The Grower Newspaper July 2010

JULY 2010

CELEBRATING 130 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION

VOLUME 60 NUMBER 07

Putting a face -- or two -- on the brand

By Karen Davidson Big box berries? Why not if the product is sold to big business.

More growers are finding innovative ways to sell directly to consumers.

Take Twin Berry Farms, for example. Twin brothers Ricki and Newton Sahota operate an on-line blueberry delivery service direct to downtown Vancouver offices.

About 100 corporate clients, including BC Cancer and investment firm Odlum Brown, now subscribe to the service that delivers five-pound boxes for $16.50 each to company reception rooms.

A champion within each business sends email reminders about order deadlines, while individual employees order on-line and pay upfront. If the company orders 15 boxes or more, delivery is free.

Part of the benefit is reducing the environmental footprint with bulk deliveries of local produce during the July 2 to August 24 season.

The twist is that it’s more than a commercial transaction. Their “Goodberry Program” links each order to affiliate charity, Canuck Place, a children’s hospice, or the company’s charity of choice with a two-dollar donation for each order. Doing good plus eating berries that are good for you is a win-win proposition that earns publicity in local media.

“The concept of charity mixed with summer fruit has been an easy pitch to local media,” says Ricki. “We are a known brand in Vancouver.”

The brothers are now preparing for their sixth season of farmdirect-to-office retailing. Last season grossed $50,000 with a business that is an offshoot of the

Inside Horticulture innovators share strategy

Page 4

Building a better berry nation

Page 7

What’s a spife?

Page 12

www.thegrower.org P.M. 40012319

Sahota Blueberry Farms wholesale business in Pitt Meadows.

Growing up in the Vancouver suburb, Ricki and his brother thought farming was a chore.

Today, they thank their IndoCanadian parents for nurturing 160 acres of prime farmland for

blueberries. Hand-picked in the morning by up to 200 pickers in peak season, the blueberries are graded, packaged in five-pound boxes and cooled at room temperature with fans. From experience, Ricki says this is just enough to take out the heat but not enough to

make the berries sweat. The berries are delivered downtown between 8:30 am and 2 pm the next day.

With this process in place, they feel comfortable in offering a 32hour freshness guarantee.

The summer of 2010 will see them branch out to the Vancouver

Farmers’ Market with a stall where they can further develop the brand and encourage deliveries to customers mid-week. Email blasts and media appearances complete their marketing plan which directs consumers to www.twinberryfarms.com. Continued on page 3

Thinking outside the box, twin brothers Ricki and Newton Sahota have successfully built an online blueberry delivery service to downtown Vancouver. Just as comfortable amongst the business towers of the city as their farm in a nearby suburb, these entrepreneurs are the new faces of farming in multi-cultural Canada. Happy Canada Day!

Tornado rips through Canada’s tomato capital

By Karen Davidson An F2 tornado devastated the small town of Leamington, Canada’s self-proclaimed tomato capital, on June 6. Damage includes 16 acres of greenhouse tomatoes and cucumbers with an estimated value of $17 to $21 million, says Len Roozen, Chair, Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers. Another 2,000 acres of field tomatoes and winter wheat, somewhere between 100 and 500 tender fruit trees and 10 acres of flower greenhouses were damaged according to an Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson.

“All of our growers were in full harvest,” says Roozen. “The losses represent about one per cent of our

greenhouse capacity.” Those experiencing damage include: Pelee Hydroponics, Bob Dick Plant Farms, Simoni Farms, Erieview Acres Inc and Rainbow Acres. Given the density of horticultural workers in the area, industry leaders were relieved that no physical injuries were reported.

“It’s a miracle that no one was hurt,” says Roozen. “If the tornado’s path had been just one kilometer to the north, destruction would have been much greater.

And if timing had been on a week day, then worker injuries could have been severe.”

In addition, there are five acres of greenhouses with infrastructure damage to vents, estimated at $2 to $2.5 million to replace. Another

35 acres lost plastic roof covering worth $700,000.

Insurance adjusters came to the scene very quickly, however total figures have not been tabulated.

“All of our growers were in full harvest.

The losses represent about one per cent of our greenhouse capacity.”

- Len Roozen

Politicians at municipal, provincial and federal levels were dispatched to the scene in the week following the disaster to witness the destruction first-hand.

Everyone from Premier Dalton McGuinty to provincial Ag Minister Carol Mitchell to federal Minister of Science and Technology, Gary Goodyear, toured the area.

For the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program to be activated, the province must apply to the federal government. At press time June 21, no formal request had been made. Any assessment will be made based on the amount of damage, not the category of tornado.

PAGE 2 –– JULY 2010 THE GROWER

At press time…

OFVGA helps negotiate no farmer fees on bagged fertilizer Farmers will be exempted from a proposed fee on fertilizers set for July 1, thanks to lobby efforts from OFVGA, Ontario Federation of Agriculture and Ontario Agriculture Business Association who represents fertilizer dealers. “The savings amount to millions of dollars per year for our members,” says Craig Hunter, OFVGA representative to talks with Stewardship Ontario.

An arms-length group from the Ministry of the Environment, Stewardship Ontario had proposed a fee of 46 cents per kilo for all bagged fertilizer. Ontario agriculture uses more than 30,000 tonnes of bagged fertilizer. The original intent was to pay for the Household Hazardous and Special Waste collection and recycling program.

“Our position was that growers would not dispose of fertilizer,” says Hunter. “They would use it on their crops. Growers are precluded from using the urban-based program in any case.”

Sales of fertilizer to bona fide farmers will be tracked at point of sale, and will be exempted from the fee which will be paid by the stewards (manufacturers) of the fertilizer. The fee is set based on the estimated volume of collections that determine the cost to run the program, versus the volumes sold.

Farmers will need to show their farm registration number to their dealer, who will track of sales volumes. Once the sale is determined to be to a legitimate farmer, no fee is directed to the manufacturer. This exemption will apply to all farmer sales, including micronutrients and N-P-K sales.

Canadian on-farm food safety standard for produce now internationally recognized After a thorough and intensive comparison process spanning almost a year, CanadaGAP – an on-farm food safety program for fresh fruit and vegetable producers and packers – has been successfully benchmarked against the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) requirements.

GFSI approval means CanadaGAP is recognized as equivalent to other GFSI-benchmarked programs for the primary production sector, such as SQF 1000, Global-

GAP and PrimusGFS, which many buyers require, both in Canada and abroad. The CanadaGAP scheme has been recognized

by GFSI for certification options B and C and the recognition covers the common food safety requirements that run through the six different commodity specific modules.

This recognition will allow farmers who are certified to CanadaGAP to remain competitive and have continued access to markets, which are increasingly demanding that companies implement a recognized food afety program.

Harmonized sales tax comes into force July 1 Ontario and British Columbia will be enacting the harmonized sales tax (HST) on July 1.

With this shift in costs, it’s important for growers to be aware of implications for their operations. David Rinneard, National Agricultural Manager, Bank of Montreal says the tax change will not have any material effect, forecasting $30 million in savings to Ontario farmers and $15 million to B.C. farmers. On average, individual farmers should expect about $600 in annual tax savings.

Large purchases, such as a pickup truck, used to be subject to provincial sales tax but will now be taxed under the HST and as a result, will attract an offsetting tax credit. The issue for farmers is that historically there were pointof-sale exemptions with a farmer identity card. Now farmers will have to apply for these tax credits.

“There’s now an added incentive to be applying for these tax credits on a quarterly basis, just as you may have done for GST,” advises Rinneard. “If you don’t apply and wait for a year, there could be quite an impact on cash flow.”

With the tax rebates, Rinneard says growers have a few good options. Either pay down debt, make a capital investment or make an AgriInvest contribution which attracts a matching government contribution. These are smart ways to manage rebates that might otherwise go into general operating funds.

Interest rate trends demand strategy now Some segments of the Canadian agriculture industry could face

an unsettling outlook in three to five years if they don’t take steps now to manage their debt, increase their productivity and bring their debt-to-income ratios back into balance, according to Dr. George Brinkman, professor emeritus and former Chair of the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Guelph.

In a news release issued by the Bank of Montreal, Dr. Brinkman, who specializes in farm viability, urges Canadian farm businesses to shed unproductive assets and to develop a business strategy to manage the impact of interest rates that are expected to rise by as much as three to five per cent by 2015.

“Rising interest rates are the real vulnerability that Canadian farm businesses face today,” said Dr. Brinkman. “Many Canadian farmers are carrying an inordinate level of debt vis-à-vis comparable markets in the world. Consequently, the impending rise in interest rates, expected over the balance of 2010 and throughout 2011, poses an issue for Canadian farms.

“It’s important that Canada’s agriculture industry takes steps now in planning for higher rate scenarios in three to five years just when the rest of the global economy is picking up and governments may not have an appetite for another bailout,” he said.

Canada’s economy is expected to strengthen this year on the back of monetary and fiscal stimulus, according to the BMO Economics Department. One consequence of the improved economic climate is that the Bank of Canada will likely continue raising overnight lending rates, raising rates steadily but gradually from the recently announced 0.5 to 3.25 per cent by the end of 2011 and to 4.25 per cent by the end of 2012.

“Longer-term interest rates are likely to increase less than shortterm rates, with the 10-year Government of Canada yield expected to climb from 3.40 per cent currently to 3.95 per cent by the end of this year and to 4.70 per cent by the end of 2011 and to 5.10 per cent by the end of 2012,” said Sal Guatieri, senior economist, BMO Capital Markets. “Agri-businesses are advised to consider their financing and interest rate options sooner rather than later in order to take advantage of current historically low long-term borrowing costs.”

NEWSMAKERS Joseph Hackett made it over the finish line in The Ride to Conquer Cancer on a 213-kilometer cycling ride from Toronto to Niagara Falls June 12 and 13. Featured last month on this page, the migrant worker qualified for the race with $2800, including a significant cheque from the Barbados Liaison Office. Along with Hackett, another worker George Knight and farm manager Robbie Montgomery completed the ride raising $10,000 in total.

Charles Stevens, an OFVGA director, (second from left) is pictured with his team at the finish line. Photo by Courtney Stevens The Grape Growers of Ontario recently honoured Hugh Fraser, ag engineer with OMAFRA, with its Award of Merit 2010. His professional dedication to the grape and wine industry has been vital in implementing bird control devices, frost protection equipment and wind machines.

The Holland Marsh Growers’ Association recently won the Bradford Board of Trade’s New Community Leadership Development award. It was accepted by Alex Makarenko, Chair.

The Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) has announced Terry Thompson as the new executive director. He has worked for AAC since 1998, after a career with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Agricorp.

Tornado damages Leamington greenhouses

Photo by OMAFRA.

Temporary duty placed on Dutch bell peppers The Canada Border Services Agency announced a positive preliminary decision on June 21 of dumping with respect to low-priced Dutch sweet bell peppers being sold into the Canadian market. A temporary duty of 95 per cent of landed value was placed on imported Dutch bell peppers as the injury inquiry continues. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal will now investigate the extent of injury and report in 120 days.

CLASSIFIED C LASS SIFIED

STAY ST TAY C CLEAN LEA AN W WITH IT

Our O ur SI SIMPLE MPLE T Turning urning H Hitch itch

p hillipsfs.ca phillipsfs.ca

1-800-811-6238 1 -800-811-6238 iinfo@phillipsfs.ca nfo@phillipsfs.ca p rice p arts s ervice price parts service

Call C all us us First Firstt PARTS P ARTS AND REP PAIRS REPAIRS

refurb re furb 3 362 62 mo modular dular John John Be Bean anSO SOLD LDaask sk refurb refurb LV LV 321 321 n narrow arrow Jo John hn Be Bean an a ask sk new new Hardi Hardi 3pt 3pt Air Air Cannon Cannon Sprayer Sprayer new new 100gal 100gal 3pt 3pt John John Bean Bean Ai Airr Demo Demo 10 10 sensor sensor SMART SMART SPR SPRAY AY

F Feature eature

$ $9,995 9,995 $ $5,995 5,995 $ $5,500 5,500 $ $6,995 6,995 $ $16,500.00 16,500.00

3 yr o old ld John Bean 400gal 4 Smart Smart Spray Spray turning hitch hitch and and more more SPEC IAL PR ICE turning SPECIAL PRICE

JULY 2010 –– PAGE 3 THE GROWER

Putting a face -- or two -- on the brand Continued from page 1 The concept of selling business-to- consumer but delivering business-to-business has earned them kudos among fellow farmers.

