The Grower February 2013

FEBRUARY 2013

CELEBRATING 133 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION

VOLUME 63 NUMBER 02

CROP PROTECTION

The drive for more precision in crop spraying KAREN DAVIDSON Like most farmers, Shane Ardiel considers himself a lifelong learner. Last year’s April frosts destroyed his apple crop, a first-time experience in his 29 years of farming. He still sprayed at least half of his Clarksburg, Ontario orchard to keep pests under control. It was a real-time experiment, because he doesn’t know what to expect this year.

“I’m worried about brown marmorated stink bug,” says Ardiel. “I don’t know what products are available and what the timing will be to get the larvae.”

2013 will be a learning curve with not only a new invasive pest species, but questions spilling over from last year’s minimal spraying and pruning regime.

That’s where crop scout Lindsay Pink shares some early observations from Ardiel and other clients with Georgian Bay Fruit Growers’ Inc. “This year, we’ll need to get on top of apple scab,” she warns.

“For growers who didn’t spray last year, there will be a clean break from crop protection products and that will help reduce chances of resistance. However, we had quite an education about apple maggot. We never had a problem with this pest but without spraying last year, we were flabbergasted at the injury. There will be a lot more insect pressure this year.”

As theory goes, a reduction in

INSIDE Mexico’s produce pipeline

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Focus: crop protection/ spraying Page 12

OFVGA AGM highlights

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www.thegrower.org P.M. 40012319

An airblast sprayer course has spurred Shane Ardiel to modify spraying practices on his apple farm. With steely concentration, he’s up to the precision task on his 95 acres of apple orchards at Clarksburg, Ontario. Photos by Glenn Lowson. insecticides should mean that more beneficial mites take over.

But Pink says that more than a year will be required for this equilibrium to take place.

“The situation did not selfcorrect as quickly as we thought it would,” she says. “This year’s education will be stressing control of apple maggot and codling moth.”

For Ardiel who does all the tank mixing and spraying on his 95 acres, an entirely new question arises: How to adjust crop spraying for his 45 acres of semi-dwarf orchards and the 50 acres of spindle-type plantings now in vogue.

That’s where Jason Deveau, OMAFRA’s application technology specialist, offers fresh thinking. “Many pesticide labels instruct applicators to use an appropriate amount of water and to spray to the point of run-off, ” says Deveau. “But are pesticide labels everything they could be?”

Deveau points to 30 years of research demonstrating that not all trees have the same spray

requirements. The rule of thumb for classic, standard trees was to use 400 U.S. gallons of water per acre. When dwarf varieties were planted, growers made a pro rata

“

I’m a lot more cognizant of what we’re spraying and spray patterns.

Proper speed and proper nozzles are a big part of it.” ~ Shane Ardiel reduction in spray volume. For example, if trees were half the volume of a standard tree, then it was assumed that half the volume of spray mix was required to achieve the same coverage. The model became known as Tree Row Volume.

The question is whether that’s a correct assumption. In Deveau’s experience, the operator’s perceptions of coverage and sprayer setups vary widely between canopies and equipment. He’s also concerned about inter-orchard variability due to growth stage, rootstock varieties, tree shapes, density plantings and pruning practices. Growers could easily be over-spraying or under-spraying pesticides because they are not adjusting for these variables.

Even within orchards, the same crop could have different canopy volumes. A study in New Zealand showed a difference in product required between bud break and harvest. In another U.K. study, spraying at a fixed rate across orchards at different growth stages resulted in a six-fold variation in pesticide deposits.

Recognizing that new plantings don’t require as much spray as mature plantings, growers are already modifying carrier volumes and/or dosage rates.

Unwittingly, growers may be overspraying. Or they could be underspraying which reduces coverage and may encourage insect resistance. These practices are in a no man’s land which may foil the best intentions of integrated pest management (IPM).

With all these changes in orchard technology, workshops such as Airblast Sprayers 101 have become popular. Developed

by Deveau and CropLife Canada, the course has migrated to British Columbia where pesticide specialist Madeline Waring has teamed with a local sprayer manufacturer and tailored the workshop to grape and tree fruit growers in the Okanagan Valley.

Blueberry growers, also requesting a tune-up, are now doing trial runs with water on water-sensitive paper hung in the crop rows to gauge pesticide distribution.

New nozzle types, calibration methods and adjustments for air flow are all part of the course.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

PAGE 2 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

AT PRESS TIME… Insurance rates spike for Ontario apple growers Apple growers were shocked to learn that Agricorp’s insurance premiums will increase 60 per cent this year. The news was delivered at the Ontario Apple Growers (OAG) annual general meeting. Ontario’s 2012 apple crop was only 10 per cent of normal after devastating frosts last April.

Agricorp had 139 apple growers listed as customers. Of that number, 119 have received insurance payouts of $19.7 million. It’s expected that a total of $27 million will be paid out when all claims are settled.

“I’m a big believer in the ‘Olympic’ average,” said apple grower Charles Stevens. “But most farmers will have 16 per cent less insurance for the next few years due to the 2012 devastation.”

Brian Gilroy, OAG chair, explained that in the past, when production insurance benefits reduced farmers’ AgriStability program payouts, they received an equal premium rebate. This was done to encourage sign-up to plans in which participation was low. The Ontario apple plan is the most complicated, expensive production insurance plan in Canada.

“This rebate will not be part of Growing Forward II, yet another support lost,” said Gilroy.

Agricorp’s news followed another disappointing announcement that the federal/provincial governments have rejected an application for disaster relief

funding under the AgriRecovery program. Instead, $2 million of funding will assist apple and tender fruit growers with frost mitigation planning. To access funds, Ontario growers must complete workplans outlining a risk management strategy. Agricorp is expected to have applications online. Workplans must be filed no later than February 28.

Register for CPMA convention February 15 is early bird registration for the Canadian Produce Marketing Association convention. It will be held at the Direct Energy Centre, Toronto, Ontario April 17 – 19.

Organizers expect that the 88th annual event will be the largest ever with more than 3,500 participants and a showcase of 500 exhibit booths. For more information, see www.cpma.ca.

Demo projects to conserve water Funding is available through the Water Resource Adaptation and Management Initiative (WRAMI) for projects that demonstrate equipment, technology or techniques that conserve water. These pilot scale projects may include water storage, water reuse, controls and sensors or integration software. Up to $70,000 per project is available.

Applications must come from commodity groups or associations.

Application forms are available at Farm and Food Care’s

NEWSMAKERS website: www.farmfoodcare.org.

For more details, contact Bruce Kelly: bruce@farmfoodcare.org.

Deadline for applications is February 15.

Proposed U.S. food safety laws The Food Safety Modernization Act in the U.S. is close to having more teeth as a proposed rule itemizes standards for the growing, harvesting, packing and holding of produce. For growers, the advertised advantage is to have one set of standardized rules rather than multiple standards from multiple buyers.

The new standards are for worker training and hygiene, agricultural water purity, biological soil amendments, equipment, tools and buildings. Exemptions to the proposed rule were carved out for produce commodities rarely consumed raw, produce used for personal or on-farm consumption, produce that receives a “kill step” to reduce the presence of microorganisms and farms with average annual sales of $25,000 or less.

The U.S. government is proposing that the requirements be effective 60 days after a final rule is published in the Federal Register later this year.

Compliance dates would be phased in based on business size.

Costs to farmers have been estimated at more than $30,000 annually for large farms and about $13,000 per year for smaller farms.

The new rules are designed to reduce foodborne illness and maintain confidence in produce.

The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association 2013 board elected grape grower, Ray Duc, as chair. Currently in his tenth year as an OFVGA director, Duc farms with his son and brother-in-law on a third-generation family farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake growing grapes and tender fruit.

He succeeds Mac James who stepped down after serving one year. He is joined by Brian Gilroy (apples); Norm Charbonneau (small fruit/berries); Jason Verkaik (fresh Ray Duc vegetables – muck); Mac James (potatoes); Jason Ryder (asparagus); Fred Meyers (tender fruit); Jan VanderHout (greenhouse vegetables); Don Taylor (greenhouse vegetables); Ken VanTorre (ginseng); and Mary Shabatura (fresh vegetables).

The OFVGA’s Award of Merit was presented to a group this year: Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS).

Formed in 1987 to administrate the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program, FARMS has proven adept in the logistics of bringing offshore labour from Mexico and the Caribbean to Canada. The award was accepted by past presidents Gary Cooper and Hector Delanghe, current president Ken Forth and general manager Sue Williams.

This year’s Chemtura Golden Apple Award winner is Chris Hedges who currently farms 100-plus acres of orchard in Norfolk County.

He’s been a leader in adopting modern planting systems and wind machines while operating his own orchard supply company.

Recently, he accepted the role as manager of grower relations for Martin’s Family Fruit Farm based in Waterloo. Hedges has been an active director of Ontario Apple Growers since 2005. He was elected to the International Fruit Tree Association in 2012.

The OFVGA invited a number of young growers to the annual general meeting under a special welcome package. They were: Kyle Oakley, Philip Wiley, David Hipple, Liam Ardiel, Jennifer Vanden Velde, Kevin Brubacher, Dylan Wiens, Kenny Forth, Tim Horlings, Kyle Horlings.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) welcomes a new deputy minister, Deborah Stark.

She replaces Karen Chan, interim deputy minister. Stark has held senior positions within both Ministry of the Environment and OMAFRA. She holds a doctorate of veterinary medicine and a MBA from Wilfred Laurier University.

Condolences to the family of Hon. John Wise, 78, former federal agricultural minister, Ontario dairy farmer and an Elgin County MP for 16 years. He is lauded for contributing an agricultural perspective to the Canada/U.S. free trade agreement and his transition funding for grape growers after the agreement’s signing. Wise held the agricultural portfolio for nine months in 1979/1980 and then from 1984 to 1988.

The B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association has elected Jeet Dhukia as the new president. Bupinder Dhaliwal will serve as vice-president.

Also on the board are: Peter Simonsen, Amarjit Lalli, Nirmal Dhaliwal, Denise MacDonald, Jora Dhaliwal and Madeleine van Roechoudt.

Nature Fresh Greenhouses, Leamington, Ontario has hired Frank de Vries as its general manager. For the last five years, he’s been general manager at the Philadelphia offices of The Greenery, the Dutch grower cooperative. Ray Wowryk has been added to the team as director of business development. He brings experience as a produce buyer and category manager. Nature Fresh operates 130 acres of greenhouse bell peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers.

Safeway’s CEO Steve Burd is retiring in May after 20 years with the grocer. A replacement is being sought both internally and externally. Based in Pleasanton, California, Safeway operates 1,644 stores in the U.S. and western Canada.

Siegers Seed Company has announced a new seed consultant, Jammie Underhill, for Ontario. He will specialize as a processing sales representative.

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE 3 THE GROWER

The drive for more precision in crop spraying throughout the season using water-sensitive paper.”

How much more sophisticated can crop protection become?

“It’s been complicated 10-fold in the last 20 years,” says Charles Stevens, chair of the crop protection section, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association.

“New materials, planting distances, planting densities, spraying techniques, invasive pests – they all interact together,” he says. “The only way to do the job is for all the industry sectors to communicate.

That means growers, manufacturers, government regulatory agencies, IPM scouts. We have to keep talking because it’s the little things that count.”

In just the last two years, Shane Ardiel has adopted some of these new practices and tweaked others. “I’m a lot more cognizant of what we’re spraying and spray patterns,” he says. “Proper speed and proper nozzles are a big part of it.”

There’s nothing routine about crop spraying anymore.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “It’s the kind of workshop where the experienced and less experienced learn from each other,” says Waring. “Growers want to save money in fuel, labour and crop protection inputs.”

While growers are familiar with Tree Row Volume as a foundational concept, one more factor is now added: tree density.

As Deveau explains, “It’s not so much how big the box is as what’s inside the box that dictates how much spray is needed to achieve good coverage.”

Prompted by U.K. research, Deveau and Kristy Grigg-McGuffin, OMAFRA’s pome fruit IPM specialist, will be testing crop-adapted spraying on three Ontario farms this summer. Cooperating apple growers will mix the tank according to normal practices but adjust the sprayer to match the size, shape and density of the target. If this is done correctly, the leaf should receive the same amount of active ingredient. The difference is that spray will be economized.

“In principle, this should be no different than using a recycling sprayer which collects the overspray and recycles it to the tank,” says Deveau. “The target still gets the same amount of spray, but the sprayer can go further on a tank. This works if the applicator is using a well-calibrated sprayer and is monitoring coverage closely

Right: The challenges of precision spraying are evident when comparing the full canopy of a semi-dwarf tree (bottom photo) and the dwarf trees on Shane Ardiel’s farm.

INTERNATIONAL BREEDING

EURO ZONE

FOOD SAFETY

POLITICS

PUBLISHING

Cornell improves broccoli

Dutch hort sector recovers

Cantaloupe growers adopt stricter rules

Funding at risk for U.S. minor crops

Calling greenhouse growers

Broccoli, a $1 billion industry in the U.S., leaves a big footprint as most of the cole vegetable moves from California and Mexico to the eastern seaboard.

Cornell University breeders along with private seed companies are working towards a regional market worth $100 million per year.

“Most standard varieties developed for western climates have trouble lasting through hot and humid eastern summers,” says Thomas Bjorkman, professor of horticulture. “But new genetics have allowed us to develop varieties that don’t make misshapen heads when the weather turns consistently warm.”

Summer-tolerant varieties could expand the growing season currently restricted to spring and fall. The next step? A profitable distribution system.

After a distrastous 2011 season due to Europe’s food safety crisis, Holland’s horticultural sector grew by four per cent to a value of 7.9 billion euro in 2012. Exports remained stable at 16.5 billion euro, with imports increasing two per cent.

The vegetable sector rebounded in value despite an acreage decrease of four per cent.

Aubergine didn’t record better prices, but most other greenhouse growers received better profits.

Germany and the United Kingdom proved loyal clients, receiving one per cent more produce. France and Poland, however, were down by one per cent.

All cantaloupes grown in California this year will be under a mandatory food-safety program, developed by the Western Growers Association and other produce groups. The new guidance was prompted by the deaths of more than two dozen people who ate Listeriacontaminated cantaloupes in 2011.

The California Leafy Greens Agreement has served as a template for cantaloupe growers.

The new protocols are divided into two parts: growing and field handling, and best practices in packing sheds or processing facilities.

The Food and Drug Administration has proposed verifiable food safety practices for all producers of perishable products. It’s open for public comment in the next six months.

In passing massive tax measures, the U.S. Congress has also extended the 2008 Farm Bill for nine months. The extension does not include funding for several specialty crop programs and disregards reforms in the 2012 Farm Bill says Robert Guenther, United Fresh senior vice president of public policy.

Lawmakers set discretionary funding for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative at $100 million while mandatory funding stood at $50 million in the 2012 Farm Bill.

United Fresh is committed to reviving these programs in the coming months as the Farm Bill is redrafted and reconsidered by both chambers before September 30, 2013.

FreshPlaza.com, a source of global news on horticulture, has launched hortidaily.com for the edible and floral greenhouse industry. By subscribing to the Netherlands-based newsletter, readers will receive a daily compendium of global news specific to the greenhouse industry.

Source: United Fresh Produce Association news release

Source: FreshPlaza.com

Source: FreshPlaza.com

Here’s a sampling of some of the early headlines: • “Mexico has friends in the U.S. amid tiff with Florida” • “2013 will be an important year for LEDs in horticulture” • “New paint for heating tubes developed by Gilbert Geraerts” • “Canada: Tomatoes to be grown with ethanol plant’s residual heat and CO2

Source: Produce News Source: Cornell University

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April 17-19, 2013

DIRECT ENERGY CENTRE TORONTO (ON) CANADA

cpma.ca

PAGE 4 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

ECONOMICS

U.S. debt talks, German election could affect exchange rates KAREN DAVIDSON Economists’ forecasts are quotable, not bankable. It’s up to you to divine the tea leaves. With that caveat, Farm Credit Canada’s chief economist Jean-Philippe Gervais, has pinpointed what events and trends might trigger economic changes relevant to horticulture.

New equipment at Italy’s Interpoma.

Exchange rates are a good place to start. Many horticultural sectors such as the greenhouse and apple industries import new technology from Europe. The euro has gained in value in the last six months, coinciding with the European Central Bank backstopping the euro crisis. (See chart) “I think we’ve seen most of the upside for the euro until Germany’s elections in September,” predicts Gervais.

“A change in power could change fiscal policy. I expect the Canadian dollar to lose more value against the euro later in the year.”

For those who sell into the U.S., the Canadian loonie is a different story vis-à-vis the American greenback. “Oil prices have always been a barometer for our dollar. For the last few months, the Canadian dollar has strengthened at a faster pace than oil,” Gervais points out, “so there’s more to the story. When risk is lower, investors will migrate to other currencies than the U.S. dollar. I’m predicting that the Canadian dollar will remain strong for the year, with a dropback in about eight weeks when debt ceiling talks resume in the U.S. Otherwise, the long-term looks strong for the Canadian dollar.”

Indeed, foreign investors are attracted to Canada, one of only seven countries in the world with a triple-A rating. Some economists are predicting that the loonie could be as strong as $1.04 U.S. by the end of the year.

Here’s another statistic to ponder. Just 10 years ago, 92 per cent of all Canadian horticultural exports went to the U.S., but that number has softened to 87 per cent last year. Gervais says that diversifying in the marketplace is a good strategy, singling out frozen foods in emerging Asian countries.

With a backdrop of modest economic growth in North America -- is two per cent a plausible number? -- Gervais suggests that growers keep attuned to

Euro/CDN Dollar

0.85 0.83 0.81 0.79

0.77 0.75 0.73 0.71

0.69 0.67 0.65 Jan-2011

May-2011

Sep-2011

Jan-2012

May-2012

Sep-2012

Jan-2013

US/CDN Dollar 1.08 1.06 1.04 1.02 1.00 0.98

0.96 0.94 Jan - 11 May - 11 Sep - 11 the linkages between the state of the economy and food. Over the last 10 years, Canadian fruit consumption is up 77 per cent per capita while vegetable consumption, excluding potatoes, is flat.

THINKING OF SEED, THINKING OF SEMINOVA

Jan - 12 May - 12 Sep - 12

“It’s not unanimous, but economists predict that 2013 will be a little more difficult for Canada,” says Gervais. “Levels of consumer debt are not sustainable, and if consumers do pay down, there’s less disposable income for food.”

