JUNE 2010
CELEBRATING 130 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION
VOLUME 60 NUMBER 06
Labour pains squeeze growers By Karen Davidson An old proverb says that many hands make light work. But vegetable grower Jason Ryder is searching for the profit. With Ontario’s minimum wage rising to $10.25 per hour on March 31, Ryder’s costs have risen substantially with no way to extract those increases from a marketplace that enjoys asparagus and green onions from Mexico, Peru and California. Both these crops require hand picking and bunching. And he and his neighbour require 68 offshore workers plus 22 local hires to get the job done. As a University of Guelph grad, Ryder says no statistics course can help this real-life situation. He grows 130 acres of green onions, 105 acres of asparagus and 35 acres of horseradish near Delhi. Ontario. He has taken two courses of action. First, he bought a value-added horseradish business. Second, he increased onion plantings by four per cent with another 25 acres. It’s a crop that pays by piece work. That means if workers are fast, they actually earn more than minimum wage, but Ryder can better control his input costs before the product is sold. “I’ve been to California, I’ve been to Ireland looking at ways to mechanize,” says Ryder. “They are actually switching back to hand labour sourcing cheaper workers. With a niche crop such as green onions, it’s hard to mechanize because everything needs to be hand-picked and hand-
Inside Slice and dice Canada’s new demographics
Page 5
Wash water alert!
Page 11
Orchard advice
Page 12
FOCUS: Alternative energy heats up
Page 14
www.thegrower.org P.M. 40012319
bunched.” By his calculations, Ryder says that 50 to 58 per cent of the total cost of vegetables is comprised of labour. “It’s one thing to make a living, but it’s quite another to make the cost of living,” he concludes. Elsewhere in Canadian horticulture, the story is the same. At Berry Haven Farm Ltd. near Abbotsford, British Columbia, David Mutz and his father Henry grow 75 acres of berries, mostly raspberries for the fresh market. Even growers who grow for processing and use mechanical harvesters require Indo-Canadian and Mexican workers to steward and harvest the crop. Mutz figures that hand labour to harvest raspberries will cost 75 cents per pound this summer. For jam-grade raspberries, he might gross 75 cents per pound, but it’s still early in the season. “Raspberries are now a world commodity,” says Mutz “with South America, Poland, Serbia and the U.S. all players. B.C. produces 22 million pounds of raspberries compared to 900 million pounds (2008 estimate) globally.” Not far away, Alf Krause operates a top-notch fruit and vegetable farm at Langley, B.C. with 175 acres in total, 40 of which are strawberries. “The processing industry is finished,” he says, “so we hand pick berries for the fresh market.” He hires upward of 75 Indo-Canadian, Asian, Mexican and Guatamalan workers to bring the harvest home. Continued on page 3
More than half of the total cost of vegetables is comprised of labour – an expense that trims margins to the bone. Ontario has increased minimum wage to $10.25 per hour, the highest of any province in Canada. The back story comes to life with Jason Ryder and his Caribbean work crew who take a weather break from asparagus harvest at Delhi, Ontario. The vegetable farm transitions at the end of June to green onions, another crop that requires hand picking and bunching. Photos by Denis Cahill.
Prudent consumers ready to spend more Canadians spent $7.8 billion on produce last year – up four per cent By Karen Davidson Recession-battered and now cautiously optimistic, Canadian consumers are still a priceconscious lot in the grocery store. Tracking data from The Nielsen Company shows consumers bought more produce through the recession as a key ingredient for home-cooked meals. They are now ready to increase expenditures on produce with new-found confidence in the kitchen. “Although we see strong signs that we are emerging from the global economic crisis, we’re not out of the woods yet, with Canadian consumers still clearly uncertain about their future,” said
Carman Allison, director of industry insights, The Nielsen Company, at the recent Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) meeting in Vancouver. “We’re on the road to recovery, but restraint is the new consumer mantra.” Consumers will increasingly look to club and discount stores for low prices. The growth of discount retailers is notable particularly in western Canada, perhaps due to the softening of the resource economy and recently emerging opportunities in that market. Drug channels are increasing their share of the produce market.
The locavore movement continues to drive awareness of locally grown foods while sustainability issues are returning as a consumer concern. The sheen on organics is starting to fade as consumers admit they are expensive, sometimes 50 per cent more expensive than conventional produce. That said, one in four consumers say they have purchased organic produce in the last year. The cache of marketing data reveals a prudent consumer. Fewer shopping trips are recorded to the grocer, down four per cent, however the basket of goods continues to grow with an increase of three per cent to $47.41 per trip.
“We’re on the road to recovery, but restraint is the new consumer mantra.” - Carman Allison Canadians are buying more of the essentials – meat, produce and dairy – while cutting back on non-edibles. Is the treat fresh asparagus? Just-picked blueberries? Despite data that shows Canadians are making fewer food shopping trips, produce trips are holding up. Continued on page 4
PAGE 2 –– JUNE 2010 THE GROWER
At press time… Funding boosts CanadaGAP The Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) is $750,000 healthier thanks to an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announcement to help pay for developing a national on-farm food safety sys-
ries and asparagus,” said Porteous. “We firmly believe that while we are in the business of producing safe, nutritious and affordable food we are also in the business of providing health and wellness to Canadians.” “Our food safety journey has been a 10-year undertaking. Given
tion, storage and packing of fresh fruits and vegetables grown in Canada. This science-based exercise, led by Heather Gale, resulted in modules based on crop groupings: • Bulb and Root • Asparagus, Sweet Corn and Legumes • Fruiting Vegetables • Potatoes • Leafy Vegetables and Cruciferae • Small Fruit • Tree and Vine Fruit, and • Greenhouse Production
Haygrove Tunnels organizes tour in Britain
The $750,000 funding announcement for the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) was made at Covent Garden Market in London, Ontario. (L-R) MP Joe Preston (Elgin-Middlesex-London), Ag Minister Gerry Ritz and Murray Porteous, Ontario representative to the CHC. tem. The CanadaGAP program is required by four major retailers: Loblaw, McCain Foods, Simplot and Lamb-Weston. The funds originate from the Growing Forward program through the Canadian Integrated Food Safety Initiative (CIFSI). Murray Porteous, CHC representative for Ontario, was on hand for the London, Ontario announcement by Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz on May 1. “Our family farm produces peaches, pears, apples, sour cher-
the diversity of our sector it was a challenge unlike any other. The program is a credit to the hundreds of people who have been involved, including producers, packers, officials at Agriculture and Agri Food Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and provincial governments, as well as our buyers. This truly has been an “industry-led, government-supported initiative.” Known as CanadaGAP, the program brings together food safety requirements for the produc-
High-value crops are increasingly finding a home in tunnels in Canada. British growers have been “tunneling” for years and will be sharing their techniques in a tour organized by Haygrove Tunnels for September 26 – 29, 2010. Growers will see raspberries, strawberries, cherries and other crops under tunnels as well as up-close inspection of spectral filter poly and tunnel construction. Sign-up deadline is August 13 with costs pegged at $599 double occupancy or $699 single. Airfare to Heathrow Airport is not included. A maximum of 70 people will be accepted on the tour. For more information, call 717-367-3691 or visit www.tunnelbuzz.com
NEWSMAKERS Harvest Ontario celebrates its 10th anniversary catalogue with a cameo appearance by Anna Olson, Food Network TV star of the program “Fresh” and Home Hardware’s Kitchen Expert. She’s pictured at the Kitchener Farmers’ Market (centre) with MyPick verified local farmers Doug Eiche of Doug’s Honey and Monika Mitchel of M & R Orchards. The listings of farm markets and agri-tourism sites throughout Ontario are distributed through Home Hardware stores and local farmers’ markets. Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s Dan Dempster advised the association at its Vancouver 2010 meeting that he will be retiring as president on May 1, 2011. He began his career in 1977 and assumed the position of president on April 1, 1983. During his tenure, membership has increased significantly to 720 Canadian and international members. The convention and trade show has also experienced growth, with more than 3000 visitors attending this year’s event. The Golden Horseshoe Regional Soil and Crop Improvement Association has appointed Anne Howden-Thompson as the new regional communications coordinator to replace retiring John Shepherd, Scotland, Ontario, who has held the position for 10 years. Well-known as a contributor to Ontario Farmer, Howden-Thompson will serve the region’s Brant, Haldimand, Halton, Hamilton-Wentworth, Norfolk, North Niagara, Peel and South Niagara farmers. Laurent Pellerin has been appointed the new Chairperson of the Farm Products Council of Canada by the federal government. In his four-year term starting May 31, he will oversee the supply management system for poultry and eggs. Most recently, he was President, Canadian Federation of Agriculture. Farmers’ Markets Ontario has elected a new board of directors chaired by Michael O’Shea, Zurich. Other directors include: Ray Sheldon, St. Marys; Philip Powell, Ottawa (past chair); Bert Andrews, Milton; Jim Harris, Orillia; Jenny Groenheide, Thunder Bay (vice-chair); Sam McLean (executive at large); Vicki Schlossen, Trout Creek; Shaun Funk, Chesterville; Dianne Garrington, Kitchener (treasurer); Tom Neufeld, St Catharines; Ken Ferguson, Little Current. Robert Chorney serves as Executive Director.
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THANK YOU ONTARIO FARMERS AND AG RETAILERS! Ontario farmers and ag retailers have helped make the 2009 CleanFARMS™ Obsolete Collection Campaign an enormous success! Your support resulted in the safe removal of 117,713 kilograms of obsolete pesticides and approximately 2,000 kilograms of unwanted sharps and animal health products from farms across Ontario. Supported by: and the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem.
Cycling for cancer Off-shore worker Joseph Hackett is one-of-a-kind from Barbados. He’s worked for Charles Stevens at Wilmot Orchards for seven years, integrating into the local Bowmanville, Ontario community when he’s here in Canada. As chair of the Lions Club BBQ committee, he cooks up a storm. Now he’s trying to raise $2500 to participate in the June 12 and 13 200 km cycle from Toronto to Niagara Falls to benefit the Campbell Family Institute at the Princess Margaret Hospital. To reach his goal, funds need to be pledged to the website: The Ride to Conquer Cancer 2010. Click on “Donate Now” and enter his name. Click on his name and proceed with donation as directed.
Credit cards are accepted.
Joseph Hackett
JUNE 2010 –– PAGE 3 THE GROWER
Labour pains squeeze growers model, putting increasing pressure on farmer suppliers. None of this adds up for long-term sustainability. What’s doubly troubling is that documentaries such as Food Inc. are lashing out at factory farms when the Canadian reality is quite opposite. Consumers have no appreciation for the hand labour or food safety standards that bring fruits and vegetables to market from family-owned farms. The 28 per cent increase in minimum wage rates in the last three years will test horticulture this year. “Some crops are so labour-intensive – field lettuce, cukes and peppers – that I don’t grow them anymore,” says Ken Forth, Chair, Labour Section, OFVGA. We can’t blame the grocers for buying cheaper product from Mexico where labour rates are $8 per day for 12-hour days.”
“It’s one thing to make a living, but it’s quite another to make the cost of living.” -Jason Ryder “The fruit and vegetable industry was put in this position in ’86 under CUSTA, then NAFTA, then WTO,” explains Forth. “With no nod to the global marketplace, Ontario has implemented many labour laws that make this jurisdiction uncompetitive.” “If this industry is to compete globally, these same governments who implemented the labour laws must step up to the plate now and immediately implement a cost-ofproduction formula or risk losing a significant portion of horticulture.”
Minimum Wage in Canada
Two off-shore workers grade and bunch asparagus at Jason Ryder’s farm at Delhi, ON. Continued from page 1 The minimum wage is $8 per hour in B.C., a rate which Krause believes offers the opportunity for more people to work. “In the past, it’s been really tough to get workers,” Krause says. “There are lots of 55- to 70-age grandmas and grandpas who want to work for minimum wage plus benefits plus transportation. Many who have a language barrier come from Surrey and Delta, 50 kilometres away. When they are paid by piece work, they get paid exactly for what they produce for what they feel like
that day.” Two pools of labour are required for his farm and on-farm market stand: unskilled pickers and seasonal summer staff who work in the bakery, kitchen and market. Extra costs are mounting for market training. He has hired private trainers to set up standard operating procedures in preparation for CanadaGAP. By 2011, he expects his processor will require these food safety standards. Farther up the food chain, retailers such as Wal-Mart are operating on a low-price
Province
General Wage
More Information
Alberta BC Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland NWT Nova Scotia Nunavut Ontario PEI Quebec Saskatchewan Yukon
$8.80 $8.00 $9.00 $8.50 $9.50 $9.00 $9.20 $10.00 $10.25 $8.40 $9.50 $9.25 $8.93
Alberta Employment and Immigration B.C. Ministry of Labour Manitoba Labour New Brunswick Employment Standards Labour Relations Agency Environment and Labour Ministry of Labour Community and Cultural Affairs Commission des normes du travail Saskatchewan Labour
PAGE 4 –– JUNE 2010 THE GROWER
CPMA
Prudent consumers ready to spend more on fresh produce Fresh vegetable category performance
Fresh fruit category performance
Top 10 $
Share & Growth
What’s HOT
1. Tomatoes
12.3
+3
1. Artichokes
+44
1. Berries
17.4
+11
1. Persimmons
+70
2. Potatoes
12.1
+4
2. Okra
+32
2. Bananas
14.2
+11
2. Cherries
+47
3. Peppers
8.3
+5
3. Kale
+19
3. Apples
13.6
-3
3. Avocados
+15
4. Salad Bag
7.4
+1
4. Ginger Root
+18
4. Grapes
12.1
+7
4. Kiwi
+10
5. Carrots
6.3
-3
5. Yams
+17
5. Oranges
6.2
+3
5. Berries
6. Onions
6.0
+8
6. Melons
6.1
+1
7. Mushrooms
6.0
+6
1. Turnips
7. Tangerines
4.4
-8
8. Cucumbers
5.6
+9
2. Beans
-8
8. Cherries
3.9
9. Lettuce
5.4
+5
3. Bagged Salad
-4
9. Pears
10. Broad Leaf
4.1
+15
4. Cabbage
-2
10. Pineapple
5. Potatoes
-1
Top 10 $
What’s NOT -29
Share & Growth
What’s HOT
+9 What’s NOT
1. Limes
-38
+18
2. Figs
-26
3.3
+2
3. Nectarines
-20
2.4
+3
4. Papaya
-19
5. Plums
-12
Source: Nielson FreshTrack, National Grocery Banner + Mass Merchandiser - 52 weeks ending March 13, 2010 > $1 million in retail sales.