As a result, the Sahotas were runners-up in the recent BC Outstanding Young Farmer contest.

With that experience under their belts, Ricki realizes that some of their best ideas still need to come to fruition. His twin brother, Newton, is a chef who is developing a blueberry chutney with Indian spices. Given their media profile and client database, chances are this brand extension is another great idea bubbling in the kitchen.

The Sahota brothers aren’t the only ones cooking up new ideas.

Steve and Micki Smith planted a high-density apple orchard near Port Elgin, Ontario and in a decade, have ramped up the enterprise to a full-time income from their on-farm market. For Steve, farming was a second career after teaching high school for 27 years.

“We listen to consumers,” says Smith, who has just won the $5,000 Premier’s Agri-Food Innovation Excellence award.

“When we started about 10 years ago, our consumers said there wasn’t much to do after half an hour. So we built a corn maze and four years ago, we built a bakery.

We had an incredible response to the bakery when we sold out at 11:30 am on opening day.”

Their success is testament to good marketing that drives consumers to a rural location on a gravel road. Open only from Labour Day to November 1, the two-month window is an intense period of selling apples from their 6,000 trees direct to consumers and providing education to school students. New varieties pique interest with everything from Sunrise to Gingergold to Zestar!

Just planted three years ago from a University of Minnesota release, the Zestar! apple is a good fit since it matures in late August, the same time as their farm market’s opening.

“I’m a research guy at heart,” admits Smith. He was one of the first to grow Honeycrisp apples in

rhubarb sour cream streusel pie recipe that Micki is now perfecting in their own bakery for release next fall. And yes, a photo of that test pie is on their Facebook page.

It’s early days, but Facebook seems to be a new tool that is providing ongoing feedback from more than 200 followers. “Twitter is a slow thing,” adds Smith. “It’s just been a month since starting but my sense is that this tool will work better with other direct marketers with the Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association.”

Pumped by the recent innovation award, Smith is putting more faith in Facebook with photos of hand-thinning his apple trees.

Consumers do take an interest in what’s happening on the farm and

If we were to develop a new bakery product including fruit, what kind of fruit would be your favourite? We had 25 comments right away and were surprised that rhubarb came out on top.”

- Steve Smith they follow the progress of the season. When they understand all that it takes to grow apples, Smith says it’s much easier to ask for proper compensation. How about $12 for an apple pie?

Steve and Micki Smith posted their Agri-Food Innovation Excellence award on Facebook.

Ontario, another popular variety also bred at the University of Minnesota.

So how did the Smith’s build their success from a drive-in shed and a garden tractor, just a decade ago? They started with rack cards at the store and then a stand at the local pumpkin fest where Steve Smith earned the nickname “Snag.” With a convivial personality, Smith invited people out to the farm. By collecting names and addresses, they were able to launch an e-newsletter called “The Bushel Basket” that encouraged repeat visits with the ripening of later varieties.

The website at www.smithsapples.com brims with production information, including a YouTube video “Planting an apple tree with Steve Smith.” No laggard on the communications front, the Smiths have forged ahead this past spring with a Facebook page and a

Twitter account. Cautious but encouraged by John Stanley’s seminar at last winter’s Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, he has conducted some market research through Facebook by asking a simple question: If we were to develop a new bakery product including fruit, what kind of fruit would be your favourite?

“We had 25 comments right away and were surprised that rhubarb came out on top,” says Smith. They have stumbled upon a

This spring, Steve Smith put a video of planting an apple tree on YouTube and then linked it to his Facebook page.

Strength. Concentrated.

Echo . The stronger the better. ®

This next generation fungicide has a higher concentration of chlorothalonil and is registered for use on a wide variety of crops. Echo is a proven fungicide that delivers broad-spectrum disease control, as well as DuraShield™ defense against the weather. Echo’s multi-site mode of action provides a strong foundation for your disease management program. No bundles, no burden, and no bull.

Always read and follow label directions. Log on to www.uap.ca for full label information.

West: 1-800-561-5444 Ontario & Maritimes: 1-800-265-5444 Quebec: 1-800-361-9369 BC: 1-604-534-8815

® ™ Echo is a registered trademark and DuraShield is a trademark of Sipcam Agro USA Inc. 9048 01.10

Echo

®

Durashield

Excellent Rainfastness

™

PAGE 4 –– JULY 2010 THE GROWER

Agri-Innovation award winners share incremental improvements

By Karen Davidson (With files from OMAFRA) “Innovation retains a tinge of risk,” wrote Rosabeth Moss Kantner for the Harvard Business Review. “In early 2010, product recalls (Toyota Prius) received as much press as product launches (Apple iPad). At the World Economic Forum, a global bank chairman blamed the financial crisis on excessive innovation, arguing that the focus should be on operational improvements.”

Kantner went on to argue in the May 2010 article that searching for blockbuster breakthroughs can paralyze companies while incremental improvements can propel business forward. Ontario’s AgriInnovation Excellence winners will likely agree that their awards are for incremental improvements rather than out-of-the-park home runs. For a look at what makes them worthy of the spotlight, here’s how they honed their operations for the $5,000 award.

Global Fruit – Clarksburg (Grey County) Marius Botden’s high-density orchards benefit from a sprayer that saves money, protects the environment and is less noisy than other conventional sprayers. It reduces the amount of pesticide by 30 per cent by reclaiming any product that does not deposit on the trees. It also reduces spray drift by 95 per cent and reduces run-off. Spray rates can be lowered from 3.5 litres to 1.2 litres per acre, recording savings in crop protection costs.

Algoma Orchards Ltd – Clarington (Durham Region) No strangers to the apple business, Mike

Wilson and Nicole Judge have built an upscale artisan cider mill, farm market and wood-fired oven bakery using green design and technology. Their 650-square metre facility uses straw bale construction. Other energy savings are found from the geothermal heat pump that heats and cools the structure, ultraviolet technology that treats the pressed cider, and an Ecoflo biofilter that handles waste water.

100 Mile Market Incorporated – Kitchener (Waterloo Region) This company provides timely delivery of local fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy and grains from more than 110 producers to restaurants, hotels, caterers and food service outlets. The service frees up farmers to concentrate on production rather than marketing and delivery.

A home-designed sprayer has saved thousands in crop protection materials at Global Fruit, Clarksburg, ON. Gibson and Kirk Kemp, have taken their business to a new global standard as the first in Canada to install a processing system that can sort different apple varieties into 22 distinct quality grades. Imaging equipment categorizes 54 images per apple per second during the sorting process. This helps the facility inspect, handle, naturally preserve and package apples at a rate of 64,000 pounds an hour. Little is wasted since a new juicing plant presses 12 million litres of fresh apple juice a year to handle any

Don’t miss the boat.

juice-grade apples. Efficiency extends to the waste water management system which processes and recycles all water after it goes through sorting, packaging and juice lines.

This state-of-the-art facility can store up to 1.2 million apples in controlled environments that minimize the fruit’s aging process.

Spirit Tree Estate Cidery – Caledon (Peel Region) Environmentally-conscious owners Tom

Cedar Beach Acres – Kingsville (Essex County) Rob Mastronardi and Amy Butcher have filled their 16-acre greenhouse operation with cocktail tomatoes, roma and beefsteak tomatoes, eggplants, red, yellow and orange peppers, and mini-cucumbers, all marketed under the “Pure Flavor” brand. They farm with pinpoint precision as a result of a traceability system that tells not only where each vegetable came from, but who picked it, what the yield was from the row it was picked, and what inputs were used to grow it. This allows the operation to trace the produce through the process, have better control inventory, and reduce costs.

Continued on page 5

Are you planning, or designing, a new construction project?

Then contact us right away.

New commercial buildings, additions and major renovations planned for construction anywhere in Ontario outside the 416 area code may be eligible for major grants and incentives from the High Performance New Construction (HPNC) Program. Incentives are based on verified kW savings. If you incorporate energy efficiency measures into your new construction project, not only will it qualify for significant incentives and grants from

‘

HPNC, it will provide a lifetime of energy cost savings and have a higher market value.

’

The HPNC program is one of those financial incentive concepts that actually works. We got

on board early and we’re already seeing a payback. Plus, the incentives are a real bonus.

It was easy, and they made it happen for us.

Paul Allen, Distribution Manager, Columbia Sportswear

Application Deadline - October 31, 2010

Contact us today. The rewards could be green – in more ways than one. For more information call 1-888-OPA-HPNC or visit www.hpnc.ca. Applications available online.

JULY 2010 –– PAGE 5 THE GROWER

Innovation is incremental Continued from page 4 The computerized system was adapted as a result of OMAFRA’s 2007-08 Traceability Project, and has given Cedar Beach Acres a strong competitive edge in the marketplace.

Kevin and Jason Stallaert Farms – Chatham (ChathamKent County) Over-wintering carrots for spring harvest extends the market for this crop - a practice already taking place in the United Kingdom. This knowledge led some Ontario growers, with 10 years of experience growing carrots, to research and adopt existing techniques for their own operations. They blanketed a 25-acre test plot of mature carrot tops with black plastic mulch and large square bales of straw, creating a natural, inground cooler for the carrots. The result yielded more than 30 tonnes of beautiful carrots with appealing appearance and flavour. The buyers were so pleased with the end product that they asked for 100 acres of over-wintered carrots.

This field storage technique is helping to bring domestically grown carrots to the marketplace 52 weeks of the year.

Strom’s Farm – (Wellington County)

Guelph

Canning and Amy Strom.

This year, Strom’s Farms is theming its corn maze with The Salvation Army to help raise funds for charity. A series of clues guides

precision seeding equipment for use by greenhouse operations that grow cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. The 'muck bed seeder' is considered to be among the highest quality and most competitively priced in the market and shows promise in increasing acreage plant yield by 20 to 40 percent.

The 'tray propagation seeding system' enabled a team of three people to seed 3,000 trays in a single day, a process that usually takes five people up to a week to complete. The equipment is rented out to other farms and generates 70 per cent of the farm's income.

Kimberley Kroslak, Food Safety Officer and Guido van het Hof, President and General Manager, Great Northern Hydroponics, are proud of their energy innovations. visitors about the charity while making their way through the maze. Since 2005, this strategy has gathered $18,000 for charities while raising the profile of the farm for agri-tourism. Amy Strom says, “At the end of our season, we re-evaluate what worked and what didn’t, what our customers were asking for and how we can continue to grow the farm financially while growing the customer’s experience. For us, being innovative is to create a new experience each year as we slowly grow our ‘Harvest Fun’ farm destination.”

Great Northern Hydroponics – Kingsville (Essex County) Great Northern Hydroponics in Kingsville has installed a natural gas-fired heat and power generator. It is efficient, cost saving and environmentally responsible – and it generates enough energy to sell 12 megawatts into the grid. In addition to electricity production, hot water and carbon dioxide from the co-generation facility is used by the company for heating and fertilizing crops in its 50 acre hydroponics greenhouse.

Berry Hill Fruit Farm - Aylmer Growing fruits and vegetables that are in demand, selling locally and building brand recognition have meant increased profits for Dick and Renee Saarloos of Elgin County. By selling directly to local retail outlets and increasing the volume of sales, the farm saw a 30 per cent increase in gross farm revenues in 2009. Since 2006, 19 acres of apples have been removed and replaced with sweet corn and tender fruits, and the onfarm fruit stand sells from midJune strawberry season, to well into the fall. A caricature of 'Farmer Dick' is the recognizable brand that local shoppers look and ask for at local retail food outlets.

Enniskillen Pepper Company Ltd. - Petrolia Picking a peck of bigger, better yellow peppers is more possible as a result of an innovation implemented at Adrian Roelands' greenhouse operation in Lambton County. An ingenious system of fixed and moving wires that are high up in the greenhouse ceiling opens the canopies of individual plants,

allowing better sun exposure on the peppers. Seven of the grower's 13 acres of greenhouse are now operating with the new system in place. An added bonus is that workers don't have to reach as far to pick the peppers due to denser, closer rows.