The good news is that prices of fruits and vegetables will appear to have good value compared to higher meat prices that will have factored in higher prices of grains.

For horticultural producers, labour is one of the main input costs. A widening rift in unemployment rates between western and eastern Canada will

Jan - 13

put pressure on wages. “It will be interesting to see how this plays out in a province such as British Columbia,” he says.

Chances are that Gervais didn’t consult the Chinese New Year calendar when offering his 2013 forecast to horticulture.

February 10 launches the year of the snake, the water snake to be precise. Coincidently, his predictions are similar to what’s in the Chinese horoscope: It’s a year when quick maneuvers are going to be needed in order to avoid unexpected obstacles.

How will exchange rates affect your business?

“We were at the Interpoma equipment show in Balzano, Italy last November and saw an opportunity to lock in the euro at just under 1.30 for the next six months. It was a good time to bring in new labour-saving platform lines for our apple clients.”

Sean Bartlett, Provide Agro, Beamsville, Ontario

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“The strong Canadian dollar affects Manitoba growers in two significant ways. Exporting to the United States becomes more challenging to be competitive and imports that are coming into Canada are lower priced. Manitoba growers have taken the attitude that they want to continue to supply our U.S. customers during a high or low Canadian dollar. If we don’t, we cannot expect those customers to be around in the future. With currency exchange, it is always important to have a long term view to doing business.”

Larry McIntosh, President and CEO, Peak of the Market, Winnipeg, Manitoba

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE 5 THE GROWER

PAGE 6 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

WHAT’S YOUR STORY

Greenhouse growers are feeling the heat from Mexico KAREN DAVIDSON For brothers Jacques and Réjean Demers, seasonal workers from Mexico are pivotal to their greenhouse and berry operation near Quebec City. Ironically, that labour advantage is evaporating like moisture under a desert sun when competing against Mexico itself. 2012 farmgate receipts were 20 per cent less than the previous year on 16 acres of greenhouse tomatoes.

“We’re really concerned about tomato imports from Mexico,” says Jacques Demers from their Saint-Nicolas farm. Investments in new greenhouse technologies – supplemental lighting, water recycling systems and co-generation of electricity – are up against an onslaught of Mexican tomatoes that look like greenhouse-grown but are produced under shades at much lower costs.

With Mexico’s ‘protected’ agriculture expanding at an annual rate of 13 per cent -- according to USDA Foreign Agricultural Service figures -- Canadian growers have reason to be worried.

The Packer reported last September that there are 30,000 acres in greenhouses and 20,000 in shade houses or macro tunnels.

Most of that production, about 70 per cent, is in tomatoes with the remainder in peppers and cucumbers. Shade-grown also means soil-grown, so the produce is still exposed to the elements unlike hydroponically-grown produce in Canada.

As a member of the Canadian

Horticultural Council (CHC) greenhouse committee, Demers says that a definition of greenhouse produce is needed to level the playing field. If the NAFTA countries of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico could agree on this definition, there would be a legal platform for educating consumers on the differences. The Canadian definition is close to being accepted in the U.S. Not only is the trade aspect an issue, but food safety worries Demers. If there’s an outbreak of E. coli or salmonella in Mexican tomatoes, that scenario would broadside the entire Canadian industry.

“The catastrophe in Europe in 2011 with sprouts underlines the dangers for us in Canada,” warns Demers. Originally, Spanish tomatoes were blamed for deaths until researchers pinpointed sprouts. The findings were too late to correct consumers’ pullback on tomato purchases, devastating an entire industry.

To respond to these competitive pressures, the Demers brothers are diversifying their greenhouse acreage in 2013 with a pepper trial and fewer tomatoes.

The challenge is to convince Quebec’s retailers to feature local produce.

“We don’t talk about quality anymore,” says Demers. “That’s a standard with our technology and efficiency. It’s all about price.”

Competitiveness is also a major issue for the Demers’ 85 acres of field strawberries and seven acres of raspberries grown under plastic tunnels. They are

Jacques Demers, left, poses with Henry Neptali Barrios Rodas, a Guatemalan worker in his Saint-Nicolas, Quebec greenhouse. very limited in the crop protection products which can be used on these berry crops.

In the U.S. for example, growers can use Brigade to get rid of the tarnished plant bug right up to harvest. Canadian growers don’t have access to the same product. Their only choice is Ripcord which is registered for seven days before picking. “This is not practical in strawberry production where we have to pick every two or three days maximum,” says Demers.

Another U.S. product is Abound to prevent strawberry root rot with no delay before harvesting. In Canada, Quadris (the same active ingredient) is registered but can be used only

one year before harvest –not useful to a strawberry grower.

“Don’t forget all the strawberries from the U.S. can come to Canada,” says Demers. “We can’t use the same products on strawberries but our consumers

can eat U.S. produce. We have to harmonize pesticides with the U.S.” At the upcoming CHC annual meeting in March, Demers will be speaking out on these competitiveness issues.

More tomatoes to come via FAST lane Competition will get more fierce this winter as faster transit times are expected under a new pilot program. U.S. phytosanitary inspectors will check commercial shipments in Mexican territory, before trucks have access to the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) business lane to the U.S. The new facility will be located in Otay Mesa, near San Diego.

It’s cleared for shipments of tomatoes, cucumbers and strawberries.

While that development does not necessarily translate into more Mexican tomatoes in Canada, there is a displacement effect explains Linda Delli Santi, CHC’s chair of the greenhouse committee. Cheaper Mexican tomatoes displace Californian product which then moves into Canadian markets.

Tomatoes grown in a greenhouse are gathered at Del Campo Supreme in Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco, Mexico.

“Our objection is that Mexico is trying to get premium prices for product that’s shade-grown rather than under controlled environments,” says Delli Santi.

Florida field tomato growers are also feeling the heat. USDA figures show that Mexican field tomato imports rose 43.7 per cent from 2008 through 2011. Greenhouse-grown tomatoes pose a bigger threat which grew 74 per cent in the same period.

In the last five to six years, Mexico has converted from a field culture to a hothouse culture says John VanSickle, an agricultural economist at the University of Florida. Indeed, there are frequent reports of Dutch firms building vast new greenhouses in Mexico.

Technology knows no borders.

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE 7 THE GROWER

OFVGA AGM

Squeezed for water and money KAREN DAVIDSON NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO Southern Ontario, embraced as it is by three of the Great Lakes, is in an odd position. Its horticultural industry is rich in water yet pressured by water issues. Its horticultural organization is rich in history yet challenged by a funding mechanism that’s earning less revenue -- $300,000 less last year.

These two issues surfaced in several reports at the recent annual meeting of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) held January 14 – 16.

Water Art Smith, CEO, highlighted the Ministry of the Environment’s active inspections of greenhouse operations’ storm water and nutrient management and vegetable operations’ disposal of washwater. The price tag for an environmental certificate of approval varies with each situation, but can often total $25,000 or more with the required consultant fees.

A committee chaired by Don Taylor of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) is currently working on a better solution under the ag ministry’s Nutrient Management Act. If that regulatory goal is realized, the work will just begin on developing water management regulations and mitigation strategies.

The process of gaining permits to take water is also eating valuable time of growers. George Shearer, OFVGA’s water specialist, aided in 279 permits in the last four years. Now that government funding has ceased for his position, fees for service will be adjusted to reflect actual costs.

Water issues are so dominant that Brian Gilroy, property chair, brought forward one of the strategic planning recommendations to set up a new committee with water as the sole focus. The 2013 board, under the new chairmanship of Ray Duc, has pledged to make this an early priority. Not only is there a stewardship issue, but a competitiveness issue in terms of access to water, quality of water and costs of water.

long-term funding. Voting members carried a motion that OFVGA develop and implement a strategy for lobbying the Ontario government to develop an alternative funding mechanism to container tolls. Submitted by the greenhouse growers, this motion advocates for a more equitable funding formula between all commodities that derive benefits from the association. It also addresses the funding realities of the future.

To a large degree, the financial health of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association impacts the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC). In 2012, OFVGA paid just shy of $140,000 in membership fees.

Again, the greenhouse sector put forward a motion that OFVGA

take a leadership role in working with other provinces on a model for CHC that is “funded fairly by Canadian edible horticultural

farmers.” A second motion called for OFVGA to seek support for an external consultant to examine how CHC can more effectively

Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs) are becoming widespread in many operations ranging from greenhouse to sweet potatoes to tender fruit.

However, growers are concerned about liability for cleanliness when RPCs arrive with stickers, visible residue and detritus from previous crops. A motion passed that OFVGA work with CHC and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on a scientific study of safety risks of RPCs. Any study should also recommend actions on RPC management, handling and use practices to eliminate biosecurity risks.

and cost-efficiently deliver its services. Both motions were carried.

The increasing use of Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs) is shown side-by-side with corrugated containers at Lakeside Produce, Leamington, Ontario.

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The management of all these issues is costing more, yet operational funding is decreasing.

Retailers’ mandated use of Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs) has meant a drop in container fee income to OFVGA. As a result, Smith reports individual commodity groups will not receive funds in 2013 for research and promotion.

Resolutions on the floor reflected members’ angst over

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PAGE 8 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

Thank you

RAY DUC CHAIR, OFVGA I would like to start by thanking the 2013 board of directors for electing me as its chairman. It is an honour to hold a position that has been held by so many

outstanding farm leaders over the past 154 years, the most recent being Mac James. Thank you Mac for your leadership over the past year. It is the accomplishments of these men and women that elevate this position and give it a respected voice in government.

Some of you will know me, most will not. I work with three generations of our family on our farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake. We have been growing grapes and tender fruit for more than 50 years. I have been involved with farm organizations for the past 20 years.

This year will have its challenges. We have commodities recovering from massive crop losses and commodities coping

chairs and directors. It is important that I also speak to the future leaders. I do not know who you are, what role you will take on, or what part of the province you will come from, I do know you are the ones that will step up and not simply presume the work will get done. I urge you to take the leadership courses offered through OMAFRA and get involved with your commodities and farm organizations. I thank you in advance for continuing this important work.

I would like to thank the provincial and federal governments for the successes over the past year. We have a Self-Directed Risk Management (SDRM) program in place, Growing Forward II is progress-

with prices that are not sustainable. Rain and wash water continue to be an onerous issue for growers in Ontario. The cost of compliance is putting an undue burden on growers who cannot recover these costs from the market place. The OFVGA will work together with all impacted commodities and organizations to shift edible horticulture under the umbrella of the Nutrient Management Act. There are major issues facing each of our sections: labour, property, crop protection, research and safety nets. I have confidence that the section chairs elected at the annual meeting will face these issues with competence and integrity.

I started by thanking the past

ing and the “buy local” movement seems to be getting traction. I look forward to working with you to make edible horticulture in Ontario competitive in a global market.

I purposely did not thank people by name. I would, however, like to thank Chris Kowalski for attending the entire OFVGA 2013 convention despite some serious personal challenges. Chris, you show the dedication and commitment we need from the growers of Ontario. I wish you all the best and a full recovery.

Lastly, I would like to thank the staff of the OFVGA, and the Grape Growers of Ontario for your continued support.

The pros and cons of reusable plastic containers

ART SMITH CEO, OFVGA The trend of more produce being packed in Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs) shows little

sign of abating. Loblaws, we are told, expects to receive up to 40 per cent of its total produce in RPCs. First let’s look at the good: stackability. Rigid containers can be stacked higher than cardboard.

If damp, the bottoms don’t sag and cause damage to the produce below. That translates into less shrinkage. As well, they are faster to assemble.

Now let’s look at the environment. First they are an oil-based product and not, as is cardboard, made from a renewable resource.

Secondly they are much thicker than cardboard and even when “knocked down” they take up three times as much space as

cardboard which means three times the trucking, three times the environmental footprint just getting them to the farm or packing house. These containers must get shipped from the retail outlets back to the States where they are sanitized. Here again an even greater environmental footprint as there are only two washing facilities -- one in Chicago and one in the southern U.S. Next, the farmer now needs to carry and store two different types of masters. Do you have the extra space? Is this convenient?

The next issue pertains to market flexibility. What happens when the retailer turns down the product that they ordered just

because they no longer require it?

It means taking it home and repacking into cardboard for another retailer; to add insult to injury, this product now needs to be repacked and that expense is borne by the farmer.

The next issue is the lack of brand recognition. Many consumers look to see which farmer produced the product and where.

That information is lost, for unlike the cardboard container, there is very limited room for graphics to differentiate your produce from someone else’s. Often cardboard containers are used to conceal the RPCs in the store; a practice that is very common in the store just down the street from

our office.

Two bigger issues are of food safety and biosecurity. Many farmers have found dried produce leaves, white powder or dirt in containers which have been shipped back from being “sanitized” in the U.S. Imagine a container-borne disease or pest entering a greenhouse and the damage that could present. And who’s liable?

Food safety is a priority for farmers, retailers and government alike. One-time use of cardboard containers may not be perfect but the inherent risk is much, much less.

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

Consequences of the Standard Container Regulations’ demise

ADRIAN HUISMAN ONTARIO TENDER FRUIT PRODUCERS The federal government, without obtaining anything in return from the U.S., has voted to get rid of the Standard Container Regulations. They did so to

provide greater freedom for the industry (mostly for processing) to use whatever size container they wished to meet consumer demand. The problem is that it opens up the market to imports of products in non-traditional packaging not currently offered by Canadian manufacturers. If the new package size is widely accepted, Canadian processors will have to retool in order to be able to produce similar sized consumer packages or close up shop.

From a retailer and consumer standpoint, this sounds like a positive move but what are the consequences for Canadian manufacturers and the producers who supply them?

The processing sector sees this

as a very real threat to their operations. Some internationals have said that they will be forced to abandon their Canadian operations in favour of their U.S. (or other) plants. If that happens, Canadian producers lose their market. All you have to do is look at what happened to the Canadian fruit canning and grape juice sectors.

The Canadian government recently announced an additional $250 million for the auto industry which is experiencing record profits. I expect that is to provide them with incentives to keep their operations in Canada rather than move their production to the U.S. (likely Michigan where unions are on their way out). So far, they are not promising a similar carrot

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to the food processing sector in order to preserve the Canadian production base which provides markets for Canadian producers.

What the Canadian government likely didn’t consider (or ignored) is that by getting rid of the Standard Container Regulations, they also will be abandoning the “Ministerial Exemption (M.E.)” provision which provides protection to Canadian producers from cheap, sometimes dumped, imported produce shipped in bulk bins for either processing or repacking.

Under the existing rules, importers are required to request an M.E. before they are allowed to bring the product into Canada.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency then contacts Canadian

ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2013 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Chair Vice-Chair Fruit Director Veg Director Director

Ray Duc, Niagara-on-the-Lake To Be Announced Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin Jason Ryder, Delhi Jason Verkaik, Bradford

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Apples Fresh Vegetable - Other Tender Fruit ON Asparagus Grws’. Mkg. Brd. GGO/Fresh Grape Growers Fresh Vegetable - Muck ON. Potato Board Small Fruit/Berries ON. Ginseng Growers’ Greenhouse Greenhouse

Brian Gilroy, Meaford Mary Shabatura, Windham Centre Fred Meyers, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Ryder, Delhi Ray Duc, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Verkaik, Bradford Mac James, Leamington Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin Ken Van Torre, Burford Jan Vander Hout, Waterdown Don Taylor, Durham

producers to see if they are able to supply this produce and if they are, the exemption is denied.

Once the M.E. system is abandoned, domestic buyers will use their access to cheaper U.S. produce as leverage to force domestic prices down. I would do the same in their shoes.

Unless the government changes its mind, it appears all we can expect at this point is to delay the expiration date of the Standard Container Regulations as long as possible and/or try to negotiate a program to assist Canadian processors and producers to restructure their operations to meet the challenge. Stay tuned.

OFVGA SECTION CHAIRS Crop Protection Research Property Labour Safety Nets CHC

Charles Stevens, Newcastle Harold Schooley, Simcoe Brian Gilroy, Meaford Ken Forth, Lynden Mark Wales, Alymer Murray Porteous, Simcoe

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE 9 THE GROWER

PERSPECTIVE New Ontario liquor laws not liberal enough for wine producers

OWEN ROBERTS UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH The most recent attempt by the Province of Ontario to liberalize liquor access is not enough for the province’s wine sector, which is campaigning for independent wine stores separate from the LCBO. On New Year’s Eve afternoon, the province announced that over the next 12-18 months some large grocery stores would be equipped with a service called LCBO

Express.

As envisioned, Express outlets will be mini versions of full-size LCBO stores. But unlike the limited run from single wineries you now find in some grocery stores, the Express stores are to offer a wide range of products.

The province also unveiled plans for what will be called VQA Destination Boutiques. The nomenclature is a little awkward, but the idea is sound – that is, to offer LCBO customers an expanded selection of Ontario VQA wines, including hard-tofind wines from smaller Ontario producers.

You might think producers would be happy with the change.

After all, for years the LCBO has claimed it couldn’t get enough product from small producers to make such a venture worthwhile.

But the industry persisted, as did members of the public who found the LCBO’s poor-us image hard to swallow.

And if anyone has an obligation to support small producers in

Sue-Ann Staff its own province – and the money to do it – it’s the LCBO. But producers still want more.

They agree with finance minister Dwight Duncan, who made the New Year’s Eve announcement and noted that Ontarians want more convenience for purchasing alcohol. Indeed, despite being the most populated province, Ontario has the lowest number of alcohol retail stores per capita in Canada.

It’s woefully low, in fact, without any practical reason why.

Complaints about the discrepancy in alcohol availability between provinces, not to

mention countries, has yielded few results. The main problem has been the LCBO’s stranglehold on Ontario’s $9.5-billion alcohol market.

But given how the LCBO turns over a tonne of tax to the province, it’s not going away. So the wine sector wants Ontario to take the next step and let independent wine stores open.

Among the proponents of this approach is University of Guelph alumnus and accomplished Niagara region winemaker Sue-Ann Staff. She’s part of a campaign led by the Wine Council of Ontario called MyWineShop.ca, designed to give consumers of Ontario what they want and deserve.

And what would that be?

“Better access to wine, with substantially wider selection,” she says. “Any trip to the wineries of Ontario will indicate there are thousands of wines that are not conveniently available to the consumer other than visiting

Wine Country Ontario."

Some history is at play, too.

Conservative Ontario has long balked at easier access to alcohol.

Some see it as increasing the chance of drunk driving, and suggest the LCBO’s eye-opening 6.3-million challenges to customers in 2011-12 who appeared too young or too drunk to buy booze will be less stringent in independent outlets.

