674 or visit www.engageagro.com and/or www.chemturaagrosolutions.com
APRIL 2011 –– PAGE 37 THE GROWER
rs to 1 bi 01 hi Ex ers th 2 ed tn 0 itt ar 2 m P arch & M of
0 16
m Co
As
anada’s Fruit & Veg Tech X-Change NORFOLK COUNTY, ONTARIO
SEPTEMBER 1, 2, 3, 2011 4-H Ontario
DeCloet Buildings
Horticolor
NFA
Solar Logix
4-hontario.ca
decloetgreenhouse.com
horticolor.net
nfa.ca
solar-logix.com
A&A E-Z Products
DFK Equipment Sales Inc.
Hotsy
NM Bartlett
Sommers Motor Generator
aaezbrush.com
dfkequipment.com
hotsy.com
bartlett.ca
sommersgen.com
ACC Farmers Financial
DK Small Engine Repair
Hully Gully
NNZ Inc.
South Coast Winery Assoc.
accfarmersfinancial.ca
N/A
hullygully.com
nnz.nl
ontariosouthcoastwine.com
Advanced Stainless
Dodge - Glassford Motors
Integrated Packaging
Nor-O-Tech Trailers
Space Tek
advancedstainless.ca
glassford.fivestardealers.ca
integratedpackaginggroup.com
N/A
N/A
Ag Tech GIS
Dodsley Propane
Investors Group
Norfolk County
SteelWood Truss Co.
agtechgis.com
dodsleypropane.com
investorsgroup.com
norfolkcounty.ca
decloetgreenhouse.com
AgraTurf Equipment
Eco Light
Jarvis Country Market
Norfolk County Tourism
Storage Control Systems
agraturf.com
eco-light.net
jarvismarket.com
norfolktourism.ca
storagecontrol.com
Agricorp
Engage Agro Corporation
Javafit Coffee
Norfolk Woodlot Owners Assoc. Sunrise Equipment Auctions
agricorp.com
engageagro.com
myjavafit.com
norfolkwoodlots.com
sunrise-equipment.com
Agriculture Strategy
EnviroPerfect Solutions
John Deere
Norseco Seeds
TAZU Technology
agriculturestrategy.com
enviroperfectsolutions.com
deere.com
noresco.com
N/A
AgriTours Canada
Erie Innovation
Junior Farmers Assoc. of ON OMAFRA/University of Guelph
TD Canada Trust
agritourscanada.com
erieinnovation.com
jfao.on.ca
tdcanadatrust.com
Agro 100
Essex County Growers
Karcher Prof. Wash Systems Ontario Corn Fed Beef
The Farm Office
agro-100.com
bountyofthecounty.ca
karcherpro.ca
ontariocornfedbeef.com
thefarmoffice.ca
AgroSpray Limited
Etho Solar
Katan Kitchens
Ontario Farm Fresh
The Grower
agrospray.com
ethosolar.com
N/A
ontariofarmfresh.com
thegrower.org
Allied Associates LLP
Evergreen Liquid Plant Food
Kienapple Painting
ON Fed. of All Terrain Vehicles
The Meat Wagon
alliedgroup.ca
N/A
N/A
ofatv.org
themeatwagon.ca
Allied Freight Solutions
Farm Credit Canada
Kioti Tractor
Ontario Flag & Pole
Tire Craft
alliedfreightsolutions.com
fcc-fac.ca
kiotitractor.com
N/A
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ALUS
Farmers Feed Cities
Kool Jet Refrigeration Inc.
Ontario Fruit & Veg Growers As. TYM Tractors
norfolkalus.com
farmersfeedcities.com
kooljet.com
ofvga.org
tym-tractors.com
Anderson Lime
Farms.com
Koppert Canada
Otterville Custom Golf Carts
Vanden Bussche Irrigation
N/A
farms.com
koppertonline.ca
ottervillecustomgolfcarts.com
vandenbussche.com
Annex Publishing
Father & Sons Geothermal
KTS Coatings
Oxford Insta-Shade
Vineland Research & Innov.
annexweb.com
fatherandsons.ca
N/A
oxfordinstashade.com
vinelandresearch.com
Argo of London
Foodland Ontario / OCF
Lafarge Canada Inc.