J. Malecki Holdings Limited Drumbo This farmer knows how to sow with precision. He designed and developed two types of automated

Riverbend Farm Inc. - Niagaraon-the-Lake Cherries are one of nature's sweetest gifts - so are birds and rain - but these two can rob an orchard of its fruit. Over the last three years, the high density dwarf cherry trees on Riverbend Farm have been protected by plastic, greenhouselike tunnels that hide the fruit from winged cherry-pickers and damaging rain and hail. As a result, the farm produces sweeter, larger cherries since they stay on the trees much longer. The need for fungicide and insecticide spraying has dropped about 40 per cent - and workers enjoy harvesting cherries in the pouring rain without getting wet. This family farm is among the first in Ontario to use tunnel coverage to help grow their sweet cherries.

Continued on next page

PAGE 6 –– JULY 2010 THE GROWER

Innovation is incremental Viewpointe Estate Winery – Harrow (Essex County) Back in 1997, the breeding program for disease resistance in grapes fell on hard times at Vineland. About 2800 seedlings originally sourced from a Swiss private breeder found a new home at Harrow. That’s when H.P. Pfeifer and John Fancsy of Viewpointe Estate Winery became interested in the prospects of developing the Cabernet Sauvignon cross for their local vineyard.

It wasn’t until 2005 that the first crop was available for a bench winemaking by a third party, Niagara College. The taste results encouraged further development of three cultivars, each with valuable traits of cold tolerance, upright growth pattern, disease resistance to powdery and downy mildew and good sugar, acid and pH levels.

The idea of having a varietal uniquely suited to Essex County is important not just viticulturally but for marketing reasons, says John Fancsy. The disease resistance factor alone allows the vineyard to reduce its pesticide use by up to 50 per cent. In addition, Fancsy says that they have a trial block where spur pruning allows the cane to stay tied to the wire while workers “give it a haircut.”

saving them time, energy and money. They’ve updated their power source and developed a new barrel washing system that decreases water usage by onethird, increasing capacity by as much as 75 percent. Production has doubled and potatoes and profits are rolling. These changes will also help them start exporting their potatoes to the U.S. market.

Jean Fancsy is the welcoming face of Viewpointe Estate Winery, extolling the virtues of a distinct Essex County wine taste and style.

Compared to cane pruning, this method still ensures viability of two or three buds per spur with huge labour savings. The varietal, while not recognized by VQA, is distinctly suited to local conditions – a factor that has enticed other growers to trial in their own vineyards.

Terroir – the global concept of all environmental aspects imparting unique character to a wine –

plays out in these new varietals in Essex County. Viewpointe Estate Winery plans a seminar July 31 where the concept will be discussed in terms of potential effects on not just grapes, but tomatoes as well.

Brenn-B Farms Limited Waterdown Brenn-B Farms have modernized their potato packing system -

Ontario Beekeepers’ Association Technology Transfer Program - Milton Since the early 1990s, the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association Technology Transfer program has been embraced by bee breeders in the province. They have participated in testing and worked closely with the technology transfer team to improve hive health. The program has played a key role in the selection of honey bee stock for disease resistance characteristics.

The program has succeeded on its team efforts - and is yielding sweet results.

100 km Foods Inc. and The New Farm - Toronto The 100 km staff provide gathering and distribution services to connect local farmer suppliers and high-end restaurant buyers. Second, weekly food boxes including

meat, cheeses and pantry products along with the traditional fresh fruits and vegetables are provided directly to Toronto consumers from the local producers. Finally, some of the high quality organic products from the same suppliers are given to a Toronto food bank.

Donations from the network of downtown clients are used to pay the farmers for the food. It’s a win-win-win, since the farmers are increasing their revenues exponentially, the distributor is so busy that it’s hiring more employees.

About the awards program The five-year, $2.5 million Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence is now in its fourth year. Up to 55 regional award winners are chosen annually with a cash prize of $5,000.

Eligible applicants are farmers, primary producers, groups of farmers, combination of agri-food businesses or an agri-food related organization. Examples of innovations include, but are not limited to, improved farm practices, responding to consumer demands, environmental stewardship, health and safety on the farm, energy innovations, education and marketing of agriculture to society, local food, and traceability initiatives.

COMING EVENTS 2010 July 7 and 8

16th Annual Southwest Crop Diagnostic Days, Ridgetown, ON 519-674-1690

July 13

Ontario Weed Tour, Woodstock, ON (am) and Huron Park (pm) Research Stations

July 14

Ontario Weed Tour, Harrow Research Station (am) and Ridgetown College (pm)

July 15

Ontario Weed Tour, Elora Research Station (am) 877-242-1300 or ag.info@omaf.gov.on.ca

July 24 & 25

Parks Blueberry Pancake Festival, Bothwell, ON 9 am to 2 pm

July 30 – Aug 1

PMA Food Service Conference and Trade Show, Monterey, CA

If so, AMI can help with funding. To be eligible, your project must:

August 4 – 6

Canadian Horticultural Council’s mid-summer apple meeting, Oshawa, ON

• Demonstrate the benefits of business planning

August 11

SP2 Peach Twilight Meeting, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Victoria Avenue Farm, Vic Barn, Vineland, ON 5:30 pm

• Support on-farm implementation of beneficial business management practices

August 14

Garlic is Great Festival, Newmarket Farmers’ Market, 395 Mulock Drive, Newmarket, ON

For complete funding criteria and more information:

August 17-18

North American Strawberry Growers Association, Summer tour, Intercontinental Hotel, Montreal, QC.

August 19

Ontario Potato Field Day, HJV Farm Equipment, Alliston, ON 3 pm

August 19 – 21

Quebec Produce Marketing Association “From the Earth to the Table” Annual Convention, Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montreal, QC

August 27 – 29

Winona Peach Festival, www.winonapeach.com

Could you benefit from a

better business approach?

Does your organization want to increase market profitability and innovation through beneficial business management practices?

• Address farm business management gaps and opportunities

www.takeanewapproach.ca • 519-822-6618

Winona,

ON.

September 14 – 16 Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, Woodstock, ON

JULY 2010 –– PAGE 7 THE GROWER

Building a better raspberry business Cool berries compete with California

By Karen Davidson Forty per cent of Canada’s raspberries are produced by one grower located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. In fact, Abbotsford Growers Co-op and its 120 members process most of those berries from 2,500 acres.

Yet, would it surprise you to know that they don’t sell one single raspberry in the province?

That doesn’t mean to say there aren’t pick-your-own raspberries and a fresh market. But the bulk of those berries are made into purees which are frozen in 28- or 42-pound drums for food manufacturers, most of whom are European companies with plants in the U.S. The marketplace changed drastically with last year’s recession explains Stephen Evans, General Manager of the Coop. With so much dependence on the American market, the Cooperative looked farther afield to new markets. Surprisingly, Korea took five times its normal purchase of raspberries in 2009.

And China is becoming a new market where the fruit is still very much a novelty.

“By diversifying our marketplace and using our Pacific Gateway location, we have a strength for future markets,” says Evans. “In fact, our Chinese brokers already have family ties in British Columbia so it’s natural for them to be bringing product here but just as lucrative to be taking product back.”

Thanks to recent federal funding of almost $28,000 through the Investment Agricultural Foundation, the Cooperative is investigating new market opportunities in aseptic processed berries right here in Canada. Aseptic purees negate the need to keep raspberries block-frozen, creating benefits to fruit processors and manufacturers alike.

To date, there has been no significant uptake of aseptic purees in Canada, says Evans, which is counter to the trend of the European companies who are asking for this product in their American markets. Rather than thaw purees to the right consistency and then refreeze the leftovers for their fruit fillings, manufacturers are looking to the flexibility of aseptic packaging. That’s why the Cooperative is working with one of its brokers Brian Goldberg from All Gold Imports Inc.- to survey food manufacturers in Ontario and Quebec about their knowledge of aseptic packaging and receptivity to trying sieved and seedless aseptic bags in a box. His initial report is due in September, a timely juncture for trialing this year’s processed crop.

For more information about aseptic purees, obtain a sample or to participate in this online survey, please contact Stephen Evans at (604) 864-0022 ext 22.

“It’s hard to be in the fresh raspberry market,” says David Mutz who farms with his father Henry on 75 acres near Abbotsford, British Columbia. “Everything needs to be cooled as soon as possible.”

As a third-generation fresh raspberry grower at Berry Haven Farms, Mutz has learned that every hour of cooling from the cane – to about 33 or 34 degrees Fahrenheit -- adds a day of shelf life. The niche aspect of raspberries is that they never fill a full load of 30 pallets, so freight rates are higher with less-than-load (LTL) freight to loyal markets in Edmonton and Calgary. “Western Canada has been good and very faithful to us,” says Mutz who chairs the Raspberry Industry Development Council.”

Funded by member levies, the council plays a pivotal role in developing efficiencies for both processed and fresh berry growers in a world market. In particular, they compete against the quality and price of California which has duplicated its strawberry template for raspberries and more recently blackberries.

David Mutz, left, and his father Henry operate Berry Haven Farms at Abbotsford, BC. They ship fresh raspberries to customers in BC and Alberta.

Put an end to hide-and-seek with Movento’s two-way systemic insect control Other insecticides move through the plant in a single direction often leaving portions unprotected and susceptible to insect pressures.

With two-way systemic action, Movento® insecticide moves inside the plant simultaneously in two directions – thoroughly protecting the entire plant. Movento controls insect infestations you can see and can’t see in a broad range of horticultural crops. It’s a breakthrough in insect control for fruits and vegetables.

With Movento – you’re home free.

BayerCropScience.ca or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative.

Always read and follow label directions. Movento® is a registered trademark of Bayer. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

12/09-12680

PAGE 8 –– JULY 2010 THE GROWER

Labour is one component of competitiveness

Brian Gilroy Chair, OFVGA It has been a little more than six months since our annual meeting where I was elected Chair of the OFVGA. It has been an incredible learning experience that has exposed me to a number of challenges and opportunities. As an apple grower I have also been busy doing what I can to maximize the value of my apples, to help offset the ever increasing input costs that all of us are faced with.

The real challenge is that the value of the food that we produce has not increased in the last 25 years.

For a large percentage of fruit and vegetable farmers labour costs have increased so dramatically that profitability has been jeopardized. The OFVGA has and continues to stress this point to any and all whom we talk to in government, the value chain and the media.

It has been stated that the $30 million payment to horticulture in 2008 as part of the Pork-Beef-

Horticulture Program was to help offset increased labour costs. It was OFVGA’s lobby efforts that helped make horticulture part of the program. One of the main reasons why the OFVGA began to look at a Cost of Production Insurance Program(COP) was to develop a long-term solution to the ever increasing production costs.

The other main reason why a COP program was considered was the fact that the Grain and Oilseed sector had been able to access a three year, COP, RMP Pilot Program. The government of the day facilitated staff support to help us develop how a program would work and then an OFVGA lobby effort took place, led very effectively by Brenda Lammens.

The lobby effort grew into a coalition of other non-supply managed commodities called the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Coalition (OASC). The primary task of this group is for a cost of production insurance plan and changes to the AgriStability Program which would make it more accessible to farmers. One of the cruelest facts these days is that money that had been budgeted to go to farmers through Agri Stability cannot be accessed by farmers. The money is being rolled back out of the agriculture portion of the budget despite desperate need in a number of sectors.

For some OFVGA commodities a COP program will not work for a variety of reasons. This is discussed with government when-

ever the opportunity arises and an enhanced AgriInvest Program is given as the preferred option for those commodities.

The main challenge in moving the proposed Business Risk Management Program forward is the federal government’s unwillingness to consider the program.

One of the responses that our overall government “system” has in dealing with a problem, is to strike a committee to look at the problem. As a member of the federal Horticulture Value Chain Roundtable (HVCRT) I have been peripherally involved with the Labour Working Group and recently volunteered to participate in the Labour Innovation Sub-Committee. After our first meeting we confirmed our goal or activity outcome to be a globally competitive horticulture sector with greater efficiency and profitability through the development and implementation of innovative technologies/ mechanization and advanced management practices which reduce the need for and the cost of labour.

Later this summer a survey or questionnaire will be circulated asking for your input on what innovative technologies or mechanization options are available within your sector and what technologies need to be developed. Please provide as much information as possible to help us achieve our desired outcome. This is one part of what

needs to be done to help us continue to farm.

All the best and may our weather be average.

These Caribbean workers are hard at work picking raspberries at the farm of Doug and Anna Mae Pardo’s west of Blenheim, ON

Growers invited to participate in labour survey The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) is researching the labour needs on farms with less than $100,000 in gross receipts. Applications Management Consulting has been contracted by the Council to conduct this research.

