FEBRUARY 2015
CELEBRATING 136 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION
VOLUME 65 NUMBER 02
Bee health and neonicotinoids – a smoking gun? Ontario’s government thinks so, but several national organizations disagree
Bees are crucial to the Canadian horticultural industry as they pollinate a multitude of crops, everything from cranberries to cucurbits. Here, a bee hunkers down into an apple blossom at The Big R Apple Farm near Brampton, Ontario. Photo by David Bianchi.
INSIDE 2015 winner of the Award of Merit is . . . Page 4 Focus: Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention B section
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KAREN DAVIDSON Like bees, farmers have been set on ‘vibrate’ this winter. But it’s not to keep warm. Rather they are intensely debating how best to support bee health and respond to the Ontario government’s plan to restrict neonicotinoid-treated seeds for corn and soybeans. While horticultural pesticides are currently not affected by this proposal, growers have reason to be concerned by the policy trends. The government’s “aspirational” objective is to reduce acres planted with neonic insecticide-treated seed by 80 per cent by 2017. Given 2014 acreage statistics and farmers’ usage of these seeds, the legislation, if enacted, would affect 3.6 million acres. Grain and oilseed farmers would have to prove the existence of soil-borne pests to have access to treated seed and seek verification of their risk assessment by third-party reviewers. The
Ontario government’s target is to reduce bee mortality to 15 per cent by 2020. It plans to have new rules in place by July 1, 2015. “This is one of the most frustrating issues of the day because the Ontario government is proposing to legislate the use of federally registered and regulated pesticides,” says Brian Gilroy, second vice-chair of the Canadian Horticultural Council and an apple grower near Meaford, Ontario. “The Pest Management Regulatory Agency is reviewing the neonicotinoid pesticide file as fast as it can and will be reporting later this year.” Gilroy is also a member of the National Bee Health Roundtable, a broad stakeholder group that was formalized last fall under the auspices of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. With almost 40 members, this group includes everyone from Grain Growers of Canada, the Canadian Seed Trade Association and CropLife Canada to Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists,
Canadian Organic Growers and the Canadian Honey Council. As Gilroy points out, the roundtable’s go-forward strategy on bee health is nuanced and broader than just neonicotinoids. Its first focus is varroa mites, a sucking parasite of bees that can debilitate the entire colony over winter. The target is a mite count below five per cent at all times, with less than one per cent mites in the spring and fall. The second focus is pesticides, both inside and outside the hive. “We recognize that bee health is an important component to the growth of other commodities,” says Rod Scarlett, co-chair of the roundtable and executive director of the Canadian Honey Council. He points out there are two industries to consider. One is honey production and the other is pollination services. About 40 per cent of bee colonies in Canada are used for pollination. In fact, pollination services are growing with cranberry and blueberry production expanding on both eastern and western coasts, he says.
Members of the roundtable have concluded that bee health is complex with many variables such as bee nutrition, hive management, viruses, disease and genetics. They reason that reducing pesticides as a solution to bee mortality is not a holistic approach. “With so many variables involved, we look to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) to guide us through the science,” says Scarlett. “We need a neutral party.” All parties in the debate about bee health cite their science. But the science is not static. The PMRA reported late last fall that Ontario bee mortality incidents in 2014 were 70 per cent lower than in 2013 and that three beekeepers accounted for a majority of the reported incidents. Part of the roundtable’s role has been to urge further research. One project underway is a national bee census that does not rely on self-reporting. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
PAGE 2 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER
NEWSMAKERS
AT PRESS TIME… Half Your Plate program launches to consumers In mid-January, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association and its partners launched Half Your Plate, a new healthy eating initiative, across Canada. Half Your Plate empowers Canadians of all ages to eat more fruits and veggies to improve their health while providing simple and practical ways to add a variety of produce to every meal and snack. After a successful launch on social media last summer, Half Your Plate is now making its way onto produce packaging and into retail stores across Canada.
CPMA. “That also translates when you’re at the grocery store. Half your cart should be fruit and veggies, and having retailers promote the campaign re-emphasizes the importance of making healthier choices at the store.” Although Canadians are becoming more conscious of what they eat, studies show that the average person only consumes 3.5-4.5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Yet Canada’s Food Guide recommends that adults get seven to 10 servings per day, depending on gender. Half Your Plate encourages people to take it one meal at a time, analyzing the make-up of their plate rather than specific servings that can be confusing to many. The Half Your Plate campaign was developed in collaboration with health partners the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Public Health Association, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
OPMA lobbies for PACA-like trust
“Rather than having people count servings or worry about serving size, our messaging is that at every meal, make half your plate fruit and vegetables. By the end of the day, you’ll have your recommended number of servings,” said Ron Lemaire, president,
On January 8, the Ontario Produce Marketing Association (OPMA) met with the federal minister of finance, Hon. Joe Oliver, to lobby for a deemed trust, similar to the PACA trust currently in place in the United States. OPMA chair Steve Bamford, OPMA president Ian MacKenzie and Luc Mougeot, Dispute Resolution Corporation briefed the minister on the merits of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). This meeting reinforces efforts with a number of MPs on Parliament Hill last November.