But the government doesn’t seem concerned about an active sales environment. Minister Duncan acknowledges Ontarians have a growing interest in local wines. He says the VQA boutiques “will make it easier for customers to discover and learn about VQA wines, while helping support Ontario wineries.”

As well, there’s no question the province expects more sales opportunities such as the new access measures to increase LCBO sales and profits, which are benefiting appreciably from Ontario VQA wines (and craft-brewed beer). In the New Year’s Eve news release, the province notes “additional revenues will help contribute to eliminating the deficit and protect key priorities, such as health care and education.”

So, with moderation in mind, let’s raise a glass to a somewhat liberated LCBO, and hope for more – more independence, selection, access and responsible drinking education.

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PAGE 10 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

OFVGA

Board briefs Following are highlights from the OFVGA board meeting held December 20, 2012. The purpose of this brief is to keep you up-todate on the issues that the OFVGA is working on, as well as projects and initiatives the organization is involved in.

Financial review and budget Representatives from Tonin & Co. LLP reviewed their audit report with the Board for the OFVGA fiscal year ended October 31, 2012. Final financial statements will be presented to the OFVGA membership at the annual general meeting this month in Niagara Falls. The Board approved the budget for 2013, which reflects decreases in the organization’s container toll income due to the frost damage to

the apple crop in 2012, as well as increasing use of Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs). The Board did not renew funding for the OFVGA Research and Promotion Fund for 2013, but will make a decision annually depending on the financial position of the organization. A pilot fund had been in place for the last two years as a mechanism of returning retained earnings through member associations in a way that would directly benefit Ontario fruit and vegetable growers.

held its annual review meetings with representatives from the countries that participate in the program. No changes will be made for 2013.

FARMS has been named in a wrongful dismissal lawsuit involving an Ontario farm and several seasonal workers.

FARMS is requesting to be removed from the case.

FARMS is continuing to work with a PR firm to help showcase the many positive aspects of SAWP. The next wave will focus on Jamaica and the benefit of the program to workers in their home country.

Labour Section chair Ken Forth reported that FARMS, which is responsible for the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP), has

Ahmed Bilal showcases global crops at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.

Safety nets Section chair Mark Wales

reported that approximately 2,700 horticulture producers are enrolled in the Self-Directed Risk Management (SDRM) program.

Under the terms of an agreement reached between the six sectors that are part of the Risk Management Program (RMP)/SDRM, horticulture’s annual allocation will be $23 million as well as the first $2 million of any unused funds in a given program year.

Property The initial phase of a wildlife damage study for the horticulture sector has been completed. The largest losses are in small fruit and berries although all participating commodities reported that losses have been increasing. An update on the study will be provided at the annual general meeting this month during the Property section meeting.

Growers are reminded to review their Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) assessment notices to ensure bunkhouses are classified as farm and not residential buildings. The provincial government announced this change last year but the classification change is not automatic.

OFVGA continues to work towards having horticulture regulated under the Nutrient Management Act with respect to waste and wash water issues.

Members of a horticulture task group, chaired by Don Taylor, have been meeting with government staff from Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of the Environment and the Premier’s office on this issue.

Research Section chair Harold Schooley reported that the OFVGA/ Vineland Research and Innovation Centre priority planning session for edible horticulture will be held February 13. The goal is to bring together producer groups and representatives from across the value chain to define priority areas for research and innovation. Prior to the meeting, each commodity group will be required to consult with their members to fill out a questionnaire that will form the basis of the discussion. The outcome of this session will be a list of research needs that includes the top five priorities for each commodity group.

Greenhouse vegetables, berries, apples, potatoes and vegetables have all submitted projects to the five-year Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) horticulture cluster program, which has an annual allocation of $4 million and will provide funding at a 75-25 split. CHC administration fees will also be split 75-25 with government.

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE 11 THE GROWER

Year in review 2012 KELLY DAYNARD

exhibition season.

January 1 marked the one-year anniversary of Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFC), a group that was formed with the amalgamation of two, long-standing Ontario coalitions: AGCare and the Ontario Farm Animal Council.

Here are some highlights of the group’s activities in 2012:

Promote and advance responsible farm environmental practices

Providing expertise and leadership on issues: Farm & Food Care managed and launched a new national public attitudes study in August.

A total of 2,000 Canadians from coast to coast were polled on their attitudes about food and farming with their answers compared to similar studies dating back to 2001. Results are available on the Farm & Food Care website.

Staff coordinated four Speak Up team training sessions for Ontario farmers in 2012. Since 2005, 260 Ontario farmers as well as farmers in four other provinces have taken this training workshop, designed to create confident spokespeople on issues related to food and farming. An unprecedented amount of young ambassadors also received training in 2012 with more than 400 agricultural college students and fair ambassadors attending presentations. In 2013, an online forum will be created to give young ambassadors a place to discuss their agricultural advocacy efforts with each other.

Education and Events: Farm & Food Care’s media and culinary student tour program continues to be in high demand.

In 2012, students from six Ontario culinary colleges (Fanshawe, St. Clair, George Brown, Georgian, Algonquin and Fleming) attended day-long tours.

Since 2006, 32 tours have been organized for approximately 856 culinary students. Media tours were organized for 75 food writers and reporters in both Toronto and Ottawa last year with support and participation from many commodity organizations including the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association and the Ontario Apple Growers. Farm & Food Care also appreciates the ongoing support of Foodland Ontario in hosting these programs.

It was also estimated that 1.976 million Ontarians (including 40,000 students) visited at least one of Farm & Food Care’s displays at 34 different events throughout the 2012 fair and

What do you think is needed for a sustainable future for farming in Ontario? Ontario farmers and agri-business partners are invited to attend one or both days of a “Cultivating a Sustainable Future” forum in February to hear some innovative and challenging speakers. This is your opportunity to provide some valuable input into future directions for Farm & Food Care’s Environment and Animal Care Councils on the issues and opportunities that should be priorities for Ontario agriculture. Both events will be held at the Delta Guelph Hotel and Conference Centre.

Farm & Food Care will coordinate and deliver a new Water Resource Allocation Management Initiative (WRAMI) project on water conservation and initiative.

This project began in October of 2012 and will continue until March 2014. The program is now accepting applications for demonstration and pilot projects.

Applications can be found on the website – with a deadline of February 15, 2013.

A new Environment Advisory Council, with representation from across FFC’s membership, held two meetings in 2012. Council development will continue to be a priority in 2013.

Five new consumer farm environmental fact sheets were prepared on topics related to pesticide use, pesticide residues, organic vs. conventional agriculture, biotechnology and farm labour. They’re all posted for public use at www.farmfoodcare.org A new Caring for the Land blog was launched in May and features twice-weekly postings on agricultural environmental issues.

Public Outreach: A total of 7,500 copies of the 2012 Faces of Farming calendar were printed and mailed to politicians (federal, provincial and municipal), media, grocery stores and butcher shops. OFVGA sponsored a page featuring lavender grower Anita Buehner.

Reaching out through social media continues to be a big focus of the organization. Farm & Food Care now has about 2700 followers on Twitter (up 1,000 in the last year) as well as 317 followers on Facebook. YouTube and Pinterest accounts are also receiving a great deal of traffic

with FFC’s 100 YouTube videos being viewed 16,605 times in the last year.

Find out more: Anyone interested in more information about Farm & Food

Care can subscribe to its monthly e-newsletter by emailing info@farmfoodcare.org.

The organization’s annual meeting will be held April 3, 2013 in Guelph.

More information on Farm & Food Care Ontario’s activities can

be found on its websites at www.farmfoodcare.org, www.caringfortheland.com, www.virtualfarmtours.ca or www.farmingsources.com.

Kelly Daynard is Communications Manager, Farm & Food Care Ontario

PAGE 12 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Airblast sprayer wheel maintenance

DR. JASON S.T. DEVEAU, APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST MR. MURRAY THIESSEN, CONSULTING AGRICULTURAL MECHANIC Airblast sprayer wheel assemblies should be cleaned and inspected as part of regular annual maintenance. Wheel bearing maintenance before long-term storage may prevent water from corroding the bearings.

The exploded diagram (see Figure 1) details the parts found in a typical wheel assembly.

The following procedure was performed on a 2012 Durand-Wayland sprayer, but the steps are applicable to most sprayer makes and models. The entire process should take approximately half-an-hour per wheel.

Step 1-

Jack stand Bottle jack

Step 4Figure 1- Exploded diagram of airblast sprayer wheel assembly.

Step 7-

Bearing

Seal

Knock out the seal and hub bearing and put them in the plastic container. Unless it is damaged, there should be no need to remove the bearing cup (or race) from the hub. The seal is designed to keep dirt out of the assembly, not to keep grease from escaping. Be sure to note which way it is facing. The seal is often ruined during disassembly; have a replacement on hand.

never combine greases; They may not be chemically compatible.

Clean the seal thoroughly. Seals are easily damaged and may need replacement.

Step 11-

Step 8-

Step 5-

Empty the sprayer and park it in a well-lit, level spot. Un-hitch the tractor and raise one side of the sprayer using a bottle or floor jack to clear the wheel. Secure the sprayer with a jack stand.

Step 2Clean the old grease out of the hub. This hub has too much and it has filled much of the air space (or cavity) within the hub.

That air space is provided so grease is not forced out as the hub heats up, and so dirt is not pulled in as the hub cools. Note the colour of the grease – if it is black and stains your hands, it has burned because too much grease has caused overheating.

Look for evidence of dirt or water in the bearing, which indicates seal failure.

Clean the hub bearing. Compressed air is a good way to get all the old grease out, but do not spin the bearing with the air.

Step 9-

Mount the hub tightly on the spindle.

Replace the washer, cotter pin, nut and cap.

There is no need to bend the arms of a cotter pin all the way back – it weakens the metal. Just bend one arm to 90° and cut off the excess. Use anti-seize on the wheel pilot to make the rim easier to remove next time.

Step 6-

Damaged by heat

Remove the lug nuts and take the wheel off the hub. Do not remove the wheel and hub together because it is heavy and you might bang the delicate seal on the spindle.

Check the wheel rim for signs of corrosion or distortion (often caused by either loose or over-tightened lug nuts). Check the tread for wear or cuts and check the tire pressure.

Step 3Remove the hub cap and pull out the cotter pin. Then remove the nut and washer that hold the hub on the spindle. Put all the small parts in a plastic container with some de-greaser (e.g. Varsol®) to clean the parts and keep them from getting lost.

Look for scratching, pitting or blue metal (indicating heat). This scorch mark indicates the bearing was moving on the spindle, and the friction created heat.

Agricultural wheel bearings do not fit tight to the spindles. If there is too much clearance, the bearing race will turn on the spindle where it is not supposed to.

Wipe dirt from the spindle. Never pressurewash wheels when they are on the spindles because the spray drives dirt and water past the seal and into the hub. Inspect the sealing surface of the spindle for damage or wear.

Step 10Repack the bearings, reassemble the hub and re-grease the hub. Bearings should only be ~40% full. Too much grease creates heat and does not let the bearing roll properly. Too little increases friction. No matter which grease you choose to use,

Step 12Replace the wheel and rim. Do not grease the lug nuts or they might loosen. Over- or under-torqueing lug nuts can cause damage. Look in the manual for your correct torque and consider using a torque wrench.

Tighten the nuts in a star-shaped pattern – not sequentially.

Repeat process on the other wheel.

For more information on bearings and bearing maintenance, go to: www.timken.com/en-us/products/ Documents/Industrial-BearingMaintenance-Manual.pdf

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE 13 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Phosphorous acid reduces incidence of potato late blight, pink rot and silver scurf EUGENIA BANKS Late blight, pink rot and silver scurf are serious diseases of potatoes. Late blight (Phytophthora infestans) and pink rot (Phytophthora erythroseptica) are most common during wet growing seasons. Late blight can develop as early as crop emergence because infected seed is an important source of inoculum. In contrast, pink rot is soil-borne, and the disease is usually detected just before harvest. Silver scurf (Helminthosporium solani) is mainly seed borne. The disease is not easily seen on tubers at har-

sured the residue of the phosphorous acid in leaves and tubers after the fungicide treatments. Her results showed that when the fungicide was foliar applied, phosphorous was capable of translocating into the other parts of the leaves and to the tubers.

The amount of phosphorous acid residue in the tissues was positively correlated with the suppression of the late blight pathogen.

Dr.Wang –Pruski noticed that tubers harvested from fields treated with foliar applications of phosphorous acid also gained resistance to late blight during storage.

Silver scurf infected tuber vest, but it becomes very noticeable after time in storage.

Infected tubers produce spores that are spread by the air circulating in storages and infect healthy tubers. Table-stock growers take this disease seriously because the blemishes caused by silver scurf on the tuber skin render the potatoes unmarketable.

Phosphorous acid (H3PO3) is an environmentally friendly product that reduces the incidence of these three diseases. Phosphorus acid is not phosphoric acid, a corrosive acid you may remember from high-school chemistry class.

Phosphorous acid is not a phosphate-based fertilizer. This acid is rather a phosphite molecule combined with hydrogen Phosphorous-acid based fungicides are systemic and have two modes of action: they kill pathogens on contact and they stimulate plants defense mechanisms, something called systemic acquired resistance (SAR).

Research conducted by Dr Gefu Wang-Pruski from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia showed that potato plants responded to the application of phosphorous acid by regulating the biochemical synthesis of defense proteins in the plant cells.

A total of 103 proteins were identified. The functions of these proteins are essential for the suppression of late blight infection in potatoes.

Dr Gefu Wang-Pruski mea-

Late Blight and Pink Rot Management with Phosphorous Acid Based Fungicides Foliar Treatments To reduce the incidence of late blight and pink rot, phosphorous acid needs to be applied as a foliar spray or as a post-harvest treatment. In-furrow applications at planting are ineffective.

Because phosphorous acid stimulates plant defense mechanisms, it needs to be applied as a preventative treatment, before infection has occurred. The first spray should be applied when largest tubers are dime-size. At least 3 applications are recommended at 7 to 14-day intervals. The high rate should be used when the plants are actively growing because translocation down to the tubers is faster. The low rate should be used on aging plants or when the crop is under stress because the rate of translocation down to the tubers slows down.

Using the lower rate should prevent phytotoxicity. There have been reports of defoliation when phosphorus acid was applied under adverse weather conditions.

Research conducted by Dr. Rick Peters from AAFC in PEI has shown that phosphorous acid should not be used on seed fields.

He noticed delayed, poor emergence, reduced vigour and low yields in plants grown from seed produced by a crop that received five foliar applications of phos-

phorous acid the previous year.

In his opinion, more research is needed to determine if there is an appropriate rate to use on seed fields. In addition, phosphorous acid should not be applied as a seed treatment.

Post harvest treatments. Use the label rate and ensure complete and even coverage of the tubers, but avoid getting the tubers too wet. Remove as much unwanted material--diseased potatoes and debris--as possible prior to treatment.

According to Dr. Rick Peters, phosphorous acid is very effective for killing spores on tuber surfaces. In his research, he inoculated the tubers with late-blight spores, sprayed with phosphorus acid an hour later, and was able to get almost complete control. It is important to note that phosphorous acid will not cure infected tubers, so spray phosphorous acid as soon possible after harvest to reduce new infections.

Silver Scurf. Besides reducing late blight and pink rot in storage, post-harvest treatments with

phosphorous acid suppress silver scurf. The mode of action is unknown, but there was up to 50% less silver scurf on treated potatoes.

on the label.

The label also warns that mixing Phostrol with certain surfactants, foliar fertilizers, or other pesticides can cause crop injury.

Phosphorous acid based fungicides registered in Canada

Remember: • The processing quality (chipping or French frying) is not affected by the use of phosphorous acid fungicides.

• Phosphorous acid is not effective on Fusarium dry rot or Pythium leak.

• Depending on weather conditions, 3 to 5 foliar applications of phosphorous acid at seven to 14day interval are recommended.

• Post-harvest treatments must be applied as soon after harvest as possible.

• Do not use phosphorous acid on seed potato fields.

There is no doubt that the environmentally friendly phosphorous acid based fungicides are valuable additions to the potato fungicide arsenal for combating late blight and pink rot!

At the present time, there are two phosphorous acid based fungicides labeled in Canada: Confine and Phostrol.

Confine is registered as a foliar spray for the suppression of late blight and pink rot. It is also registered for the post-harvest treatment of potatoes to supress storage infections of late blight, pink rot and silver scurf. The label states that Confine is not recommended for use on potatoes intended for seed because there is insufficient data to support this use.

Phostrol is registered as a foliar spray for the control of late blight and the suppression of pink rot. It is also registered as a postharvest treatment for the control of late blight and pink rot.

Suppression of silver scurf is not

Eugenia Banks is OMAFRA’s potato specialist.

PAGE 14 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Surface inversions cause spray drift Advection of warm air: Warm air flows over cool surfaces and lower layers cool more rapidly than those above.

DR. JASON S.T. DEVEAU On typical days, the air near the ground is warmer than the air above it. This is because the atmosphere is heated from below as solar radiation warms the Earth's surface (see Figure 1).

A surface inversion occurs when the atmosphere at the earth’s surface is colder than the layer above it. There are four

Shading: Shading from trees as well as from rolling terrain can cause an inversion to set in earlier and stay later.

Radiation cooling: Around sunset, the ground cools rapidly by radiating heat upwards into space. The air in contact with the ground cools by conduction, causing the lowest layer of air to be cooler than higher layers. Air

Figure 1 – Spraying during normal atmospheric temperatures

Figure 2 – A surface inversion causing spray to collect, concentrate and drain into the cool layer of air. common causes of surface inversions, some of which can occur at the same time. Remember – inversions flow like water.

Advection of cool air: A slab of cool air slides into and under a warmer air mass. This “drainage inversion” can occur when there are sea breezes, cold fronts or when cool air drains downhill into warmer air.

within this “radiation inversion” tends to remains in place.

Radiation inversions create problems for spray operators because they can cause pesticide spray to: • stay concentrated for long periods over the target, • move with the cool air for many kilometres when the breeze picks up,

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• drain down slopes and concentrate in low-lying regions (see Figure 2), • drift unpredictably as the inversion dissipates during the morning.

Radiation inversions happen every day and should always be expected to begin three to four hours before sunset, reach their apex just before sunrise and then dissipate no longer than an hour or so after sunrise . . . unless one or more of the following conditions occur: • There is continuous overcast, low and heavy cloud.

• There is continuous rain.

• Wind speed remains above 11km/h for the whole period between sunset and sunrise – although even this isn’t always true.