Continued from page 1 All of this shopping activity translates into a five per cent increase in dollar purchases for vegetables and four per cent increase in dollars spent on fruit. Eighty-five per cent of consumers buy their produce at conventional grocery stores. It’s no surprise, then, that 50 per cent of shoppers say their choice of store is driven by selection of produce. The split in market share is almost equal between vegetables and fruits: 52.1 per cent for vegetables and 47.9 per cent for fruit.
CPMA highlights • This year’s convention attracted 3,300 attendees and exhibitors. • The Fresh Health Award was won by Peak of the Market and accepted by Larry McIntosh • Produce Man of the Year was awarded to Adrian Abbott, BC Tree Fruits Ltd. • Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Art Heppner, Overwaitea Food Group; Rick Willis, The Oppenheimer Group; and Michael Mockler, Thrifty Foods • Next year’s conference is slated for April 13 – 15, 2011 in Montreal, Quebec
Shannon Schuman, (L) publisher of The Packer, presents Produce Man of the Year award to Adrian Abbott, BC Tree Fruits Ltd.
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JUNE 2010 –– PAGE 5 THE GROWER
CPMA
Oh Canada! Casting for opportunities in ethnic markets By Karen Davidson How do you market Canadian staples like potatoes to ethnic markets? Good question. But an easy one for Davis Yung, President of Fresh Direct Produce Limited. He’s an importer, wholesaler and distributor based in Vancouver. “Conduct local focus groups with different varieties of potatoes until you find one that suits a good curry,” he told the audience at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s
minority compared to 59 per cent in Vancouver and 63 per cent in Toronto. What’s hot in the Montreal market are cherries, berries, persimmons and avocadoes while artichokes, kale, rapini and okra light up the vegetable category. Future trends, she predicts, will include cardamom, sweet potatoes, hibiscus and sea buckthorn. French Canadians take great pleasure in food, so are more adventuresome in trying ethnic and exotic produce. Cooking habits are evolving. And that means regionalization of food supplies will become more important, she says, to cater to the various ethnic profiles. The 40-something Caucasian guy is the “new” ethnic population concluded Randy Friesen, Director Marketing and Communications, BC Institute of Technology, pointing to the 2006 census which numbered 5.3 million visible minorities in Canada. “The retail channel is no longer occupied by traditional grocers,” he said. “Mass merchandisers, drug chains and warehouse club stores are all competing for food dollars.” What’s more difficult to ascertain from the marketplace is the “acculturation” or extent
to which people are absorbing the traits of other cultures. Chinese Canadians are drinking coffee at Tim Horton’s while Caucasian Canadians are looking for green tea. The blending of traditional with new cultures is happening every day. “I just tried dragon fruit the other day and dipped it in chocolate fondue,” Friesen shared. “My Chinese colleague didn’t know what fondue was.” These are examples of food fusion that’s happening across the country. YouTube videos are making exotics like dragonfruit more accessible. The produce industry has not grabbed the opportunity of this channel, said Friesen. “Who is your voice on Facebook?” he asked. “Who speaks for your company?” “Lots of companies are scared of public dialogue but rest assured, people are talking about your company and your products whether you are part of the conversation or not, “said Friesen. “It’s up to you to engage.” annual conference. Yung is a prime example of the new demographic in Vancouver where it’s expected that by 2030, 59 per cent of the population will be of Chinese or South Asian descent. He warned that many produce marketers view ethnic groups as homogenous when in reality there are many diversities. Koreans, Vietnamese and Chinese all celebrate the Lunar New Year – a sweet spot for marketers – but the approaches must be segmented. For these markets, he advises carrying riper fruits that appeal to the shopping habits of those that shop several times a week, for just-in-time cooking from scratch. “Don’t put out green, unripe fruits,” he advises. “These shoppers like larger displays that speak to freshness.” In-store sampling is important to understand the reactions of shoppers. How much you love produce and enjoy other cultures will be apparent through this process. Karen Brux agreed with his approach. Based in the U.S., she represents ZESPRI International, the world’s largest marketer of kiwifruit and has developed a successful market for gold kiwifruit within the Chinese Canadian market. “Chinese media is inexpensive in Canada,” Brux said. “Be prepared to work with agencies who are experts in their field. Don’t translate but adapt current marketing materials. And start with Asian retailers.” Chinese consumers are value-oriented but value is comprised of more than price. For them, it’s taste, nutrition, brand image that spurs them to pay a premium price. Expect strong per store sales, not necessarily strong store numbers. Very few produce companies are engaged in Asian marketing, so the opportunity is there now to capture a share of voice. Brux offers a few tips for marketing to Chinese Canadians. Understand the profile of your Chinese customer. Mandarin or Cantonese speaking? First or second generation? From Taiwan, Hong Hong or China? Research the high holidays for each of these cultures: Moon Festival. New Year’s. Mid-Autumn Festival. In Montreal, the cultural profile is the least diversified says Bernadette Hamel, Vice President Procurement for Metro Richelieu Inc. There, the Black population is more prominent followed by Arab and Latin American populations. About 31 per cent of the population is a visible
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PAGE 6 –– JUNE 2010 THE GROWER
ACC Farmers’ Financial offers highly competitive loans ACC Farmers’ Financial is a littlepublicized entity that could help horticultural producers this season with very reasonable lending rates. Growers have until the end of August to apply for the 2010 crop season. “There are far fewer applications from the fruit and vegetable sector than other sectors,” says Ian Barrett, ACC Farmers’ Financial. “So it’s important to raise our profile as an adjunct to other banks. We borrow from the Bank of Montreal with government guarantees.” The Guelph-based institution has loaned $2 billion since its inception in 1992. It administers two programs. The first is the provincial Commodity Loan Program (CLP) available to growers of processing vegetables, apples, grapes and tobacco.
Loans are up to $750,000 – all at bank prime. The second is the Advance Payment Program (APP), essentially a financial loan guarantee from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The first $100,000 is interest-free with a maximum total cash advance of $400,000 in any crop year. Any monies loaned over and above the interest-free portion bears an interest rate of bank prime. Administrative costs are usually below those charged by banks so a borrower who accesses $300,000 can save as much as $1,200 over customary bank fees. These savings increase significantly when supplier loans are considered as part of the mix. “The advance payment program is timely for potato growers who need to bridge from fall harvest to sales,” says Glen
Squirrel, director on the ACC Farmers’ Financial board. “The biggest benefit is that the organization provides competition to other lenders.” Growers have up to 18 months – generally April to September of the following year – to obtain and repay cash advances. The application process is relatively simple and straightforward with requirements for personal identification and partnership papers of incorporation, if applicable. There are some caveats attached to the APP program, such as production insurance based on the advance rate per acre, the guaranteed production per acre, and the number of acres . . . or maximizing the cash advance at the lesser of the government portion of a producer’s CAIS/AGRISTABILITY reference margin (66.5 per cent x
Reference Margin). In addition, farmers must repay loans as the agricultural product is sold, and they must demonstrate that there was an actual sale of the product. ACC handles most of the government farm-loan guarantees in Ontario, and provides cash advances for selective products in several other provinces. ACC management is guided by a 15-member Board of Directors, all of whom are farmers themselves. Brad Oakley, an apple grower, is currently chair while Keith Strang (processing vegetables) and Glen Squirrel (potatoes) represent their respective sectors. Producers can access further information by calling the office toll free at 1-888-2788807 or going to www.accfarmersfinancial.ca.
Sign up for Women in Agri-Business Symposium For the first time, a “Women in Agri-Business Symposium” will be held October 13 in Guelph, Ontario. The event is an evolution of several Ontario women attending the American Agri-Women (AAW) conventions from 2007 to 2009 as members of panel discussions on agricultural issues and trade. They were: Brenda Lammens – asparagus grower, Chair of the Ontario Asparagus Growers’ Marketing Board, and former Chair of Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Assoc. • Denise Zaborowski – Manager, Domestic Marketing Unit, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs • Angela Stiles – former Executive Director, Agricultural Adaptation Council • Susan Fitzgerald – operates Fitzgerald & Co., which manages agricultural associations and provides project management
services. A one-day symposium is targeting Canadian women involved in agricultural businesses from farm through to retail and in agricultural leadership roles either within an association/company/ agency or on Boards and Committees. Men are welcome to attend. The proposed agenda will kick off with speakers from the American Agri-Women Association. For a perspective on how this organization is battling media attacks on agriculture, listen to Chris Wilson, President and Marcie Williams, Past-President. In a recent newsletter, Wilson says that the current media bias is about factory farming and purported abuse of workers and animals, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Women in agribusiness are proving to be a powerful and credible voice in public relations. “Qualities of an Effective Business Leader” will be presented by Kellie Garrett, Senior VP of
Strategy, Knowledge and Reputation for Farm Credit Canada. In 2007, she was named one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network and is much sought-after as a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. “Advocacy and Policy Making” will be addressed by Catherine Swift, long-standing President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. She is widely published on issues such as free trade, finance, entrepreneurship and women small business owners. “Time Management – Work/Life Balance” will be a popular topic explored by Deb Lloyd, Deb Lloyd and Company. “Inter-Generational Similarities can Power Organizations” is the purview of Carly O’Brien, |The Achievement Centre, who regularly coaches clients on sales activities to generate income.
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“How to Mentor the Next Generation of Business Leaders” will be presented by Jill Malleck, Epiphany at Work. A career coach and meeting facilitator, she will bring her unique perspective on how to make change stick. “What Makes a Successful Business?” is a question to be answered by Jasmin Hofer, Energrow Inc. who has plenty of experience with an on-farm vegetable
oil pressing operation for green fuels. The one-day event will be held at the Springfield Golf and Country Club, Guelph, Ontario. Registration before September 10 is $169.50. After that date, registration costs $226.00. To secure a registration form, contact Susan Fitzgerald at 519-669-3350 or email susan.tfio@sympatico.ca
COMING EVENTS 2010 June 10
Grape and Wine Workshop. Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland, ON
June 21
Ontario Garlic Bailieboro, ON
June 23
Ontario Produce Marketing Association Annual General Meeting, Ontario Food Terminal, Toronto, ON
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 31
Food Day Canada: the world’s longest BBQ
Growers
Summer
Tour,
JUNE 2010 –– PAGE 7 THE GROWER
Board Briefs Highlights from the OFVGA Board of Directors Meeting April 15, 2010 Crop Protection OFVGA sent representatives to the Minor Use meeting in Ottawa in March. Only 12 growers attended this meeting, and OFVGA is encouraging more growers to participate. A resistance testing facility in Canada for apple scab was identified as a necessity. Dr. Manjeet Sethi, Executive Director of the Pest Management Centre (PMC), is working on partnering with a laboratory to do this kind of work. Fertilizer Fee A levy on all fertilizer bags 30 kg or less will be implemented in Ontario in July of this year under the Ministry of the Environment’s Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste Program. Bags over 30 kg will be exempt from the fee, which is set at $0.41/kg. Many growers purchase fertilizer in smaller bags for orchards and vegetable farms and not in bulk, so they will be affected by the new levy. OFVGA attended a meeting on this issue on May 5 with representatives from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Agri Business Association, Ministry of Environment, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Stewardship Ontario, Waste Diversion Ontario and four fertilizer manufacturers. The history of the program development and estimates on returned product and the costs to run the program were given. It was pointed out that the program was aimed at the urban audience and that farmers could NOT take part, nor would they as they tend to use up all such products. This was backed up by several groups. The fees are levied on the manufacturers and based on the estimated costs each year. The estimates vary widely and the fee does as well. It was proposed that farmers be exempted from the fee, but that all other sectors should pay (as they can use the program). It was further proposed that retail outlets that see to farmers keep track of farm sales as a proportion of business, and report this back to manufacturers (wholesalers). The balance of total sales would then be ‘liable’ to pay a proportional fee to cover the expense of the operations.This was acceptable to the manufacturers who felt it could be instituted. The chair of the meeting Ms. Gemma Zecchini from Stewardship Ontario felt that this was worth pursuing as a path forward. Growers left the meeting with the sense that everyone had understood our problem with paying any fee for fertilizer and that we had contributed to finding a viable solution for all. We will await the final outcome after Stewardship Ontari. has met with the manufacturers and worked out details.