Once again, they emphasized the need for financial protection in the event buyers become insolvent or bankrupt. The key elements of the industry’s proposal are: 1. Sellers maintain an ownership interest in their products until paid. A deemed trust is established at the time of sale. 2. The deemed trust is composed of the product, plus any cash or accounts receivable stemming from the sale of that product. 3. The funds contained in the trust are applied to unpaid produce sellers where the buyer is insolvent or bankrupt. While government would create the legal mechanisms for industry, a limited statutory deemed trust for the fresh fruit and vegetable sector would require no government funding or need for any government administration. As an added benefit, establishing a deemed statutory trust would potentially prompt the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reinstate Canada’s preferential access to their dispute resolution system for produce suppliers under PACA which was revoked on October 1, 2014.
Register for CPMA by Feb 20 This 90th edition of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association Convention and Trade Show will be held in Montreal from April 15-17. The deadline for early bird registration and almost $200 savings is February 20. Go to: www.convention.cpma.ca/ register.
The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Grower’s Association has a new chair of the board of directors. Carrot and onion grower, Jason Verkaik, Carron Farms, Bradford, Ontario was elected at the recent 156th annual general meeting. Joining him are three newly elected directors: Kenny Forth (fresh vegetables); Neil Reimer (asparagus) and Bill George Jr. (grapes). Returning directors are Norm Charbonneau (small fruits and berries); Charles Stevens (apples); Ken Van Torre (ginseng); Don Taylor and Jan VanderHout (greenhouse); Mac James (potatoes); John Thwaites (tender fruit). The Chemtura Golden Apple Award was presented to Leslie Huffman, OMAFRA’s apple specialist who is retiring at the end of February. Based out of Harrow, Ontario, she has made significant contributions to the industry as it has transformed to high-density plantings. (see page A4 for more details). The OFVGA Industry Award of Merit was presented to Art Smith, former CEO of the organization for his decades of service to both the Grape Growers of Ontario and the OFVGA. (see page A4 for more details) Right: Ray Duc (L), outgoing chair of the OFVGA, presents the Photo by Herb Sherwood Award of Merit to Art Smith. Ian MacKenzie, president of the Ontario Produce Marketing Association, has announced plans to retire December 31, 2015. He has been with the association since 1994, leaving briefly in 1998 to become general manager of the Ontario Apple Marketing Commission, but returning in 2002. A search committee has been struck. Food and Beverage Ontario (FBO) has a new executive director in Norm Beal. Most recently, he’s been the president of FBO’s board of directors. He’s also the owner-operator of Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery in Beamsville and a long-standing board member of the Wine Council of Ontario. Steve Peters leaves the organization to consult in the private sector. In other changes, Isobel Dopta is promoted to the role of chief operating officer. Margaret Appleby, IPM system specialist, based in Brighton, Ontario will be retiring end of May. She grew apples with her father for 23 years before joining OMAFRA in 1992. Fresh Vegetable Growers of Ontario elected its 2015 roster of directors. Two new directors are Mark Wales and John Hambly. The board is completed by: Tom Miedema (chair); Mark Srokosz, Henk Droogendyk, Don Almas, Ken Collins, Domenic Riga, Mary Shabatura and Charles Welsh.
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Peter Quiring, president and owner of Nature Fresh Farms, based in Leamington, Ontario, plans to build a new 175-acre greenhouse facility in Delta, west of Toledo, Ohio. He cited local infrastructure as a key factor as well as proximity to North Star Bluescope Steel to take advantage of waste heat and CO2. Paola Guarnieri, former director of marketing and communications for the Ontario Produce Marketing Association, has been appointed to a three-year term on the board of directors for the Ontario Food Terminal.
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Error Thanks to Beamsville, Ontario tree fruit grower Torrie Warner for pointing out the error on page 21 of the January issue. The first photo in the “Identify these flowers” quiz was incorrectly identified. The correct answer is nectarines.
FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE 3 THE GROWER
COVER STORY
Bee health and neonicotinoids
from neonicotinoids at the levels anticipated to be present in the Canadian environment continue to be acceptable.” The Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) supports this methodical approach. Two years before legislation was contemplated, the seed companies
realized there was unintended dust becoming air-borne from vacuum-style planters. “In less than a calendar year, the industry replaced talc powder with a wax-based lubricant on the seed,” explains David Baute, CSTA president. This product reduces the amount of active ingredient
released in treated seed dust during planting by 65 per cent. In 2015, he says there will be a broad offering by all seed companies of both insecticidetreated and fungicide-only corn and soybean seeds. In addition, deflector kits will be widely available for farmers to aim any potential dust to the ground. These non-regulatory steps are more in keeping with how the agricultural industry has always worked together. Best management practices for farmers as well as beekeepers could go a long way to reversing the spike in bee mortalities that was recorded in 2012. Despite this industry collaboration, the provincial government is determined to legislate. It’s a burdensome proposal that worries commercial beekeeper Hugh Simpson, Osprey Bluffs Honey Company, Feversham, Ontario. Laws sometimes have unintended consequences. If corn and soybean growers can no longer use neonic-treated seeds to prevent pest damage, they will suffer yield losses.
NETHERLANDS
CHINA
GERMANY
NETHERLANDS
UNITED STATES
Greenhouse industry in peril
Costco posts early success
Peeler nominated for Fruit Logistica top
Cranberry industry bleeding red ink
Russia’s embargo of European fruits and vegetables has injured an already weakened greenhouse industry. A McKinsey & Company report warns that half of the Dutch greenhouse growers are unable to pay their bills, with another 15 per cent struggling to reinvest. Production from Spain and Morocco is increasing about two to six per cent per year, while consumption is increasing only one to two per cent per year in major markets. Structurally, about 15 European buyers purchase 84 per cent of the produce in a highly competitive market. The industry is now debating whether it can better coordinate market intelligence, brand Dutch produce and increase transparency on price and volume.
Costco has launched an online presence on Alibaba’s Tmall in China, experimenting with a low-risk model of entry to more than one billion consumers. To date, the grocer has no physical stores in the country. It posted $6.4 million in sales in its first month of imported food and healthcare products in October 2014. During China’s Singles Day shopping event in November, it posted $3.5 million. With online operations in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Mexico, Costco is testing new models for delivery. For example, it’s partnered with Google Express to offer same-day delivery in the U.S.
Fruit Logistica, the world’s top trade fair in horticulture gets underway this month in Berlin. One of the 10 top nominees for innovation is German company Hepro founded by mechanical engineers Siegfried Hennemeier and Christoph Protte. They are known as peeling technology specialists, having made their name with an asparagus peeler. A universal peeling machine for long vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers, white radishes and salsify is now up for consideration as 2015 innovation of the year.
Global company now branding its seed varieties
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Research from the following studies, all funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, is expected to contribute to deeper understanding. • The effects of sub-lethal neonicotinoid exposure on brain state and behavior of honey bee workers • The interaction of clothiandin with Varroa destructor and deformed wing virus and their effect on the health of brood and adult honeybees • Sub-lethal effects of neonicotinoids on queen fertility and drone sperm viability Anticipating the results from such seminal research, the agricultural industry – grain and oilseed growers, seed companies, manufacturers – feels that the Ontario government is rushing to legislation before its own science is complete. At the national level, the PMRA’s website says there are outstanding questions and is “reviewing the emerging body of scientific and monitoring data to assess whether risks to pollinators
“When a tool breaks, farmers tend to invent a solution,” says Simpson. “Those growers may resort to growing more corn and soybeans to make up the yield difference. More monoculture is not good. More foliar treatments in soybeans are worse for the environment.” “Not enough scientific work has been done to see what the effect of reduced neonicotinoids has on bee health,” Simpson continues. “I’m sure that neonics are harmful to bees and that a direct relationship exists if the bee comes in contact with the right dosage. But is it reasonable to name neonics as the cause of huge bee mortality statistics in Ontario when there are so many other factors that play an important role. I advocate for an industry-led, bee health strategy that involves commercial stakeholders who have bee health as their objective and are willing to collaborate and compromise to go forward.”