Field air temperatures are often very different from local or regional forecasts, so the most reliable method of detecting inversion conditions is to measure temperatures at, and several meters above, the ground. Spray operators can recognize a surface inversion when: • there is a big difference between the daytime and night time tem-

Figure 3 – Taken on an August morning. This slab of fog was moving laterally in the light breeze. peratures, • evening and night time wind speeds are considerably less than during the day, • sounds seem to carry further, • odours seem more intense, • daytime cumulus clouds tend to collapse toward evening, • overnight cloud cover is 25% or less, • mist, fog, dew and frost occur (see Figure 3), • smoke or dust hangs in the air and/or moves laterally in a sheet.

In the U.S. Pacific Northwest, regulations are in place to

establish daily cut-off times for spraying certain pesticides.

Inversions start to form three hours prior to sunset, become stronger as the sun sets and continue until sunrise when the surface warms and air mixing begins. If you suspect there’s an inversion, then don’t spray. Often, it’s right on the label.

Jason Deveau is OMAFRA’s Application Technology Specialist.

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE 15 THE GROWER

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FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Apple scab resistance testing KRISTY GRIGG-MCGUFFIN, POME FRUIT IPM SPECIALIST, OMAFRA, SIMCOE MARGARET APPLEBY, IPM SYSTEMS SPECIALIST, OMAFRA, BRIGHTON LESLIE HUFFMAN, APPLE SPECIALIST, OMAFRA, HARROW Collections this past spring completed the two-year National Apple Scab Fungicide Resistance Testing, which is part of a project administered by the Ontario Apple Growers (OAG). Funding for this project is provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food

Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP) and the Pest Management Centre, Risk Reduction Program. All appleproducing provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia) participated again this year, with 19 new Ontario sites randomly selected by the OAG from the five growing districts. In total, 46 sites in Ontario and 107 across Canada were tested for apple scab fungicide resistance (Figure 1).

Cooperating growers agreed to leave six to eight trees unsprayed for disease until apple scab lesions appeared. Leaves with fresh primary scab lesions were

Figure 1. Ontario apple scab co-operator locations by county. Sites were selected as part of the national resistance survey, including British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Numbers represent the total apple scab collection sites in each province (inset). collected and sent to the University of Guelph’s Pest Diagnostic Laboratory. There, conidial spores were isolated from the scab lesions and tested for resistance to both sterol inhibitor (SI) (Group 3) and strobilurin (Group 11) fungicides.

Two methods for testing were used again this year; a modified SMOR method developed at Cornell University, as well as DNA screening developed at Michigan State University.

The modified SMOR method was altered this year to reduce the risk of contamination, so scab lesions were scraped with a bacteria loop rather than washed to collect isolates. These isolates were then grown in pure isolate colonies for one to two months.

After this time, plated media treated with either a SI (Nova or Inspire) or a strobilurin (Flint) were inoculated with 10-13 isolates from each orchard and left for 14 days. Relative growth was determined by measuring the diameter of isolate growth in each fungicide treated plate and comparing it to the growth of an untreated control.

DNA screening was also used as the presence of the G143A mutation indicates a high level of resistance to strobilurins (Flint, Sovran and Pristine). This was done using PCR to detect the presence of the G143A fragment in 10 isolates per orchard.

With guidance from Dr. Kerik Cox, Cornell University and Dr. George Sundin, Michigan State University, results were interpreted using baseline relative growth thresholds set to determine the sensitivity levels of scab to Nova, Inspire or Flint.

For Nova and Inspire • If the relative growth (RG) is below the baseline susceptible average RG of 35%, then the population sample is considered susceptible to the fungicide.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE 17 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Apple scab resistance testing

• If the RG is between the baseline susceptible average RG of 35% and the resistance threshold average RG of 75%, then the population has shifted toward resistance.

• If the RG is above the resistance threshold average RG of 75%, then the population is considered resistant to the fungicide.

For Flint (trifloxystrobin) • If the RG is below the baseline susceptible average RG of 22%, then the population sample is considered susceptible to the fungicide.

• If the RG is between the baseline susceptible average RG of 22% and the resistance threshold average RG of 42%, then the population has shifted toward resistance.

• If the RG is above the resistance threshold average RG of 42%,

then the population is considered resistant to the fungicide.

Based on the project results (Figure 6): • For Nova, there is a significant shift from susceptible to resistant populations in Ontario. The only orchard that is still within the susceptible range is a wild, unsprayed orchard. However, Nova may still be useful for powdery mildew control. Stay tuned for powdery mildew fungicide resistance testing results.

• Many orchards in Ontario are susceptible to the newly registered SI, Inspire (registered for use in 2011). However, there is some indication that populations are beginning to shift towards resistance. Use Inspire carefully!

• For Flint, there is a wide sensitivity distribution in orchards

across Ontario, ranging from susceptible to resistant populations. As well, presence of the G143A mutation indicates a high level of resistance to strobilurins; however, there may be other genes associated with resistance that we did not test.

• Similar findings for the above fungicides were observed in the other participating provinces across Canada.

• Never use an SI Figure 6. Fungicide sensitivity for apple scab populations from 37 Ontario orchards or strobilurin surveyed in 2011-2012. alone, as they can quickly shift to resistant. Tank mix these fungicides should only be Diagnostic Laboratory. with a protectant fungicide. Also, used as preventative treatment.

In the spring of 2012, we It is important to remember, launched the second part of this resistance is dependent on how national project to investigate the the fungicide was used. Though resistance in powdery mildew to some orchards in your area may Group 3 & 11 fungicides. This show resistance to a product, two-year project is also funded by don’t assume it’s in yours! Each Agriculture and Agri-Food orchard needs to be individually Canada through the Canadian tested for resistance and each Agricultural Adaptation Program product needs to be evaluated.

(CAAP). Samples of powdery Also, although an orchard may be mildew tips were collected from resistant in laboratory tests, it 47 orchards sites from all apple does not mean control failure is producing provinces, and tested at occurring in the field. It will the Okanagan Tree Fruit Lab in eventually fail, however, if use of British Columbia. Both bioassay the product is continued. Testing and DNA testing are being used for apple scab fungicide to evaluate the samples and resistance can be challenging, results are expected early 2013. expensive and, at times, The authors are specialists inconclusive. However, it can be with OMAFRA’s horticulture a very useful tool to make team. appropriate control strategy decisions. This testing service is currently being developed at the ® Hot Potatoes Rewards University of Guelph Pest

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PAGE 18 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Growers plead for faster track to harmonize access to pesticides KAREN DAVIDSON Give Neilda Sterkenburg credit. As director of review and science integration for the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), she ventured from the security of her Ottawa office to face a grower meeting. Armed with self-deprecating humour, she outlined the status of pesticide harmonization to a group that’s heard many promises before.

Here’s an abbreviated report of the plan that is to give equal access to crop protection products in North America and align maximum residue limits (MRL) where possible.

Action 1: encourage joint submission of use expansions and fully align labels. The approach is to obtain simultaneous receipt of application packages and fully aligned labels from registrants.

“A lot of progress has been made on MRL calculations,” Sterkenburg reports. “A standardized label approach is needed because the current labour-intensive model is not sustainable.”

Action 2: develop joint guidelines for residue trials. The approach is to accept food safety data generated in either the U.S. or Canada. Teams are developing joint guidelines for generating residue field trial studies to support registration in the U.S.

and Canada.

reviewable application.

Action 3: address obstacles to joint registration. The approach is to identify flexibilities in regulatory processes and procedures. “We’re developing uniform, electronic forms,” says Sterkenburg. “It sounds like a small thing but if forms aren’t filled out correctly, reviews are delayed.”

In addition, the team is looking at joint chemistry reviews and online interactive tools. What an improvement if PMRA could issue a decision tree and video tutorials for applicants and registrants. If PMRA can give guidance to what a good application looks like, then there is more assurance of a solid,

Action 4: align data collection processes/procedures for residue trials. The approach is to align data generation priorities and reporting processes to support increased numbers of joint reviews of minor use expansions.

The Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) process is now in its final year of a two-year process, but Sterkenburg predicted that harmonization efforts will go beyond those deadlines of 2013 year-end. That statement didn’t encourage blueberry grower Bill Parks.

“I’ve listened to harmonization of pesticides for years,” complained Parks. “I hope you get there before I die. I’m tired of

being three to five years behind the Americans.”

Parks continued: “Canada’s market is too small for registration. People are similar the world over. Susceptibility to molecules is the same the world over. Soils and climates, time of product use, are similar. I get ugly when produce comes into Canada treated with crop protection products that I can’t use. The GROU Program?

I want it for ALL products.

Here’s why. I can buy fungicide for blueberries in the U.S. -Bumper, Mission or Topaz – under the GROU program and save $300,000. That’s enough to buy a big field sprayer! I know another farmer who picked up enough Agri-Mek in the U.S. to spray his entire apple farm. The savings paid for the pickup truck to drive across the border to get it. As a farmer, I’m saying please hurry and help me!”

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Sterkenburg acknowledged the complexity of production systems. “The challenge is that pesticides, while they seem straightforward, are equally as complex. Harmonization is a huge challenge when you overlay the domestic regulations for U.S., Canada, Australia, Europe and Japan. It takes time to bring countries together.”

John Kelly, vice president, Erie Innovation and Commercialization, observed that the industry started talking about harmonization and joint reviews as far back as 1998. “It seems to me that there’s agreement on the science,” says Kelly. “But we’re slow on the decision-making process.”

Sterkenburg said joint reviews are negotiated for new active ingredients on a case-by-case basis. It’s 24 months for a new active ingredient in Canada, but on average, a joint review cuts six months off the timeline.

“I can’t tell you everything is going to be fixed,” said Sterkenburg. “Joint reviews are our biggest deliverable. Since 2007, 50 per cent of new products have been registered under this process and just last year, the figure went to 73 per cent. From a regulatory perspective, that’s huge. From a grower’s perspective, that’s probably slow as molasses.”

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE 19 THE GROWER

PAGE 20 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Highlights of 2012: Pesticide file report to OFVGA CRAIG HUNTER Every year is unique, and this past one has been no exception.

The second Global Summit on Minor Use was held in February, and much was accomplished to further the movement to a global approach for minor use registrations. Companies can take better advantage and plan on how they can get more countries labeled with the minimum amount of work, if growers follow the lead of Canada and the U.S. in setting priorities. Data sharing between and amongst countries will be enhanced through a global portal where access to data becomes easier. Many countries (>50) were present and we see more interest arising since then. China will be

sending delegates to our meeting next month, as will New Zealand and perhaps Brazil. In the end, our registrations will be more effective if these other countries also get the registrations, and most importantly the MRLs associated, so that we can trade our treated commodities freely.

At the North American level, the announcement of the Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) set off a flurry of work as both PMRA and EPA along with the IR-4 and the PMC team from AAFC were instructed to get the job done for ‘harmonization.’ The workplan is ambitious, and they have met with stakeholders for new ideas, approaches and affirmations of the workplan. Much still needs to be done to alter their ‘paperwork’ and to alter the areas

of significant difference in data needs, methods of data interpretation, and in some areas of cost recovery. For instance, Canada only charges about $10K for a bundle of MRL requests for an active ingredient whereas the U.S. charges $53K per MRL requested. That means that when we need an Import MRL to be established in the U.S., the company is often loath to pay. If the U.S. side needs import MRLs for citrus, coffee, etc. it is one small fee here. It is also why they may try to get just an MRL here while NOT pursuing a registration, even when our growers have asked for it and need it. PMRA is on notice that we do NOT condone setting of MRLs here on crops we grow, when we have a stated need for that active ingredient. They

understand our concern!

We had a few issues with particular actives. Telone is gone, and it was only at the 11th hour we found out why. We are now focused on alternatives, including a couple of new nematocides and a nematocidal seed treatment. The re-evaluation of Linuron was released last September, and we worked with commodity groups across Canada to document the need and importance of this active. In addition, I undertook an in-depth analysis of their document, and tore it to shreds for poor science, inaccurate detail, and underutilization of data they had or should ought to have had.

Once again, time will tell if all these efforts will win the day.

PMRA did a review of the Grower Own Use Import Program

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(GROU) and has published a new proposal to put it into the regulations. (It had operated as a policy up to now) We were able to make comments and made some suggestions for improvement. These include a five-year period for a nominated product to be on the list, not the current two years. It included retention of the old OUI (Own Use Import) regulation as a safeguard if the new program fails or a company simply refuses to cooperate. Several points about product eligibility were made, as were concerns expressed about the need for better product information access from companies.

We stressed once again that our goal is price discipline, not importation.

In another forum we have been trying to get New York and Michigan authorities to recognize our grower certification to be equivalent to their program. Their dealers cannot sell products to us if they are in the ‘restricted’ class.

This is a further barrier to import unless it is ‘fixed.’ Our Ministry of Environment staff are looking into a form of reciprocity.

The March Minor Use Priority setting went very well. Of the 40+ projects chosen, there will be some additional ones come about through joint projects with IR-4.

In addition, there is work going on to deal with the new invasive pests- Brown Marmorated Stink Bug and the Spotted- Winged Drosophila. Both these pests are potentially devastating to a very wide range of crops. The PMC has taken a strong role in dealing with the registration needs for a number of insecticides, over and above the normal work commitments.

At the provincial level, the Ontario Pesticides Advisory Committee (OPAC) continues to deal with requirements under the Pesticides Act to classify new products. When new actives are registered for the first time, an extra 30-day period for public comments is now required. When needs arise for immediate access by growers at certain times of the year, and when the 30-day period is onerous, it has been the agriculture members like David Marshall and Catherine McKay, along with myself, Dr. Al Hamill, Hugh Berges and Chair Frank Ingratta, who have been able to document these needs and expedite the availability. It will continue to be important to have able representatives from the agriculture community on OPAC. Throughout the year it has been possible to dialogue with PMRA, CropLife Canada and its members, other commodity groups like Pulse Canada, Canola Council, Grain Growers of Canada and others. Being kept ‘in the loop’ allows for proactive approaches, and collaboration. I hope to continue this in the coming year.

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE 21 THE GROWER

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PAGE 22 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

New detections of brown marmorated stink bug in Ontario The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is an invasive alien species native to China, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan. It was most likely introduced to North America in the mid 1990s, and was first positively identified in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 2001.

While BMSB is capable of natural spread, the pest is also an excellent hitchhiker and can be moved over large distances in cargo and vehicles. At present it has been found in 39 states and several Canadian provinces, though many of these are simply detections rather than confirmed as established in the field.

BMSB has a very broad host range that includes tree fruit, berries, grapes, vegetables, agronomic crops, ornamental trees and ornamental shrubs.

Damage results when nymphs and adults feed on either vegetative or fruiting plant parts. BMSB is well-adapted to a diversity of landscapes and does not require a specific host to facilitate establishment or spread. Patterns of dispersal between hosts during the season are not well understood and contribute to difficulties in managing BMSB. The pest is highly mobile and can readily switch hosts, moving between crops throughout the growing season.

Adults overwinter in sheltered areas that may include homes and other heated buildings. As they can aggregate in very large numbers (up to several thousand where populations have reached severe agricultural level status), BMSB has become a considerable nuisance pest for home owners.

Quality Seed

Figure 1: BMSB adult. Look for two obvious white bands on otherwise dark antennae, inward-pointing white triangles between dark markings along the edge of the abdomen, and a smooth edge along the pronotum or “shoulders.” They are mottled brown-grey dorsally and a have a pale underside. Legs have faint white bands. (Photo credit: Jennifer Read, NRCan) Aggregation in artificial structures is not common among stink bugs, and is a behaviour that provides an early warning of where BMSB has become established. Shelter-seeking behaviour contributes to the widespread distribution of this pest through hitchhiking by various means of transportation including cargo, vehicles and railroads.

There have been numerous interceptions of BMSB coming into Canada with goods and vehicles since 1993. Following

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several homeowner finds from 2010 and 2011, a population of BMSB was identified by OMAFRA during the summer of 2012 in Hamilton, Ontario.

Hundreds of nymphs and adults were found in buckthorn located within a wildlife sanctuary and along parts of the Niagara Escarpment. Despite provincewide surveys in 2011 and 2012, BMSB has not yet been detected in crops.

As days chilled down in late September and early October, adult BMSB began to move

indoors. Not surprisingly, calls and emails from homeowners started to come in to the OMAFRA Agriculture Information Contact Centre (AICC). Although the majority of specimens were collected in Hamilton, there were over thirty finds scattered all over Burlington, which most likely indicates BMSB is established there as well. Adults were also collected at two locations in Toronto and in Newboro.

Homeowners reported finding multiple individuals in gardens and indoors. Information collected from homeowners and the known distribution of BMSB suggest that this pest has been established locally for several years.

The majority of the Hamilton specimens are showing up along the Escarpment. A likely reason for this is because this part of the city is heavily forested, and it contains many of the woody non-crop hosts that BMSB use through the season such as Tree of Heaven, catalpa, maple ash, etc. (and apparently buckthorn).

Populations can build up in these unmanaged areas. BMSB tend to become established in urban areas first then disperse to agricultural crops. The abundance of suitable landscape hosts and proximity of BMSB populations pose a serious immediate risk to adjacent agricultural areas in Brant, Halton, Hamilton and Niagara counties. Growers in these areas should be particularly vigilant about monitoring for BMSB. Three pest control products have been registered for managing BMSB in Canada, with other solutions identified at the National Minor Use Priority Setting Meeting in 2012.

The Canadian Hort Council and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Pest Management Centre have formed an Invasive Alien Species Coordination Group to facilitate and coordinate pest management research issues and outreach efforts to support the development of mitigation strategies for Canadian growers affected by BMSB (and spotted wing drosophila, another designated invasive). A national technical working group has been

established to prioritize research needs, including potential management solutions. There have been considerable efforts in the U.S. to develop monitoring tools, evaluate natural enemies, and screen chemical controls.

Knowledge gained from this work will be valuable to growers in Canada.

Management is particularly challenging in organic crops.

None of the products registered to date in Canada or the US are options for organic production.

Funding for research into the management of BMSB in organic production has recently been made available by the United States Department of Agriculture Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative. Up-to-date information on research into organic management tactics, including trap cropping, can be found at www.stopbmsb.org/managing-bmsb/organic-bmsb-links and www.bmsb.opm.msu.edu/.

Early detection is important to the long term success of management programs. We need to have a better understanding of where this pest is and how well it is established. There is a monitoring network for this pest and we hope to conduct surveys in 2013/2014; however, we have a better chance of finding pockets of small populations if more people are actively looking. Tracking the distribution and spread is essential.