Oxford Pallet & Recyclers Ltd.
Wagler Mini Barns
aol.argoatv.com
foodland.gov.on.ca
lafarge.com
oxfordpallet.com
waglerminibarns.com
Arrow Custom Welding
Freedom Dairy
Lakeview Vineyard Equip.
Pathfinder Lubricants
Waters Family Quads
N/A
freedomdairy.com
lakeviewvineyardequipment.com
pathfinderlubricants.ca
watersfamilyquads.com
Bauman Sawmill Inc.
Fruit and Vegetable Magazine Leading Edge Equipment
Plant Products Co Ltd.
WPB Custom Welding
streamridge.ca
fruitandveggie.com
leadingedgeequipment.ca
plantprod.com
N/A
Blue West Equipment
FS Partners
Livingston Logistics Freight
PolyJohn Canada Inc.
Weberlane Manufacturing
bluewest.ca
fspartners.ca
livingstonintl.com
polyjohncanada.ca
weberlane.com
Briggs Plant Propagators Gardner Pie Company
Long Point Eco Adventures
Precision Planting
WeCover Structures
briggsnursery.com
gardnerpie.com
lpfun.ca
precisionplanting.com
wecover.net
BriteSpan Buildings
Gintec Shade Technologies
LS Tractor
Profleet Care
Wellmaster Carts
britespanbuildings.com
gintec-shade.com
lstractor.com
profleetcare.com
wellmaster.ca
BRP Bombardier
GolfTrucks.com
Marketbook
Quebec Farmers Advocate
Westland Greenhouse
brp.com
golfcarttrucks.com
marketbook.ca
laterre.ca
westlandgreenhousesupplies.com
Bucks Boilers & Stove
Goud Agri Tech Inc. (AWG)
Marketing911
R&D Energy Solutions
Willsie Equipment Sales Inc.
bucksboilers.com
N/A
marketing911.ca
rdenergysolutions.ca
willsie.com
Burning Kiln Winery
GPS Ontario
Max Underhill's Farm Supply R&W Equipment Ltd.
Woodmaster
burningkilnwinery.com
gpsontario.ca
underhillsfarmsupply.ca
rwequipment.ca
woodmaster.com
Calhoun Super Structures Grand River Planter Parts
Mercedes/Sprinter
Railway City Brewing Co.
Workers from Honduras
calhounsuperstructure.com
grpp.ca
mercedessprinter.com
railwaycitybrewing.com
workers.org/honduras
CASE IH
Great Lakes Fruit,Veg Expo
Micro 50
R.E. MANN Brokers
Yamaha - McKee Sports
caseih.com
glexpo.com
micro50.ca
remann.com
mckeesport.ca
China Ag & Food Develop. Great Northern Insulation
Monsanto/Seminis
Ricks Cycle Inc.
ccagr.com
gni.ca
monsantovegetableseeds.com
ricksycle.com
Christian Farmers
Greatario Engineered Storage Mori Nurseries
christianfarmers.org
uoguelph.ca/research/omafra
Ritchie Bros.
greatario.com
morinurseries.com
rbauction.com
Country Guide
Green Grid Solutions
National Farmers Union
RJ Equipment
country-guide.ca
greengrid.ca
nfu.ca
rjequipment.net
D&E Home Bakery
Harco Ag Equipment
National Leasing
Shur Farms Frost Protection
N/A
harcoag.ca
nationalleasing.com
shurfarms.com
D&W Group Inc.