This project is a follow-up to the work CAHRC completed in 2009 about recruitment and retention on larger farms. An important part of the current research project about smaller farms is a survey of producers requesting information about their current and future labour needs, whether they have difficulty hiring help etc. The link to the survey is posted on the CAHRC website at www.cahrc-ccrha.ca.

There is no free lunch

Art Smith CEO, OFVGA The business of lobbying is indeed a strange creature.

On the farm, as in most businesses you have a routine, you have a process and everything you do has a purpose. You see the results of your actions and your

inactions as well, and these results are all remarkably predictable.

There are things of course that come along that mess with what you are trying to build or grow, that alter the outcome of what you are trying to do; you accept that risk as part of doing business. You watch your crops grow, you anticipate a good harvest and take pride in what you have accomplished; you hope for the best.

In the world of lobbying we also hope for the best but unlike most businesses we can not predict the outcome. It is not an exact science. What we know is that to foster change we need to be active; we need to tell and show those in power that there is need for change and that the cost of inaction is greater than the cost of the action.

Almost always the determining factor as to the amount of change, if any, is dependant upon the current political agenda.

Lobbying can be frustrating because like advertising we know it is important but we are never sure of just what worked and what didn’t or what is preventing change from happening.

What I am sure of though is the value that the OFVGA has returned to its members over the past few years, $130 million in ad hoc program funding since 2003 and all on membership fees of less than one tenth of one percent of farm cash receipts to our sector While it was the Government of Ontario and not the OFVGA that wrote those cheques to our members or to our member associations for research, those

STAFF Publisher/Editor . . . . . . . Karen Davidson, 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.

cheques were none the less as a direct result of our lobby. Sometimes we lobbied alone but usually in concert with our member associations. The strength and need of a unified voice was and remains paramount it can never be overlooked or overstated. It is this unification that gives us our strength. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

While there are many questions about process and what works and what doesn’t there is one thing that I am absolutely certain of and that is if we are not there lobbying on your behalf then it will not happen and there will be no assistance coming your way, at least not as it pertains to the broader sector.

Marketing boards do a good job but they are mandated to work on their commodity specific issues.

ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2010 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Vice-Chair Fruit Director Veg Director Director

Brian Gilroy, Meaford Mac James, Leamington Ray Duc, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Ryder, Delhi Len Troup, Jordon Station

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

Brian Gilroy, Meaford Jason Ryder, Delhi Len Troup, Jordan Station Lonnie Duwyn, Delhi Ray Duc, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Verkaik, Bradford Mac James, Leamington Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin Doug Bradley, Tillsonburg Jim Veri, Exeter

I have been involved in farm politics since 1980 I was a key player in the grape and wine adjustment program of 1989 and numerous others before and since then and we never once received assistance that we hadn’t lobbied for. The same holds true today, you have to fight for what you believe in and you have to stay unified; failing to do so gives government a great excuse to do nothing and that is something we simply can not afford. Remember government doesn’t just wake up in the morning and say “I wonder who I can sprinkle some gold dust on today”, program assistance is like respect, you earn it!

For what it’s worth it’s the way I see it!

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

JULY 2010 –– PAGE 9 THE GROWER

Board Briefs The following are highlights from the OFVGA board meeting held May 20, 2010. And be sure to check out OFVGA’s new website at www.ofvga.org and sign up to receive news updates to your inbox as soon as they are posted.

Safety Nets Safety Nets Chair Mark Wales reported that accounts are supposed to be set up at local banks for AgriInvest and growers should be receiving notices when these are ready.

Agriculture Canada’s national Business Risk Management consultations for Ontario were held May 13 (Guelph) and 14 (London). The consultations will wrap up with sessions in Western Canada in early June. The goal of the consultations is to get feedback from industry about what the next suite of business risk management programs should look like. Mark Wales represented the OFVGA at the consultation in London.

Although the consultation process is called Agriculture 2020, it was pointed out at the London session that the need for changes to business risk management programming is now and that if nothing is done soon, agriculture in Ontario will look much different by 2020. The consultation committee has a mandate to have a report of findings prepared for the Federal-Provincial-Territorial ministers of agriculture meeting coming up in July.

Research Funding for the horticulture national agri-science cluster was announced by the federal government several weeks ago. The horticulture sector, through the Canadian Horticulture Council (CHC), applied for approximately $11 million in funding for various projects, but ended up receiving only approximately $3 million.

OFVGA Research Chair Harold Schooley reported that a change in funding criteria had been implemented during the process, which resulted in the low number of funded projects. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research stations and scientists were originally to be included in any funding proposals, but were later deemed to be ineligible for funding. As a result, all horticulture projects with lead researchers from AAFC are currently in jeopardy unless other lead researchers can be found. CHC is now working to adjust the program leads within projects to comply with this new parameter.

Property Carbon sequestration work shop – Property section chair Dave Lambert attended an information meeting for the farming sector, hosted by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, on carbon sequestration. The general sense is that it likely won’t offer a lot of benefit back to farmers after the arduous process is completed and everyone else in the chain has taken their share. There could be a role for OFVGA or the OFA to act as an aggregator on behalf of its mem-

bers, but it is all incumbent on a carbon trading system actually being set up.

Fertilizer disposal fee – A levy on fertilizer sold in bags 30 kg or less had been proposed by Stewardship Ontario and was to be implemented in Ontario in July of this year under the Ministry of the Environment’s Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste Program.

Fertilizer sold in bags over 30 kg will be exempt from the fee, which had been proposed at $0.41/kg but is now proposed at $0.02/kg.

While the fee is greatly reduced many growers still would be affected as they purchase fertilizer in smaller bags for orchards, vegetable farms and greenhouse production. At the meeting discussion took place about the logistics of exempting agriculture from this levy. A small working group has been established to work on generating an exemption for agriculture; Craig Hunter represents OFVGA on this committee.

Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Act – This new legislation was introduced in the provincial legislature in mid-May and received first reading. It is anticipated to have significant implications for municipalities, but no immediate impact on agriculture. There is concern, however, that conservation of supply, which will impact irrigation, may be included in the legislation during either the committee or second reading stages.

Pesticides and ADHD - Craig Hunter reported on a recently released study that has been making some headlines that linked pesticide use with the presence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children.

There has been no confirmation of these findings by any other researchers. In fact, at the end of the report it specified that there was no conclusive evidence linking pesticide residue on food to ADHD. Labour The Farm Safety Association has been merged with the Industrial Accident Prevention Association (IAPA), and Ontario Service Safety Alliance (OSSA) to form a new organization called Safe Workplace Promotion Services Ontario. OFVGA Labour Chair Ken Forth has been appointed to the board of this new organization.

Chair Report OFVGA Chair Brian Gilroy attended a fundraiser for MP Larry Miller who is chair of standing committee on agriculture and agrifood. Gilroy was also present at Michael Ignatieff’s release of the federal Liberal platform concerning food held recently in the Holland Marsh.

Discussions are taking place between the OFVGA, industry partners and government representatives around the potential development of a new program that would see fresh fruits and vegetables being provided to communities in Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, as well as fly-in communities in Ontario’s

north.

CEO Report CEO Art Smith, together with Chair Brian Gilroy, attended the annual Canadian Produce Marketing Association meeting and trade show, held this year in Vancouver.

OFVGA has been approached to provide its support for the creation

happening in the area of crop diversification. Approximately half of the population of Toronto is not born in Canada and growing ethnic communities are providing new opportunities for edible horticulture. The goal, says Bilal, is to replace imported produce – both to grow our sector and to reduce the

Ahmed Bilal, Research Associate Crop Production and Diversification shows callaloo seedlings at a field trial at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. Photo by VRIC. of provincial refundable tax credit program for farmers who make food donations to food banks. Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey has introduced a Private Member’s Bill to establish the tax credit. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) and Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) are already supporting the initiative. The Board was supportive of the proposal.

Crop diversification in Ontario’s vegetable sector Ahmed Bilal, a research associate at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, provided the Board with an update of what is

risk of diseases coming into the country through imported produce. As well, producing ethnic vegetable crops domestically will improve product freshness, taste and nutritional values that are currently lower as produce is harvested and shipped before it is totally ripe in order to prolong its shelf life.

In the GTA, demand for ethnic vegetables from the Chinese, South Asian and Caribbean communities alone is $61 million per month. Research shows that consumers from these communities are ready to pay more if they can get better quality produce. Three varieties each of five different

Loves Lo ves this. t

vegetable crops - callaloo, fuzzy melon, okra, eggplant and yard long bean – have been selected for product trials at various Ontario locations in 2010. They were selected according to market demand, their climatic and nutritional needs, their post-harvest needs (requiring storage methods that are the same as traditional Ontario vegetable crops) and that they’re not being commercially produced in Ontario at this time.

The selection was made in consultation with value chain partners including large retail chains, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the University of Guelph and local importers of ethnic produce.

Bilal says there are production challenges related to growing new crops, including being able to source seeds, coping with the impact of lower temperatures on plants (many of these crops are native to regions where temperatures regularly hit 40 – 50C), pest control, genetics, growing environment – our temps are not as high, 40-50C as in their native lands and pest control. From a marketing perspective, growers must consider where to sell new crops which can be hard to do if a market isn’t yet established, how to meet labeling requirements and taking care not to flood the market with too much product As part of this project, additional trials are also being undertaken on Chinese red hot peppers and Indian kaddu, including sensory and marketing tests to confirm acceptance by consumers. Contact the OFVGA office for more information.

Next board meeting date: Thursday, July 15, 2010.

Lo Loves oves this to death. d

Fungal pathogen

Get the best of both worlds w with Serenade, Serrenade, a highly ef fective broad-spectrum broad-spectrum bio-fungicide effective wh hile embracing Mother that kills diseases, while Natur re e. Ser enade offers offe ers very ef fective disease Nature.

Serenade effective un contr rol plus a new nique mode of action, which whic ch control new,, unique excellen nt resistance resistance e managementt makes for an excellent tool with no MRL re esid duals. residuals.

Sere enade – the fungicide fungic cide you can count on to Serenade pr otect your cro op. protect crop.

Always rread ead and follow label dir directions. ec ctions. Log on to www.uap.ca www.uap.ca for full label labe el information

West: 1-800-561-5444 Ont West: Ontario tario & Maritimes: 1-800-265-544 1-800-265-5444 44 Quebec: 1-800-361-9369 BC: B 1-604-534-8815 ® SERENADE and AgraQuest ar are e rregistered egisstered trademarks of AgraQuest Inc. 9050 12.

12.09 .09

Some things th hings just work.

PAGE 10 –– JULY 2010 THE GROWER

New market opportunities are right in our backyard

Owen Roberts University of Guelph Growers are told repeatedly to look for local market niches because they’re accessible, and popular – consumers have become enamoured with local food and government departments, such as the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, have created programs to support it.

But seldom is such local-food advice accompanied by a $60million-plus opportunity, every month.

Now, though, that’s what University of Guelph researchers say exists, following a provincially funded study of the demand for what they call ethno-cultural foods – those specific to certain ethnic groups and cultures – in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

The trio of Prof. Glen Filson, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, Dr. Bamidele Adekunle and Sridharan Sethuratnam, director of direct farmer services for FarmStart, estimate there’s a $60-million-plus demand per month in the GTA alone for such foods.

They conducted more than 750 interviews at ethnic grocery stores

and food markets, focusing their efforts on the most dominant ethnic groups living in the GTA – South Asians, Chinese and AfroCaribbeans.

They discovered ethno-cultural foods were in high demand.

Respondents had a variety of reasons why: they said the foods were nutritious and even medicinal, reflecting their tradition or culture.

Some said they offered a preferred taste or were part of their vegetarian lifestyle.

And what were they craving?

Specifically, South Asians wanted okra, eggplant and bitter melon, while bok choy, Chinese broccoli and eggplant were the most desired by the Chinese community. Afro-Caribbeans’ interest in okra, African eggplant, garden eggs and smooth amaranth rounded out the list.

“Ethno-cultural foods are a $60-million-plus opportunity in the Greater Toronto area.”

Based on those findings, the researchers estimate the demand per month for these ethno-cultural vegetables is at least $33 million for South Asians, $21 million for the Chinese group and $7 million for Afro-Caribbeans.

Add to those figures the smaller ethnic groups whose needs are likewise going unmet, and this all adds up to a gigantic, unfulfilled market.

Filson and his team think the gap could be filled by Ontario farmers. After all, more people want to eat locally grown food, and Filson says they’ll pay a premium for it if it meets their needs and if it can be obtained fresh, in an accessible location.