Safety Nets AgriInvest corporate forms for 2008 have now been sent out. For 2009 there will be an account at local financial institutions. Manitoba has cut AgriInvest funding by half in its recent provincial budget. The Ontario Agricultural Com-
Premier’s Summit CEO Art Smith and Chair Brian Gilroy attended the recently held Premier’s Summit on AgriFood. The Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence was presented to Leamington Area Drip Irrigation Inc. (LADII) for
The Northern School Snack program receives a thumbs-up. modity Council, of which the OFVGA is a member, has sent a letter outlining concerns with regard to the cuts. Federal consultations on business risk management are scheduled for May 13 and 14 in Ontario. The meetings are by invitation only. Mark Wales will represent the OFVGA at the consultation. Research Section chair Harold Schooley participated in the Production Systems research review committee meeting which reviewed and scored research project proposals for funding under the University of Guelph research agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. This process began last December with 54 letters of intent. Of the 27 submitted proposals, nine were approved for funding. The Guelph Food Technology Centre has been approved to conduct third party audits for the CanadaGAP program. School Snack Program OFVGA Chair Brian Gilroy participated in a conference call regarding the future of the northern school snack program. The OFVGA has been involved in this program, funded by the Ministry of Health Promotion, since 2006 and co-ordinates the purchase and distribution of fresh fruit and vegetable snacks to elementary school children in Northern Ontario. Availability, accessibility and cost are major challenges facing healthy eating in the north. Funding for the program has ended; OFVGA has been actively lobbying for the continuation and expansion of this popular initiative.
their irrigation system. The Minister’s Award for Innovation went to Tigchelaar Berry Farms Inc. They are planting day neutral strawberries in the fall, which, when combined with existing day-neutral and traditional June-bearing varieties, allows them to offer a consistent supply of fresh berries for much longer than the conventional growing season. Significant Commodity Issues The Canadian Food Inspection
Agency (CFIA) is now requiring a final sanitary inspection and certificate for every load of produce coming into the country as a way of guarding against false codling moth, a major pest that could threaten pepper crops. OFVGA and the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers have been asking for increased vigilance at the border to protect access to Canada’s fresh vegetable export markets. A new executive director has been hired for Ontario Ginseng Growers and Ontario Asparagus. Marvin Karges has a background in management consulting and marketing and has previously worked with Ontario Pork and Chicken Farmers of Ontario. Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition (OASC) Chair Brian Gilroy and CEO Art Smith attended the OASC town hall meeting in Stratford April 6. The meeting was designed to raise awareness of the farm income crisis and urgent need for support in the form of safety net programming. Although OASC is advocating a business risk management (BRM) program based on a cost of production concept, OFVGA recognizes that this approach will not work for all sectors. OASC is also looking at alternative options under the AgriFlex pillar of Growing Forward. An OASC meet and greet was held at Queen’s Park April 13 and coalition leaders were formally introduced in the legislature. Approximately 25 MPPs partici-
pated in the reception, including Agriculture Minister Carol Mitchell and her predecessor, Leona Dombrowsky, who is now Minister of Education. OASC members are contributing dollars to fund the joint lobbying effort. The OFVGA board agreed to contribute $10,000 to the process, while recognizing that the BRM approach does not work for all of its members. Annual meeting The Board reviewed costs for various meeting locations and agreed to host the 2011 annual general meeting of the OFVGA at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Niagara Falls. The AGM has been hosted at this same facility in 2009 and 2010. Agriculture Management Institute The Agriculture Management Institute (AMI) has approximately $1 million in funding available for business management projects. Applications are now being accepted. To be eligible for funding, projects must meet various criteria, including demonstrating the benefits of business planning, addressing farm business management gaps and opportunities and supporting on-farm implementation of beneficial business management practices. More information is available at www.takeanewapproach.ca Former OFVGA Chair Brenda Lammens is a member of the AMI board.
Strawberry and vegetable growers answer to uniform straw coverage 12 reasons why the BeddingPro is your best choice 1. It requires 40 hp, which means great fuel savings, and a minimum of dust and noise. 2. The compact design suits confined areas. 3. It offers controlled and uniformed distribution , which means less time and less waste. 4. Less waste means less product used. 5. Less product means you don’t harvest as much, or you have product to sell. 6. If you don’t need as much product, that is less you have to purchase. 7. Can be used on skidsteer or tractor. 8. BeddingPro shredes canary grass, straw, frozen bails, silage, and corn silage. 9. The BeddingPro costs a fraction of other brands. 10. Try and find another that can do all this at a weight of less than 1200 lbs! 11. It also has self loading, extra bail carrying capability, wide spreading option and hydraulic model. 12. It is well built, low maintance. and has no exotic parts.
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PAGE 8 –– JUNE 2010 THE GROWER
The face of farming in Ontario is changing very quickly
Brian Gilroy Chair, OFVGA The countryside is very active as farmers do what needs to be done to plant and “tend” their crops. With the earliest spring in Southern Ontario, in anyone’s memory, that I have talked to, the seasonal challenges and opportu-
nities have gone by quickly. During this very busy time for most, if not all farmers, a series of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/ Farmer Meetings or Consultations took place. The purpose of the meetings was to get feedback on how to improve the Business Risk Management Programs for the next Agricultural Policy Framework. To those farmers and their representatives who were able to attend and bring forward recommended changes and improvements, thank you and I remain hopeful that the government public servants in attendance heard and understood the message. The message that I am hearing is that the face of farming in Ontario is changing very quickly. The ability of our most efficient
farmers to grow certain crops in Ontario and recover their cost of production from the marketplace has been compromised by a variety of factors. If significant measures are not taken immediately, the economy of Ontario will experience a variety of losses in food processing, the service industry and of course food production or farming. One of the challenges representing horticultural farmers is that we are a very diverse group of individuals whose interests are almost as diverse as the crops that we grow. As we work together in the Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition the interests are expanded but the message has remained constant: “The current Business Risk Management Programs are not providing the income stabilization that farmers
need” and “A cost of production insurance program had recent success in the grains and oilseeds sector and should be continued and made available to other crops as requested.” For those crops where a Cost of Production Insurance plan does not work the OFVGA has stated for the record that we would be supportive of an Enhanced Agri-Invest program or indeed ad hoc payments if and when needed, but I think we need to proceed one step at a time. Most of the non-supply managed crops in Ontario are struggling and are keen to see something adopted by government that will help them through these very challenging times. Remember that we at the OFVGA are dedicated to the advancement of horticulture, working proactively through
effective lobbying for the betterment of the industry and its farmers as a whole through advocacy, research, education, communication and marketing. The Association has a clear mandate to be the “voice” for its 7,500 Ontario horticultural farmers at governmental affairs, national and international bodies, and to seek resolution of issues affecting its membership throughout the year. The above is our mission statement which is used to guide our activities. We are in the process of refining our mission and vision statements and for those who like a challenge, I have already changed one word in the version above, can you find it? If you have other recommended changes please forward them to me, care of the grower. Till next time, “Go Habs Go.”
Know your competition - know your market
Art Smith CEO, OFVGA Recently I had the opportunity to attend the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) annual conference and Trade Show. Some will remember that I have written about this conference in the past and that I believe every fruit and vegetable producer should attend the trade show at least once to see first hand what the competition is bringing to the market place. Even though greenhouse vegetable producers are well into their marketing season and others such as asparagus producers are nearly finished theirs, it is still, I believe appropriate to visit the topic of marketing. The science of marketing is far too extensive to be covered thoroughly in this column, however I will discuss a few key messages that many of you already know but that were driven home at the trade show. 1) Quality In a world of global trade there is no place for anything less than
your best. While most growers know and practice this there are unfortunately some who do not and when this happens the entire Ontario brand gets tarnished. It’s not that producers in other countries don’t have seconds or blemished products; it’s that they typically don’t send those products here to our market place and we can’t afford to either. Think about it, Why would producers in other parts of the world take a chance on sending produce that is not up to grade, pay the transportation and risk having it rejected . . . They don’t. The product we see in our grocery stores is usually the best the world has to offer and we need to compete with that; there is no room for mediocrity. I believe we compete more for the consumer dollar than we do with like product, it is not like the old days when choice was limited, today there is an amazing array of product that affords consumers all the choice they can imagine. The year round supply of fresh fruits and vegetables has taken much of the anticipation and longing out of the market place. People do not need to wait for OUR season. They have options so when we are in season we need to be at our best. 2) Packaging One of the benefits of attending the Trade Show is that you also get to see first hand the newest trends in packaging style, packaging material and traceability mechanisms. I believe that as a sector we have much to learn here. Again many of our producers are already doing a good job --it’s just not
consistent across the sector. How often are you as the consumer drawn to a new and innovative package perhaps picking it up, looking at it and saying wow that’s neat; you were drawn to it, you
Have you had your food safety audit done? If not, you jeopardize being able to sell your product. Retailers more and more are demanding proof that you as a farmer have successfully complet-
picked it up; now isn’t that what you want consumers to do with your product? The package is often the first thing the consumer sees and we all know the importance of a good first impression. Also food safety concerns are paramount with many consumers so an enclosed package means the produce has not been touched or mauled by consumers; it also means less pilferage and this of course is extremely important to the retailer. Obviously different produce requires different packaging but regardless it is extremely important. You ignore it at your own peril. As producers we must be innovative and we must stay ahead of the curve; we need to be leaders not followers. 3) Food Safety
ed a certified food safety audit. It’s all about liability and nobody wants to assume any more than they have to. By completing the audit you are showing that you are both responsible and have done your part to ensure the safety of produce coming from your farm. By doing the audit you are performing a service or benefit for the retailer and while they may not pay you to do it they may prevent you from having access to the market if you don’t. 4) New Crops One of the business sessions at CPMA was about the shift in Canadian demographics and in particular the increase in the number of people from eastern countries who have settled in Vancouver, Montreal and the Greater Toronto Area. The growth in our population is largely due to immi-
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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
gration as opposed to an increase in the birth rate and that immigration has significantly shifted away from Europe to near and far eastern countries. While some see the changing demographics as a challenge (folks who do not eat what we have traditionally grown) I prefer to see it as an opportunity to produce new crops that meet the taste demands of new Canadians. In addition, these folks tend to be concentrated in the three areas mentioned above which should certainly help in our marketing efforts. These people too are looking to support local farmers but we need to grow what they want. This shift in demographics is why the OFVGA got involved with the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre to commence work on identifying, growing and marketing these new crops. Our key to success will be in understanding the needs of new Canadians and meeting the demands of this growing market. As I have stated before, I think every producer should attend this trade show, even if it is only once. You will get to see first hand what your competition is all about; you will see the vast array of product availability to Canadian consumers and how tough the competition is for their dollar. I believe that the trick to successful marketing lies in the understanding that the consumer does not need you but rather you need them. 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
JUNE 2010 –– PAGE 9 THE GROWER
Government “help” to the food industry By Kevin Grier, Senior Market Analyst Editor’s Note: This article is excerpted from Kevin Grier’s think piece issued May 6, 2010. For the full version, please go to the George Morris Centre website: www.georgemorris.org. Governments have always been active in providing incentives toward business investment. During this most recent recession, governments have taken the position that spending in the form of grants or loans to businesses will help to stimulate the economy. At the federal level, these efforts tend to be grouped under Canada’s Economic Action Plan (CEAP). All sectors of the economy tend to be targets, but particularly manufacturing, within which the food industry is often a strong focal point. Governments at both the federal and provincial levels have been much more active recently in providing financial assistance to food and meat processing. The plethora of media releases and spending announcements has prompted my assessment of the objectives and challenges associated with government “help” to the food industry. Generally, the current funding thrust positions governments as
helping firms or industries succeed in varying ways. Absent from these efforts, however, are formal requests or demands by industry, particularly the Canadian food industry, for grants or loans or any other form of financial assistance from government. The food industry has never put forward proposals to government saying, “What we need is a financial assistance program to help us accomplish.” This paper argues that the Canadian food and meat processing industries do not need government financial assistance to succeed. In fact, financial assistance can be counterproductive. This does not mean, however, that the government doesn’t have a role in the success or failure of industry. What industry needs most is for government to create a favourable business climate. In several cases, this means removing barriers, many of which government has imposed on the industry. Program Objective: Competitiveness Back in the 90s, Bill Clinton was the first to use the term “investment” when describing government spending. The premise, of course, is that if it is an investment, then there is something in return instead of just typi-
cal government spending. It appears our federal and provincial governments have recently latched onto that Clinton-speak misnomer in a robust way. In Ontario, funding has typically funneled through a 2001 program called the Rural Economic Development Program (RED), with the government website stating that it is necessary because “in today's economic climate, we can no longer rely on our traditional strengths and advantages to stay competitive in the global market.” Why we cannot rely on our “traditional strengths” is left unsaid, but we must assume that it is a given in “today’s economic climate.” This seems like a circular way of making a case. Based on the flurry of grants for this program and others, it seems food processing is a current top priority. Companies could receive up to a 50 per cent grant to reimburse costs that are actual cash outlays to third parties. Spending Initiatives Within the competitiveness context, it is interesting to see where the money is going. The Ontario government has been active lately in providing grants to small food processors, for example, the recent grant for “New Artisan Cheese Production
in Stratford.” In fact, for some reason, cheese suddenly seems to be a big priority in Ontario. There are cheese makers in Bruce County, Madoc, Plainfield, Milford, Northumberland, and PrescottRussell (if you want to count cream cheese) who have been awarded funding in the last two months alone. Another is a recent announcement of the “Sweet Expansion Opportunity for Ontario Cookie Company.” In this case, the Ontario government cheekily noted that “The sweet smell of expansion is in the air for Hollandia Bakeries, thanks in part to provincial funding.” These are examples of the colourful, if not confusing, types of spending that governments have been undertaking in the food industry in 2010 alone. The programs are supposed to be about competitiveness and growth. The fact is, however, that any spending or “investment” can be argued as an aid to competitiveness. The Real Challenge The competitiveness angle is particularly ironic given that government is often a key culprit when the Canadian food industry, and in particular the meat industry, is struggling competitively. This is an industry that is saddled with
higher taxes, regulations, and inspection fees than key competitors, particularly the United States. If governments are to be taken seriously in their stated aims at improving competitiveness, they need to address key areas where they are part of the competitiveness problem. At the very least, there need to be links between the grants/loans and other public policy objectives in the sector. In that regard, it is worth revisiting some of the recommendations from the 2006 George Morris Centre Agri-Products Policy project. One recommendation was to reform the regulatory system, arguing that no amount of tax relief encourages investment when the regulatory system offsets any tax advantages. The paper also strongly noted that “no one is arguing for low regulatory standards. The overwhelming perception by most people in the agri-products sector is that high standards assist in differentiation.” Areas where government really needs to act often require difficult choices or upsetting the status quo. The real actions that can actually improve competitiveness are not as enjoyable as having a minister hand out a cheque or cut a ribbon. Nevertheless, they are far more useful and constructive.
NEWS
MPP Bailey introduces a bill to fight hunger with local food On May 19, Bob Bailey, Ontario MPP for Sarnia-Lambton, introduced a private member’s bill entitled the ‘Taxation Amendment Act (Food Bank Donation Tax Credit for Farmers), 2010’, that, if passed, will provide a significant tax credit to farmers who donate their unsold produce and other excess food. Under his proposal, the Ontario government would grant a nonrefundable tax credit worth 25 per cent of the wholesale value of donated agricultural products to farmers who choose to donate
their produce to local food banks. The bill would also permit unused tax credits to be carried forward and deducted for up to five years. While food banks struggle to provide to those in need, Ontario farmers, who are also struggling, dispose of or plough back into their fields, more than 25 million pounds of fresh, nutritious food. The unfortunate fact is that farmers often cannot afford the costs incurred to collect, process, and deliver unsold produce to local food banks despite a clear desire in the industry to do so.