Home Comfort Services
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PAGE 38 –– APRIL 2011 THE GROWER
MINOR USE
Altacor and Coragen receive label extensions JIM CHAPUT, OMAFRA, MINOR USE COORDINATOR, GUELPH Active ingredient rynaxypyr provides highly effective control of target pests at low use rates. Canadian growers now have access to Altacor and Coragen insect control products on a wider range of crops with longer lasting, broader spectrum control of key pests. Both insect control products contain rynaxypyr, a new chemistry from a new class of chemistry - Group 28, the Anthranilic diamides, which
makes both products important resistance management tools in integrated pest management (IPM) systems. "Resistance to existing chemistries in various crops is a concern because of the multiple generations and the insecticide applications needed to keep pests under control," says Jim Irish, specialty products manager for DuPont. "Both Altacor and Coragen provide new and effective options to control economically significant pests and are effective at multiple stages of the life cycle." The expanded Altacor label
will give Canada tree nut and berry growers new options for pest control and resistance
management. Tree nut growers will be able to use Altacor to protect their crop from codling
moth, oblique-banded leafroller and three-lined leafroller. Berry producers will be able to use Altacor for control of raspberry cane borer and raspberry crown borer in caneberries. Coragen, which is already used by potato, brassica vegetable, fruiting vegetable and leafy vegetable producers, is now available for use on a wide range of vegetable crops including sweet, field and seed corn, tuberous and corm vegetables, cucurbit vegetables and alfalfa. For a complete list of crops and pests, see the respective label at www.dupont.ca/ag.
Look for better control of aphids on highbush blueberries and leafy vegetables The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of a minor use label expansion for Fulfill 50 WG insecticide (pymetrozine) for control of aphids on highbush blueberries and leafy vegetables, crop group 4 in Canada. Crop group 4, leafy vegetables includes crops such as celery, lettuce, parsley, spinach, rhubarb, edible amaranth, arugula, chervil, edible chrysanthemum, cress, endive, fennel, purslane, radicchio and swiss chard. Fulfill
50 WG insecticide was already fully labeled for use on potatoes in Canada and approved under emergency use for highbush blueberries in B. C. and has a proven record of providing producers with effective aphid management. For highbush blueberries Fulfill insecticide can be applied at a rate of 193 g product per hectare in a spray volume of 500 – 1,000 L water per hectare. A maximum of two applications per crop per year is permitted with the first application pre-bloom
Speak with your local Bartlett Rep to find out how you can run a more efficient farm this spring, using our European-designed Mowers and Blossom Thinners
and the second application post harvest. The use of a surfactant (as specified on the label) is also recommended. The preharvest interval is 85 days. For leafy vegetables, crop group 4 Fulfill insecticide can be applied at a rate of 193 g product per hectare in a minimum spray volume of 100 L water per hectare. Apply when aphids first appear and do not apply more than twice. Allow at least seven days between applications and follow the pre-harvest interval of 14 days.
The use of a surfactant (as specified on the label) is also recommended. For a copy of the new minor use label for blueberries contact Pam Fisher, OMAFRA, Simcoe, (519) 426-2238 or Kevin Schooley, OBGA, Kemptville (613) 258-4587. For a copy of the new label for leafy vegetables, crop group 4 contact Marion Paibomesai, OMAFRA, Guelph (519) 826-4963, Jim Chaput, OMAFRA, Guelph (519) 826-3539 or visit www.syngenta.ca
www.bartlett.ca 1.800.263.1287
APRIL 2011 –– PAGE 39 THE GROWER
The best fruit comes from growers with a vision for better disease control.
Always read and follow label directions. The Syngenta logo is a trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. © 2011 Syngenta Crop Protection Canada, Inc.
PAGE 40 –– APRIL 2011 THE GROWER
TERMINATE EARLY BLIGHT
THE ONLY GROUP 9
Scala® fungicide is programmed to protect against the threat of early blight in potatoes. And as the only Group 9 fungicide, it utilizes a unique mode of action, making it an exceptional resistance management tool. Hasta la vista, early blight.
BayerCropScience.ca or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative. Always read and follow label directions. Scala® is a registered trademark of Bayer. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada. 01/11-14951