Many of those reporting BMSB indicated they’ve been seeing them for three or four years; they just didn’t realize they were looking at something new.

A sample is required to confirm BMSB. For pictures of BMSB and look-alikes, visit www.ontario.ca\ stinkbug. If you think you have found BMSB, contact the OMAFRA AICC at 1-877-424-1300 or email ag.info.omafra@ ontario.ca, and we will provide you with instructions on what to do with the sample. High resolution pictures are useful for identification. For the most recent map (U.S. and Canada), as well as reports and presentations, visit www.stopBMSB.org. (See below).

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FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE 23 THE GROWER

VEG FOCUS

Tomato disease management and spray adjuvants JANICE LEBOEUF, OMAFRA VEGETABLE CROP SPECIALIST, RIDGETOWN Bacterial disease is an annual problem in field tomato production in the Great Lakes region. The diseases are difficult to manage and weather conditions often favour the disease over the crop.

There has been some concern that spray adjuvants could be helping bacterial pathogens to penetrate the protective layers of the tomato leaf or fruit, thereby contributing to disease problems.

Spray adjuvants, such as spreader-stickers, are added to the spray tank to improve the performance of certain pesticides.

At the Tomato Disease Workshop, held in Ohio in October, Dr. Sally Miller of Ohio State University presented the results of a study on the effects of

adjuvants on tomato bacterial spot.

In this study, several bacterial disease control products were applied with or without a non-ionic surfactant. This surfactant, Activator 90, is in the nonylphenol family, similar to products like Agral 90 or Ag Surf that are used in Canada.

Treatments were: • Kocide • Kocide + surfactant • Cuprofix • Cuprofix + surfactant • Actigard • Actigard + surfactant • Actigard + Kocide + Kasumin • Actigard + Kocide + Kasumin + surfactant • Surfactant • Kocide + Manzate • Non-treated control The lowest level of foliar bacterial disease was in the plots treated with Kocide plus Manzate,

a standard treatment used by Ontario growers. Disease levels were also lower than the untreated control in the Cuprofix, Cuprofix + surfactant, Actigard + surfactant, and Actigard + Kocide + Kasumin + surfactant treatments. In most cases, disease levels with the surfactant added were numerically lower than

disease levels without the surfactant, although the differences were not statistically significant. When the surfactant was used alone, with no bactericide or plant defense activator, disease levels were not significantly different than the untreated control.

One might argue that these

surfactants were applied with bactericides, and thus did not increase disease. In Ontario tomato production, adjuvants would most often be used with certain herbicide applications, rather than with bactericides.

However, in the treatment where the adjuvant was applied alone, there was no increase in the level of disease.

If the adjuvant was helping the pathogen to invade the leaf, this is where the difference should have really showed up, as there was no freshly-applied bactericide protecting these plants.

This research should reassure tomato growers about the use of adjuvants. It is good to keep in mind that when a pesticide label specifies the use of an adjuvant, efficacy of the product could be compromised if it is not used as directed. In some cases, there is essentially no efficacy without the use of the recommended adjuvant.

Field vegetable pest management to be highlighted at OFVC During the field vegetable sessions at the 2013 OFVC on February 20 and 21st, several speakers will be discussing pest management for various vegetable crops.

• Jim Jasinski, an assistant professor in Vegetable IPM from Ohio State University, will be discussing cucurbit disease control using conventional and air-assisted spray technology.

• Mary Gardiner, an assistant professor in entomology from Ohio State University, will be

• Rebecca Hallett, an associate professor and PhD. Candidate Braden Evans both from the University of Guelph, will give an update on recent work done on Swede midge management in both conventional and organic production systems. See what research has been happening on Swede midge. This pest is a serious insect pest for cole crops, which can be very difficult to control.

• Beth Gugino, an assistant professor in vegetable pathology

Swede midge damage on broccoli

talking about natural enemies in the field. Some of the projects Mary has worked on under the Great Lakes Vegetable Working Group, include: - Flyer: Natural Enemies Identification http://glvwg.ag.ohiostate.edu/documents/ NaturalEnemiesFlyer-FINAL.pdf - Video: Identifying and Enhancing Natural Enemies in Vegetable Crops www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1E YCevAgnY

from Pennsylvania State University, on the first day of the convention will talk about disease management in high tunnels specific to vegetable production.

The second day of the convention she will talk about soil-borne diseases of vegetables and what to do about them, with focus on the use of cover crops.

Various speakers from Ontario will also give brief updates on bacterial disease management in tomatoes, leek moth in Ontario and Specialty Cropportunities, a

new interactive, on-line tool which includes information on pest management for low-acreage

crops.

For more information and registration for the 2013 Ontario

Fruit & Vegetable Convention, see www.ofvc.ca/. Hope to see you there!

PAGE 24 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

BITS AND BITES

Pollinator vectoring technology A pollinator vectoring technology workshop is scheduled for February 9 at the Best Western Hotel, Cambridge, Ontario. The free, 9 am – 3 pm workshop is organized by CANPOLIN, University of Guelph.

The workshop will address the principles of bee vectoring technology and its value in the sectors of greenhouse, soft and tender fruits, oilseeds and field crops. Beekeepers will speak about their inputs of bumblebees and honeybees to the process, and

growers’ perspectives will be shared.

Managed pollinators can also be used to spread biological agents to protect crops from diseases such as grey mould, sclerotinia, rhizopus, mummy berry and other insect pests.

Speakers include: John Sutton, Peter Kevan, Les Shipp, Todd Mason, Bob Wildfong.

To RSVP, contact Sherren D. Kevan at 519-6580573 or email sherrene.kevan@sympatico.ca

COMING EVENTS 2013 Feb 1 – 6

North American Direct Farm Marketers Association Conference, Doubletree by Hilton Inn, Portland, Oregon

Feb 5, 6

Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association Annual General Meeting, Best Western Lamplighter Inn, London, ON

Feb 6

2nd Annual World Crops Seminar, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland, ON 9 am - 1 pm

Feb 6-8

Fruit Logistica, Berlin, Germany

Feb 5 – 7

Canadian International Farm Show, International Centre, Mississauga, ON

Feb 9

Pollinator Vectoring Technology Workshop, Best Western Hotel, Cambridge, ON (RSVP Sherrene.kevan@sympatico.ca)

Feb 12, 13

Environmental Innovation Forum, Guelph, ON

Feb 13

2013 Accelerated Release Open House, AAFC Potato Research Centre, Fredericton, NB 10:30 am – 3 pm

Feb 20, 21

Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, Scotiabank Convention Centre, Niagara Falls, ON

Feb 20

3rd Annual Ontario Sweet Cider Competition, Scotiabank Convention Centre, Niagara Falls, ON

Rampart fungicide approved The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has approved Rampart fungicide for the control of late blight and pink rot on stored potatoes.

“Many potato growers in eastern Canada are already familiar with Rampart having benefited from it when we received emergency use registration a few years ago,” says Janet Porchak, director marketing with UAP, Canadian distributors. “Warm, wet conditions at the end of the 2008 growing season made late blight and other diseases, such as pink rot, a serious threat to the crop.”

Late blight and pink rot are two of the most devastating diseases for potato growers. Both are caused by a fungus and can infect tubers before or at harvest. Diseased tubers can then infect healthy tubers, causing serious losses in storage or in future crops.

Rampart is a systemic fungicide that contains 53 per cent mono- and dipotassium salts of phosphorous acid, which makes it effective in controlling blights and rots.

“Rampart should be applied as soon as possible after harvest,” says Jeff Crampton, general manager for Loveland Products Canada, manufacturer of the product. “It can be used as a single spray or rinse

for harvested potato tubers prior to storage or as a single application through the humidification system to potatoes in storage.”

The application rate is 190 mL of Rampart in 1 L of water; growers should use 2 L of this solution per 1,000 kg of potato tubers.

In addition to post-harvest potatoes, Rampart is now fully registered for the suppression of downy mildew in grapes and in brassica leafy vegetables such as broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower.

Downy mildew is a highly destructive disease that is prevalent in many regions when conditions are warm and wet. In grapes, the pathogen attacks all green parts of the vine, causing yield losses.

Foliar infections can also cause premature defoliation of vines, predisposing the plant to winter injury.

In vegetables, downy mildew can hinder seedlings, but it can also cause poor growth and reduced yield and quality at later stages.

Rampart can be used in grapes and in Brassica leafy vegetables by foliar application up to one day before harvest. For specific rates and timing in these crops, visit www.uap.ca.

Source: UAP news release

Feb 23 – Mar 1 56th Annual Conference, International Fruit Tree Association, Intensive Workshop and Tours, Marriott Copley Place, Boston, Massachusetts Feb 28

FARMS Annual General Meeting, German House, Delhi, ON

March 12

Invasive Alien Species Symposium, The Westin, Ottawa, ON

Mar 12 – 15 Canadian Horticultural Council Annual General Meeting, Westin Hotel, Ottawa, ON

Seedway expands onion seed product line Seedway is now including Crookham onion seed in its Canadian offering.

“The addition of Crookham onions to our Canadian line-up complements our current offering of Bejo and Takii onion seed”, commented Dean Cotton, Seedway vegetable seed business manager.

Genesis, a 100-day, large-globe bulb with copper skin and good pink rot resistance is available now. Being trialed for future availability are Scorpion, an early to mid-season yellow and Red Devil and Red Beret, mid-season reds with good size and highly single-centered.

Canadian growers can contact Brian Tregunno (416-505-0853) or Frank Jonkman (519-801-5882) for availability and varietal information.

Genesis onion, from Crookham

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE 25 THE GROWER

MINOR USE

Broad-spectrum fungicide launched for apples and wine grapes Bayer CropScience introduces Luna Tranquility, a new fungicide that delivers disease protection for apples and wine grapes. A broad-spectrum fungicide with Group 7 (fluopyram) and 9 (pyrimethanil) modes of action, Luna Tranquility is an all-in-one formulation with preventative, systemic and post-infection (for

apple scab) properties.

“Within a new and unique class of the Group 7 fungicides, Luna Tranquility is unlike any other previous SDHI fungicide,” said David Kikkert, portfolio manager, horticulture, Bayer CropScience. “Luna Tranquility is the only co-formulation fungicide that controls leaf scab in

apples (including currently resistant strains), while providing protection against powdery mildew through the same application. For grape growers, Luna Tranquility is the only fungicide that controls both powdery mildew and botrytis in grapes.”

Luna Tranquility is a systemic fungicide best suited for use in a

preventative treatment program.

“By providing unprecedented control of two of the most problematic fungal diseases in both apples and wine grapes, Luna Tranquility will help growers deliver the highest quality crop possible,” said Kikkert.

Luna Tranquility is formulated as a 500 g/L suspension concen-

trate and is available in 2L jugs.

For more information regarding Luna Tranquility, visit: BayerCropScience.ca/products/fu ngicides/luna-tranquility Source: Bayer CropScience news release

Pollinators deliver mycoinsecticide to control greenhouse pests The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has approved a novel pollinator biocontrol vector application method for the delivery of Botanigard 22WP to the target in pollinated greenhouse crops.

This application method uses a microbial inoculum dispenser that is attached to the front of a bumble bee hive.

As bumble bees exit the hive through the dispenser, BotaniGard 22WP accumulates on their legs and body hairs. The bumble bees then transport and deposit the product on plant foliage, flowers and fruit during foraging and pollination activities.

The Pest Management Centre’s (PMC) Pesticide Risk Reduction Program (PRRP) has collaborated with researchers at AAFC’s Harrow Greenhouse and Processing

Crops Research Centre and at the University of Guelph to develop this innovative approach, and has prepared a Category B label expansion submission for this technology, which was submitted on behalf of the registrant Laverlam International.

Botanigard 22WP was first registered in Canada in 2009 with the support of the PMC’s PRRP, and was already labelled for management of whiteflies, aphids and thrips in greenhouse crops. The new application method now allows for lower application rates through continuous delivery of bioinsecticide to the target and reduced product loss to ground deposition. Furthermore, this application method is beneficial by combining pollination with simultaneous pest control, thus reducing labour costs associated

with spray applications.

This registration provides an innovative approach to manage one of the most challenging entomological problems for greenhouse growers. Aphids, whiteflies and thrips have been minor use priorities for greenhouse producers for many years in Canada.

Thanks to the vision and perseverance of Les Shipp at Agriculture Canada’s Harrow research station, this innovative delivery system is now registered. PMRA’s evaluators also worked through many challenges posed by the review of this novel pest management concept. The registrant is Laverlam International. For more details of the new Botanigard 22WP label, go to the PMRA’s website.

Source: Pest Management Centre news release

Blossom Protect fights fire blight in pome fruit Blossom Protect, proven effective against fire blight in 30 countries, is now available in Canada following Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) approvals. The new product is labeled for the control of fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) in pome fruit (bearing and non-bearing).

“Blossom Protect does exactly as its name suggests. It protects blossoms during the crucial flowering period to help ensure

the crop reaches its full potential,” says Janet Porchak, director marketing for UAP Canada Inc., the exclusive national marketer and distributor for the product.

Fire blight is one of the most pervasive and infectious diseases in pome fruit (apple, pear and quince). It typically attacks the tree via the blossoms during the flowering period and can rapidly damage whole trees if orchards are not preventively protected.

“The product works through natural competition for space and nutrients between pathogens and antagonists on the blossom,” explains Christoph Ertl, sales & marketing director for bio-firm GmbH, Austrian manufacturers of Blossom Protect and other innovative biotechnological plant protection products. “As Blossom Protect acts competitively and does not attack the metabolism of bacterial pathogens there is no risk of resistance even with frequent

applications.”

Blossom Protect is a wettable granule and easily applied with standard equipment. The active ingredient occurs naturally in the environment – there is no pre-harvest interval or MRLs, making the crop export-ready.

Source: UAP news release

Zampro controls downy mildew and late blight Zampro is now registered as a horticultural fungicide for use

across Canada. BASF announces that it is a co-formulation of two

active ingredients: ametoctradin: a brand new mode of action for

oomycete fungal control; dimethomorph: a time-trusted performer. The product offers excellent control of downy mildew and late blight in a broad range of crops and crop groups: grapes, potatoes, brassica vegetable group, leafy vegetable group, bulb vegetable group, cucurbit group, fruiting vegetable

group and hops.

BASF announces that Zampro will be included in the 2013 AgSolutions®-Hort Grower Rewards Program. Technical sales support of this product and all other BASF horticultural products is provided by Engage Agro Corporation. |Source: BASF news release

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PAGE 26 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

MINOR USE CRAIG’S COMMENTS

Tribute to Bruce Disher – on his retirement

CRAIG HUNTER OFVGA Over the years, one meets and gets to know a great many people.

Some people come and go in this life without making an impact on their industry or on other people.

The other type of person makes an impact in everything they do, and leave a lasting impression on everyone they meet. Bruce Disher is one of those! No one who has ever met Bruce will ever forget him! Over a 37-year career (Gee, has it been that long?) Bruce has given back much more than many others have, and in a style all his own!

I first met Bruce when he worked for Niagara Chemicals based in Burlington Ontario, having been hired by another longtime friend Doug Wilson. (Those were the days!) He had already served 10 years with the old United Cooperatives of Ontario down in Chatham, another company also long gone, but active in those years. Bruce and I may have crossed paths while at university (Likely we did as we

would have frequented the same kind of ‘establishments’!) I still remember his big smile and the big hand-shake when Doug introduced us that day. These are his trademarks and how he deals with each new person he meets.

Bruce moved along as industry ownerships changed -- first to Rhone Poulenc when they bought out Niagara and then when R.P. merged with Agrevo he was suddenly wearing the Aventis hat.

The next merger was with Bayer for whom he worked three years before taking a buy-out. He finally joined N.M. Bartlett, where he put in his final nine years of industry service. Along the way, he served as the Provincial Council Chair for Crop Life, a voluntary job that is what one makes of it. He was also very active as a committee chair for many years, and always willing to volunteer to help. Many activities of the council seemed to work smoothly at that time, but it was Bruce acting behind the scenes that made it so.

Bruce has always been a keen competitor. A great many people have had the chance to play a round of golf with Bruce, and a few even agreed to place a wager on the result. I have never met a money player like Bruce. He could always seem to be able to make that putt that would break your heart, so that you would make sure he was YOUR partner the next time out!

He was like that in the business too. I recall a time when we had an emergency situation with

Blue Mould on tobacco. His company had been able to get an emergency registration for Aliette, at a time when the only other fungicide registered was no longer effective due to resistance.

He arranged a supply for the industry that helped greatly subdue the disease, when the recent memory of the 1979 Blue Mould debacle was fresh in peoples’ memories. Not only did he secure the supply of every available ounce of Aliette in Canada, he got the U.S. and Mexican supply sent here too! When that was being used up, he even arranged for shipments to be diverted here from other countries in Europe and Asia. It saved the crop, but few knew who was the manipulator behind the scenes who made it possible.

Bruce was always prepared to make a deal to get product, or to sell product, depending on who needed what. It was also important that it got paid for, and he is a master at extraction, in the kindest and nicest ways of course!

Bruce and his long-time travelling companion Wib Willows are known far and wide. They in turn can recommend the ‘dining cuisine’ of a thousand establishments, and indeed have taken many of us along to try them out for ourselves! These go far beyond Ontario borders. When one of his three sons was playing Junior Hockey in Erie Penn., a large group of us went over for a game. It seemed that in every establishment we went into, Bruce was known by name! The

same held true for another spot in P.E.I where an annual meeting and golf event took place for many years. That big smile and warm greeting are unforgettable!

Bruce and his wife Martha have three boys- all of whom have had a great time growing up with Bruce! He went to ALL their hockey games, and other events in their lives. When they got their cottage, almost every weekend was a family time to work on the place, do a little (actually a LOT) of fishing, and to meet neighbours and entertain friends. His ‘radio interviews’ are world renowned!

His Bar-B-Que skills are second to none, and when he actually got to the singing stage- look out!

Did I mention that he can pound the ivories with the best of them too?

Bruce is an avid fishing tournament attendee, winning his share and more. Over all the time I have known him, he has been a first class bridge player, either with Martha as his partner, or Doug, or Wib, or almost anyone!

It was not just bridge either. In the ‘good old days’ there were many poker games into the wee hours. At one ‘famous’ Crop Life event, as one by one the others dropped out to go to bed, only Bruce and I remained to play. It made no sense to deal a game any longer, so we just cut the deck, matched cards, and kept going until the sun came up. There was still time for breakfast before we headed to the golf course for the annual tournament. We were not in the same foursome that day,

but I do remember his group won! So much for a late night!