INTERNATIONAL
Source: FreshPlaza.com
De Ruiter Seeds has abandoned its policy of releasing numbered varieties. Anyone outside the close circle of the greenhouse industry would not know that DR9544TH is a beefsteak tomato. In 2015, several new varieties are to be introduced according to Nico van Vliet. Expect a middle vine-, cocktail, plum- and beefsteak variety in the tomato category. In peppers, look for a new red and a new yellow variety as well as a new cucumber variety. Source: FreshPlaza.com
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is buying 68 million pounds of cranberries – about eight per cent of the 2014 crop – at a cost of $55 million to soften the impact of an abundant harvest. That’s welcome news for Wisconsin where more than 60 per cent of the U.S. cranberry crop is harvested. Other states such as Massachusetts, Oregon, New Jersey and Washington may have trouble competing due to lack of modernization, size and technology. Wisconsin’s cranberry growers added to the glut in 2013 with more than 6 million barrels despite carryover inventory. The 2014 forecast is for state production to dip to 5.4 million barrels. Source: FreshPlaza.com
Source: FreshPlaza.com
PAGE 4 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER
OFVGA AGM HIGHLIGHTS
Former OFVGA CEO Art Smith wins Industry Award of Merit The recently retired CEO of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) was recognized for his longstanding commitment and contributions to the industry. Art Smith, who led the organization from 2003 until mid-2014, was presented with the Industry Award of Merit at the OFVGA annual banquet January 13. “Art has been a tireless advocate on behalf of Ontario’s fruit and vegetable growers for decades, first as a grower and board member, and then as a senior staff member of several horticultural organizations,” says OFVGA chair Ray Duc. “It is an honour for me to present this award to such a deserving individual who has been responsible for supporting and enabling so many of our industry’s successes.” Smith was born and raised on a tender fruit farm in the Niagara Region that has been in the Smith
family for more than 100 years; his niece Jennifer, who runs the farm today with her father and son, is the 10th generation. After graduating from the University of Guelph in 1973, he returned to the home farm before starting his own grape vineyard on the bench of the Niagara Escarpment. He was a member, director and eventually chair of the Grape Growers of Ontario (GGO), as well as holding the position of executive director prior to joining the OFVGA. During his time as GGO chair, Smith played a key role in the development of the Grape and Wine Adjustment Program, which helped the grape and wine industry become competitive in the global market place following the introduction of the North American Free Trade Agreement. As CEO of the OFVGA, Smith moved the organization to a strong financial position, and in
2005, led implementation of a policy that saw the OFVGA pay membership dues for all of its member organizations to the Canadian Horticultural Council. This has helped create a stronger voice for horticulture at the national level. In recent years, the OFVGA created a research and promotion fund that has returned more than $1 million in container tolls to the OFVGA member organizations. Smith was also instrumental in heading lobby efforts that have led to ad-hoc payments of more than $200 million to fruit and vegetable growers from successive Ontario governments over the last decade, including the Self-Directed Risk Management (SDRM) program. The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association is the voice of Ontario’s fruit, vegetable, and greenhouse farmers on issues affecting the edible horticulture sector.
Art Smith, former CEO of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, is pictured here with the former Ontario agriculture minister Ted McMeekin. Photo by Denis Cahill.
Ontario apple specialist receives Golden Apple Award Leslie Huffman is the 2014 recipient of the Chemtura Golden Apple Award. Huffman is the apple specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). The award was presented at the annual banquet of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association in Niagara Falls on January 13.
“Throughout her career, Leslie has shown extraordinary commitment and dedication to the advancement of Ontario’s apple industry and to supporting
“Retailers will w continue to inves v t in innovative technologies to mee m t the changing needs n of consume ers.” - Deloitte Report: The food value chain - A challen nge for the next centu ury © 2013
“Learning Learning and Innovation go hand in hand. nd The arrogance of success suc ccess is to think that what you did yesterday will be suffficient for tomorrow.” - William Pollard Innovation is so very hard to accomplish, but so easy e to spot. The art and genius of taking an established product or process and successfully re-inventing it for the better makes history and fortunes. For the fresh produce industry, innovation is not just an aspiration, but an expectation. Surging consumer demands, changing regulatory y environments, and competition are just a few of the forces driving innovation in our industry. As Cana ada’s largest gathering of the entire fresh produce supply chain, the 90th CPMA Convention and Trad de Show will showcase innovation as no other event can. By nettworking ki with ith our exhibit hibitors and d your peers, p or ttaking ki iin our program of sessions, i you will ill walk away with ideas for innovations that will help p to expand your business from coast to coast. It will all happen in Canada’s capital for joie de vivre, Mo ontréal, Quebec from April 15-17, 2015.