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PAGE 10 –– JUNE 2010 THE GROWER
Where potato planting is risky business
Owen Roberts University of Guelph Planting season in Ontario is usually a game of chance with the weather. Sometimes you win, like this year, and sometimes you don’t, like last spring which was wet, cold and miserable. Indeed, planting can get downright uncomfortable. But with the normal adherence to farm safety, you’d seldom call it dangerous. However, it’s different elsewhere. Take Passchendaele, for example, in northern Belgium, site of this year’s International Federation of Agricultural Journalists’ congress, in which I participated earlier this spring. There, more than 90 years ago, Passchendaele was one of the major battlegrounds of World War I. And as in the rest of what’s called the Westhoek, the western part of West
Flanders, planting season still means being on the lookout for the most grave of pests: long-forgotten bombs. From 1914-18, soldiers from 30 nations turned this gently rolling farmland into a moonscape, inching forward and backward in trench warfare. They lobbed literally millions of bombs at each other, leveling everything in sight and stripping the land. But the field conditions were so muddy than an estimated one in three bombs failed to explode on impact, sinking deep into the ground. That meant when the war was over, as many as 500,000 bombs were still live, in what had been a relatively tiny, highly contested area just eight kilometres deep and 20 kilometres long. And it’s still there. It’s benign most of the year. But when farmers till, trench or mound the soil, things can turn nasty. Despite the bombs’ age, some of them explode when a farmer unwittingly runs up against one, running over it with a tractor, for example, or burning refuse on top of one. Luk Delva, a hearty 60-something farmer, grows potatoes, sugar beets and winter wheat, and raises 1,200 pigs on 60 hectares of land that used to be the front line. “If you’re scared to find a bomb, you can’t be a farmer in this
region,” he says through interpreter Karolien Cools, an articulate agricultural engineer who works as an extension specialist for one of the farmers’ unions here. “A bomb sounds like a big rock going through your machinery, seizing it up. If I’m on my tractor in the field and I hear a big bang, if it doesn't blow, I say to myself I’m lucky this time.” Adds Cools: “This is a reminder that we still can be a victim of the Great War. We are so used to finding bombs that we don’t see it as special. In fact, it would be special if one season we didn't find a bomb.” Lately, Delva has a new worry. Crater-like sinkholes are appearing on his farm and other farms nearby. Wood supporting the solders' abandoned and still-hidden tunnels is rotting, causing them to cave in. Delva shows journalists photos of one sinkhole that suddenly opened up into a crater, right next to a neighbouring farmer’s house. It led to a tunnel big enough to drive two tractors through, dozens of metres deep. When that happens, a bevy of government officials arrive onsite to check for armament caches, as well as for the soundness of the still-hidden parts of the site. They map it, and trace it through. Sinkholes have led to trenches two
kilometres long. The day journalists visited the Delva farm, a harvest table full of armaments retrieved during spring planting was on display. Ultimately, the army will come and get
them. But meanwhile, they'll serve as a daily reminder that during planting season in Belgium, you pray for more than clear skies . . . you pray for your life.
Belgian potato farmer Luk Delva still finds live shells when he plants. Photo by Karen Simon.
Source Water Protection: Where we are today
Lilian Schaer AGCare This spring marked the 10th anniversary of the Walkerton water tragedy that left seven people dead and sickened thousands more when the town’s drinking water supply became contaminated with E. coli O157: H7. The resulting fallout from the crisis left its mark on the rules and regulations governing water in this province and, in turn, anyone who uses that water. Dr. John Fitzgibbon of the University of Guelph spoke about the latest developments with regards to source water protection at the AGCare annual general meeting held in Guelph earlier this spring. Source water protection is one element of a multi-barrier
approach to drinking water protection implemented by the Ontario government following the release of the O’Connor inquiry report into the Walkerton tragedy in 2002, an approach that also includes drinking water treatment, quality control in the distribution system and emergency response planning. The Clean Water Act, focused on well head and water intake protection, came into being in 2006, and since then, work on regulations and implementation has been ongoing. Regulations announced in 2008 divided the province into source protection areas and regions to be managed by local source water protection committees under the auspices of Conservation Authorities. Each source water protection committee has several members that represent the interests of agriculture at the table. Additional regulations governing assessment reports were released in 2009. An assessment report evaluates each watershed for significant drinking water threats and identifies any potential risks. Any affected landowners – those who have been identified as a significant threat – will be notified of this assessment by letter but according to Fitzgibbon, the quality and detail of these
letters varies according to municipality and watershed. Black holes Fitzgibbon said there are several “black holes” with respect to source water protection. For example, the assessment reports do not address the issues of mandatory requirements for the plans to deal with Great Lakes targets for phosphorous, which will have major implications for agriculture. Although this is currently being addressed through the Nutrient Management Act, there is the suggestion that no-till causes an increase in available phosphorous going into the Great Lakes. These targets have not been enunciated by the province as yet, he said, adding that there is concern that these targets will be based on provincial dictates without substantial data or public input. As well, the assessment reports do not deal with future water supply needs, yet source protection plans are required to address the protection of future water supply areas for both ground and surface water. To date, a total of 843 significant risks have been identified in eight areas. Fitzgibbon said the good news for farmers is that relatively few are agricultural and most reside within urban or settled
areas. These assessment reports are preliminary though, he stressed, and if your property has been identified as a significant risk, it has been done so through windshield surveys and air photo analysis. An individual site evaluation process will take place and to date, assessments have not been based on face-to-face or onsite inspections. According to the regulations, significant threats from agriculture include large livestock farms, manure, fuel and pesticide storages, septic systems, active, used and abandoned wells, and spreading of septage and biosolids. The real concern, said Fitzgibbon, is the possibility of inclusion of moderate and low drinking water threats in some form of regulatory framework. This isn’t advisable, he explained, because the number of affected properties will expand exponentially and become very costly very quickly. The Act requires that significant risks be monitored but the question is who will do this and who will pay for it. That must also be asked if this is extended to moderate or low risks, which he felt can reasonably be managed through a less costly permitting process. Major issues ahead Fitzgibbon sees a number of
problem areas looming as the source water protection process continues to unfold: • The need for compensation for management of the public interest in clean drinking water • Livestock/animal agriculture versus wildlife (like geese and gulls) and inadequate residential septic systems in the shore areas with respect to pathogens • Errors in assessment reports on managed lands e.g. livestock densities • Great Lakes targets especially regarding phosphorous and permits to take water Fitzgibbon encouraged all farmers to communicate their experiences with source water protection back to the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition (OFEC) – made up of AGCare, Ontario Farm Animal Council, Ontario Federation of Agriculture and Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario. This will allow for tracking of what is happening, he said, and the ability to raise persistent issues with the Minister on behalf of all Ontario agriculture. OFEC’s objective, he concluded, is not to frustrate source water protection but to ensure it is done well and is defensible. You can reach OFVC care of AGCare 519-837-1326 or agcare@agcare.org.
JUNE 2010 –– PAGE 11 THE GROWER
Greenhouse growers launch Oh-so-local campaign The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) want to remind Ontarians that they can find their local produce and have launched an “Oh-So-Local” transit advertising to remind consumers. The campaign, which was made possible through shared funding from the Ontario Market Investment Fund, started throughout the Greater Toronto Area and Ottawa on the interior of buses and subways, and on the back of buses. The campaign is to inform consumers that their local product is available now. The messaging:
‘Oh-So-Local, Request Ontario Greenhouse Freshness,’ is to remind consumers to be active shoppers and to request local if they do not see it on their store shelves. “We are running the campaign in the spring and fall so consumers know when greenhouse product is in season and when they should be able to find it at their local grocer,” said George Gilvesy, OGVG General Manager. “Since we grow in greenhouses, fresh Ontario tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers can be found earlier and later in
the year.” Ontario greenhouse tomatoes and peppers are abundantly found March-November, while seedless and mini cucumbers can be found year-round.
Did you know? The average Canadian household spends 24.7 per cent of total food expenditures on foodservice compared to 43.5 per cent in American households.
Do you discharge your wash water? By George Shearer You call it waste/wash water. The Ministry of the Environment calls it sewage and the Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA) and the Building Code requires that all sewage discharges must be approved by a Certificate of Approval (C of A) issued by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) or your municipality. So what does this mean? Any waste water resulting from washing your produce will require an approval to discharge the water to either the land or water. What happens if you don’t have an approval? If an environmental officer from the MOE shows up at your door and you are washing your produce without an approval they will issue you a stop order and you will have to stop discharging your water until your receive the approval. This can have serious implications to your operations and meeting your commitments to supply your produce as the approvals process can take several months. What requires approval? Everything that discharges sewage/waste/wash water requires approval unless specifically exempted. Any system that discharges into something other than a surface water or groundwater receiver does not require an approval. However, the receiver of such a discharge, for example, a holding tank or a haulage system, does require an approval. So you need an approval one way or another to dispose of your waste/wash water. The way it works is that if you discharge less than 10,000 l/day to a groundwater receiver then you need an approval through the Building Code. If you discharge greater than 10,000 l/day or to any surface water feature regardless of the amount you need a C of A under section 53 of the OWRA. What should I do before I apply for an approval? Ensure that you know what kind of sewage disposal system you need or have and whether it requires approval under s. 53 of the OWRA or the Building Code. Pre-application consultation should be undertaken with staff at the local MOE office and any other government offices or agencies that may have an interest or responsibility associated with the
facility for which you are seeking approval. For information about approvals for small septic systems, please contact the municipality, Local Health Unit, Township
Office, or body delegated to be the authority. For information about approvals through section 53 of the Ontario Water Resources Act contact the MOE at the following:
Ministry of the Environment Toll Free: 1-800-461-6290 Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch Phone: 416-314-8001 2 St. Clair Ave W, Floor 12A
Fax: 416-314-8452 Toronto, ON M4V 1L5 Email: EAABGen@ene.gov.on.ca Website: www.ene.gov.on.ca George Shearer is the surface water specialist for OFVGA.
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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.
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PAGE 12 –– JUNE 2010 THE GROWER
Slow down for effective orchard spraying By Dr. Jason S. T. Deveau, OMAFRA application technology specialist This year’s spray recommendations for orchards are based on best management practices plus a 2009 survey with 57 Ontario respondents. Signficant apple scab disease prompted Ontario’s Apple Team to issue a survey to isolate the reasons. Our conclusions? First, more frequent calibration and nozzle replacement will improve spray accuracy. Second, slower forward speeds and the omission of alternate row applications from the spray program will improve deposition uniformity. Third, while not part of the survey, application timing may be the highest priority. Be sure to follow Integrated Pest Management (IPM) protocols.
Alternate row spraying This only works under very specific circumstances and always compromises coverage. Do so at your own risk.
Average forward speed during spraying Average speed should be five kilometers or less to improve canopy penetration and deposition uniformity. Driving faster may be warranted earlier in the season.
Per cent of pesticide label rate applied Certain product rates can be reduced where smaller, sparser canopies warrant it. Always maintain label concentration. This is at your own risk and it requires skilful application. Try a small test plot first, scout intensively and be prepared to return to full rates.
Spray calibration Sprayers should be calibrated, at minimum, twice per year. Once at the start of the season and once around one-inch fruit. Never rely on factory settings.
Nozzle replacement schedule Nozzles used for an entire season should be replaced annually. If ceramic, or only used for part of a season, they can last up to two years. Check every nozzle’s output individually. Even brand new nozzles may be out as much as 15 per cent.
Change sprayer settings to match your target: Turn off nozzles that spray above or below the canopy. Reduce fan speed early in the season. Use deflectors to aim spray into the crop. Reconsider all settings as the trees grow and fill in over the season.