This is the kind of research that helps create and inform policy.

Producers may need some guidance to grow these exotics, particularly because growing conditions are appreciably different here than in the vegetables’ native country.

Perhaps some of the more delicate vegetables can be started in the greenhouse, then finished in the field. In any event, knowing the size of the market can help determine the size of the effort required to get growers up to speed.

To Filson, there’s no question such investment could have a favourable impact on an economy that continues to look for bright lights.

“Money put into this potential market could also provide support during Canada’s economic repair and regeneration,” he says.

Producing ethno-cultural foods is one approach farmers can take to meeting the needs of new Canadians. Another is to teach them about substitutes, helping them understand the alternatives that exist in their new homeland. Now, we basically put a new menu in front of them, and expect them to understand. That’s not communication.

What’s needed is a central information source that can explain the nutritional, environmental and social virtues of Ontario-grown food. This would be a boost for Ontario agriculture and help farmers here service their biggest potential customer base.

Maybe more consumers would be willing to pay the true cost of food, and keep farmers from having to beg governments for bail-outs, if they had supporting evidence that Ontario-grown products were better.

Amaranth

Okra

Eggplant Photos courtesy of OMAFRA

It’s up to all of us to speak up about what we do

Lilian Schaer AGCare Most of us in agriculture have the same gripe. Whether we farm or whether we work for or with farmers, our common complaint is that agriculture is misunderstood.

The general public doesn’t “get” what we do because they don’t know. And we’re often a little amazed at how much people don’t know, especially about things that we take for granted.

How could they not know that oranges don’t grow in Canada, why we spray our soybeans and that there’s a season for cherries and peaches? On the flip side – how COULD they know these things?

Most Canadians are several generations removed from the farm, meaning we have very little direct connection to the land and the crops that are grown on it. Our schools generally don’t teach agriculture and most have eliminated any food or home economics classes that used to be a standard offering. Our modern, globalized world means we have strawberries and asparagus year-round, and we enjoy a steady supply of citrus and bananas and mangos and all manner of other produce in our grocery stores; fruits and vegetables we used to only read about or see on special occasions.

What’s important for us to keep in mind is that it is those same consumers who directly influence

what we grow, and where, when and how we grow it – through their purchasing decisions at the supermarket, the lessons they teach their children and the causes they support. And on a more direct level, it is through the politicians they vote for and through the jobs that they have: in classrooms, as health and nutrition professionals, and as those who formulate the policies that shape our municipal, provincial and national laws.

For many farmers, it is enough to just keep up with the day-to-day responsibilities of running a farm and staying on top of the mound of paperwork created by a seemingly ever-growing list of rules, regulations and compliance programs that must be followed. The last thing many want to find time for – or even think is important – is talking to the public about who we are and what we do.

That is where groups like AGCare – of which OFVGA is a member – and other agricultural

organizations play a crucial role.

AGCare, together with the Ontario Farm Animal Council (OFAC), has developed a proactive outreach program over the last number of years that talks to people about where their food comes from.

It can be a direct conversation through our displays at exhibitions and fairs, or a more indirect reach through tours we do with chefs, culinary students and the media.

This past week was one such example – and a terrific one at that.

AGCare and OFAC spent a day on the road with 30 of the most keen and enthusiastic food writers, recipe developers, cookbook authors and home economists southern Ontario has to offer. We toured an egg farm in Wellington County and a market garden/fruit farm in Halton Region and answered questions about food and farming all day long – from hen housing and welfare to water use, Greenbelt legislation and

seasonal agricultural workers.

For the foodies, it’s a great chance to ask questions firsthand of farmers or farm organization staff on the tour, and for ourselves and our farmer tour hosts, it’s an ideal opportunity to address misconceptions and clear the air on contentious issues. This is the seventh year we’ve run the food media farm tour and every year our crowd gets a little bit bigger.

And the dividends of our investment of time and resources are considerable – getting our messages out, building relationships and, of course, some media coverage along the way as well.

The way I see it, the only way we can help ease our frustration about people who don’t understand agriculture – whether it is bureaucrats, political staff, reporters or consumers – is to speak up and speak out. Our agriculture, our country and our future will be the better for it and it’s up to us to make it happen.

JULY 2010 –– PAGE 11 THE GROWER

Mid-season airblast sprayer adjustments save money

By Dr. Jason S.T. Deveau, Application Technology Specialist It’s first of July, and for many orchard, high-bush and nursery spray applicators it’s about mid-season; some airblast sprayers have already put in over 100 hours of spraying. There have been significant increases in canopies since the sprayers were calibrated at the first of the season. Larger, denser canopies mean that it’s time to reconsider spray distribution and sprayer settings.

Beyond re-calibrating the sprayer, here are a few important adjustments: 1) Fan speed: Growers are recognizing that excessive air in early season blows spray straight through the canopy. To correct this, they reduce air speed. This is a good practice! Now, however, canopies are fuller and growers may have to increase the fan speed to compensate. To increase your fan speed, use a higher PTO speed, gear-down and throttle-up, adjust blade pitch or use a hydraulic motor. Remember, you only need enough air to overcome ambient wind and to move leaves and deposit spray in the middle of the canopy. Do not perform alternate row middle spraying.

2) Nozzle wear: The rate of tip wear depends on spray pressure, the product sprayed, and the nozzle material. Upgrading to a harder, more durable tip can reduce maintenance costs, but even ceramic is generally worn in two years. I’ve already pulled disc-core nozzles from sprayers that were new in April but are completely spent now (see Figure 1). How are your nozzles holding up? Even if the sprayer empties where it normally does, plugged filters and strainers can cancel out worn nozzles and you can’t tell with just a shoulder-check. Clean the nozzle strainers and nozzles with a toothbrush in a bucket of water, then check nozzle output one by one. If one is out by 10 per cent compared to the manufacturer’s rate, replace it. If two are out, replace them all. It’s worth it.

4) Sprayer Output: There’s no hard and fast rule, but you should consider increasing overall sprayer output by at least 15 per cent. I was in an apple orchard early this season, working with a grower to determine an optimal sprayer output (see Figure 2). At 600 L/ha, paper (A) was obviously over-sprayed. Now, however, the grower needs almost 700 L/ha to achieve adequate coverage in the same trees!

Figure 2. Early in the season, canopies are open and have very little foliage. As the season progresses, more volume is required to achieve adequate coverage. (A) Yellow spray sensitive paper placed in the centre of an apple tree canopy in early May and sprayed with 600 L/ha. Note the run-off and poor distribution. (B) Yellow spray sensitive paper placed in the same tree, in the same location and sprayed with 350 L/ha. Note the even coverage and no run-off. By mid June, this same tree required >700 L/ha to achieve adequate coverage.

Figure 1. Brass is the softest nozzle material, but all materials will wear. (A) A whirl plate used for about 100 hours in a typical apple orchard spray program. Note the spurs, pits and distorted orifices. This plate has an output about 15 per cent more than when it was new. (B) A new whirl plate for comparison.

3) Spray Distribution: More canopy often means rethinking sprayer distribution and output volume. For example, some apple growers choose to open another nozzle position lower on the boom to hit low-hanging branches, but this is not the best way to redistribute spray. The better approach is to turn on a lower nozzle position and then redistribute a higher sprayer output over the entire boom; this way, the whole canopy gets more spray, not just the bottom of the target. Yes, this means replacing all your nozzles with a set that puts out a higher volume, but your nozzles will last longer since you’re changing them mid-season.

5) Forward Speed: Since you will be reconsidering nozzle rates anyway, also consider slowing down a little to improve canopy penetration. I was in an orchard last week where the grower was having trouble achieving adequate coverage in the centre of his trees. When we redistributed the spray pattern to match his canopy and slowed down to 5 kph, his coverage improved significantly.

Remember, when you make any changes to your sprayer, put water sensitive paper in the middle of the target canopy about two-thirds from the top (generally the hardest-to-hit location). Spray from both sides and go back to check your coverage. If you don’t see good coverage, further adjustment is required.

PAGE 12 –– JULY 2010 THE GROWER

New products at the CPMA How you eat the product is part of the story Caramel sauce stored in separate compartment for apple dipping Responding to consumer requests, Scotian Gold is producing apple slices in a caramel dip in a container that protects integrity of both products. “We have been producing fresh apple slices in a bag format – individual and family size for the past 10 years, selling to schools, hospitals and at retail,” says Karen Corey, Scotian Gold Cooperative Limited.

“Many people love apple slices, but love them more with caramel dip. So we looked for a convenient packaging format that would maximize the shelf life of the apple slices and combine the dip all in one.”

The parfait cup can fit in a cup holder in the car, is easy to grab and go and displays well on a cooler shelf. A 16-day shelf life can be guaranteed for the apple slices in this format. The separate caramel dip cup fits perfectly in the lid of the parfait.

Scotian Gold Cooperative Limited stores, packs and markets approximately 50 percent of the apple production in Nova Scotia. Scotian Gold is the largest apple packing and storage operation in Eastern Canada with fruit arriving from 55 familyoperated apple orchards across the province.

Gold kiwifruit is scooped with a spife The New Zealand success story with kiwifruit – a berry descended from a wild Chinese vine – just keeps growing. Horticulturalists from New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty imported Chinese gold kiwifruit seeds in 1987 and started their quest to take the small, commercially

unviable fruit to international status. Through natural cross-pollination with select gold kiwi vines and grafting with vigorous green kiwi vines, researchers developed the complex flavour of gold kiwifruit, increasing shelf life with each generation. The gold variety hit North American stores a decade ago and today, is known mostly in Asian stores.

The gold kiwifruit was sampled at the recent Canadian Produce Marketing Association trade show with a spife, a kid-friendly knife that cuts the fruit in half and then serves as a spoon to scoop out the fruit. Could this clever eating utensil be used with Canadian fruits such as melons?

That’s not the only smart marketing tool for this family of green and gold kiwifruit sold under the ZESPRI brand. Just for the record, ZESPRI is not an acronym but rather an amalgam of the fruit’s attributes. It’s a computer-generated word developed in 1996 to brand all kiwifruit grown in New Zealand. Researchers found that kiwifruit was described as vibrant, vigorous, healthy, nutritious, effervescent, zesty, full of life, full of fun and full of energy. So they plugged all of the attributes into a computer program and it prompted the word “ZESPRI.” Today, 2,500 New Zealand growers earn $600 million through the branded program according to Karen Brux, General Manager, ZESPRI International North America.

National Farm to Cafeteria Conference inspires

By Alison Robertson, OFVGA In May I had the opportunity to attend the National Farm Conference in Detroit Michigan.

There were over 700 attendees, 33 of which were from Canada. It was great to see that Canada was

represented from coast to coast.

There were delegates from BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland. Delegates from all across the United States were there in full force.

During the conference attendees had the opportunity to learn about initiatives to get more local farm products into pre-school, K12, childcare facilities, hospitals, colleges and prisons. There were workshops pertaining to professional development with information on media training, policy advocacy, and research and evaluation. The keynote speaker, Kathleen Merrigan, USDA Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, spoke about the progress of the USDA’s Know Your Farmer,

Only at Sheehan’s Truck Centre we offer our customers everything from great trucks, fast delivery of parts to extraordinary customer service. We are located in a 52,000-sq/ft facility with 65 highly trained staff to take care of your transportation needs.

We have over 200 new and used vehicles on display in our newly paved lot.

Call us today for a test drive, quote on a new truck or any other questions that you may have.

Know Your Food initiative and the opportunities created by Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign.

The conference offered something for everyone, from field trips and short courses to workshops, a sampling of local foods and of course...the chance to network. Some of the workshops topics were “Healthy Food in Health Care”, “The Impact of Chicago Public School Purchases on Michigan Farmers”, “Food Safety From Farm to School”, and “Creating Economic Opportunity and Addressing Food Security”.

The hosts of the conference were The Community Food Security Coalition and The National Farm to School Network.

The Community Food Security Coalition is a non-profit, North American organization dedicated to building strong, sustainable, local and regional food systems that ensure access to affordable,

nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for all people at all times. The National Farm to School Network was formed from the desire to support communitybased food systems, strengthen family farms, and improve student health by reducing childhood obesity. With funding from the W.K Kellogg Foundation, the Network coordinates, promotes, and expands the farm to school movement at the regional, state, and national levels. The Farm to School Network assists children in understanding where their food comes from and how their food choices impact their bodies, the environment, and their communities.