Registration opens online in January 2015. convention.cpma.ca/register
The Chemtura Golden Apple award is presented by Cathy McKay (L) and Charles Stevens (R) to Ontario apple specialist Leslie Huffman. Photo by Herb Sherwood. growers whenever they have needed her,” says Charles Stevens, chair of the Ontario Apple Growers (OAG). “She’s involved in many different facets of our industry and has played a key role in many education and research initiatives.” Huffman grew up on a mixed farm near Harrow, Ontario and graduated from the University of Guelph with a degree in horticultural science. She joined OMAFRA in 1981 as fruit and vegetable extension horticulturalist for Kent and Essex counties, and became the ministry’s weed management specialist for horticultural crops in 1996, where she helped oversee the registration of approximately 60 herbicides for fruit crops. She’s been the provincial apple specialist since 2008. Huffman is co-editor of Hort Matters and editor of the Ontario Orchard Network Newsletter, and is active on many industry committees, including the International Fruit Tree Association (IFTA) research committee and working closely with counterparts and experts in
Michigan and New York State. She has helped co-ordinate and co-chair the apple program at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention for many years, and has been instrumental in establishing and running the annual Sweet and Craft Cider Competitions at the convention. “Leslie has worked very closely with staff and board of the Ontario Apple Growers over the years, including helping to plan and lead our annual summer orchard tours and working on various research initiatives as part of the OAG research committee,” adds Stevens. “She’s also active with grower groups in her area and in the local community.” Leslie and her husband Doug Balsillie operate a fruit farm near Harrow with their four daughters. The Chemtura Golden Apple Award is presented annually to a recipient who has made outstanding contributions to the Ontario apple industry. The Ontario Apple Growers represents the province’s commercial apple farmers. Visit www.onapples.com.
FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE 5 THE GROWER
SAFETY NETS
Ontario farmers have option to join AgriStability in 2015 Mark Wales, safety nets chair for the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, reminds farmers that the AgriStability program is not mandatory for enrolment in the Self-Directed Risk Management (SDRM) program for 2015. For details see below. Risk Management Program update OMAFRA is removing AgriStability as a requirement for SDRM starting with the 2015 program year. Commodity groups requested the requirement be removed so farmers from both the Risk Management Program (RMP) and SDRM have more flexibility in choosing options that best meet their needs. What’s changed? • Starting in 2015, SDRM customers can choose if they want AgriStability coverage. As it is no longer an eligibility requirement, producers will need to consider what programs best suit the needs of their farm. SDRM payments are not offset against production insurance claims. For more details about how the program works, visit www.agricorp.com. $100 million in annual funding continues to be available for the RMP and SDRM programs. Different Business Risk Management programs cover different risks The National Agricultural Policy Agreement, Growing Forward 2, offers farmers a comprehensive suite of programs to protect against severe market volatility and disasters. The programs under the
All sectors of the agricultural/horticultural industry, including players at all levels from inputs to farm production to purchasing and processing, are benefiting from a specially tailored-for-ag training seminar in negotiation (alternate dispute resolution) and collaboration. Tony Hogervorst, a vegetable grower near Watford, Ontario attended this training some years ago as a representative for vegetable growers for processing. “It has made a world of difference for me as a negotiator on behalf of others, and in my own operation,” says Hogervorst, who markets his own produce to wholesale, retail, and especially to processing, in Ontario, and the U.S., and has imported from the U.S. and Mexico. Hogervorst felt so strongly about the benefits of this training that he formed a business called WESTPHALIAN WAY, and has purchased the course three times so far, to make it available to anyone from seed to shelf in the Agri-Food industry. The instructor is a world class trainer, working with a highly recognized law firm in Toronto that specializes in Alternate Dispute Resolution. To this point, participants have included seed salesmen, a veterinarian, greenhouse growers, fruit and vegetable growers, growers of cash crop destined for seed, feed, food, fuel and fibre, and directors and staff from grower groups and marketing boards (Grain Farmers and Dairy Farmers of Ontario).
Program
Protects against
AgriStability
Large margin declines
AgriInvest
Small margin declines
Production Insurance
Yield reduction and crop loss
RMP
Livestock and G&O
Adverse market conditions
SDRM
Losses or expenses
• Participation in all programs ensures you have maximized coverage for your farm. Different programs cover different risks, giving you comprehensive protection. How AgriStability can help • AgriStability is an important part of a comprehensive suite of programs. AgriStability protects you from large declines in your farming income caused by production loss, increased costs or market conditions.
A year ago, a severe ice storm coated this blueberry acreage at Wilmot Orchards. Photo courtesy of Charles Stevens. Growing Forward 2 agreement are in place until 2018. The Ontario government has complemented this suite of programs with the addition of the RMP and SDRM program. Together, they work like insurance to help Ontario producers offset losses caused by low commodity prices and rising production costs.