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JUNE 2010 –– PAGE 13 THE GROWER
To be or not to be a soybean By Lilian Schaer It’s grown like a soybean but harvested like a vegetable crop. A niche market for Ontario-grown edamame could be one with potential, say industry experts, but there are still a lot of unanswered questions about how it can best be grown here. “We grow a lot of soybeans in Ontario so we know we can meet the plant’s needs,” says Elaine Roddy, Vegetable Crops Specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). “There’s potential, but with edamame it’s a matter of finding the right variety for what we have here.” Edamame, a succulent soybean, is a staple in some Asian diets and is growing in popularity with Western consumers. Planted and grown like a regular soybean crop, edamame is harvested when the plant has reached the R7 stage – still green and at the peak of its sugar levels, which results in optimum flavour. However, most existing commercial edamame varieties have been developed in Asia and are best suited to the climate in that part of the world. This means that research is needed in order to determine which varieties will do well here in Canada. That’s where soybean breeder Dr. Vaino Poysa and the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research station at Harrow, Ontario come in. The station is running a small amount of edamame research alongside its food grade soybean program, focusing on plant performance and, more importantly, taste. In order for edamame to have the best flavour, it must be harvested when the sucrose and amino acid levels in the beans are at their peak. This is a very short time span, often only a few days. “With edamame, you want a sweet, nutty flavour that comes
from the sucrose and amino acids in the plant. There are considerable differences in taste and flavour across the varieties,” says Poysa, adding that the challenge is developing one that tastes good and grows well in Ontario’s climate and growing conditions. Existing edamame varieties are determinate, where all the soybean pods mature simultaneously. North American soybean varieties are indeterminate, meaning not all pods will be mature during that optimum harvest time. However, for small producers or for home consumption of edamame, Poysa says growers can use existing food grade soybeans like Harrovinton, as long as they grow a small enough acreage to be able to harvest the crop at the right time – half an acre to an acre. Even though it is a soybean, edamame cannot be added to existing soybean production without some specialized equipment, particularly for harvest. And, growers will need a market. Currently, edamame is sourced from China or Taiwan and is available at most Canadian food retail outlets in shelled or in-pod form or as part of vegetable mixes. President’s Choice has a branded, shelled product available. “This is a niche market. The plant is harvested in the pod at the green stage, which is not that easy when you’re working with a tender plant,” says Poysa. “If we can develop a line that is quite good, we can over time get some processors interested in it. I can see a few vegetable growers having edamame as a decent addition to a crop lineup if they have equipment or facilities already.” One grower who is definitely interested is Jason Persall of Waterford, Ontario. Persall, a fourth generation farmer, markets a line of 100 percent Canadian oils, wine vinegars, soya sauces and cooking wines under the
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“Pristine Gourmet” brand, as well as growing cash crop corn, wheat and soybeans. And this year, he is growing edamame for the first time. Persall is experimenting with at least a half a dozen varieties as part of his on-farm trials this year to determine the taste and ease of shelling for each one. He is also looking to identify yield, or pounds per acre, so he can establish a realistic price for his end product. “This is a relatively new crop for Ontario. We want to really concentrate at the beginning to find a variety that produces a great tasting product,” he says. “We’re a food company as well as a farm, so we have access into the market place and there’s a market waiting for it.” Persall is planning to hand harvest his edamame and sell it as a
fresh product with the pods still on the stems directly to high end Ontario restaurants and chefs, a market he says has been asking for Ontario-grown edamame. He’ll be working with a small group of chefs to gain their feedback to help evaluate the different varieties. “Chefs have told us they’re eager to source edamame locally and we’re excited about it,” he says. “There are a lot of things we can grow in this country but we don’t know how to market it.” Roddy agrees. Marketing is often the hardest part of breaking into a new crop, she says, adding that having consistent quality and being competitive is important, but it is hard to develop a market if a crop can be imported cheaper than it can be grown here. This is where Soy 20/20, an organization dedicated to expanding market opportunities for
Canadian soybeans, can help. The organization has been involved in analyzing the market potential for edamame, as well as fostering interest in the crop with growers and others in the sector. “There are new applications and uses for soybeans evolving constantly, but not every new market opportunity will be suited to all farmers,” says Jeff Schmalz, Soy 20/20’s President. “At Soy 20/20, we’re working on a diverse range of possibilities to give farmers market options to grow their businesses. Edamame is a great example of a new niche market.” Information on this year’s trial crop of edamame can be found on Pristine Gourmet’s Facebook page. Information is also available by contacting Soy 20/20 at 519-826-6559 or jschmalz@soy2020.ca.
Not a knife. Not a sword. Not a harpoon. Not a spear. Not a slingshot. Not a cannon. Not a booby trap. Not a karate chop. Not a light saber. Not a phaser. Not a torpedo. Not a missile. Not a stick of dynamite. Not a box of kryptonite. Nothing eliminates mites like KANEMITE.®
With growers having to comply with more sanitary measures, the use of plastic bins will soon become a necessity. Dubois Agrinovation has one solution as the distributor of Macro Plastic bins in Canada. These bins are made of copolymer polypropylene with U.V. stabilization, all materials are FDA-approved. The MacroBins are easy to sanitize, have nonporous surfaces with ventilation slots to reduce heat absorption, rounded corners, smooth surfaces, and are light weighted. There is no minimum order required. They can replace broken parts, get lids, runners, etc. To get more information, make sure to contact Dubois’ Waterford sales office at 519-443-4834 (toll free 1-800-8159929). You can also visit their website at www.DuboisAg.com. Delivery can be made everywhere in Canada.
KANEMITE® Miticide provides fast knockdown and excellent control of European red and two-spotted spider mites with a single rate of application in pome fruit. Plus, the unique mode of action makes it perfect for your resistance management program. So, next time you battle mites, make sure you use KANEMITE. To learn more, visit www.arystalifescience.ca/kanemiteca or call 1-866-761-9397 toll free.
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PAGE 14 –– JUNE 2010 THE GROWER
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Two crops: biomass above ground, carbon sequestration below ground By Karen Davidson If you produce biomass, you’ll care about carbon credits. The concept is still in infancy, however the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is working with commodity groups to see how a carbon aggregation system might work. Commodity organizations, including horticulture, recently met in Guelph to learn how a cap and trade system might work in Ontario. The graphic explains the basic tenets which are based on a Chicago Climate Exchange model. It’s early days says Charles Lalonde, consultant to the OFA on a carbon aggregation system for the province. Funded by a grant from the Agricultural Adaptation Council, he is researching and developing a business case that’s due in September. To date, preliminary workshops show that farmers are barely aware of the potential. In Alberta, a Green Fund and an Offset System already exists where large emitters can purchase carbon credits from farmers. Legislation just passed in Saskatchewan in late April to do
the same. For the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia, governments are discussing a protocol under the Western Climate Initiative. “Horticulture protocols will need to be developed in conjunction with the research community,” says Lalonde. To date, the Chicago Climate Exchange is a voluntary market with more supply than demand. Carbon credits are worth about $2/ton of sequestered carbon. In Alberta, carbon credits are trading at $13/ton while in Europe, values range from $20 to $30/ton. These credits are tallied on an annual basis. Growers will quickly realize that the system is based on best management practices. Third parties will need to verify that carbon has been sequestered. New companies or service organizations may become aggregators, auditing and verifying the credits. Lalonde predicts that the future policy debate will be focused on who claims the credits. In the case of a biodigester which produces electricity, will Ontario Power Generation collect the credits or will the farmer who reduces
It’s early days but this cap and trade system for carbon credits is one model under review for Ontario.
methane and carbon dioxide emissions? These are the kinds of policy and implementation issues to be negotiated.
OM
An official mark of the Ontario Power Authority.
“In the meantime, keep good records of your inputs, crop rotations and where the crops have been grown,” says Lalonde. “In
the next few years, those records might become the baseline for claiming carbon credits for your farm.”
JUNE 2010 –– PAGE 15 THE GROWER
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Miscanthus has power to reduce heating costs By Karen Davidson Miscanthus is a game-changer for greenhouse grower Dean Tiessen. The third-generation farmer at Leamington, Ontario is part of the family business known as Pyramid Farms. With a greenhouse gobbling up $87,000 per acre in heating costs in 2005, he had no choice but to experiment with other heating sources. Construction demolition waste and waste wood provided a temporary reprieve, driving costs down to $29,000 per acre. Again, those costs started to rise a couple years ago with unreliable supplies and even more inconsistent BTUs. Not every feedstock burns at the same rate. That’s when he discovered miscanthus, a fast-growing perennial grass with an agronomic track record in Europe. “Miscanthus is not unlike oil,” says Tiessen in a YouTube video, “but it can be grown without centuries of time. It can be refined into carbon for multi-uses.” Tiessen’s research led him to the genetics of miscanthus and a German firm that specializes in various species. Since 2008, he has set out research plots across Ontario, sampling varieties, propagating lines, testing harvesting and planting equipment. “Biomass is like any new crop,” he says. “We need to remove the inconsistencies so that other farmers will try it.” So confident is Tiessen of his trial data and European propagation partnership that he launched New Energy Farms in April 2010. The goal is to supply miscanthus genetics to other farmers who can then grow the grass for whatever market is local – animal bedding, pellets, bales. If needed, Tiessen is willing to act as an aggregator of farmer groups to exponentially increase miscanthus acreage. With a new office in Tifton Georgia, U.S. and the opening of a new site in Spain this summer, he anticipates that two million acres of energy crops will be established by New Energy Farms (www.newenergyfarms.com). In just weeks, he’s signed up 30 farming affiliates in the U.S. The acreage goal is based on home experience with 480 acres planted to miscanthus which yielded 1.6 million pounds of biomass in 2009. While that appears to be a large number, it represents just one-quarter of the greenhouse’s heating requirements. By 2012, Tiessen expects the crop to be well enough established to produce 125 per cent of his farm’s needs. With their own biomass fuel production Pyramid Farms will now further reduce their heating costs below $12,000 per acre and fix this cost for decades. With potential environmental benefits using green energy (Carbon Offset Production and Trading) on the horizon, Pyramid Farms anticipates that the heating of their greenhouses could actually
This is one of four New Energy Farms fully automated miscanthus rhizome planters. It has the ability to plant other species of crops such as Arundo Donax and Energy Cane. This machine has the capacity to plant 6070 acres in eight hours with one operator. One-of-a-kind in North America, it was jointly developed by a company in Europe and Pyramid Farms.
biomass for manufacture of plastics which form the base of electric toothbrushes. Farmers, there, are receiving $500 euros per ton selling miscanthus fibre. What’s attractive is the opportunity to sell locally with little chance that, yet again, the Chinese might drive down the price with cheaper biomass. Here in Canada, energy policies are driven more by politics than economics. At 80 cents per kilowatt under the Feed-in-Tariff program, solar power could not exist without subsidies. The same goes for wind power – totally dependent on a variable force. Miscanthus, on the other hand, uses photosynthesis to store carbon for another day. Tiessen says “Biomass is the only green sustainable alternative that can produce heat and power at a long term economical rate. If the biomass is produced locally it creates more jobs than other alternatives, not just today but for decades and puts much more money back into the communities it is produced in.”
“Miscanthus is not unlike oil. It can be grown without centuries of time. It can be refined into carbon for multi-uses.” - Dean Tiessen
This miscanthus bale was the first harvest from a August 2008 planted crop. Next year a 50 per cent increase in yield (12 tonnes of dry matter per acre) is anticipated due to the crop reaching maturity. The best way to understand the zeal for miscanthus is to view YouTube’s video. Google Dean Tiessen: Biomass Production for Energy. become a small revenue source instead of an expense. The average Ontario greenhouse vegetable producer spends 30-40 per cent of their operating expenses on energy to heat their greenhouses which has made them very vulnerable in the past. There’s some symmetry in using ancient feedstocks to grow heirloom tomatoes for a local market. Even miscanthus fibres have been tested as a growing media in the hydroponic greenhouse and are now effective-
ly replacing coconut husks which used to be imported from Malaysia. This “grow local, sell global” business model is not new for Canadian farmers who have perfected the art in both plant and animal genetics. Think canola and Holsteins. The speed at which Tiessen has developed the business plan speaks to the quickly changing dynamics of green energy policies. In Europe, Swissgrown miscanthus is sold as
More importantly, like many agricultural commodities being produced today, the new feedstock will produce new second generation products that will push rural economies into the future. We cannot ignore this part of the opportunity. “ “In the next century, we have to balance food and fuel,” says Tiessen. “Miscanthus provides a local opportunity to build robust networks, a cooperative approach, that’s not threatened by cheap imports from the Chinese.” Tomatoes used to be Tiessen’s product. The search for a cheaper energy input has turned into the bigger business opportunity, a template for new energy farms.
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PAGE 16 –– JUNE 2010 THE GROWER
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Could biomass fuel Nanticoke?
By Karen Davidson Timelines are tight - politically, economically and agronomically – to convert Nanticoke’s coal-powered generation station to another fuel by 2014. Can biomass be the answer? For the sand plains in the local vicinity, transition can’t come fast enough to replace tobacco with other pursuits. Third-generation tobacco grower Deb Gilvesy grew her last leaf in 2008 and is convinced that the blend of switchgrass, big blue stem and Indian grass has the pedigree of a viable biomass alternative. To reach that goal, she and other local growers formed the South Coast Grow Me Green Energy Association in October 2009 to lobby for bridge finances for tall grass prairie. Because it takes at least three years before the grass can be harvested, it’s a long time to wait for a pay cheque. In the meantime, Gilvesy spreads the story of what tall grass prairie is. “It’s native to Ontario, drought- and disease-resistant and doesn’t need irrigation,” explains Gilvesy. “It’s noninvasive, doesn’t threaten the delicate marketplace of existing vegetable operations and fits well with current farm sizes of 125 to 150 acres.” Many farmers are more familiar with forage crops, but a more in-depth view shows that the roots grow 12 to 14 feet deep, sequestering carbon deep into the soil. She’s already planted 26 acres on her farm, providing habitat for birds and other species. To date, more than 300 acres have been established under the Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) program in Norfolk County, which incidentally has the second-highest rate of unemployment in
Tall grass prairie: a blend of switchgrass, big blue stem and Indian grass. Ontario after Windsor. While it’s not a take-home-to-thebank crop yet, the key yield figure is that tall grass prairie can produce five to seven tons of biomass per acre per year, while sequestering carbon at the rate of 1.8 tons per acre per year. “Grow Me Green would like to establish 500 additional acres of tall grass prairie in the spring of 2010,” says Gilvesy. “These acres would be efficient in research and
development, both in growing the grass, increasing yields and in pelleting.” Tall grass prairie has several end uses such as cellulosic ethanol, biogas, livestock bedding or fiber for the automotive industry. The next critical step is to develop a pelleting operation that can convert the seven-foot tall grasses into a transportable, burnable commodity. Despite intensive lobby efforts and a number of applications for funding, no monies have been earmarked for the project to date. “Without action, we will lose the biggest asset we have,” says Gilvesy. “Not the land itself but the knowledge, the experience, the innovation, the heart and soul of the people in order to achieve a once-in-a-lifetime chance to redefine an entire region for the benefit of all society.” The provincial government, along with Ontario Power Generation, has established a working committee to help steer the development of biomass as a potential fuel source for the Nanticoke power generating facility along with others. Information on its progress can be found at www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/biomass/pres_opg _jan11.htm. Ontario Power Generation represents the largest end user for biomass pellets, but others, such as Lafarge Cement Company, residential users, greenhouse vegetable growers and institutions such as hospitals and schools will have the opportunity to use biomass for heat and electricity generation. “We are very supportive of efforts like the South Coast Grow Me Green Energy Association, as it opens up new opportunities for agriculture producers in south central Ontario and elsewhere,” says John Kelly, Vice-President Erie Innovation and Commercialization. “Once biomass as a fuel source is accepted, it will lead to a sustainable agricultural development for the region. There is still a lot of work to do however.”