The location and dates of their next conference have not been posted yet but we will make sure to publish them in Coming Events in The Grower as soon as they become available.

JULY 2010 –– PAGE 13 THE GROWER Cultivar

Albion Diamonte Elan F1 Milan F1 Seascape Tribute

Day-neutral strawberry cultivars for Ontario producers

By Becky Hughes, John Zandstra and Adam Dale, University of Guelph Day-neutral strawberries are relatively new to Ontario. A number of day-neutral cultivars are available but most were developed in California and, therefore, may not be well suited to Ontario.

Day-neutral cultivar trials were established in 2005 at the University of Guelph Research Stations located at Cedar Springs and Simcoe in southwestern Ontario, and New Liskeard in northeastern Ontario. The trial was also grown under a Haygrove high tunnel at Cedar Springs resulting in four environments and six cultivars with four replications.

Four vegetatively-propagated cultivars and two seed-propagated cultivars were compared in the Ontario trials. Day-neutral strawberry plants produce relatively few runners, making it difficult to propagate them economically in the relatively short growing season in Ontario. Seed propagated F1hybrid strawberry cultivars have been used on a limited scale in Europe. Dormant bare-root plants of Albion, Diamonte and Seascape Site

Cultivar

were obtained from commercial nurseries. Seed of Elan and Milan F1 hybrids was obtained from the Netherlands and plug plants were produced in Simcoe for all four sites.

Twenty-plant plots were established with 20cm between plants and 30cm between rows on raised beds covered with black polyethylene mulch. Each plot consisted of two rows on beds at 1.5 and 1.7m centers in New Liskeard and Cedar Springs, respectively. In Simcoe, plots consisted of four rows on beds at 1.8m centers. The plots were planted May 6/05, May 30/05 and June 6/05 at Cedar Springs, Simcoe and New Liskeard, respectively. Trickle irrigation was located below the plastic and all plots received regular irrigation and liquid fertilizer applications. Cultural practices were adapted to the local soil and climate. In New Liskeard the plants were covered with straw mulch covered with a 1.5 oz/sq yd floating row cover for the winter.

In Cedar Springs, a winter floating row cover only was used and, in Simcoe, the plants were not covered for the winter.

Total Yield (g/plant)

% Marketable

Albion

130

215

66

67

12.0

9.9

Diamonte 66

46

112

50

48

10.3

10.6

Elan F1

160

46

206

47

35

6.0

6.7

Milan F1 191

51

242

49

46

7.1

7.4

Seascape 82

195

277

67

62

8.4

7.8

Tribute

73

159

232

48

50

6.9

7.2

Cedar Albion 27 Springs Diamonte 17 Tunnel Elan F1 58

363

390

96

72

9.3

13.5

233

250

98

69

7.8

14.4

345

403

93

67

4.7

9.3

Milan F1 89

358

447

89

67

5.1

9.7

Seascape 21

437

458

98

74

4.6

10.5

Tribute

87

442

529

94

71

4.8

9.6

Cedar Albion 95 Springs Diamonte 98

241

336

90

75

11.2

15.3

252

350

95

65

9.9

15.0

273

333

95

60

4.8

10.8

Milan F1 139

330

469

92

65

6.7

12.3

Seascape 155

377

532

98

66

7.8

11.3

Tribute

248

413

661

93

71

5.5

11.3

New Albion 103 Liskeard Diamonte 82

107

210

65

55

14.7

13.4

104

186

44

40

17.4

12.0

157

282

439

51

41

7.4

8.1

Milan F1 106

254

360

45

39

8.9

8.8

Seascape 187

373

560

64

62

13.1

11.3

Tribute

300

513

57

39

8.0

7.2

Elan F1

Elan F1

Table 1

85

60

213

87 74 74 81 99 93

90 86 100 100 100 100

Table 2 Diamonte had low winter survival at all sites averaging 74 per cent plant survival (Table 2). At Simcoe, the plants were not protected for the winter and the low yields of Diamonte, Milan and Elan could be related to higher winter damage even though the plants survived. Albion had a much lower survival rate in New Liskeard than the other sites. The use of a tunnel at Cedar Springs increased the yields of Albion in year two.

The high percent unmarketable in New Liskeard tended to be due to tarnished plant bug damage, while in Simcoe, it was due to berry size and rot. Albion rated higher than Seascape for fruit quality in the ratings done in New Liskeard and Simcoe (data not shown).

Overall, Seascape and Tribute consistently produced high yields at all sites, but Seascape has larger

Cedar Springs 89 70 100 92 100 100

New Liskeard 76 64 92 92 91 90

fruit. Milan and Elan produced moderate yields, but the fruit was generally small. Albion and Diamonte produced large fruit but low yields. Of these two, Albion appears more adapted to southern Ontario conditions and its high fruit quality makes it more suited to certain markets.

Of the cultivars tested to date, Seascape continues to be the most adapted to Ontario conditions.

Albion has larger fruit and higher fruit quality than Seascape but it is later, produces lower yields and is not as winter hardy. It may be possible to adapt the cultural conditions to improve yields of Albion as it seemed to perform better in the tunnel at Cedar Springs in the second year.

Several new day-neutral cultivars have become available since 2005. These are currently being evaluated at trials in Cedar Springs and New Liskeard.

North American Strawberry Growers Association Meetings and Tours August 17-18, 2010 North American Strawberry Growers Association Summer Tour: Montreal region. Quebec. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about day neutral strawberry production and many other innovations. www.nasga.org February 8-11, 2011 North American Strawberry Growers Association Annual Meeting and North American Strawberry Scientists Conference: Tampa Florida: Mark your calendars and book your hotel now. This meeting will be packed with information for strawberry growers. See www.nasga.org for information.

Berry Weight (g/berry)

2005 2006 Total 2005 2006 2005 2006 Simcoe

The blossoms were removed for the first six weeks after planting, and thereafter fruit was harvested twice weekly in the first and second year. Fruit was sorted into marketable (no rot and regularly shaped with a diameter greater than 1.5 cm) and unmarketable. The marketable fruit was weighed and counted, and berry weights were calculated.

The results depended on the year and environment. In the first picking year, the two hotter environments, Simcoe and Cedar Springs’ tunnel had lower yields and berry size than the two cooler environments, New Liskeard and Cedar Springs outside (Table 1).

Milan and Elan produced large numbers of moderate-sized fruits at Simcoe, whereas Tribute and Seascape performed better in the two cooler environments. The largest fruit was usually produced

by Albion at all sites.

In the second picking year, Seascape and Tribute had the highest yields at all sites although the yields of Milan and Elan were only slightly lower (Table 1).

Albion and Diamonte were large fruited but lower yielding.

% Winter Survival Simcoe CS Tunnel

For Product Details & To Order: Call 1-800-461-8475

Microbes that eat fuel, grease, soot & all hydrocarbons from soil, water, equipment, concrete, carpet, fabric & more.......Keep It Clean & Be Green!

www.micro50.ca

PAGE 14 –– JULY 2010 THE GROWER

Food safety workshops for On-Farm Food Safety The following workshops are currently available for any group that would like food safety education: • Irrigation water • Post harvest water • Hygiene and hand washing • Manures and composts • Traceability • Multi-Commodity on-farm food safety • Risk assessment • Compost tea • And introducing: Persistent Pollutants – information for Urban Farmers Irrigation water Do you wonder about the quality of your irrigation water and its potential effect on food safety? Do you know how to take a proper water sample from your pond? Do you know where to send your sample and how do you interpret the results? This session will answer these questions and more.

Post harvest water Do you wash your produce with recycled water? If yes, attend this session and learn about: • the risks of using poor quality water • pros and cons of some commonly used sanitizers • factors that can alter the effectiveness of sanitizers, and

• ways to monitor sanitizer levels Hygiene and hand washing Do you have workers that handle produce? This session will give you the information you need to train your workers.

Manures and composts Do you use manure, compost or compost teas? This session covers: • the potential risks to ready to eat crops • issues with making compost • the do's and don'ts on applying, handling and storing manure and/or compost Traceability Are you considering a traceability system for your operation?

This session will: • increase your understanding of what traceability means for your operation • highlight the benefits to your business Multi-commodity on-farm food safety Do you have both livestock and edible crops on your operation?

Learn about the food safety practices that will help you reduce the risk of cross-contamination Risk assessment Identify and assess your food

NURSERY / SEED / ROOTSTOCK

safety risks on the farm, and measures you can take to minimize those risks.

Safe use of compost teas Do you use compost tea or are interested in learning more about compost tea? Attend this workshop to learn about the risks of using compost tea and how to avoid them.

Persistent Pollutants – Information for Urban Farmers You asked, we listened. This is a new workshop based on demand.

Unsure about the food safety risks of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants in your crops? Attend this session to learn more about the risks and what you can do.

If you are interested in any of the above workshops, give us a call. We are happy to provide these workshop free, to groups of 8 or more.

Can't find a workshop to suit your needs? Let us know! We will add new workshops on other topics based on demand.

For more information: Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300 Local: (519) 826-4047 E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca

Food safety tip

By Sandra Jones, OMAFRA, Crops On-Farm Food Safety Program Lead Did you know that planting grassed water ways or vegetative buffer strips around your irrigation pond is a good food safety practice? Established buffer strips

can entrap and filter contaminants before they enter your pond and potentially contaminate your water. In fact, strips as narrow as 4 to 5 metres can trap up to 70 per cent of the sediment and help you maintain good quality water for irrigation.

Quality fruit trees for over 50 years.

Peaches

Apricots Nectarines Plums Pears Cherries Apples

1695 Niagara Stone Road, RR 2 NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ontario L0S 1J0 Phone: 905-468-3217 Fax: 905-468-7271 E-Mail: fruittrees@morinurseries.com

ECO CLEANING

FARMERS: TAKE ACTION! Recycle ALL your empty pesticide containers.

Getting involved is no cost to you, and it’s simple –

RINSE + REMOVE + RETURN

GREENHOUSE SALES

DISMANTLING LARGE GREENHOUSE Structures for glasshouses, or could be used for covering tarp, metal, netting for berries, etc. 300 hp boilers, steel pipes, valves, grow lights, rolling growing benches, computer climate conttrol system and much more.

Look at our web site www.eneractiontime.com go to Documents . . . click on: For sale used greenhouse structure and contents.

1. Triple or pressure RINSE 2. REMOVE caps and booklets Without these simple steps, your containers cannot be properly recycled.

3. RETURN them ALL to your local collection site to ensure no product is wasted.

519-205-0650 FUNGI

For locations in your area, please visit our website.

Beneficial Fungi

™ www.cleanfarms.ca

-Will make nutrients availale to plants -Will take space from harmful fungi -Will increase yield and return on $$$ Customly designed for your soil and crop. Order yours today.

Phone: 519-822-6743 or 519-830-1767

JULY 2010 –– PAGE 15 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE To advertise phone: 519-380-0118 • 866-898-8488 x 218 • Fax: 519-380-0011 CONTAINERS

MAPS

BIRD REPELLERS

LLOYD BAG CO.

GREAT EAGLE (44” wingspan) $99.95 BLACK EAGLE (26” wingspan) $59.95 BLACKHAWK (13” wingspan) $29.95

(www.lloydbag.com)

Established in 1939

BURLAP (JUTE) TREE WRAP / LINERS / SHEETS WOVEN POLYPROPYLENE PAPER

OLOF’S TRAVELMAPS 7037 WYANDOTTE ST. E. WINDSOR, ON. N8S 1R1 TEL: 519-944-9196 FAX: 519-944-8331 Email: info@olofmaps.com Website: www.olofmaps.com

LENO MESH

COTTON AND CANVAS FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

MARK ALLOTT

BEV ADDEMAN

General Manager

JASON LONG

Sales

ASK FOR MORE INFORMATION

Sales

1-800-549-2247 EQUIPMENT

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

LOUTH & NIAGARA ORCHARDS

CALL ABE FIRST FOR BETTER PRICES, MORE CHOICES, FAST, AND FRIENDLY SERVICE. BUY A DIESEL ENGINE FROM THE DIESEL MECHANIC.