In later years, Bruce organized a group that has become known as Extreme Golf. Bruce arranges for the sponsorships, and a group of 16 has met, dined, played, and golfed together for a few days each August. Bruce sets up the matches like the Ryder Cup, and coerces us all into doing things we wouldn’t normally ever do!

Whatever happens in Kearney stays in Kearney! (It is a darn good thing that the neighbours are deaf, blind, and indulgent!) No group can have more good fun, or bond as well as that group -- all thanks to Bruce.

It is always amazing to see what someone has made of and for themselves over a career.

When Bruce was growing up on a small farm in Haldimand- hard clay and hard work- did he or any one else foresee where he was headed? Not likely. I never knew his parents, and only briefly met his two sisters, but it is easy to see that the values of a small family farm were instilled in them along the way. Bruce still operates that family farm, of course!

To paraphrase Robert Frost, Good Neighbours don’t need fences- they get in the way of helping each other. Bruce has helped a great many people over his career and in his life. I know that for him, retirement will be a lot different things than it is for many others. He has built no fences, and has friends everywhere he goes. What better to say of a man?

Invasive Alien Species Coordination Group formed The horticultural industry is declaring war on two invasive alien species: spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) and brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB). These pests have quickly permeated the collective consciousness with real damage, starting with B.C.’s cherry growers as recently as 2009.

The Pest Management Centre (PMC) and Canadian Horticultural Council have just announced the Invasive Alien Species Coordination Group to stickhandle sustainable solutions. The group comprises provincial specialists and entomologists, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, university and federal researchers, American scientists, growers and CropLife Canada.

Two technical working groups have been struck, each with field specialists charged with surveillance and research. Tracy Hueppelsheuser, provincial entomologist for British Columbia will be heading the SWD group and Hannah Fraser, OMAFRA’s entomology horticulture program lead, will be heading the BMSB group.

Screening trials, under the auspices of PMC, are underway for specific minor use registrations for SWD as well as a project to support use of dinotefuran (Scorpion) on plum for BSMB control.

Two of the organizers for the national group, Leslie Cass and Brian Ure from PMC’s Pesticide Risk Reduction Program, are quick to say that insecticides are only one part of long-term solutions. The group will be seeking a balance in agro-environmental ecosystems that will move

away from continued intensive chemical intervention.

These multiple tactics will take time to develop.

Source: AAFC The Pest Management Newsletter, Winter 2013

Spotted-wing drosophila female fly with no spots on wings. Photo courtesy Miranda Elsby.

Spotted-wing drosophila male flies on a fallen raspberry fruit. Males are identified by a black spot on each wing.

Photo courtesy Kaitlyn Schurmann.

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE 27 THE GROWER

Photo Credit: FBA

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PAGE 28 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

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FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE B1 THE GROWER

CELEBRATING 133 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION

FEBRUARY 2013

SECTION B

THE OFVGA AWARD OF MERIT

25,000 hands are behind the face of FARMS KAREN DAVIDSON For anyone who knows Ken Forth, he speaks a second language: legalese. It’s quite an accomplishment for someone who was afraid to speak in his formative years. But he’s become a formidable force in articulating the needs of labour-intensive horticulture.

The broccoli grower has chaired the OFVGA’s labour section for 21 years and for the last eight years, has been president of Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS). The demanding role puts him in courtrooms and pits him against unionists. Some may argue that the needs of farmers and workers are opposed, but Forth sees the situation otherwise.

“If we lost the FARMS program, it would mean the loss of jobs for 25,000 working temporarily in Canada plus the additional five people per family that they support,” explains Forth.

“There are many stories of how these jobs have helped pay for high school education and beyond.”

Ontario’s horticultural industry just honoured FARMS, its current and past chairs, directors and staff with the annual Award of Merit.

The recognition is for its exemplary management of the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program which brought about 15,300 workers to Ontario last

INSIDE THIS SECTION CEO’s report

Page 4

Property report

Page 7

Marketplace

Page 10

www.thegrower.org

The OFVGA Award of Merit is presented annually to an individual or an organization that has made outstanding contributions to the fruit and vegetable industry. In mid-January, Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS) was recognized for its exemplary contributions to horticulture. The award was presented to current chair Ken Forth, past chairs Gary Cooper and Hector Delanghe as well as general manager, Sue Williams and staff. Ken Forth is pictured here with broccoli seedlings about to be planted by Jamaican workers at his Lynden, Ontario farm. Photo by Denis Cahill. year.

“The service of FARMS to our industry is invaluable and the organization is a very deserving winner of this award,” says Art Smith, CEO of the OFVGA. “Without the work of FARMS, this program wouldn’t be in place and Ontarians would not be able to enjoy many of our great locally grown fruit and vegetable crops.”

FARMS’ executional success is due to general manager Sue Williams who has headed day-today operations for 16 years. She manages the logistics of transporting workers to and from Canada.

Before workers arrive, one of FARMS’ key functions is to negotiate the terms and conditions of employment with Canadian and host governments, specifically Mexico and the Caribbean.

These meetings take place in the host countries, with the respective

ministers of labour in attendance.

“If I had a wish, it would be for a higher level delegation from our Canadian government to attend these meetings,” says Forth. “I think it would be an education on the relationships that have been established and the gratitude these countries have for the gainful employment of their citizens.”

FARMS is an asset to Jamaica says Larkland Stone, chief liaison officer for the Jamaican government in Toronto. “There’s a substantial amount of foreign exchange to the country and it lowers our unemployment,” he says.

Going forward, one of the challenges is to communicate the program’s history and value to government bureaucrats. With so many retiring, Forth worries that the corporate memory will fade.

Beyond the director-general and

second in command at Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, he’s concerned about how deeply they understand the programs’ benefits. It’s one thing to win in a court of justice – as FARMS has with the Fraser case -- but quite another to win in the court of public opinion. And bureaucrats are influenced by media like everyone else.

In part, that’s why FARMS launched a publicity drive this past year. The program was taking the brunt of media coverage on migrant workers, mostly negative. The workplaces of 25,000 seasonal workers across Canada are highly regulated compared to 100,000 construction workers and 34,000 nannies, says Forth. By proactively seeking out media coverage, positive stories have appeared in the Hamilton Spectator, Toronto Star and other

outlets.

“The program is just as valuable today as when it started,” says Gary Cooper, one of only three chairs since the program started. “Success of the program is due to support from about 1,500 employers and the fact we have an appropriate monitoring system in place.”

On-farm safety and food safety remain top priorities. “We have to keep employers informed and be careful that we don’t become complacent,” says Cooper.

Continuous improvement will protect the program’s future. As Hector Delanghe, a former chair concludes, “There is no future without a reliable workforce.

FARMS is a perfect example of what can be accomplished when growers come together.”

PAGE B2 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

OFVGA AGM

OFVGA Chair ’s report 2012 MAC JAMES This year will likely be long remembered by many growers for its weather challenges – early spring-like weather followed by late frosts resulted in significant losses to tender fruit, asparagus and apple crops and a summer of drought in some areas also had an impact on many operations.

Fiscal restraint was a common theme this year. Belt tightening at the provincial level meant a cap on the RMP/SDRM program. A lot of work was done by OFVGA and the other non-supply managed commodities in the Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalitions (OASC) to develop a new allocation formula to fit within the $100 million program cap. Now that the revised program is in place, OFVGA will be less involved with OASC and the commodity working group.

The federal government also announced funding cuts that will have impact on the fruit and vegetable sector. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will administer any of its future funding programs out of Ottawa instead of through the current system of regional councils which has been in place since the mid-1990s. This means we will lose a valuable funding body in the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC), whose industry-driven approach to funding decisions has served us well. OFVGA currently has several larger projects underway that are supported through the AAC. AAFC also announced it will be closing its research station in Delhi, which represents a significant loss to horticulture. All ginseng research is hosted through this station, as are many minor use trials for crop protection products. A committee has been struck that is looking at ways the station could be repurposed.

We’ve also realized successes. A large number of crop protection products have

Mac James (R), 2012 OFVGA chair and Ontario ag minister Ted McMeekin survey the peach crop at last year's summer tour. Photo by Herb Sherwood.

Leanne Wilson (L), Laura Brinkmann and Nancy Hewitt staff the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers booth at last fall’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

been approved for minor uses on specific crops. Our lobby efforts to have nutrient management for the horticulture sector regulated under the provincial Nutrient Management Act are showing results as we move towards a solution with the Ministry of the Environment and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Progress is also being made on fair and ethical trading practices and efforts to establish a PACA-style trust in Canada to protect sellers of produce, as is in place in the United States.

OFVGA continued to anchor a booth at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair on behalf of the sector which allows many of our members the opportunity to be present at the show without having to commit staff and resources for the full ten days of the event.

From a Board perspective, it’s been a year of milestones. We’ve finalized our new Board Policy manual and completed a new strategic plan for the organization. The collaborative approach of Board and staff fosters good discussion and debate and even though we sometimes have to agree to disagree, we all share the common goal of a healthy and sustainable fruit and vegetable industry.

I would like to thank all the section chairs for their deep involvement in their respective sections. I would also like to thank Vice Chair Ray Duc and all other Board members for their interest and enthusiasm, as well as CEO Art Smith and everyone else for their dedication to the Board and the industry. It is really gratifying to see what can be accomplished when everyone works together for the advancement of our fruit and vegetable industry here in Ontario.

Mac James was chair, 2012 board of directors.

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE B3 THE GROWER

OFVGA AGM

Labour report 2012 KEN FORTH For 2012, the Labour Section had many interesting and complex issues. Labour continues to be most of growers’ major expenses – things are not getting any simpler. We have a good sound industry reputation in labour relations – contrary to media and the “other side’s” creative writing.

W.S.P.S. As you all know, FSA is part of WSPS – 3 SWA in 1.

WSPS represents more than 60 per cent of Ontario workplaces. The amalgamation has happened and things seem to be developing positively. May be a bit different, but is moving in the right direction. Before this amalgamation was complete, many things happened; the Dean Report and others with further suggestion for further changes.

Next major change was the Prevention Division of WSIB move to Ministry of Labour. This transition is not complete yet – at least not completely set up. As an industry we will see how this works. Time will tell and progress is slow and so it should be; maybe slow means there is a real concern to get it right.

Workers harvest ginseng at the farm of Dave Smith, Harley, Ontario. Photo by Glenn Lowson.

Our staff, Ken Linington does great work keeping our industry represented and keeping us informed from WSIB and employment standards.

Another court action began. LICC has been involved and will continue to be. After success in Dunsmore and a major win in Frazer, the tact now is not unionization but a frontal attack on the SAWP. The case will continue for years. We will be there putting the true story forward.

Ontario growers, is that Simcoe, Ontario will now be processing all SAWP LMO applications for all of Canada, except Quebec. This is a positive move for the program.

In December 2011 the Annual Review Meeting for the Caribbean Program was hosted in Niagara. At that meeting the FARMS Directors decided to promote the positive aspects of our program. Many stories have been in the media, locally and nationally. Consumers are now getting “the rest of the story.”

FARMS will continue on this path for the foreseeable future.

Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS)

Canadian Horticultural Council Human Resource Section

FARMS has been doing the administration for the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) for 25 years. Many things have happened over the years, the program now is very streamlined to what it was 46 years ago – easier access etc.

Despite the early frost, the number of workers travelling remained virtually unchanged.

One new change to the program, but of no change to

Due to the untimely passing of Doug Connery, I was elected Chair of the Human Resources Section of the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC). Doug and I worked closely on that file for many years. The continuity continues.

This past year, 11 persons were killed – a tragedy. The other side spun it to all temporary programs, especially ours. Ken Linington and I met with L. Jefferies , Minister

Labour Issues Coordinating Committee (LICC)

of Labour and Minister of Agriculture, Ted McMeeken. It was continually pointed out, a tragedy for sure and a traffic accident for certain.

Those 10 workers were in the Low Skills Program and were employed by an agri-service company – just for the record.

Closing On behalf of the growers of Ontario, I have met with many provincial and federal Ministers on behalf of the program. I also met with the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Portia Simpson-Miller, many from the Ministry of Labour from the Caribbean and many meetings with the Consul General from Mexico in Toronto.

We all must continue to tell this story of labour on our farms.

Thank you to staff and Boards at OFVGA, FARMS, CanAg Travel, LICC and CHC for all their assistance on the labour file this year.

Ken Forth is chair of the labour section.

PAGE B4 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

OFVGA AGM

CEO’s report 2012 ART SMITH Introduction It was another busy year for the OFVGA with much of our time consumed on discussions and negotiations regarding changes to Growing Forward 2 and a revamped SDRM program because of the $100 million cap imposed by the provincial government. While this was going on, the federal government was busy cutting back on AgriStability and Agri-Invest; a double whammy if you will.

Also, the Ministry of the Environment was ramping up its inspections of greenhouse and vegetable wash water operations, insisting that these farm operations require Environmental Certificates of Approval (ECA), the cost of which was, according to MOE, a minimum of $25,000.

Obviously this created a great deal of angst in the grower community. Our position was and remains that these issues belong under the Nutrient Management Act and not under the Ontario Water Resources Act. I will address the above issues further in the report.

On the administration or governance side of the coin, we developed a new Strategic Plan for the OFVGA and a complete set of policy guidelines for running the organization. Those of you who have been through this procedure know how much work and time it takes to complete.

Safety Nets The Drummond report was released last March and it identified a number of concerns with the financial situation in Ontario. Among those concerns were some cited issues with the newly created RMP/SDRM programs and in particular, that the government could be on the hook for a major payout in the event of farm price crashes and that the government simply could not afford this if it was to get its financial house in order by 2017.

As a result, the provincial government implemented a cap of $100 million, including administration, for the combined RMP/SDRM programs starting in 2013. The affected farm commodity groups were asked to work together to

develop a program mechanism that would keep the program expenditures limited to $100 million. From early May to October, the grain, livestock and edible horticulture sectors worked together to make that happen. The new plan was put forward to the Minister, and then to Treasury Board on November 15. The original program design guaranteed that for every dollar a farmer put in to his account based on ANS, he/she would receive an additional dollar back from the provincial government. This will most likely change starting in 2013 and end up being more likely that for every dollar the farmer puts in his or her account, the government will put in approximately 95 cents. This is the effect of the cap, but the amount will change annually.

As mentioned above, the federal government also decided to make radical cuts in the Business Risk Management (BRM) component of Growing Forward 2 (GF2). There had been some rumblings as to some cuts as early as last year, but the first real suggestion as to the size of the cuts came in early May and even then, what was being suggested was different from what materialized. Unfortunately, the federal government chose to have no formal consultation with farm leaders here in Ontario regarding changes to GF2 BRM. Fortunately for us, Minister McMeekin did choose to seek input from Ontario farm leaders; hats off to him.

It was indeed very disappointing that the federal minister chose to make such drastic cuts without meaningful consultations with our farm leaders. The changes that were made amounted to reducing Agri-Invest from 1.5 per cent to one per cent ANS and a loss of the 70 to 85 per cent tier of Agri-Stability. In addition, it included a change to the funding level of any triggered amount to 70 per cent including negative margin payments.

Water Rain and wash water: As mentioned above, the Ministry of the Environment this year was actively inspecting greenhouse operations and vegetable washing operations, insisting that these farmers required ECAs for their disposal

The breakdown is as follows: 127 category one permits; 33 category two permits; and 119 category three permits. When we started this program, it was our goal to achieve 200 permits, 50 permits per year over four years. I am pleased to announce that we met that goal.

It is our intention to keep this program in place as it provides a great service to both our members and non- members alike.

However, with the loss of the financial support we will be adjusting the price for our services to be more in line with our actual costs. Congratulations to George for a job well done.

Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) Varieties of okra are grown at the test sites of the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.

Once again the OFVGA paid the membership fees to CHC on behalf of all of our members who pay container tolls. This amounted to $139,286 for the 2012 fiscal year of CHC and represented a 5.5 per cent increase over the previous year. This was a direct result of increases in CHC budget needs and an increase of the Ontario portion of the Canadian fruit and vegetable farm cash receipts.

Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

Carrots are headed for the wash tank. Photo by Glenn Lowson. of these waters. While these had been noted as issues in the open for business sessions, the government had not taken any action to lessen the burden. In the spring of 2012, a committee was struck through Farm and Food Care to lobby the government in an attempt to have these water issues regulated under the Nutrient Management Act. A working committee was put in place and Don Taylor of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers was elected chair of this committee. The OFVGA agreed to cost share 50:50 with our members who were directly affected by

these actions to hire a government relations specialist to get to the” right people” in government. To date this seems to be quite successful, but at the time of printing this document there has been no formal word as to moving these regulations under the Nutrient Management Act. Mark, Don and I had the opportunity to meet with the Premier and discuss this issue with him last fall and he certainly understood our frustration. We also met on several occasions with Minister McMeekin on this issue. I believe it is fair to say that most are shocked at the cost of these ECAs, especially in comparison to many farm incomes.

Permit to Take Water 2012 was the final year for funding from AAC for the Growing Capacities Initiative regarding our surface water specialist. During the four years that the program has been in existence more than 279 permits have been applied for and received.

OFVGA was once again involved in the Royal. As in other years, we leased space at the fair in “The Journey to Your Good Health” pavilion and then sublet the space to our members so that they could participate without having to be there for the full 10 days and incur all of the associated expenses. For our member associations it goes well beyond the cost of the booth for 10 days; if you add to that the cost to staff the booth and the price of ”giveaways,” is just too costly for our individual member associations. In this way they can participate and get their messages out in an affordable manner.

Wild Life Damage Study Last winter we contracted Susan Fitzgerald to do a study to ascertain the amount of financial damage to the fruit and vegetable sector caused by wildlife, what kind of damage farmers are experiencing and to determine the steps that farmers were taking to mitigate the damages. From that information we hope to develop a best management practices document to assist our farmers in fighting this problem and also to attempt to get funding to help defray the costs. The program was slow in getting started as we had to wait to get approval for funding from OMAFRA. The study should be finalized this spring and results will be made known at that time.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE B5 THE GROWER

OFVGA AGM

CEO’s report 2012 Vineland Research and Innovation Centre World Crops 2012 was the second year that we supported research on world crops at VRIC – vegetable crops from other regions of the world that it might be possible to grow in Ontario to meet growing demands from new Canadians.