Program can help make farm buildings high performance Ontario farmers and other owners of agribusinesses are keenly aware of the need to control the costs of production. Construction of new facilities offers a unique opportunity to “build it better” – by taking advantage of new energy-efficient technologies that cost less when they are incorporated from day one and keep delivering energy and cost savings year after year. Now there is a way to reduce the initial cost of investing in energy efficiency even more. The Ontario Power Authority’s High Performance New Construction Program (HPNC) was launched in 2008 to provide incentives for businesses to reduce their power demands. The goal is for the
program to eliminate 50 megawatts of peak electricity demand across the province by the end of 2012. This program is a great opportunity for agribusinesses to include energy-saving measures in the design and construction of new facilities – whether it’s a barn, maintenance shop, milling or processing centre, storage building, greenhouse or other structure related to agricultural production. Significant renovations of existing facilities can also qualify for incentives.1 The HPNC is very easy to access. It offers two streams – a “prescriptive” and a “custom.” What this means is that applicants
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can choose from a menu of pre-approved technologies with proven electricity savings or submit a project with a customized set of efficiency upgrades to apply for an incentive based on modeled electricity demand savings. Qualifying applicants receive $250 for every verified kilowatt saved when they select from the list of pre-approved, “prescriptive” technologies and incorporate them in their building project.2 The list of pre-approved technologies includes many of the most important energy-saving opportunities in agricultural production: • standard prescriptive lighting measures – ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent light bulbs, highperformance T-8 fixtures, T-5 fixtures, metal halide lamps and ballasts (meeting ANSI #M154 standard), and commercial-grade occupancy sensors • barn-specific prescriptives – energy efficient lighting, recirculation ventilation, creep heat pads, high-temperature
cutout thermostats, creep heat controllers, low-energy livestock waterers, and photocell and timer combinations to minimize daytime lighting operation • natural exhaust ventilation and dual ventilation systems – across a range of applications including poultry, livestock and dairy operations as well as greenhouses. Many of these measures not only lower energy costs but also enhance the comfort and health of farm animals and/or the quality of produce. Enbridge Gas Distribution is delivering this program with help from Union Gas, and it is available across Ontario. Since the program goal is to reduce peak electricity demand, applicants don’t have to use natural gas in their construction projects to qualify. For those who are planning to use natural gas in new construction, however, there are opportunities to apply for added incentives through natural gas utility programs. The HPNC program has
already proved popular with agricultural businesses. This sector accounted for 25 per cent of applications and 30 per cent of savings in the program’s prescriptive stream as of early 2010. Agribusinesses planning new construction or major renovations still have time to apply to this program. HPNC program applications will be accepted for approval through to October 2010, and projects must be completed, evaluated and delivering energy savings by December 2012. Some other rules and conditions apply. Application forms as well as more information on project eligibility can be obtained from the HPNC website at www.hpnc.ca or by calling 1-888-OPA-HPNC (1-888-6724762). 1 A renovation must involve replacing at least two major building systems and involve shutdown of the building for at least 30 days. 2 A prescriptive project must be eligible for a minimum of $1,000 in incentives.
JUNE 2010 –– PAGE 17 THE GROWER
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Alternative commerce: trading nutrients By Karen Davidson Being easily understood is something that has never come easy for Chris Bush. As a grade five student at Winger Elementary School in Wainfleet, Ontario, Chris’s take on education was so different from his teacher’s that the School Board psychologist was called in. Fast forward to a field in the Fraser Valley in British Columbia where, on a brilliant day in May, he is standing on some of the highest production value per acre land in Canada. Behind him, instead of crops, his farm sprouts the first anaerobic digester facility for B.C. agriculture and the first in Canada to produce and sell renewable natural gas (RNG) for the consumer market. In the final stages of construction, the facility is scheduled to start delivering biomethane into Terasen Gas Inc.’s local pipeline in July of this year. “I accept the skepticism,” admits Bush. “Producing biogas for RNG usage, as opposed to electricity, is a radical shift in thinking but with 95 per cent of the output of the digester being converted directly to the pipeline, Catalyst Power’s business model will overcome the skeptics.” And his outside-the-box approach doesn’t end with the end product.
require large tracts of land for their nutrient management plans. Because the raw manure can not be spread on potato fields, farmers must often truck that manure great distances. We can convert the manure to excellent potato fertilizer and be part of closing the loop – farmers trading benefits with farmers.” And with consumers it would seem. Catalyst Power also has an agreement with BioFert Manufacturing Inc. in Langley, B.C. to sell the remaining digestate as feedstock for their organic fertilizer production. Bush refers to these spin-offs as digester “extensions” and is constantly looking for new ways to plug into other farm-based business. And still another example of Bush’s continuous loop theory is the CO2 that needs to be
“scrubbed” from biogas to produce market grade biomethane. There are plans to either sell the
CO2 as nutrient to existing greenhouse farms or build a greenhouse operation right at the facility, an
idea that really doesn’t seem all that loopy on second thought.
The sensitive “air shed” in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley is protected by an anaerobic digester using livestock manure to produce renewable natural gas.
“Producing biogas for renewable natural gas usage, as opposed to electricity, is a radical shift in thinking.” - Chris Bush Although capturing biogas is not new to livestock farmers, some using the digester byproduct to heat their facilities, the size and location of this operation is. At an anticipated equivalent output of 1.8 megawatts per year, the facility is larger than typical, but here again that’s by design. Bush believes that by capitalizing on the efficiency of selling biomethane instead of electricity, Catalyst Power can build more semi-centralized plants closer to feedstock sources. In this case that means 1000 dairy cows, 450,000 broilers, and 80,000 laying hens, all within 2.5 kilometers. The waste from these farms will be supplemented by non-farm material to provide the 130 tons of manure, FOG (fat, oil, and grease), and DAF (dissolved air flotation) cake required annually to feed the digester. Eliminating the need to truck farm waste long distances to sustainably create alternative energy is not the only benefit Bush is looking to provide. His waste supply agreements return half of the digestate (the residual undigested biomass) to the farms as nutrient. “We are in a very sensitive air shed,” says Bush, looking out at the intensive agriculture around him where blueberry, poultry, potato, and other types of farms operate cheek to jowl. Some crops, such as potatoes, require crop rotation for natural disease prevention and livestock farms
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PAGE 18 –– JUNE 2010 THE GROWER
Clubroot of cole crop vegetables By Michael Celetti, Plant Pathologist, Horticulture Crops Program Lead, OMAFRA, University of Guelph. Clubroot is considered one of the most persistent and significant disease threats in many brassica, cruciferous or sometimes referred to as cole crop growing regions around the world. In severely infested fields the disease can cause on average, more than 50 per cent reduction in overall returns depending on the crop and the level of infestation. Although the disease has been studied intensively over the past century, many aspects of its biology and control remain somewhat elusive. Recently the disease has been discovered infecting canola crops in western Canada. This resurgence of the disease has sparked interest among scientists, farmers as well as the private and public sector including the gas, oil, transportation and construction industries due to the potential of
spreading the disease in infested soil adhering to equipment that can travel long distances. The disease is caused by the soilborne fungal-like organism Plasmodiophora brassicae which is closely related to slime molds and protozoa. The clubroot pathogen can persist in soil as a resting spore for more than 20 years which makes it challenging for growers to manage once the disease becomes established in a field. The incidence and severity of clubroot tends to be worse in acidic soils and increases when the soil moisture approaches saturation and the temperature rises above 20oC. All related plants in the cruciferous family such as, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, radish, canola, turnip, rutabaga, mustard etc. or related weeds such as shepherd’s purse, mustards and stinkweed are thought to be susceptible to infection by the clubroot pathogen. There is evidence that the pathogen may infect and
survive in unrelated weed hosts including some grassy weeds. Clubroot causes obvious clublike symptoms of swelling and gall formation on infected roots. The colour, texture, number and size of the galls depends upon the time of infection and root exposure to the pathogen. Plants with large galls at harvest were most likely infected at seedling stage, where as plants with small galls were probably exposed and infected by the pathogen at a later growth stage. Younger galls are often white and firm, however; as they age and mature, they turn brown and begin to decay. The degradation of the galls releases the persistent resting spore into the soil. Regardless, once the galls begin to form on infected plants, the resources taken up by the plant are almost entirely diverted to the growth of the galls. As a result infected plants do not grow much and appear stunted. Leaves of infected plants appear small with a bluish
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Figure 1. Leaves of infected plants appear small with a bluish green tinge and often appear wilted due to the restriction of water and nutrient uptake caused by the gall formation green tinge and often appear wilt- fields should never be spread onto ed due to the restriction of water clean fields. Liming soil to and nutrient uptake caused by the increase the pH above 7.2 will gall formation (Figure 1). Above have some effect since the disease ground symptoms are often con- is more severe in acidic soils, fused with a lack of water or a however, this will only work when nutrient deficiency and therefore, soils are slightly infested. Increassuspect plants should be dug up ing the pH of heavily infested soil and the roots observed for galls does not control the disease suffiand swellings. ciently to be economical. FurtherThe disease can be introduced more, the type and amount of lime into a field on contaminant on seed to bring soil pH above 7.2 may not and transplants. Recently, the be economical for some acidic clubroot pathogen was identified soils. Appling lime as a spot treatin peat-moss used to grow trans- ment to limited areas or patches of plants of susceptible crops which clubroot may be economical in poses a risk for vegetable cole some fields. Agricultural and crop transplant and field growers. dolomitic limes are released slowResearch has shown that the rest- ly and should be applied in the fall ing spores in infected crops fed to to provide enough time for the livestock as fodder can withstand desirable increase in soil pH to and survive the digestive system occur. A three to five-year crop of livestock and be introduced into rotation has been found to reduce clean fields through the use of the potential of the clubroot from contaminated manure from the becoming established in a field animals fed the infected crop. particularly in fields with low levOnce it becomes established in a els of the pathogen. Both corn and field, the pathogen cannot spread alfalfa have been found to reduce very far on its own since the dis- the clubroot pathogen population tance the mobile microscopic particularly in fields with low levswimming spores can travel is lim- els of the pathogen and should be ited. The disease is primarily included in the rotation. Trap spread from field to field with crops have also been found to movement of infested soil on farm reduce soil population. Planting a equipment, and within fields susceptible trap crop, allowing it through the movement of soil on to become infected by the equipment or by wind and water pathogen and then killing the trap erosion. crop, after growing for approxiAvoiding the introduction of mately five to six weeks, before this disease into clean fields the pathogen can reproduce should be the primary focus of requires precise timing. Unfortucole crop vegetable growers. Cole nately if the trap crop is left in the crop vegetables should be grown ground too long, the pathogen in fields that are well drained and population may increase resulting free of the pathogen when in a worse situation. Subsoiling or possible. Transplants should be deep cultivation has also been carefully inspected and diseased found to reduce the levels of infesseedlings discarded appropriately tation in clubroot infested fields before planting in the field. All since the pathogen only tends to field implements, equipment, survive in the top soil layer. machinery and tools should be Recently the fungicide Allegro washed prior to moving from one 500F has been registered for confield to another to reduce the trol of clubroot on vegetable cole potential spread of this disease. crops either as a pre-transplant Management of the clubroot treatment or as a transplant treatpathogen requires an integrated ment. Quintozene 75WP, Crusoe approach. Although there are 75WP and Adobe 75WP have also some resistant or tolerant varieties been registered for the control of of a few cole crop vegetable hosts, clubroot in several vegetable cole resistant varieties are not necessar- crops. However, success with ily adaptable under Ontario condi- using a fungicide to control a pertions and more work in breeding sistent disease such as clubroot resistance is required. Controlling will depend on integrating it with susceptible cruciferous weeds is other disease management techvery important in an integrated niques and should not be relied disease management strategy. upon alone. Culled vegetables from infested
JUNE 2010 –– PAGE 19 THE GROWER