P.O. Box 43 • Virgil, Ontario • L0S 1T0 • 905-468-3297

Supplying Fruit and Vegetable Growers with: • Baskets • Masters • Fertilizer

• Berry Boxes • Waxed Cartons • Crop Protection Material

Mesh Plastic Berry Quarts Distributor for Baskpac Plastic Baskets

AVAILABLE NOW 1) New

4 cylinder Cummins, 80 HP with 2 stage Rovatti pump, murphy, on trailer, etc. $11,900

2) Cummin 4 cylinder turbo 100 HP with 3 stage Rovatti Pump, murphy on trailer, etc. $13,850 3) Also 6 cylinder Cummin 5.9 L (165 HP) with 3 stage Rovatti Pump on trailer etc., murphy. $15,750

FRUIT & VEGETABLE PACKAGING Wellington Wood Products (1972) Ltd.

4) Iveco complete pump units, 80HP, 2 stage F33/K100. $11,900

Manufacturers and Suppliers of:

• Corrugated Baskets & Masters • Wooden Baskets • Plastic Containers & Bags • Cider Supplies • Waxed Cartons • Custom Corrugated Cartons * Triple Wall Bulk Bins

• Wooden Hampers • Apple Packaging & Cartons • Berry Containers & Masters

5) Iveco 4 cylinder turbo 110/ 130 HP. $12,900

A large INVENTORY of all types of packaging.

We can deliver your order DIRECTLY TO YOUR DOOR. For current, competitive pricing call

1-800-265-2397 Wellington Wood Products 410 Sligo Road West Mount Forest, ON N0G 2L0 519-323-1060 wwp@wightman.ca

6) Perkins/ John Deere diesel engines. $12,900

www.wwp.on.ca Wellington Wood Products 1587 "B" County Road 34 Ruthven, ON N0P 2G0 519-326-2394

A. KOOLMEES CLASSIFIEDS 1977 Farmall 140 tractor. Includes cultivators, fertilizer attachment, regular hitch. All in excellent condition. Priced to sell at $6,000 firm. 519-738-4286

For Sale: Girette. In good condition. Has 16 ft. lift. Comes with compressor to run pneumatic tools. $3,000 obo.

905-396-5360 or 905-355-5550

2007 Harnois Greenhouse, 40X102 ovaltech III, complete with benches and furnaces and automatic controls.

Asking $27,000.00. Fantastic looking structure. 2001 Delhi Foundry Transplanter, 2 row. Can be easily converted to 4 row. Model 204.

This planter is loaded with many extras. Will email photos. Asking $5000.00. Just like new. Used 2 seasons. Poinsettia Pot covers

R.R. 1, Otterville, ON N0J 1R0 (519) 879-6878 Fax: (519) 879-6319

CLASSIFIEDS and sleeves form Highland Supply. Preformed for 4,6,8 and 10 inch pots. No longer growing poinsettias. Will email photos.

Please call (519) 695-5342.

Serious inquiries only please.

PAGE 16 –– JULY 2010 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE To advertise phone: 519-380-0118 • 866-898-8488 x 218 • Fax: 519-380-0011 EQUIPMENT LEASE TO OWN NEW TURBO-MIST 500 GAL, 30” TURBINE ALL STAINLESS STEEL $399.00/MONTH Made in Canada ZERO DOWN PAYMENT Turbo-Mist 600 Gal, Narrow, Centrifugal Pump, One Only.......$20,500 Turbo-Mist 500 Gal, Centrifugal Pump, Short Turn (New) .......$19,500 Turbo-Mist 500 Gal, Diaphram, Short Turn ............................$14,900 Good Boy 1000 Litre, Electric Controls, Nice, Clean ................$3,900 Seppi SMO 250, 8ft Flail, Low Hours ....................................COMING Seppi SMO 200, 6 1/2 ft Flail, Almost New ............................$6,200 Pallet Cart - HandJack, 5,000 lb, New-Never Used ...............$450 Apple Bin Dumper to Fit Tractor Loader ...............................$900 Perfect Wide Offset Rotary Mower, Good Condition ...............COMING Apple Bin Carrier 5-Bin Tandem Axels- Narrow, Low Profile Apple Bin Carrier 6-Bin Tandem - Two Available New Perfect KG2200 H.D. Flail Mower at 2009 Pricing Hydraulic Mini-Cylinders For Sprayer Valves Wanted: For Cash, Trade, or Consignment Clean Sprayers, Mowers, Bin Carriers, Narrow Orchard Tractors

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

Clarksburg, ON.

3 point hitch P.T.O. driven SPADING MACHINES The spading machine uses large spades to break up the soil up to 12” (30cm) deep.

Features: • No dead furrow • Mixes manure, compost etc. completely • Allows for better drainage as it does not create a flat bottom • Allows for better air penetration • Creates ready to use fields and beds, no plowing, discing or harrowing needed!

Models in stock from 40.9” to 86.6” wide, sizes up to 13’ available by special order.

Comments on the Gramegna Spading Machine ...It is simply amazing! It incorporates our compost readily and does everything else the literature sheet and independent tests said it would do.... ...The spading machine you sold us works wonderfully. We had a problem with heavy soils and no real solution short of getting different land. Your machine literally solved our problem.... ...Perhaps the most important contribution of spading is that it eliminates the use of ploughs, disks, and harrows....

Visit www.timmenterprises.com/machines/spader.htm to see the spading machine in action!

TIMM ENTERPRISES LTD. Mail: P.O. Box 157, Oakville, Ont., Canada L6J 4Z5 Office & Warehouse: 5204 Trafalgar Rd., Milton, Ont., Canada L0P 1E0 Phone (905) 878-4244 Fax (905) 878-7888 Sales 1-888-769-TIMM (8466) www.timmenterprises.com

REAL ESTATE

NURSERY

FOR SALE Big Red Machine Fold-Up sides, Holds 8 skids.

Good for Aroma Tomatoes and Ground Crops Good Condition Call: 519-796-2903

Alpine Nurseries (Niagara) Limited

SPECIALIZING IN FRUIT TREES & GRAPE VINES & PRIVET HEDGING. 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 plants@sympatico.ca

2 - 88’ x 20’ Gothic style greenhouse frames 1 - 88’ x 20 ‘ Coldframe 3 pallets (90 Bales) Pro Mix HP 3 - 48’ exhaust Euro Fans Numerous greenhouse supplies 3 Dosatrons, case of inserts, 1201, 1204, 1206, Jumbo 606 and more.

5 - Natural gas furnaces We are retiring and are going out of business. Complete Business TURN KEY - for sale. Acerage with house, on pavement also for sale.

Phone 306-542-3854 or 866-542-3567

FREIGHT SERVICE

Warehousing & Distribution Transborder Freight Services.

For additional information please contact us directly or visit our website shown below PHONE: 905-672-6255 FAX: 905-672-6322 website: www.cole.ca email: info@cole.ca Servicing your import and export requirements since 1958

PICKLED VEGETABLES

JULY 2010 –– PAGE 17 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

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

TRACEABILITY

Pipe & Fittings

www.scoringAg.com

ScoringAg.com for exporting to USA: Traceback and trace-up systems, COOL acceptable, PROVEN: SIMPLE, SECURE,

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

INEXPENSIVE lenhardt@thot.net 705 324 2709

Phone (905) 945-8515 Fax: (905) 945-1149 or call toll-free

1-800-361-8515

REFRIGERATION

Learn from the experts! 1VPU V\Y ÄLSK [V\Y VM /H`NYV]LZ in Britain Sept. 26-29, call to register (deadline Aug 13)

Custom Built Designs - Domestic and International Markets

Haygrove Owners Conference (others welcome) December 3, 2010 - Lancaster, PA

haygrove.com l 1-866-HAYGROVE l tunnelbuzz.com

PAGE 18 –– JULY 2010 THE GROWER

Minor Use Craig’s Comments

Craig Hunter OFVGA One of the things that I really like about how PMRA conducts business these days is the Public Registry. Anyone can go to this site and see what applications have come in on any given date. If so inclined, one can track how they progress through the system by watching the outcome side as well.

The U.S. EPA has long had an open window to their registration process by publishing their work schedule for two years ahead. By comparing the U.S. and the PMRA lists, one can see how we stack up for access to new technologies. It even shows which companies have filed for joint registrations, for global submissions, or work share with EPA. By default, one can see the companies who, for whatever reason, refuse to take advantage of one of those opportunities. It is sad to see that even in these much improved times some companies still refuse to accept help. That is also true for those who have refused to take advantage of

AAFC Research Branch - We need help!

“Project 914,” a fast track ‘catchup’ registration avenue to reduce the Technology Gap. What will it take for these folks to get on side?

Can growers or the PMRA use moral suasion to get them to the table? How can we help them sell more product if it is not offered for registration or for sale?

The PMRA public registry has much to offer. For instance, I can see that there are 12 new fungicides being offered for first registration since Jan 1, 2010!

Back in the seventies when I plied my trade as a plant pathologist, we felt extremely fortunate to see the odd one or two new ones get registered in the decade-- products such as Benlate, Bravo, Easout, and Bayleton. Since then, we have lost an arsenal of fungicides including Benlate, Phygon, Maneb, Ronilan, Dyrene, Difolatan, Dikar, Elgetol, Karathane, Morestan, etc.

The idea of having so many new ones over the next two years is like an advent.

Our next challenge will be to figure out how best to fit them into existing Pest Management Programs. In the process of gathering enough data to register them, companies seldom have time or resources to see how, from a grower’s perspective, they can be used in combination, in rotation, and in mixtures with any and all other choices out there, especially including those of the competition.

In the days when Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, (AAFC), the province, and the University of Guelph, as well as their counter-

parts across Canada had the staff resources, the financial wherewithal and most importantly the mandate, all these new actives would have been tested incessantly to find out the required information before registration.

The paucity of in-the-field scientists today is only surpassed

Understanding mechanisms of resistance to glyphosate in giant ragweed will be one topic at the Elora portion of the Ontario Weed Tour, July 15. by their lack of resources or mandate to do such work. It has fallen on the Pest Management Centre (PMC) more and more to do work like this that goes beyond its original mandate. It appears from where I sit that Research

Branch of AAFC is still in a pique about ‘losing’ some staff resources when the PMC was established seven years ago. Get over it! The AAFC centres were endowed with more than $1 million for (desperately needed) new equipment at that time. Much of this has been co-opted to all the other programs of research branch at those locations, but the research branch staff have not been freely available to lend their expertise to the PMC program in return. It seems to me that the needs of the growers being satisfied by the PMC registration work are being placed second by Research Branch due to some internal squabble. The scientists need both ‘permission’ and a push to help fill in the needs associated with the new chemistries. Is it too much to ask that an old feud be put to bed in the best interests of growers? Is it better to ask that all AAFC scientific and management travel to China be held in abeyance while this important work gets done? It would be of great interest to growers to know just how many trips to China have been made in total by federal staff over those past seven years, and at what cost?

The new technology will go a long way to replacing the lost fungicide products -- many as a result of the re-evaluation process in place since 1998. The same can be said for insecticides, although not as many. There has been a dearth of new herbicides over the past few years as a direct result of the glyphosate-resistance genetics

leading to such dominance in the marketplace. The new 2008 Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Pesticide Use Survey will show the extent of that dominance. However, the spectre of resistance means that the herbicide development stream is being turned up once again. I suspect that in just a few years we will see many more new herbicides as well.

Growers will be seeing more technology over the next few years than at any other time since the sixties. It is important that ALL companies use all the available resources to get them registered and all possible uses be labeled.

Equally important, the research community must spring to action so the growers can use all these to best advantage.

Even in a time of apparent plenty, there is still much that needs ‘fixing’ to get the most advantage we can.

We must keep asking!

The following is the list of submitted fungicides.

Fluopicolide Natamycin Tetraconazole Picoxystrobin Sedaxane Kasugamycin Penflufen Fluxapyroxad Mono and di-potassium salt of phosphorus acid Ametoctradin Cylufenamid 1 un-named

EPA moves to terminate all uses of insecticide Endosulfan to protect health of farm workers and wildlife The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking action to end all uses of the insecticide endosulfan in the United States. Endosulfan, which is used on vegetables, fruits, and cotton, can pose unacceptable neurological and reproductive risks to farmworkers and wildlife and can persist in the environment.

New data generated in response to the agency’s 2002 decision have shown that risks faced by workers are greater than previously known. EPA also finds that there are risks above the agency’s level of concern to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, as well as to

birds and mammals that consume aquatic prey which have ingested endosulfan. Farm workers can be exposed to endosulfan through inhalation and contact with the skin. Endosulfan is used on a very small percentage of the U.S. food supply and does not present a risk to human health from dietary exposure.