This past year, the program was expanded to include nine commercial growers testing a multitude of varieties of seven different crops on more than 53 acres.

The research is not just about whether or not we can grow these new crops and the how-to’s of doing that, but also to determine whether we are growing the right varieties for the specific markets in question. For that, focus groups are used to help answer those questions. Texture, colour, size and taste are all very important when measuring market potential.

Since new Canadians come from so many countries it is extremely important to understand the different attribute demands for each market we are trying to tap. Dr. Isabelle Lesschaeve of VRIC is the lead on these focus groups and Dr. Michael Brownbridge is the lead scientist in charge of the program. We are entering the final year of program funding from AAC and will be looking to continue the program under GF2.

Genomics During the summer of 2012 we entered into a genomics project at VRIC with Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG). This program is relatively short and will be completed

by October 2013. In this project, greenhouse tomato seeds are placed in acid which causes mutations to occur and then allowed to germinate and grow. The characteristics of the mutated plant are catalogued and seeds from these plants will be saved for further use. When a request is placed for a tomato plant with specific characteristics then a search of the catalogue is made and seeds from plants with those matching characteristics can be grown. This is not genetic modification but it will give researchers the ability to address sector needs much more quickly than in the past. There are also some field vegetables as part of this project.

OFVGA Research and Promotion Fund Last year marked the second year of the OFVGA Research and Promotion Fund. Over the past two years, we have given back $600,000 dollars to our member organizations and sectors for work on research and promotion.

While this was only second year of the program, it was the third year in a row that we contributed dollars back to our association members and sectors. This was all

made possible because we have experienced very healthy financial positions over the past few years. Over the past three years, $850,000 dollars went back to the various sectors based on the container and membership fees that were generated from each sector.

2012 Finances and Fiscal Outlook As mentioned above, the previous three years were very good financially and it allowed us the luxury of setting up the Research and Promotion Fund to return dollars back to our membership.

Unfortunately, we are not in that same position this year. A combination of spring freezes and increased usage of Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs) has meant a drop in container fee income to the organization. While we still were in a positive cash flow position for the year, we did not generate the excess cash flow that we have enjoyed over the past few years. The loss of revenue from the spring 2012 freezes, at least as it pertains to apples, will continue to be felt in the coming year. As well, financial support for our surface water specialist has come to an end and those costs will all need to be covered via an increased fee for service. The organization is very sound financially and should have no problems in “balancing” its finances in the future providing RPCs do not take over the market.

Erie Innovation and Commercialization The funding through AAC for Erie Innovation and Commercialization comes to an end March 31, 2013 and OFVGA is in no position to carry on this program without financial assistance from a different source.

Under Growing Forward 2 there will be a significant amount of money made available for innovation and this would be a good fit for that program. A proposal for funding has been forwarded to OMAFRA but the results of the application are unknown at this time.

This really is a long term project and four years is not long enough to reach the potential that this program has. To date, Dr. John Kelly has made significant progress and a loss of this program would be a shame.

School Snack Program This was the sixth year of this program and once again fresh fruit and vegetable snacks were sent to 106 schools in the regions of Algoma and Timmins. 18,000 students participated at an average cost of less than $0.50 per snack. This was a pilot project established by the Ministry of Health Promotion and after the

Sweet potatoes in reusable plastic containers. Photo by Glenn Lowson second year it never really grew.

Today, that ministry has been merged with the Ministry of Health and while we have a commitment to the program for 2013,

its long-term future is uncertain.

We will continue to lobby for this and other similar programs.

In my concluding remarks I would first like to comment on the financial position of the organization. We are in a very healthy financial position but we did see a $300,000 swing in our income over expenses this past year. We will have swings like this again and with the threat of RPCs and the vagaries of weather we cannot take for granted that we will always have surplus funds. There is work we need to do and there will always be projects that we need to invest in, and to that end we must remain fiscally responsible in all of our decisions.

I would now like to take the opportunity to thank Minister McMeekin for all of his support throughout this past year. He was always approachable and willing to meet with us and perhaps most importantly he always sought our input. This was greatly appreciated!

To all the folks at OMAFRA and Agricorp, thank you for your tireless work on our safety net programming and in particular the redesign of SDRM and the entire RMP program.

Art Smith is CEO, OFVGA.

Conclusion

PAGE B6 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

OFVGA AGM

Crop protection report 2012 CHARLES STEVENS Crop protection has everything to do with the environment and it’s ironic that in Ontario we have two ministries who look after these issues for farmers: one, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, who have spent plenty of resources on how farmers can mitigate the wraths of Mother Nature, and two, the Ministry of the Environment on keeping farmers from damaging the environment. I offer this as food for thought.

Mother Nature this year was extremely hard on horticulture in Ontario. Spring frost decimated apples and sour cherries and also harmed tender fruit and asparagus crops, and, extreme heat and lack of moisture caused large crop losses in many of the other horticultural crops. I bring this up not because you are unaware of the problem, but to point out that of the hundreds of millions of dollars of damage to our sector, well in excess of 70 per cent, that damage was caused by factors which are not controlled by pesticides. Therefore, a good return on investment into non-pesticide controls, such as efficient irrigation, frost fans, heat stress materials or crop covers, would be in order. Some work is already being done in this area but a lot more needs to be done to help educate farmers about these risk management tools.

Extremes in the weather also cause extreme disease and pest breakouts and this year was no

Photo by Glenn Lowson

Photo by Denis Cahill Much crop damage is caused by factors not controlled by pesticides.

Risk management tools such as high tunnels for tomatoes and wind machines for grapes help mitigate frost damage in spring.

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exception. This is where having more tools in your tool kit are very important. When Craig Hunter and I went to the Global Minor Use Summit 2 in February 2012, we learned that what we have for a minor use registration process is the Cadillac. As Craig mentioned in his report, many countries are coming to Canada next March to see our minor use priority setting meetings in action.

In last year’s report, I mentioned that the European Union is deregistering some 60 active ingredients. This year, we have been informed that the EPA in New Zealand wants to ban 29 products, mainly organophosphates and carbonate-based insecticides.

At this time I give the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) full credit for working with our growers to make sure that we have the necessary replacement tools available before an old chemistry is taken off the market. This year the Linuron herbicide went under review and through the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) and the Crop Protection Advisory Committee (CPAC), a lot of submissions were sent to PMRA by many commodities from across the country. Given the effort, I hope for a positive outcome.

The largest game changer in the crop protection industry is happening as we speak: the harmonization of the registration of crop protection materials with the U.S. under the Regulatory Co-operation Council process.

This has been pushed from the prime minister’s office at Privy Council so, it is going to happen and maybe sooner than we think.

Craig and I attended the first joint meeting with PMRA, Pest Management Centre (PMC), CropLife Canada and growers on October 27th. There was a surprisingly positive attitude from PMRA and PMC to build a game plan, work through compromises and get the job done. We need to be at these meetings. Our inputs are respected and needed and a showing of three actual growers out of an attendance of 60 is not good enough. We have to have a full contingent from CPAC at the next meeting in the New Year. If money is the problem, then we desperately need to fix this problem at CHC. Due to 56 registration personnel being cut from PMRA and the large job it is to fulfill the RCC needs, PMRA and PMC resources will be stretched to the limit. Growers may have to choose between tech-gap filling or harmonization.

My vote is for the latter.

The CPAC committee had three in-depth conference calls this year, plus two face-to-face meetings with PMRA in Ottawa this spring and fall and one with PMC. These meetings addressed issues that Craig and my reports’

address, as well as, some commodity-specific issues. Issues of importance include: harmonization, invasive species, Grower Requested Own Use (GROU) and others. This was a job well done on a shoe-string budget.

On November 8th, I was asked to speak at the annual Ontario Pesticide Management Conference. The main topic was, “Is IPM dead?” The conclusion was a definite no. We need every tool available to combat damaging pests that attack our crops.

Never think that chemistries will solve all of the problems or even be sustainable. The plenary speaker, Dr. Michael Parrella, the Chair of Entomology at the University of California, made a mind-blowing point: In California, every 60 days they import a new invasive species from around the globe to their horticulture industry. We are dealing with two in as many years. Chemicals are not sustainable, he says, and I agree.

CHC and PMC have initiated an invasive species coordinating working group to help raise funds for screening trials and to communicate what is being done to maximize available resources to ensure no duplication. Two conference calls were held; one concerning terms of reference and one to pick the needs for the two invasive species. Hannah Fraser from OMAFRA is working on brown marmorated stink bug and Tracey Hueppelsheuser from the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture is working on spotted wing drosophila. It was reported in the December issue of The Grower that Michigan blueberry growers lost one quarter of their crop this year due to spotted wing drosophila - that’s a $27 million loss. It is worth putting resources behind this.

On October 30th, Craig and I had our annual crop protection section meeting. This was very well attended with representation from most Ontario commodities.

This is one of the most important meetings of the year because it gives Craig and me grassroots input on issues popping up during the year and focuses our objectives on what is important to growers.

I would like to thank Karen Davidson and the staff at The Grower for covering the issues of crop protection in this national publication. Annual reports may not be needed if you read The Grower. I also wish to thank the staff at OFVGA and CHC and government personnel from OMAFRA, PMC and PMRA and the crop protection industry for their help and support of this chair.

Charles Stevens is chair of the crop protection section.

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE B7 THE GROWER

OFVGA AGM

Property report 2012 BRIAN GILROY Environment Issues The Property Section held a meeting in early February to develop an action plan on how to deal with the Ministry of Environment’s (MOE) enforcement of evolving water regulations. The application fees, when added to the consultant and engineering costs inherent with the Environmental Compliance Approval process, are huge and are costs that farmers are unable to recoup from the marketplace.

A Horticultural Nutrient Management Task Group was established with concerned sectors participating and funding an active lobby effort. The OFVGA provided 50 per cent of the funds required to hire a government relations firm to assist on this issue. The need to have horticulture comply with water regulations through the Nutrient Management Act, which is managed by OMAFRA and enforced by MOE, is essential for affected horticultural farmers.

Thanks to Don Taylor, Jamie Reaume and everyone involved for your efforts on this issue.

Although nothing official has been announced, we believe that the government is working to develop horticulture regulations under the Nutrient Management Act. Governments are increasingly regulating water and the environment and it is time to move forward in a cost effective,

efficient manner. Every farm operation needs to identify areas of environmental concern and make a plan on how to address them, which is officially referred to as an Abatement Plan.

Significant funds will be required to fund projects to maximize water efficiency and minimize any potential negative environmental impact of our farming activities. A project launched this past fall by Farm & Food Care Ontario will focus on water efficiency, conservation and low water strategies for Ontario farmers. Funds will be available to farm and commodity organizations for studies and demonstrations on water efficiency, conservation and productivity, with the goal of ensuring farmers have more tools at their disposal to prepare themselves for low or no water scenarios.

With current government fiscal realities, funding will be challenging but there is a history of significant support through the Nutrient Management Act and The Lake Simcoe Protection Act. With Growing Forward 2 nonbusiness risk management details being developed, there is some optimism that an appropriately funded Environmental Farm Plan could assist farmers for on-farm improvements.

Permits to Take Water are becoming standard operating procedure for the horticulture sector. The Surface Water Specialist position with the OFVGA was created over four years ago to provide affordable

support to farmers applying for these permits. The financial support to establish this program has ended, but in light of its success and the ongoing need, it will continue on a cost recovery basis.

Wildlife Loss Wildlife predation of horticulture crops has been a long-standing issue that has received significant attention this year. Funding from the Ministry of Natural Resources has been used to quantify the damage and develop a plan on next steps to minimize our losses to wildlife.

For the seven commodities reporting predation losses, the total estimated losses are $47 million annually and increasing.

Susan Fitzgerald is presenting results from an interim report during our meeting today with the final report due in March. We collectively need to put forward a plan on how best to minimize these losses in a cost-effective manner. Funding for further research or local field trials on effective deterrents could be made available through OMAFRA’s Agriculture Wildlife Conflict Strategic Funding.

Mega-Quarry

National Food Strategy.

Some of our members have been active in the campaign to prevent the Mega-Quarry from being developed on prime agricultural land just north of Shelburne. This development saw widespread opposition all across Southern Ontario and was regularly a topic covered in The Grower. The company recently withdrew their quarry application.

Well done to those who represented the farming community.

Food Safety

Local Food Act The Ontario Food Strategy is still being discussed and a number of horticultural representatives took time out from the Premier’s Ag Innovation Summit to go to the legislature and be present as the Ontario Food Strategy Act was introduced. It was one of the Acts that recently died when the house was prorogued. Government is looking at the need to develop a strategy and we need to make sure that farmers’ interests are well represented.

David Sparling from the Ivey School of Business at Western University has been working with the farm community to help drive the strategy forward, but it is contingent on the development of a

Food Safety program involvement is expected to be a requirement for those whose product goes to one of the major retailers this year. The CanadaGAP program has been developed to be as painless as possible for farmers and significant efforts have been made to keep the cost as low as possible. In an effort to get feedback directly from farmers, a questionnaire is available at the back of the meeting room.

Seasonal Housing Seasonal housing may now be classed as a farm building as long as it meets the criteria developed

by Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC).

Reclassification is not automatic so check your assessments and request a change if warranted.

It has been a year like no other with a lot of activity on a number of property files. It has been a pleasure working with the professional staff at the OFVGA as the section chair.

Brian Gilroy is chair of the property section.

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PAGE B8 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

OFVGA AGM

Safety nets report 2012 MARK WALES This has been a challenging year both for growing and for the evolution of safety net programs.

The weather extremes highlighted the weakness of some crop insurance programs due to the extreme conditions and very unusual timing of weather events.

July-like weather in March and then a more normal April devastated the tree fruit sector.

Drought and extreme heat tested the resiliency of many field crops and low water conditions made us all aware of how important our irrigation resources are. Market prices were highly variable partly due to the weather extremes and partly for other reasons. The need for good workable safety net programs continues.

SDRM 2011 The SDRM program for 2011 wrapped up early in the year with nearly full participation and uptake of the available $20 million in provincial funds.

SDRM 2012 Approximately 2700 horticulture producers applied for the 2012 program. The final demand for funds will not be completely known until after February 1, 2013, but the demand should be close to $25 million with the new graduated caps model. For 2012 the contribution rate was two per cent on your first $2.5 million of Allowable Net Sales (ANS), 1.5

per cent on your ANS from $2.5 to $5 million, and one per cent on all ANS over $5 million. As well for 2012, producers had to be enrolled in Agri-Stability which was a change from 2011. The Horticulture Reference Committee met during the year as needed to work out minor program details.

SDRM 2013 As a result of the 2012 Ontario budget, the RMP/SDRM program funds were capped at $100 million including the cost of administration. This was a result of the Drummond report (which suggested cancelling the programs), and the reality of the provincial debt.

The six production sectors that have programs were able during the year to come to an agreement on how to redesign the programs to work within the funding restriction. It was not always easy but they did come to an arrangement on how to share the $100 million and keep the programs going. This arrangement was accepted by the Minister and then approved by Treasury Board in late November. This approval was required by OMAFRA in order to be able to spend funds in 2013.

Under the new model, each commodity will have a base share of the $100 million, and each will pay the cost of administration of their program out of that amount.

Horticulture's share is $23 million. If one or more commodities do not trigger the full amount of "their share" then

that will be available to top up other commodities’ programs.

SDRM will receive the first $2 million of unneeded funds, and then an equal share of any further unneeded funds. The RMP program "premiums" paid by farmers will be collected in accounts for each program and be carried forward to build up for years when that commodity does not have enough funds in its yearly share to meet program demand.

These premiums can only be used for the program the grower was enrolled in. For example, beef premiums can only top up the beef RMP program and so on. If there is a year when there are surplus government funds out of the $100 million, then those will remain in General Revenue and cannot carry forward. Each commodity reference committee will work on adjusting its program to work within available funds, and as well look for ways to streamline the administration.

This could mean fewer reporting periods for some of the livestock programs as an example.

The OFVGA Safety Nets Committee met by conference call and agreed with the Board recommendation that if the SDRM program demand exceeded the available funds, then everyone across the board would take a haircut. So possibly growers would not get the full matching two per cent of ANS and could end up with something slightly less. Since we will not know the full demand on all programs until April 30 of the following year, it was agreed that

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growers should get an initial payment of 80 per cent of their request and the remainder after April 30. It was also agreed by all sectors to revisit the linkage to Agri-Stability after the 2013 program year. We will keep everyone posted during the year as we make and fine-tune adjustments to the program.

Growing Forward 2 The Business Risk Management (BRM) program portion, which begins on April 1, 2013 and runs until March 31, 2018, has been significantly altered. The Agri-Stability and Agri-Invest programs have been essentially cut in half. The federal minister had set a goal of redesigning the programs to reduce all future government payouts by "at least" $430 million per year for each of the next five years. The major details are known but there may be still others we are not aware of.

Agri-Stability Starting for the 2013 production year, there will no longer be a Tier 2 in the program.

This means that you will have to have a margin loss of more than 30 per cent to qualify for a payment, and, in addition only 70 per cent of that loss will be covered, whereas the loss used to be covered at 85 per cent. If you have a negative margin, the negative part of that loss will be covered at 70 per cent instead of 60 per cent. This is particularly insulting to horticulture producers as we normally would have reference margin declines in the 15-30 per cent range. This applies to grain producers as well. The federal government has effectively limited what they might have to pay out in the future. In addition, they are capping reference margins at current levels, but will allow for changes in reference margins if there is a structural adjustment up or down in a grower’s operation.

Agri-Invest Starting for the 2013 production year you will only receive one per cent matching government funds on the first $1.5 million of ANS whereas previously you received 1.5 per cent matching funds. This reduces the government funds by a third.

By reducing both programs, the government will likely save more than the targeted $430 million as more growers will opt out of the programs. There was no federal consultation with producers on this at all. Our provincial minister kept us apprised of the different proposals and he was the only provincial agriculture minister to do so.

The federal minister did commit to reinvesting $80 million

per year of the federal savings on cuts to Agri-Stability into Non-BRM programs focusing on "Innovation."

Non-BRM There has been some "provincial" consultation on non-BRM with growers but no federal consultations. Each province will be signing a bilateral agreement early in January, and then finishing program design and funding allocations before April 1, 2013.

Growers have highlighted the need for improved funding for Environmental Farm Plans, Food Safety Programs etc. At this point it is not clear what programs will carry on, and at what level of funding. Since 1992, the EFP program has distributed $93 million in government funds and been more than matched by more than $350 million of grower funds to do environmental projects on the farm. This has been almost a four-to-one return on investment.