Postharvest handling and storage of asparagus By Dr. Jennifer DeEll, Fresh Market Quality Program Lead, OMAFRA Maintaining the quality of fresh asparagus depends on proper postharvest handling, transportation and storage. Postharvest quality begins in the field. Asparagus spears are harvested as they emerge through the soil from the underground crowns. Spears are typically cut when they reach approximately nine inches, but could range from seven to 12 inches. In contrast to some consumer perceptions, stalk diameter is not a good indicator of proper maturity and associated tenderness. Good quality fresh asparagus will be dark green and firm, with compact tightly closed tips. Stalks should be straight, tender, and glossy in appearance. Asparagus should be cooled to 0oC immediately after harvest. Rapid hydrocooling soon after harvest is highly recommended. Cold water is an effective method for quickly cooling a wide range of vegetables in container or bulk. Hydrocoolers use either an immersion or a shower system to bring products in contact with the water. Hydrocooling avoids product water loss and may even add water to a slightly wilted product. Results from trials in Ontario several years ago (DeEll and Roddy, 2002) showed that cooling delays (one to four hours) resulted
in lower firmness, appearance, and tip and butt condition ratings of asparagus during storage. Spears with four hours of delay also had substantially more rot after storage, as well as some visual deterioration (e.g. withering and pitting). Location of the cooling delay also had an effect, as spears held inside the packinghouse (1621oC) for the delay had higher
quality ratings than those held outside in the field (21-28oC). Incidence of rot was greater in asparagus held outside for the delay. In these same trials, spears held outdoors in the sunshine for four hours prior to packing and cold storage, continuously lost weight during this time. Spears had 4.3 per cent weight loss while outside,
plus an additional 1.2 per cent loss while in the packinghouse, prior to cold storage. Some weight (but not all) was regained after packing in the standard box, with moisture pads and spraying of water. The storage life of asparagus can last up to three weeks in very high relative humidity (95-100 per cent) at 0oC. High humidity is essential to prevent desiccation and loss of glossiness. Drying of the butt ends represents poor quality. Therefore, upright spears are often held with the butt ends in contact with wet moisture pads or in trays of water. Asparagus will continue to grow after harvest and the tips will bend away from gravity or with deflection from the packaging. Spear toughening (lignification) is accelerated by the presence of ethylene and it develops rapidly at temperatures above 10oC. Tip breakage and bruising can occur from rough handling and this can cause toughening from the wound ethylene produced. Sensitivity to chilling may develop after 10 days at 0oC. Symptoms of chilling injury include loss of glossiness, graying of the tips, and/or a wilted appearance. Severe chilling injury may appear as darkened spots or streaks near the tips. Freezing injury will likely occur at -0.6oC or lower, which leads to watersoaked appearance and extreme
softening. The most prominent postharvest disease issue in asparagus is bacterial soft rot, caused by Erwinia carotovora. Decay begins at the tips or butt ends. Spears are most susceptible to bacterial decay when they are re-cut above the white portion of the butt end. Modified atmospheres consisting of five to 10 per cent CO2 have been shown to be beneficial in maintaining asparagus spear quality, by preventing decay and reducing soft rot development at the butt end. In addition, elevated CO2 reduces toughening and retains green colour. Low O2 is not beneficial for asparagus and concentrations of less than 10 per cent O2 can cause spear discolouration. There are plans to test Ontario asparagus in modified atmospheres this season. References Carrier Transicold. 1999. Controlled atmosphere handbook, 2nd ed. A guide for shipment of perishable cargo in refrigerated containers. Carrier Transicold Division, New York. Gross, K.C., C.Y. Wang, and M. Saltveit. 2004. The commercial storage of fruits, vegetables, and florist and nursery stocks. U.S.D.A. Agriculture Handbook Number 66, Revised. www.ba.ars.usda.gov/hb66/ contents.html
Do you have giant ragweed? There have been a lot of questions about control of giant ragweed, especially from growers who are suspicious that they may be dealing with a glyphosate -tolerant population. If that is a concern, take a look at the latest Crop Pest Ontario article written by Mike
Loves Lo ves this. t
Cowbrough, Weed Management Program Lead – Field Crops for more information at: www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/field/news/ croppest/2010/01cpo10.htm
Lo Loves oves this to death. d
Fungal pathogen
Get the best of both worlds w with Serenade, Serrenade, a oad-spectrum bio-fungicide highly ef fective br effective broad-spectrum that kills diseases, while wh hile embracing Mother Natur re e. Ser enade of fe ers very ef fective disease Nature. Serenade offers effective contr rol plus a new nique mode of action, which whic ch control new,, un unique makes for an excellent excellen nt resistance resistance e managementt 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 www.uap.ca .uap.ca for full label labe el information
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PAGE 20 –– JUNE 2010 THE GROWER
Sarritor will control dandelions in lawns What you need to know By Kristen Callow, Weed Management Program Lead – Horticulture Sarritor is a product developed by Dr. Allan Watson at McGill University. Sarritor is a naturally occurring fungus. When applied to a broadleaf weed, the fungus will grow into the weed and absorb the plant tissues until the weed is completely gone. Once the weed is gone, the fungus disappears. Sarritor controls dandelions, as long as the weather conditions at application are followed exactly. Sarritor must be applied when daytime high temperatures are 1824°C and when rainfall will occur within 12 hours of application. Sarritor will usually take between five to seven days to suppress/control dandelion. This product will not affect grass
species, but severe damage to nontarget desirable broadleaf plant species may occur if Sarritor comes in contact. There is not a lot of information on the control of other common broadleaf lawn weeds, like plantains, chickweed or mallow. So, if you applied Sarritor correctly you should expect white fungal patches on your lawn until the dandelions are gone. If rain is not forecasted after application you must water your lawn as soon as possible to ensure the fungus does not dry out. You should also avoid heavy traffic on the lawn for at least three days after application. You can resume mowing and other common lawn care practices three days after application as well. You can purchase Sarritor at Home Depot for $29.99. Sarritor is also available at Home Hardware and other retail outlets. It has an easy applicator and the 300 grams of product can be applied to approximately 700 dandelions. It must be used within one week of purchase otherwise you must refrigerate or freeze the product. The sole distributor of the product is Agrium Advanced Technologies. Several lawn care companies (e.g. Weed Man and Dr. Green) will apply Sarritor as part of other lawn care programs. If a lawn care company applies Sarritor for you, they are required to sign your lawn indicating that a pesticide was sprayed even though it is considered a natural product and registered by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). If you apply Sarritor yourself, no lawn signage is needed. MADE IN CANADA • SHIPPED DIRECT
AL THE IDE TION PROTEC FOR DS ORCHAR AND RDS VINEYA
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JUNE 2010 –– PAGE 21 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
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JASON LONG
Sales
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Sales
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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
FRUIT & VEGETABLE PACKAGING Wellington Wood Products (1972) Ltd. 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
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
www.wwp.on.ca Wellington Wood Products 1587 "B" County Road 34 Ruthven, ON N0P 2G0 519-326-2394
3) Also 6 cylinder Cummin 5.9 L (165 HP) with 3 stage Rovatti Pump on trailer etc., murphy. $15,750 4) Iveco complete pump units, 80HP, 2 stage F33/K100. $11,900 5) Iveco 4 cylinder turbo 110/ 130 HP. $12,900 6) Perkins/ John Deere diesel engines. $12,900
A. KOOLMEES R.R. 1, Otterville, ON N0J 1R0 (519) 879-6878 Fax: (519) 879-6319
CHANGE OF ADDRESS? 1-866-898-8488 ext. 221
PAGE 22 –– JUNE 2010 THE GROWER
MARKETPLACE To advertise phone: 519-380-0118 • 866-898-8488 x 218 • Fax: 519-380-0011 EQUIPMENT
NURSERY / SEED / ROOTSTOCK
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, Shrt Turn ..............................$14,900 Good Boy 1000 Litre, Electric Controls, Nice, Clean ................$3,900 FMC 300 Gal, Economist, Good Condition ...............................$1,900 Seppi SMO 200, 6 1/2 ft Flail, Almost New ............................$6,200 Pallet Cart - HandJack, 5,000 lb, New-Never Used ...............$450 Weed Sprayer 80 Gal, 3 PH, Good Hydro Piston Pump .......$1,100 New Holland T4050F (New - 200 Hrs) Narrow, 90 H.P., Orchard Cab Tractor, Super Steer, Extended Warranty, Air Seat, 32 Speed - Not a Scratch ........................................................$43,500 New Perfect KG2200 H.D. Flail Mower at 2009 Pricing Hydraulic Mini-Cylinders For Sprayer Valves
STRAWBERRY PLANTS & RASPBERRY CANES Dormant Frozen Strawberry Plants, Excellent day neutral and June bearing varieties. Ideal for July and August planting on plastic or conventional matt rows. Please call for more information.
36 Evergreen Hill Rd. Simcoe, ON N3Y 1B8 519-428-1087 Fax: 519-426-0073 ghesquierefarms@xplornet.com Grown under the guidelines of the Ontario Propagation Program ORDER NOW FOR A GOOD VARIETY SELECTION FREE CATALOGUE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST or VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.GREATBERRYPLANTS.COM
Apple Bin Carriers, 5 Bins or 6, New & Used Wanted: For Cash, Trade, or Consignment Clean Sprayers, Mowers, Bin Carriers, Narrow Orchard Tractors
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CLASSIFIEDS
Warwick Orchards Would like to thank all of its customers for their Loyalty and Support throughout the year. Robert and Johanna wish everyone a great 2010 growing season!
WARWICK ORCHARDS & NURSERY LTD 7056 Egremont Rd. R.R. #8 Watford, Ontario N0M 2S0 Tel: (519) 849-6730 Toll free: 877-550-7412 Fax: (519) 849-6731 warwickorchards@brktel.on.ca
USED IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT FOR SALE 5" Irrigation Diesel Pump John Deere motor $3000 5" x 30' 28 pieces $60 each 4" x 30' 47 pieces $50 each 4" x 20' 20 pieces $40 each Pls call after 6pm. Ask for Len 905 878-8525
RETIRING: Tractors: Allis G $3500., Massey 50 - $5500., International #784 w loader, 2520 hrs. -$14,500.; Massey 481, 792 hrs.-$24000.; Bauer Traveller Irrigation Gun - $6000.; Case International 8455 Round Baler $10,500.; 2 row Delhi Foundry Tobacco Planter - $500.; Weeder - Univerco, Reigi 1 - $1500.; 3 wheel ATC - Big Red, $1250. 519-458-4731
NURSERY
Alpine Nurseries (Niagara) Limited
SPECIALIZING IN FRUIT TREES & GRAPE VINES & PRIVET HEDGING. VARIETY AND PRICE LIST AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
Howard A. Colcuc Nursery Manager R.R. #4 Creek Road Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON. L0S 1J0 Tel: (905) 262-4971 Fax: (905) 262-4404 plants@sympatico.ca
Turn your unused farm equipment into CA$H Call the classified department at The Grower 866-898-8488 x 221
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
FUNGI
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JUNE 2010 –– PAGE 23 THE GROWER
MARKETPLACE
To advertise phone: 519-380-0118 • 866-898-8488 x 218 • Fax: 519-380-0011 CROP TUNNELS
IRRIGATION
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Phone (905) 945-8515 Fax: (905) 945-1149 or call toll-free
1-800-361-8515
Learn from the experts! 1VPU V\Y ÄLSK [V\Y VM /H`NYV]LZ in Britain
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REFRIGERATION
Haygrove Owners Conference (others welcome) December 3, 2010 - Lancaster, PA
haygrove.com l 1-866-HAYGROVE l tunnelbuzz.com
Custom Built Designs - Domestic and International Markets
PAGE 24 –– JUNE 2010 THE GROWER
MARKETPLACE To advertise phone: 519-380-0118 • 866-898-8488 x 218 • Fax: 519-380-0011 REAL ESTATE
FREIGHT SERVICE
PICKLED VEGETABLES
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
Property For Sale
ECO CLEANING
Kelowna B.C. Spacious newer 5 bedroom home. 27,000 sq.ft. greenhouse. Paved parking. 3 Acres. Busy city road. Property would be ideal for a full service garden centre or conversion to vegetable production. $1,249,000. Owners retiring. Call John at 250-491-7673 or email rosegrowers@shaw.ca.
AUCTION
AUCTION POTATO FARM EQUIPMENT SAT. JULY 10 @ 10:00 A.M. SAVANNAH, NEW YORK (Between Rochester and Syracuse) Selling growing and packing line of long time growers Jackson Farms who are discontinuing potato farm operations.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS?
See our web page www.pirrunginc.com for listing and pictures!
1-866-898-8488 ext. 221
PIRRUNG AUCTIONEERS, INC. Wayland, New York 585-728-2520 www.pirrunginc.com
Update your rural route address!
Get your money’s worth Economical, systemic control of both late blight and early blight
BayerCropScience.ca or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative. Always read and follow label directions. Reason® is a registered trademark of Bayer. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada. 02/10-12642
JUNE 2010 –– PAGE 25 THE GROWER
Herbicide banding resources now available By Kristen Callow, M.Sc. – OMAFRA Weed Management Program Lead - Horticulture Through the National Reduced Risk Integrated Weed Management Vegetable Working Group, the English publication of two banded herbicide application resources were made possible through the financial support of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Pesticide Risk Reduction Program, Pest Management Centre. These newly translated (from French to English) brochures, ‘Banded Herbicide Application’ and ‘Banded Herbicide Application in Potatoes’ are now available on line at the website of the Agriréseau (Agri-Network) of the Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ): www.agrireseau.qc.ca/phytoprotection/navigation.aspx?id=77932 and www.agrireseau.qc.ca/pdt/navigation.aspx?id=77778, respectively. Banded Herbicide Application: addresses an effective method of reducing the use of herbicides in corn and soybeans. This method, used in combination with mechanical cultivation for integrated weed management, helps reduce production costs without jeopardizing crop yield. It also helps reduce both environmental
and health hazards associated with the use of herbicides. The principles outlined in this fact sheet can be transferred to other row crop systems. Banded Herbicide Application in Potatoes: outlines how to band herbicides only over the potato rows, covering a width of about 30 cm. The herbicide is sprayed at the time of planting, pre-emergence or post-emergence of the crop. Weeds in the space between rows are controlled mechanically. Put on your calendar June 29 - Soil and Water Management Workshop, London -St. Thomas Area. For more information phone the Woodstock OMAFRA office at 519-537-6621 July 7, 8 - Southwest Crop Diagnostic Day, Ridgetown. For more information visit: www.diagnosticdays.ca/ July 13-15 - Ontario Weeds Tour • July 13 - Woodstock (am) and Huron (pm) Research Stations • July 14 - Harrow Research Station, AAFC (am) and Ridgetown College (pm) • July 15 - Elora Research Station, University of Guelph
harvest
| www.valent.ca | 519-822-7043 Read and follow the label instructions before using. ReTain is a trademark of Valent BioSciences Corporation, in various countries. © Valent U.S.A. Corporation, 2009. All rights reserved.