Participants from beyond the farm gate include representation from grain elevators, processing plants, a major co-op, and farm structures. This broad mix of participants makes for interesting discussion and collaborative learning. “I am not suggesting that this training is necessary or justified for everyone. It comes with a hefty price tag, but the entrepreneurs, salespeople, and grower representatives who can really get their money’s worth by taking this kind of course know who they are. They are in positions where they can make their own difference in what they do, in what they sell, and in how they sell it.” “This is not about learning how to dig your heels in deeper,” says Hogervorst, “It’s about understanding what matters to the other party and what can make a positive difference to the business relationship.” Participants will learn to take the time to understand the perspective and reasoning of the other side, to keep the conversation going, to search for value where it could not be seen before, how to get the best deal, and how to close the deal. As well, very important preparation skills, and positioning skills are practiced and critiqued. Each participant walks away with new skills of high payback potential. To this point, participants have rated the course material and the trainer very highly. The next course is scheduled for March 30 to April 1, and will be held at the Elmhurst Inn at Ingersoll, Ontario, at
AgriStability gives you: • Whole farm protection. AgriStability provides coverage for severe margin declines for some commodities and perils that are not covered under Production Insurance. You receive a payment if your net farming income falls below 70 per cent of your farm’s recent income. • Affordable coverage. For a low fee, you protect your farm against production losses, adverse market conditions and increased costs. The annual AgriStability fee is 0.45 per cent of your fee reference margin, multiplied by the 70 per cent coverage level. This works out to be $315
Hwys 401 and 19. If interested, Tony Hogervorst, or Joanne, can be contacted at 519-670-0891, or 519-849-6573.
for every $100,000 of reference margin. • Unique coverage. Your payment is based on your farm’s current and historical income directly related to your farm’s production. • Payments in times of financial distress. You can apply to receive an advance on your estimated AgriStability payment to help with cash flow. • Access to other program and credit options. AgriStability may make you eligible for other programs like the Advance Payment Program and can give you access to other credit options. • Continuous record keeping. Your business information is easier to maintain if you are filing on an annual basis. Producers have until April 30, 2015 to pay their AgriStability fee without penalty, submit a new participation form or cancel their coverage. Agricorp will send AgriStability information to existing customers in the winter of 2015.
Details and registration can be accessed at www.effective-agri-food-negotiation. eventbrite.ca .
PAGE 6 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER
OFVGA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Chair ’s report
RAY DUC CHAIR, OFVGA I am still waiting for Mother Nature to give us a perfect growing season. This growing season was delayed by a cold winter and cool wet spring. Bud break on perennial crops was delayed by a couple weeks and seeding and planting of annual crops was pushed back because of cool soils and excessive rains. The cold winter had an effect on perennial crops. The grape crop was reduced by 40 per cent and tender fruit was severely damaged in many areas of the province. Maybe next year she will deliver the elusive perfect season. Political environment The Liberal government led by Kathleen Wynne won a strong mandate from the people of Ontario. We moved from a Liberal minority to a Liberal majority. The Premier completed her term as our agriculture minister and handed the reigns to Jeff Leal, the MPP from Peterborough. Minister Leal has made himself accessible. We have met with him and conveyed our issues and opportunities for horticulture in Ontario. The minimum wage increased in 2014 to $11.00 an hour. It is estimated this increase cost horticulture in Ontario $30 million. We are currently doing an impact study on this increase to measure the effect on horticulture. Along with this increase, a simple formula for future increases was implemented. Every year going forward the minimum wage will increase by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), something we lobbied for. We did not support the politically driven increase to $11.00 but were supportive of the new methodology going forward. Adding CPI increases to the
minimum wage annually is predictable and bankable and most importantly takes out the threat of radical increases driven by political agendas. In an effort to increase the effectiveness of our lobby efforts we have hired Maple Leaf Strategies. This lobby firm has strong connections to insiders at Queen’s Park and has a good sense of the pulse of government. Maple Leaf Strategies has already opened many doors for us and has aligned our lobby strategy with the direction the government wants to go. This is a new approach for the OFVGA and to date we have been satisfied with the results. We will continue to monitor and assess to make sure we are getting value for your dollars. Pollinator health The health of pollinators rapidly became a major issue for the hort industry in Ontario. The numbers vary from study to study, but the numbers show a major spike in bee mortality over the winter of 2013-2014. Acceptable mortality rates of 15 per cent have been surpassed repeatedly in recent years. The cause of these spikes is what is in question. Environmentalists and some professional beekeeper associations have placed responsibility on neonicotinoids. Although there are many perils the colonies are subjected to, government has taken aim at neonics. In November the government announced that they have set a goal to reduce neonic-treated corn and soybean acres by 80 per cent. Stakeholder and public consultations took place in December. We were present at many of these meetings. The OFVGA joined a coalition of commodity groups called Farm Action Now (FAN). This coalition was formed to ensure decisions made by government that affect agriculture in Ontario are based on sound science not emotion. Farm and Food Care is handling media relations on this very sensitive issue. The outcome of this issue will have a major effect on agriculture in Ontario, where five million acres of corn and soybean are planted annually. The many stakeholders involved in this issue are very polarized and it has unfortunately pitted
STAFF Publisher: Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Editor: Karen Davidson, 416-557-6413, kdavidson@ecomente.ca Production: Carlie Robertson, ext. 221, production@thegrower.org Advertising: Herb Sherwood, 519-380-0118, advertising@thegrower.org The Grower reserves the right to refuse any advertising. Any errors that are the direct result of The Grower will be compensated at our discretion with a correction notice in the next issue. No compensation will be given after the first running of the ad. Client signature is required before insertion. The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association is the sole owner of The Grower. All editorials and opinions expressed in The Grower are those of the newspaper’s editorial staff and/or contributor, and do not necessarily reflect the view of the association. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either whole or in part without the prior written consent of the publisher.