Research clusters, processing, innovation and efficiency are all target areas for the new programs.

We will continue to be involved whenever there is an opportunity and remind government that ag dollars need to go to on-farm projects.

2013 and beyond There is clearly a movement by the federal government to force growers to bear more of the burden of risk. This is part of the philosophy of government today and they will be trying to reduce fiscal deficits on the backs of farmers. There are lots of glowing reports about how great the future is for agriculture, which leads them to believe that it is a good time to reduce support. We all know that it’s when times are good that you should be preparing for the inevitable downturn, and, what government does not understand is that just because grain prices are high does not mean that things are good for everybody.

We will have many challenges ahead in maintaining and keeping programs. In the meantime we will continue to do what we do best, and that is produce the best, freshest food in the world for our customers.

Mark Wales is chair of OFVGA Safety Nets Section Editors note: Harold Schooley’s research report will appear in the March issue of The Grower.

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE B9 THE GROWER

PAGE B10 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

To advertise phone: 519-380-0118 • 866-898-8488 x 218 • Fax: 519-380-0011 REAL ESTATE Gerry Loeters Sales Representative Royal LePage RCR Realty

CHANGE OF ADDRESS?

Buying or selling a farm property?

Give us a call.

866-898-8488 x 221

St. Mary's, ON PH. 519-765-4217 Cell. 519-773-6460 Email: gloeters@royallepage.ca

Looking to buy or sell your farm? We can help!

We are your Farm and rural property experts.

RE/MAX a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage 519-273-2822 (office) www.youronlineagents.com Each Office Independently Owned & Operated.

John Jantzi Sales Representative C: 519-571-3894 jjantzi@netflash.net

Kevin Williams Broker C: 519-572-2293 kevin@netflash.net

AUCTION

ESTATE AUCTION SALE of Orchard Equipment, Household and Antique items, Vehicles, Coverall building and more.

For the estate of the late David Barber. Sale to be held Fri Feb 22 @10:30 sharp on the farm 1764 South Service Rd RR #3 St. Catherines Ont. QEW and Seventh Street Louth.

PREVIEW THURS FEB 21st One til Four ONLY or by appt.

Partial list to include: 2005 Kilby Cherry Shaker harvester 1050hrs., Case 75 N 4 WD tractor with spray cab 400hrs(as new), M.F 3436 GE 4WD tractor with spray cab 1100 hrs. John Deere 5520N 4WD open station with 521 ldr. Low hrs, M.F 245 dsl orchard tin. John Deere 850 dsl Gator, 1995 Hino FB1715 truck with van body 65,000orig km (one owner), 1997 GMC Savannah 2500 van, 4 Orchard trucks, 4x4 Toyota 7FG15 forklift (propane), 2 Blue Giant 3pth forklift attach with side shift, BTmaxi elec pallet truck, BTSV1000 elec pallet stacker, Clark PW18 elec pallet truck, 4 manual pallet trucks, Turbo Mist 30P sprayer, FMC Orchard sprayer, 4- three wheel man lifts, 6ft Seaforth finishing mower, 11ft Bush Hog orchard mower, Perfect FV693 6ft flail mower with brush sweeper attach., 6ft offset Bush hog mower, 6ft Agri Trend snowblower, 6ft Agritrend rotovater, Genevac 40kw pto generator(as new), Vicon 3 pth fert spreader, Wallenstien 3pth hyd wood splitter, I-H 10ft wheel lift disc, Wifo 3pth blae unwinder, I-H 2x plow, Stihl chainsaws and pole saws, Campagnola air pruners and compresser, asst alum picking ladders, Shop built hyd bin trailer, approx35 4x4 steel sour cherry bins, approx 50 4x4 wooden apple bins, aprox 80 4x4 half wooden bins (some unused) hand pruners, misc small tools, Kodiak hot water pressure washer, Market racks, approx 50 chord fire wood, Kuhn tedder rake, Greefa two lane packing line with mechanical weight sizer, washer and waxer, 4circ sorting tables, 4 labelers, Greefa 3A rnd table sizer, Burg bin dumper, 2 Orchard Rite Wind Machines (propane) to be removed by purchaser 60x 80 Coverall building to be removed by purchaser, Household and antique items to include Oak comb, break front secretary desk, walking wheel spinning wheel Fr Prov. Dining Room set, some glass and china, east lake parlour set as found, oil paintings by Owen staples and Tom Stone (1944) 1987 Porsche 944 134,000 orig km one owner (as found).

Note: David was a well known and respected Fruit farmer in our area. His equipment was always well looked after and always kept inside. Buy with confidence.

Terms: payment in full day of sale cash Visa and M.C (with 3% charge for cred card) . Good known cheque with ID. All taxes apply.

Auctioneers: Jim Mcartney and Nello Romagnoli For more info and pictures visit www.nelloromagnoliauctions.com or phone NELLO ROMAGNOLI AUCTION SERVICE SMITHVILLE ONT 905 957 7283

AUCTION THREE VEGETABLE FARM AUCTIONS THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS—ONE HOUR APART! STATE OF NEW JERSEY, U.S.A Fri. Mar. 1, Hammonton, NJ Complete Retirement Auction!

Sale features a Autoline model 7 6-drop computerized stainless steel packing line with food safe plastic belting!

JD 8320 truck type tractor with cab; JD 5525 Hi Crop; JD 6700 sprayer; JD 7430 Premium with 741 loader; JD 6430; JD 7405; (3) JD 6220 tractors; Full line of packing house equipment; Vegetable planting/harvesting plus general purpose equipment! Best of the Best Sells Here!!

Sat. Mar. 2, Millstone Township, NJ Retiring from Vegetable Farming.

Sale features 2 yr. old JD 6.8 litre (6 cyl.) diesel pump unit with Berkeley high volume pump; Miles and Miles of 3 inch, 6 inch, and 8 inch alum. pipe; Almost new straw baling line; Gaspardo and Stan Hay planters; Full line of vegetable field equipment; Two (2) good 1991 Mack ten wheel delivery trucks with Refer units; Etc.!!

Also Sun. Mar. 3, West Deptford, NJ Small Estate Sale with Vegetable and Haying Tools!

See Pictures and Details on our website: www.pirrunginc.com PIRRUNG AUCTIONEERS, INC. 585-728-2520

FOOD SAFETY

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE B11 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

To advertise phone: 519-380-0118 • 866-898-8488 x 218 • Fax: 519-380-0011 EQUIPMENT CALL ABE FIRST FOR BETTER PRICES, MORE CHOICES, FAST, AND FRIENDLY SERVICE. BUY A DIESEL ENGINE PUMP UNIT FROM THE DIESEL MECHANIC.

NEW IRRIGATION PUMP UNITS ON TRAILER • Cummin 4 cyl, 80 HP • Cummin 4 cyl turbo, 105 HP • John Deere, 4 cyl, 80 HP • Cummin 6 cyl, 165 HP-5.9L • Iveco/Cummins, 4cyl, 105HP • Iveco/Cummins, 6cyl, 173HP Etc., Etc.

SEED POTATO

Squirrell Farms SEED POTATOES Heritage Varieties • Banana Fingerlings • Irish Cobbler • French Fingers • Russian Blue • Linser Delicatess

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

CLASSIFIED ADS 866-898-8488 x 221

CHANGE OF ADDRESS?

Rovatti Pumps Berkeley Pumps, etc.

And many more new or used up to 550 HP. We build them all big or small.

Also couplers, hoses, clamps, for suction, camlock, ringlock, bauer etc.

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

FOR SALE KRONE 2011 Large Square Baler BiG Pack 1270 (X-Cut/MultiBale) Packs up to nine small bales in one large bale (3'11" x 2'4") Maximum of 40 working hours (one season) $75,000 Contact Paul at (416) 466-3750

WARWICK ORCHARDS & NURSERY LTD. R.R. #8 Watford, Ontario N0M 2S0 Tel: (519) 849-6730 Toll free: 877-550-7412 Fax: (519) 849-6731 Email: warwickorchards@brktel.on.ca

Munckhof Orchard Sprayers Votex Shredders and Mowers Orchard Equipment and Supplies Pruning Tools

Newer Varieties • Dakota Pearl • Gold Rush • Cal White • Classic Russet • Blazer Russet • AC Chaleur All seed is C.F.I.A. inspected and is tagged as to variety and level of certification.

Contact Penny and Glen Squirrell RR 2, Shelburne, ON L0N 1S6 Ph: 519-925-5247 Fax: 519-925-5603 email: pmsquirrell@yahoo.com Call for pricing.

Small orders Welcome!

Delivery can be arranged!

DEADLINE FOR NEXT GROWER FEBRUARY 15

PAGE B12 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

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

WANTED NOW: CLEAN USED SPRAYER TRADES

ALL STAINLESS STEEL Made in Canada

for Water Systems

NOW is the best time to buy, lease, or trade for best pre-season pricing and more time to recondition, advertise, and sell your trade. ** LOW DRIFT SPRAY TOWERS to fit any TURBO-MIST - IN STOCK NOW** Turbo-Mist 600 gal, Used 3 Yrs, Like New , Meyers Pump . . . . . $16,800 Turbo-Mist 500 gal, Myers Centrifugal Pump, Nice Clean. . . . . . $11,500 Turbo-Mist 500 gal, Diaphram Pump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,500 Turbo-Mist 500 gal, Tall Stainless Steel Spray Tower . . . . . . . . . $11,500 Turbo-Mist 400 gal, Electric Controls, Split Boom, Low Hours. . . .$8,500 Turbo-Mist 500 gal, New Myers Centrifugal Pump . . . . . . . . . . COMING John Bean/FMC 500 gal, Stainless Steel, Piston Pump, A-1. . . . . .$7,500 Good Boy 600 Litre, Low Hours, Looks Like New . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,600 Hardi 3 P.H., 400 Litre, Exc Condition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,500 Perfect H.D. Flail Choppers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IN STOCK SEE OUR NEW APPLE BIN CARRIER & TURBO-MIST DISPLAY AT NIAGARA CONVENTION FEBRUARY 19, 20

D O N A RT H U R O R C H A R D E Q U I P M E N T (519) 599-3058 donarthur3@gmail.com Clarksburg, ON

PHILLIPS FARM SUPPLIES

Pipe & Fittings • PVC, ABS, Poly, Copper • Stainless, Brass, Steel Product Lines • Drip & Micro Irrigation • Septic & Sewer • Drainage & Culverts • Berkeley Water Pumps

Winona Concrete & Pipe Products Ltd.

TIMM ENTERPRISES LTD. PNEUMATIC PRUNING EQUIPMENT &RPSUHVVRUV 6KHDUV 3ROH 3UXQHUV ([WHQVLRQ 3ROHV 5HHOV +RVH (WF NEW

ELECTRONIC PRUNING EQUIPMENT

&REUD ) - %DWWHU\ SRZHUHG FXWV XS WR PP Η

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

info@WinonaConcrete.com

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

1-800-361-8515

0DLO 3 2 %R[ 2DNYLOOH 2QW / . $ 2IILFH :DUHKRXVH 7UDIDOJDU 5G 0LOWRQ 2QW / 3 ( 6DOHV - - -7,00 3KRQH - )D[ - ZZZ WLPPHQWHUSULVHV FRP -- VDOHV#WLPPHQWHUSULVHV FRP

1-800-811-6238 pfs@reach.net SPRAYING EQUIPMENT OUR SPECIALITY have been

YOU to the rest, call the NOW BEST!!

NEW . . USED . . SERVICE YOUR SOURCE FOR JOHN BEAN AND DURAND-WAYLAND

ATTENTION VEGETABLE GROWERS SEE YOU AT THE FRUIT & VEG SHOW AND CONVENTION, NIAGARA FALLS

Scova Diesel Pumps

Ocmis Hard Hose Reel

Full line of Checchi & Magli

Multivator

Specialized Planting Equipment from Checchi & Magli, Sfoggia and Stanhay PHONE 705-458-4003 rwequipment@bellnet.ca www.rwequipment.ca

Read the paper online at www.thegrower.org

CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE - Farm Equipment - Holland Marsh - Irrigation Pumps plus 3", 4", 5" Wade pipes and fittings - 2 x 165 Massey tractors - 8 x Horst 8 ton wagons w/ 16' platforms - 3 x Horst 10 ton wagons w/ 20' platforms - FMC sprayer w/60 gal per min pump, 500 gal. ss tank, Raven controlled, 62' boom - FMC sprayer w/60 gal per min pump, 500 gal. ss tank, electronic control, 72' boom - Allis Chalmer 500 forklift w/ 21' mast, excellent condition - various other equipment for vegetable farming Contact - JOHN - 905-955-5811

Our average visit duration is

9 minutes.

Imagine the advertising potential. www.thegrower.org Herb Sherwood @ 519-380-0118

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE B13 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

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

LOUTH & NIAGARA ORCHARDS P.O. Box 43 • Virgil, Ontario • L0S 1T0 • 905-468-3297 4000 Jordan Road • Jordan Station, ON • 905-562-8825

Supplying Fruit and Vegetable Growers with: • Baskets • Masters • Fertilizer • Vineyard Trellis Supplies

LABELS & LABEL MACHINERY SALES SERVICE SUPPORT

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

NURSERY AND ROOTSTOCK BLUEBERRY PLANTS from rooted cuttings. Virus and disease tested. In 1 gal, 5 gal and 7 gal pots. Over ten different varieties. Price discount on large order.

Bleuetiere & Pepiniere de Parisville.

Parisville Blueberry Farm & Nursery 819-287-5707 www.bleuetsparisville.ca

GLADIOLUS BULBS Wide variety selection for retail sales and commercial cut flower production Catalogue available upon request or visit our website at www.lmbolle.com

L.M.Bolle & Sons 813083 Baseline Norwich, ON (519) 468-2090 Fax 468-2099 email: lmbolle@execulink.com

Exclusive grower of select grafted nut trees and minor fruits.

Cultivars are tested in our own experimental orchards.

Choose from Persian and black walnut, heartnut, butternut, chestnut, hazel, pecan, hickory, gingko, pine nut, mulberry, persimmon, pawpaw, fig & more.

Proprietor Ernie Grimo 979 Lakeshore Rd, RR 3, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON Canada L0S 1J0 Tel.: (905) YEH-NUTS (934-6887) E-mail: nuttrees@grimonut.com Fax: (905) YEL-NUTS (935-6887) Catalogue Site: www.grimonut.com

CHANGE OF ADDRESS? CLASSIFIED AD? 866-898-8488 x 221 POLLINATION

• Berry Boxes • Waxed Cartons • Crop Protection Material

PAGE B14 –– FEBRUARY 2012 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

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

Alpine Nurseries

(Niagara) Limited

SPECIALIZING IN FRUIT TREES & GRAPE VINES & ELDERBERRIES. VARIETY AND PRICE LIST AVAILABLE ON REQUEST Howard A. Colcuc Nursery Manager R.R. #4 Creek Road Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON. L0S 1J0 Tel: (905) 262-4971 Fax: (905) 262-4404 howardcolcuc@rogers.com

ASPARAGUS ROOTS Jersey Giant

Wrightland Farm RR 1 • 1000 Ridge Rd. Harrow, ON N0R 1G0 Keith: 519-738-6120 Fax: 519-738-3358

Strawber Str Stra r awber wber r y & R aspber r y Raspber Plants Pl l ants Established 1939

Secure the varieties you need for 2013 and 2014 planting.

Call now for quality: Apple, Pear and Peach trees.

WARWICK ORCHARDS & NURSERY LTD

C.O.

KEDDY

7056 Egremont Rd. R.R. #8 Watford, Ontario N0M 2S0 warwickorchards@brktel.on.ca Tel: (519) 849-6730 Toll free: 877-550-7412 Fax: (519) 849-6731

• Certified Strawberry Plants & Raspberry Canes • All popular varieties available • Grown under the Nova Scotia Certification program.

Plants shipped across North America.

Contact us for a FREE brochure!

982 North Bishop Road, Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada B4N 3V7 Ph: (902) 678-4497 Fax: (902) 678-0067 Email: keddynursery@xcountry.tv

STRAWBERRY PLANTS ***CERTIFIED*** RASPBERRY CANES Producers of Quality stock for 46 years. Grown under the Nova Scotia Certification Program. Shipping across North America.

Contact us for more information and a free brochure

G.W. ALLEN NURSERY LTD. 7295 Hwy 221 Centreville, N.S. B0P 1J0 ph. 902-678-7519 fax: 902-678-5924

Email: sales@gwallennursery.com

www.gwallennursery.com

ASPARAGUS CROWNS Available for Spring 2013 Millennium Mary Washington Sweet Purple Sandy Shore Farms Ltd. (519) 875-3382 www.sandyshorefarms.ca

ken@sandyshore.ca

FEBRUARY 2013 –– PAGE B15 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

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

IRRIGATION

TOP QUALITY PRODUCERS OF Custom seeded ORGANIC and CONVENTIONAL vegetable plug transplants Tomatoes, Peppers, Brassica/Cole crops, Cucurbit/Vine crops, Lettuces, onions & leek THE ONLY LICENSED PROPAGATOR IN ONTARIO PRODUCING STRAWBERRY PLUG TRANSPLANTS ***Bank on the benefits of using top quality ACTIVELY growing berry plants*** CONTACT US NOW TO RESERVE SPACE FOR YOUR 2013 CROP NEEDS

CARTHER PLANTS & PRODUCE “MAXIMIZING YOUR PROFIT POTENTIAL” 30627 Jane Rd., RR5 Thamesville, ON N0P 2K0 scarther@ciaccess.com

Office 519.695.5445 Cell 519.359.2130 Fax 519. 695.5452

*Licensed by U.C. Davis. Not grown under guidelines of the Plant Propogation Program due to origin of stock*

CHANGE OF ADDRESS? CLASSIFIED AD? 866-898-8488 x 221 VEGETABLE SEED

Oriental Vegetable Seeds

Korea Green - F1 Black Pearl

Szechuan Red

Dan Fong

AgroHaitai Ltd. Ph: 519-647-2280 • Fax: 519-647-3188 seed@agrohaitai.com• www.AgroHaitai.com REFRIGERATION

KOOL JET

®

Reliable Refrigeration Systems

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

One-Piece and Portable Skid-Mount Systems, HydroCoolers, Medical and Process Chillers, Blast Freezers, Vacuum Coolers, Refrigerated Dehumidifiers.

Custom Built Designs • Domestic and International Markets

PAGE B16 –– FEBRUARY 2013 THE GROWER