New and updated publications: OMAFRA OMAFRA publication #75, Guide to Weed Control OMAFRA publication #360 Fruit Production Recommendations Available at OMAFRA offices and through the Service Ontario Publications website at www.ServiceOntario.ca/publications. Phone 1-800-668-9938. New registrations for berry crops: The following berry crop registrations were finalized after our publications went to press. Read the label for extra details. Product: Sinbar Herbicide Wettable Powder (80% terbacil) PCP number: 10628 Crop: raspberries Pests: Many annual weeds and grasses (see label) Registrant: Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc Comments: Previously registered for raspberries in British Columbia and now registered Canadawide. Use on plantings over 1 year old and on soils with organic matter above 8-10%. Tank-mixed with Devrinol. Injury is likely on coarse or sandy soils. Raspberry cultivar “Royalty” is susceptible to damage. Product: ASSAIL 70 WP (acetamidiprid 70%) PCP number: 27128 Crop: strawberries, blueberries,
the
bushberries Pests: aphids, tarnished plant bugs (strawberries) and blueberry maggot (blueberries) and aphids on bushberry crop group (blueberries, currants, gooseberries, elderberries) Canadian registrant or distributor: E.I. Dupont Canada Comments: On strawberries, maximum 2 applications per season. Preharvest interval is 1 day to harvest. On blueberries, preharvest interval is 7 days. Toxic to bees. Product: Admire 240 F (240 g/L imidacloprid)
PCP number: 24094 Crop: strawberries Pests: aphids Registrant: Bayer CropScience Comments: now labelled for first –year plantings. Use as a soil drench shortly after planting when new growth begins. Product: Microthiol Disperss (80% sulphur)
PCP number: 29487 Crop: saskatoons Pests: Entomosporium leaf and berry spot Registrant: United Phosphorus Inc. Comments: same use pattern as Kumulus Product: Echo 720 (chlorothalonil 720 g/L) PCP number: 29355 Crop: Strawberries, blueberries Pests: Botrytis (strawberries) and anthracnose, alternaria, phomopsis on blueberry. Same use pattern as for Bravo 500 Canadian agent or distributer: United Agri-Products Comments: This is another formulation of chlorothalonil with the same use pattern as Bravo 500 Product: Bloomtime Biological Biopesticides PCP number: 28436 Crop: raspberries, saskatoon berries Pests: fireblight suppression Canadian agent or distributer: Northwest Agricultural Products Comments: This product is registered for firelight suppression. Spray 1st application at 15-20% bloom, 2nd application at full bloom to petal fall. We are looking for sites to test this product on raspberries.
potential
1-866-613-3336
PAGE 26 –– JUNE 2010 THE GROWER
Minor Use Craig’s Comments
Craig Hunter OFVGA What has gone wrong at PMRA? I have been asked this question by growers, industry members, and others beyond Canada. It disturbs me, a lot, and I search for answers to problems that I thought had been laid to rest some time ago. Let’s start with timeframes for submissions. Fifteen years ago, the new PMRA inherited a huge backlog of submissions. Their solution then was to institute a pre-screening process and kick out all submissions that were incomplete. Then a review of data could also kick out anything that was felt to be insufficient or done incorrectly. They pruned out a huge number of submissions that had been previously accepted under the old ‘rules of the day,’ and neatly dumped the ‘back-log’ onto registrants’ laps. Instead, it became a nightmare to get a new submission into PMRA, thus creating what I dubbed a ‘front-log’ instead. A new management of submissions policy was developed that would provide assured time-
Is PMRA reverting to form? frames, once an ‘acceptable’ submission came in. For some years now, these times have been met, more or less. Recently however, there has been a real slippage. Submissions in all categories have been delayed, some by weeks or months beyond expected dates. No amount of reasoned requests has been able to move up priority items, and farmers have lost opportunity to access new products that others (U.S. in particular) enjoy. A very recent ‘new’ data management policy is on the street looking for comments. In a nutshell, it proposes a slippage in meeting the timeframes from 90 per cent of the time to 85 per cent of the time. Further, it rewards poor submissions by allowing the clock to be put on hold rather than restart, when significant problems need time to produce more data. The poorer submissions have a better chance of still making the new timelines, regardless of the fact that they needed to be sent back for alterations. On the other hand, a very good submission does not get any time breaks and faces a lower likelihood of a fast passage than at present. There is no reward to a company for a good submission, compared to the past approach. It seems to be a Canadian thing where we reward those who are late (by delaying the start of a meeting) or those who do a poor job (by excusing them) but never rewarding a job well done, or those who are punctual. The PMRA seem to have morphed into a group which takes the easy route (for them) by avoiding setting new precedent in any process leading to a possible registration. There seems to be a mantra
of ‘do it the old way’ rather than listening to the possibilities of working smarter, not harder. Perhaps there is no reward for moving ahead, and perhaps there is fear of doing anything a new way. Worst of all, there is seemingly no penalty for dawdling or refusing to work smarter! We need to reward the best submitters, and we need to encourage reviewers who will embrace new and improved ways to get things done faster, while still ensuring appropriate safeguards. This approach needs to be turned around, now! Canadian growers are under the highest financial pressure that they have ever faced. Many commodities cannot pencil in a profit without government help- even if it arrives two or three years after the fact, if it comes at all. We cannot compete with the global market unless we can be the most efficient producers in the world. We pay the highest labour rates, so we adopt the most labour-saving methods possible. When it comes to crop protection, we need and demand access to the best and most acceptable products in the marketplace. How can we be expected to accept bureaucratic delay in access to new tools when other competent authorities allow its use? How can our government condone a department that cannot work well enough or fast enough to grant access, when they know or should know these products have been approved by our NAFTA partners? How can growers condone a work ethic, a work standard, and a management acceptance of all this, when it delays or denies legitimate access to these products or new uses? On top of this, the commodities from elsewhere, treated
with these products, are allowed into our local markets to add insult to injury! The steady progress made at PMRA over the past five years is in danger of sinking into the abyss. The present changes needed are not difficult except some egos will be bruised, and some folks may need to find alternative work sites if they cannot or will not get with the new program. It was done before, and can be done again. The second issue has to do with pesticide pricing in the market. The PMRA has pushed very hard to get the new data protection provisions through and we still await final promulgation, hopefully this June. In the meantime there are more than 80 submissions just waiting the day when they can get through the new data compensation rules, so new generic versions of old actives can compete in the market. We have seen little grower use of the GROU program, in spite of hard work to get 19 approved products accepted for import. There have been a few generics that have already been approved, and these add some counter balance to the market price. There have been reports of significant price ‘corrections’ in the West, but there are also reports of ‘supply shortages’ in the East, for the same product! In my opinion, neither GROU nor its predecessor OUI did enough to alter pricing on enough products. The U.S. market pricing reflects the high competition of generics there- something we are just starting to see here. The sooner the new legislation is approved the faster we will see price corrections on other products. I am warned that this will mean cut-
backs to programs by some companies in some areas, but just like the price of gasoline- who can tell what it will be on any given day? Lastly, I would like to draw attention to the fact that PMAC (the Pest Management Advisory Committee), set up to advise the Minister of Health on PMRA, has not met for over 18 months. It was originally supposed to meet twice a year. This is the ‘expert panel’ that represents the interests of growers, manufacturers, health agencies, environmental groups, anti-pesticide advocates, forestry and public health. They have, in the past, met and discussed issues and made recommendations to the minister. PMRA staff are able to discuss their programs, propose changes, and answer criticism. It is a necessary and important tool to keep the agency linked to its stakeholders and for the minister to hear of concerns that are balanced by representation in the group. Openness and frank discussion have enabled all to see what the PMRA is doing, what else they want or need to do, and for them to hear the opinions at that meeting. It needs to be reconstituted, ASAP! If the PMRA needs further staff or budget to get their job done, they first need to show how they are indeed working smarter. They also need outside supporters to convince the minister of the need. Right now they would have a hard time to prove the first, or garner the second. I will be the first to support the PMRA if they can get their ship back on course. The growers and their parliamentary connections will stir if this does not happen quickly.
New requirements for tomatoes entering Canada from countries infested with tomato leafminer As of February 24, 2010, tomatoes entering Canada from countries where tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta) is known to occur will have to meet new interim requirements developed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). These requirements include a phytosanitary certificate with a declaration that the tomatoes originated from an area free of the pest in the country
Tomato leafminer
The Source...
where tomato leafminer is known to occur, and were inspected or found free of tomato leafminer. These requirements currently apply to greenhouse and field tomatoes from the following countries: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Greece, Kuwait, Italy, Libya, Malta, Morocco, the
Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Venezuela. It is a key best practice not to bring tomatoes into the vicinity of greenhouses if the tomatoes were imported from countries where tomato leafminer is known to occur. For more information, visit the CFIA website.
for Fungicides, Miticides & Insecticides in Horticultural Crops
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JUNE 2010 –– PAGE 27 THE GROWER
SmartFresh Technology label expanded for post-harvest use on pears By Jim Chaput, OMAFRA, Minor Use Coordinator, Guelph The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of an URMULE registration for SmartFresh Technology for the postharvest reduction of the negative effects of ethylene and the suppression of senescent scald on pears in Canada. SmartFresh Technology was already labeled for post-harvest use on apples in Canada and was available to pear producers around the world for a number of years. This minor use project was submitted in 2009 by the minor use office of OMAFRA as a result of minor use priorities established by growers and extension person-
Label expansion granted for Acramite 50WS miticide The PMRA recently announced the approval of a minor use label expansion for ACRAMITE 50WS miticide (bifenazate) for control of twospotted spider mite and McDaniel mite on caneberries, crop subgroup 13-07A in Canada. Crop subgroup 13-07A includes raspberries, blackberries and loganberries. Acramite 50WS was already labeled for management of mites on apples and grapes in Canada. Access to new mite management tools is a high priority for caneberry producers and the label expansion of Acramite 50WS will provide caneberry producers with an effective mite management and resistance management tool. Acramite 50WS miticide can be applied at a rate of 851 grams product per ha (15 pouches per 4 ha) in a minimum spray volume of 500 L per ha as soon as mites appear. A maximum of one application per season is permitted. The pre-harvest interval for caneberries is one day. Acramite 50WS miticide should be used in an integrated pest management program and in rotation with other management strategies. Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Acramite 50WS label. For copies of the new minor use label contact Pam Fisher, OMAFRA, Simcoe (519) 4262238, Hannah Fraser, OMAFRA, Vineland (905) 562-1674, Kevin Schooley, OBGA (613) 258-4587 or visit www.engageagro.com. and/or www.chemturaagrosolutions.com
nel. SmartFresh Technology was also the subject of emergency use registrations in 2008 and 2009 for pears in Ontario. The minor use label expansion for SmartFresh Technology is a significant step towards ensuring that Canada’s pear industry remains viable and competitive. The following is provided as a general outline only. Users should consult the complete label before using SmartFresh Technology . Apply SmartFresh Technology within one day after harvest at fruit and air temperatures of up to 230C. Alternatively, pears that are cooled to 0 – 30 C within one day after harvest, SmartFresh Technology may be applied within 10 days after harvest. One
application at a maximum use rate of 300 ppb (volume/volume in air) as delivered by appropriate packet size (see label) is recommended. To suppress senescent scald SmartFresh Technology should be applied within three days after harvest to pears that were cooled to 0 – 30 C within one day after harvest. Consult the full label for detailed timing, application and fruit storage recommendations. Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the SmartFresh Technology label carefully. For a copy of the new minor use label contact Jennifer DeEll, OMAFRA, Simcoe (519) 4261408.
Minor use label expansion granted for Intrepid 240F The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of a minor use label expansion for Intrepid 240F insecticide (methoxyfenozide) for control of Oriental fruit moth (OFM) on peaches in Canada. Intrepid 240F was already labeled for management of Lepidopteran pests of pome fruit in Canada. This is the second label expansion for Intrepid 240F insecticide in Canada. Access to new insect management tools is a high priority for peach producers and the label expansion of Intrepid 240F insecticide will provide peach producers with an effective and useful OFM management tool. Intrepid 240F insecticide can be applied at a rate of 1.5 L
product per ha in a minimum spray volume of 1000 L per ha at first egg hatch of the targeted generation. A maximum of one application per season is permitted. The pre-harvest interval for peaches is 14 days. Intrepid 240F insecticide should be used in an integrated pest management program and in rotation with other management strategies. Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Intrepid 240F insecticide label. For copies of the new minor use label contact Wendy McFadden-Smith, OMAFRA, Vineland (905) 562-3833, Hannah Fraser, OMAFRA, Vineland (905) 5621674, Jim Chaput, OMAFRA, Guelph (519) 826-3539 or visit www.dowagro.com.
PAGE 28 –– JUNE 2010 THE GROWER
Matador/Warrior Insecticide labels expanded to control carrot rust fly and carrot weevil on carrots By Jim Chaput, OMAFRA, Minor Use Coordinator, Guelph The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of Urmule registrations for Matador/Warrior insecticide for control of carrot rust fly and carrot weevil on carrots in Canada. The active ingredient cyhalothrin-lambda was already labeled on a wide range of crops including grains, oilseeds, vegetables and fruits. Note that Warrior will eventually replace Matador in the marketplace. This minor use project was originally submitted in 2000 by M. LeBlanc, MAPAQ and subsequently taken on in 2005 as a joint project between Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Pest Manage-
ment Centre (AAFC-PMC) and the U.S. IR-4 program as a result of minor use priorities established by growers and extension personnel in both countries. The minor use label expansion for Matador/Warrior Insecticide is a significant step towards developing an improved pest management toolkit for these pests in Canada and the U.S. The following is provided as a general outline only. Users should consult the complete label before using Matador/Warrior Insecticide. Matador/Warrior Insecticide can be used for control of carrot rust fly and carrot weevil at a rate of 83 mL per ha in 100 – 200 L water per ha. Application should be based on the presence of vul-
Rust Fly - Loxocera cylindrica
nerable pest developmental stages and significant populations as determined by local monitoring and thresholds. Applications can be repeated at a 7 day interval. Do not apply more than 3 times per year and do not apply within 14 days of harvest for carrots. Matador/Warrior Insecticide should be used in an integrated pest management program and in rotation with other management strategies to adequately manage resistance. Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Matador/Warrior Insecticide labels carefully. For a copy of the new minor use label contact Jim Chaput, OMAFRA, Guelph (519) 8263539 or visit www.syngenta.ca
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Renowned wireworm experts, Bob Vernon and Wim van Herk, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, are working together with Syngenta to survey and document the different species and distribution of wireworms in Canada. Wireworms have become a problem in some potato-growing regions, with at least five different species. Each area has different combinations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Although the survey is aimed at cereals and pulses, we know wireworms are a problem in all large-seeded crops,â&#x20AC;? says Craig Hunter, OFVGA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dr. Vernon has been working with potato growers for some time as well. This bait and look approach is another good step towards management of this important pest.â&#x20AC;? Syngenta has distributed 2000 Cruiser MaxxÂŽ Bait Ball Kits to cereal growers across the prairies and Ontario. These kits contain bait balls made out of oatmeal and honey that are buried in the ground and release CO2 gasses to attract and trap wireworms. The Bait Ball Kit includes items such as oatmeal, honey, a shovel, pin flags and plastic containers to collect wireworm samples. The kit also includes a Wireworm Field Guide which provides information on how to identify and control wireworms. For an on-line version, go to www.syngentafarm.ca. Growers can send a sample of the live wireworms trapped in their bait balls to Drs. Vernon and van Herk who will then analyze the samples and identify hotspots for different wireworm species. A wireworm species map will be made available to growers, retailers and agronomists. This will be an invaluable tool for plotting the type and severity of wireworm infestations in different areas, helping farmers determine their crop rotations, seed care, and crop protection options.