Makhteshim Agan of North America, the manufacturer of endosulfan, is in discussions with EPA to voluntarily terminate all endosulfan uses. EPA is currently working out the details of the decision that will eliminate all endosulfan uses, while

The Source...

incorporating consideration of the needs for growers to move to lower-risk pest control practices in a timely manner.

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA must consider endosulfan’s risks and benefits.

While EPA implemented various restrictions in a 2002 re-registration decision, EPA’s phaseout is based on new data and scientific peer review, which have improved EPA’s assessment of the ecological and worker risks from endosulfan. EPA’s 2010 revised ecological risk assessment reflects a comprehensive review of all available

exposure and ecological effects information for endosulfan, including independent external peer-reviewed recommendations made by the endosulfan Scientific Advisory Panel.

Endosulfan, an organochlorine insecticide first registered in the 1950s, also is used on ornamental shrubs, trees, and herbaceous plants. It has no residential uses.

For more information: www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/endo sulfan/endosulfan-cancl-fs.html Canadian growers can expect similar action here, especially if the U.S. cancels all residue tolerances, says Craig Hunter.

for Fungicides, Miticides & Insecticides in Horticultural Crops

| www.valent.ca | 519-822-7043 Read and follow the label instructions before using.

All products are trademarks or registered trademarks of Valent U.S.A. Corporation. © Valent U.S.A. Corporation, 2009. All rights reserved.

Call us at 1-866-613-3336 or visit www.engageagro.com

JULY 2010 –– PAGE 19 THE GROWER

Coragen insecticide label expanded to control corn borer and corn earworm on sweet corn and swede midge in Brassica vegetables Growers in Ontario now have access to a new tool to protect sweet corn from corn borer and corn earworm and cole crops from swede midge, thanks to a new minor use registration for DuPont’s Coragen insecticide.

Swede midge, a pest that can damage brassicaceae crops, was first identified in Ontario in 2000.

The tiny insect has an appetite for vegetables including: broccoli, Chinese broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, bok choy, nappa cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi, mizuna and mustard greens.

“This insect can be a real challenge to manage,” said Hannah Fraser, provincial entomologist for horticulture crops at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

“Research conducted by Dr. Rebecca Hallett at the University of Guelph indicates that they can have four to five overlapping generations over the growing season.”

According to Saghir Alam, development specialist with DuPont Canada, three years of testing have proven that Coragen will be particularly useful in managing the overlapping generations of swede midge. “With extended residual versus other insecticides, Coragen provides effective control of this damaging pest,” Alam said.

Coragen will also fit well in an Integrated Resistance Management (IRM) system because it is powered by the active ingredient Rynaxypyr, which comes from a whole new class of chemistry – Group 28, the diamides. This is critical in the integrated management of swede midge, where the use of multiple insecticide applications to control overlapping generations can lead to resistance issues.

Identifying and controlling swede midge The tiny, light-brown adult swede midge is hard to differentiate from other midges; and the larvae are even harder to scout.

According to OMAFRA, swede midge larvae are initially 0.3 mm long and transparent, typically feeding in groups near the growing point. According to Fraser, damage from swede midge can be confused with other common problems in crucifer crops; therefore, when swede midge first showed up in Ontario, it was not immediately recognized.

Low levels of damage can rapidly become a large problem if the population is left unmanaged.

Without a good Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that involves regular monitoring, growers could lose the entire crop to swede midge.

“Growers must follow OMAFRA guidelines, monitor each field and spray early,” says Alam. “Swede midge is not like other pests, such as cabbage looper or diamondback moth, where if you miss spraying one instar you can get them when they’re bigger.

In this case, it’s very difficult to see the pest and by the time you see damage, it’s too late.”

OMAFRA recommends using commercially available pheromone lures and white Jackson-style traps to help track the emergence and activity patterns of the pest, as well as to determine the need and timing of insecticide sprays.

Effective at multiple stages in pest life cycles, Coragen provides growers with excellent crop protection for potatoes, brassica vegetables, fruiting vegetables and leafy vegetables, improving crop quality and yields. The rapid cessation of feeding, residual activity and excellent rainfast properties of Coragen deliver long-lasting plant protection.

Controlling corn earworm (CEW) and corn borer (ECB) on sweet corn According to Jim Chaput, OMAFRA minor use coordinator,

Coragen insecticide can be used for control of CEW and ECB at a rate of 250 - 375 mL per ha in 100 L water per ha. Application should be coincided with peak egg hatch based upon field monitoring.

Reapply if monitoring indicates it is necessary but do not apply more than once every three days.

Do not apply more than four times per year and do not apply within one day of harvest for sweet corn.

Coragen insecticide can be used for control of swede midge at a rate of 250 mL per ha applied with a modified seed oil adjuvant such as Hasten or MSO. Begin applications when thresholds have been reached based upon pheromone trap monitoring.

Reapply when monitoring indicates it is necessary but do not apply more than once every three days.

Swede midge damage in cauliflower. Photo by Saghir Alam.

WHERE FARMERS MEET ™

“There’s always something new to see. You can’t just go once.

You must go every year.”

M M

M

Maw Farms, Courtright ON

WHEHRHFAMST RSS M H MA S M TILLAGE EQUIPMENT DEMOS

TILAGG E QUPQQM

NGG QDOSCS R YM

XGG&BMORHBM E M

CANADIAN ENERGY EXPO & BIOGAS DEMO CELEBRATING HEALTHY LIVING EXPO • Presented by Foodland Ontario PRECISION SEEDING DEMO • Featuring Automatic Row Shut-off COMPACT AG CONSTRUCTION EXPO & DEMOS GENUITY TECHNOLOGY EXPO TM

QUALITY BEEF CARCASS COMPETITION & RFID TAG READING DEMOS SOLAR PUMPING & GRAZING DEMOS LIVE ROBOTIC MILKING DEMOS • Featuring Lely & DeLaval GROBER YOUNG ANIMAL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE • Showcasing Live Research Trials RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS FROM THE ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE • University of Guelph

GGet et a FREE FREE OONE NE DDAY AY PPASS ASS w when hen yyou ou rregister egister yyour our PPremises r emises w with ith OOnTrace nTrace from from August August 1-27, 1-27, 2010.

2010.

VVisit: isit : www.ontraceagrifood.com w w w.ontraceagrifood.com

PAGE 20 –– JULY 2010 THE GROWER

Emergency use registration for thrips

By Jim Chaput, OMAFRA, Minor Use Coordinator, Guelph The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of an emergency use renewal registration for Carzol SP Miticide-Insecticide (formetanate hydrochloride) for control of onion thrips on dry bulb onions in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta. Carzol SP Miticide-Insecticide was already labeled in Canada for control of mites and leafhoppers on apples, pears, peaches and nectarines. In 2008 and 2009, the emergency use registration of Carzol helped dry bulb onion producers manage this serious pest problem.

Furthermore a complete minor use submission is under review to seek eventual, full registration of Carzol for thrips control on dry bulb onions in Canada.

Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci (Lindeman) are considered a key pest wherever onions are grown and the number one pest of onions in most provinces.

Various life stages of onion thrips actively feed on onion leaves, reducing photosynthesis, reducing plant vigor and yield, and vector and transmit Iris Yellow Spot Virus (IYSV).

Carzol SP Miticide-Insecticide was identified as a viable solution to help manage onion thrips. There

have been no new products registered in Canada for onion thrips management in several years and control failures continue to increase.

The emergency use registration of Carzol SP will help in the interim to manage resistant thrips populations; however management of onion thrips will require a comprehensive IPM and resistance management program with access to all available tools and strategies. The following is provided as general information only. Users should consult the complete label before using Carzol SP. Carzol SP Miticide-Insecticide can be used for control of onion thrips in dry bulb onions in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Alberta until October 31st, 2010 only. Carzol SP can be applied once at a rate of 1.4 kg product per hectare or Carzol can be applied twice at a rate of 0.84 kg product per hectare at a 7 – 10 day interval. Do not exceed 1.68 kg per hectare per year. A minimum spray volume of 94 L water per hectare is recommended and a 30 day pre-harvest interval is permitted.

For copies of the emergency use label contact Jim Chaput, OMAFRA, Guelph (519) 826-3539 or visit UAP Canada Inc. website at www.uap.ca or N.M. Bartlett’s website at www.bartlett.ca

Ontario weed tour dates Snapshot Tuesday, July 13 9:00 am – Woodstock 2:00 pm – Exeter Wednesday, July 14 9:00 am – Harrow 2:00 pm – Ridgetown Thursday, July 15 9:00 am – Elora Highlights at Each Location Woodstock 9:00am: Introductions and Overview by Clarence Swanton and François Tardif, Univ. of Guelph 9:15 – noon: Self guided tour Exeter 2:00pm: Introductions and Overview by Peter Sikkema, Univ. of Guelph 2:15pm – 5:00pm: Self guided tour What to expect: • Tolerance of sweet corn to isox-

ZZZ *DYHO7KH*URZHU FRP

(DUO\ %OLJKW Â&#x2021; /DWH %OLJKW Â&#x2021; 6WRUDJH 5RW 0XOWLSOH GLVHDVH SUREOHPV" <RX QHHG D PXOWL DFWLRQ WRRO 3RWDWR JURZHUV QHHG D IXQJLFLGH WKDW FRQWUROV PRUH WKDQ RQH WRXJK GLVHDVH *DYHOÂ&#x160; ') LV WKH SHUIHFW 0XOWL $FWLRQ WRRO IRU WKH MRE *DYHO FRQWUROV HDUO\ EOLJKW ODWH EOLJKW DQG VRPH RI WKH PRVW VHULRXV VWRUDJH URW SHVWV *DYHO KDV PXOWLSOH PRGHV RI DFWLRQ WKDW ZRUN WRJHWKHU WR SURWHFW \RXU FURS DQG UHGXFH FKDQFH RI GLVHDVH UHVLVWDQFH

1RWKLQJ EHDWV XVLQJ WKH ULJKW WRRO IRU WKH MRE &KRRVH 0XOWL $FWLRQ *DYHO ')

*DYHOÂ&#x160; LV D UHJLVWHUHG WUDGHPD LV D UHJLVWHUHG WUDGHPDUN RI *RZDQ &RPSDQ\ / / & (3$ 5HJ 1R $OZD\V UHDG DQG IROORZ ODEHO GLUHFWLRQV UN RI *RZDQ &RPSDQ\ / / & (3$ 5HJ 1R $OZD\V UHDG DQG IROORZ ODEHO GLUHFWLRQV

aflutole plus cyprosulfamide Harrow 9:00am: Introductions and Overview by Rob Nurse, AAFC 9:15am: Field plot discussion: Presenter: Rob Nurse, AAFC Topic: Organic weed management in pumpkins grown for seed 9:30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; noon: Self guided tour

What to expect: - Crop tolerance and weed control in sweet corn/tomato/field corn/seed corn/soybean/edible beans/pumpkin - Weed management during the transition from conventional to organic vegetable production - Does freezing or over-heating of herbicides in solution affect efficacy?

- Tolerance to POST herbicide application after hail damage in sweet corn/field corn/tomato/ white bean Ridgetown 2:00pm: Introductions and Overview by Peter Sikkema and Darren Robinson, Univ. of Guelph 2:15 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5:00pm: Self guided tour What to expect: - crop tolerance and weed control in vegetable crops - Management of cover crops using a roller/crimper for production of organic cucumber and squash - Predicting weed emergence using soil temperature and moisture to improve herbicide timing in red beet - Cumulative stress of in-crop herbicides and drift in tomato - Do insecticides antagonize or synergize postemergent broadleaf herbicides in snap bean?

- Crop tolerance in winter wheat and crop tolerance and weed control in field corn/soybean/ edible bean - Effect of water hardness on the efficacy of glyphosate and glufosinate - Biologically effective rate of glyphosate as affected by weed size at the time of application.

Elora 9:00am: Introductions and Overview by Clarence Swanton and François Tardif, Univ. of Guelph 9:15 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9:45: Graduate student presentations - Understanding mechanisms of resistance to glyphosate in giant ragweed 9:45am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; noon: Self guided tour What to expect: - Weed control in biomass crops - New herbicide combinations in potatoes - Yellow nutsedge control For enquiries and/or directions to locations, please contact: Rob Nurse, Robert.Nurse@agr.gc.ca, 519-738-1288