farmer against farmer. Our greatest concern on this issue remains the health of pollinators in Ontario as bees are needed to pollinate more than 120 different fruit and vegetable crops grown in Ontario. Alternative funding We continue to explore a fairer mechanism to fund the OFVGA. Currently, some edible hort sectors are paying a higher percentage than others measured against farm gate sales with some sectors paying nothing. While there is a wide range in financial support from many sectors to the OFVGA, all hort producers benefit from our efforts. Premier Wynne directed the Farm Products Marketing Commission to set up a committee to work with us on a solution. Our current proposal would see hort producers paying a percentage of their Allowable Net Sales. Progress on this file has been difficult as change is never easy. If change is going to happen it will take the support of all our commodity members. We must keep in mind that we have a stable funding mechanism, though dated and not considered fair but that has proven to be a reliable source of funding for your organization. Any change that is made must leave us with a stable system that will provide future boards the money they need to continue the work of the OFVGA. Programs The student nutrition programs continue to grow. The purpose of these programs is to promote awareness of fruit and vegetables among students in Ontario. Overall benefits from this program will be to promote healthy eating and to change consumption patterns. Funding from the provincial government has steadily increased for these programs; currently we are receiving $1.1
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million per school year to deliver a healthy snack to 36,000 students in 191 schools. The logistics of menu planning, procurement and distribution is not simple; a thank you and job well done to Alison Robertson for establishing the OFVGA as a leader in local food procurement and distribution. A spinoff of this initiative is the Fresh from the Farm fundraising program. In many schools where chocolate bars were sold as fundraisers, fruit and vegetable boxes are now sold to generate funds. Other initiatives we are currently supporting are the New World Crops trials at Vineland and a two-year Wildlife Crop Predation study headed up by Susan Fitzgerald and Hugh Frasier. Finances The financial position of the OFVGA remains strong. Overall growth in the horticultural sector is offsetting the continued increase in the use of Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs). We will continue to monitor the effects of RPCs on our funding, but at this time it appears they will not be a threat to our funding mechanism. From the financial year ending October 2014, we will be returning $300,000 to our commodity members in the form of a research and marketing program. The surplus of revenue over expenses will be distributed based on financial contributions made by commodities to the OFVGA. Acknowledgements We are fortunate to have one of the best staff in the industry. I would like to thank all of them for the work they do on behalf of all edible hort growers in Ontario. Our staff is a dedicated team that is results-oriented. Thank you to Deanna Hutton, Alison Robertson, Craig Hunter, Lilian
Schaer, Carlie Robertson, Doug Wilkinson, Herb Sherwood and Karen Davidson. This year also brought change at the OFVGA. June 30th marked the end of Art Smith’s 11 years as CEO. The search for a new Executive Vice President began shortly after last year’s convention. Thank you Ken Forth, Jason Verkaik and Don Taylor for the time spent with me on the hiring committee and delivering a successful outcome. After many hours of reading resumes and a lengthy interview process, it was decided to recommend to the Board of Directors that we hire John Kelly. John fit all the criteria we were looking for to take the OFVGA to the next level. With John, transition came easily; he had already worked with many of our stakeholders and had already developed many contacts in Government. Thank you to John for making this transition easier than I had anticipated. With last year’s convention came a new board of directors. New to the board was Charles Stevens, who joined returning directors Jason Verkaik (Vice Chair), Mac James, Ken Van Torre, Norm Charbonneau, Don Taylor, Jan Vanderhout, John Thwaites, Mary Shabatura and Jason Ryder. Thank you to each and every one of you for your time and dedication; each of you brings a unique perspective to the table. I have always felt the strength of the OFVGA comes from the section chairs. The knowledge and experience of these chairs cannot be bought. It comes from many years of focusing on one area of a complex industry. Thank you to Ken Forth (Labour), Charles Stevens (Crop Protection), Brian Gilroy (Property), Harold Schooley (Research) and Mark Wales (Safety Nets). I must also acknowledge Adrian Huisman for his work as our representative at the Canadian Horticultural Council. Adrian has been integral in stabilizing the finances and streamlining the structure of our national partner. Finally, thank you to my family and staff for their support and understanding while I spent time with this organization. It has truly been an honour to serve as your chair in 2014.
ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2013
OFVGA SECTION CHAIRS
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Crop Protection Research Property Labour Safety Nets CHC
Chair Vice-Chair Fruit Director Veg Director Director
Jason Verkaik, Bradford TBA TBA TBA TBA
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
Charles Stevens, Newcastle Kenny Forth, Lynden John Thwaites, Niagara-on-the-Lake Neil Reimer, Vienna Bill George Jr., Beamsville Jason Verkaik, Bradford Mac James, Leamington Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin Ken Van Torre, Burford Jan Vander Hout, Waterdown Don Taylor, Durham
Charles Stevens, Newcastle Harold Schooley, Simcoe Brian Gilroy, Meaford Ken Forth, Lynden Mark Wales, Alymer Murray Porteous, Simcoe
FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE 7 THE GROWER
PERSPECTIVE Charlie Hebdo reminds us freedom is under attack
OWEN ROBERTS U OF GUELPH More than ever, the challenge to the freedom of expression is on the minds of everyone, following the Charlie Hebdo tragedy in France. Extremist activities touch all aspects of society, including agriculture. In agriculture, the challenges are less overt than guns blazing and people dying. Violence is not a focal point, thankfully. But the messages from agriculture’s enemies, those who want some farmers out of business, are the same: I am right, and you are wrong.
My approach is right, so you should change yours. And I bully you until you do. I see bullying frequently online, with people married to extreme views. Social media has empowered them, giving them easily accessible platforms to relentlessly spout off their opinions. Some are punks. Others are white-collar activists who claim they have a right to express their opinions, too. And sure, they do. But what is their intent: to share their opinion and stimulate discussion, or to shut down conventional agriculture? In many cases, I say it’s the latter. Some of them are working the media, trying to sway thought that way. Others are putting pressure on government offices, trying to bring bureaucrats and elected officials onside. Their intentions are not honourable. They mean to limit some farmers’ freedom, those who produce food conventionally with crop protection products, or those who engage in animal
agriculture. And they’ll keep chipping away. To me, if someone is threatening your livelihood, in an organized, methodic way, they are trying to make you a victim. Maybe they don’t have a loaded gun, but through their work they are trying to destroy you and what you are doing, legally, admirably, every day, to feed people – even people like them. It’s vital not to be intimidated by bullies, e-trolls and others who have their own self-interests at heart. Admittedly, it’s risky, and it can expose you to some harsh criticism or worse, as the Charlie Hebdo tragedy shows. I don’t know many journalists who haven’t been subject to some kind of intimidation -- economic, physical or psychological -- for taking a position. Charlie Hebdo fanned the flames and pushed the limits when it came to criticizing extremism. But there’s a huge difference between criticism, and inciting hate and violence. All this really hit home to me when I was asked, on behalf of the International Federation of
“It’s vital not to be intimidated by bullies, e-trolls and others who have their own self-interests at heart.”
Agricultural Journalists, to write an institutional response to the Charlie Hebdo murders. I said freedom of expression through the media is fundamental to democracy. That freedom is shaken by the murderous attacks, which remind us of how democracy is under constant threat in our world today, in wartorn nations and peaceful societies alike. Freedom is also compromised when activists advance their causes through scurrilous activities, intimidation and bullying. In agriculture, they want
to limit consumers’ freedom of choice when it comes to food. I say that’s not their right. I’m a big proponent of farmers speaking out, of advocacy and of standing up to activists. It’s encouraging that Don McCabe, recently elected president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, said in his 2015 outlook address in January that the federation’s advocacy role has never been more important. But it’s not just Don, or the federation proper, who needs to stand up for farmers. Everyone needs to do their part. No one in agriculture is an island. The restrictive laws that activists want for modern agriculture will make farming as hard for organic growers as it is for conventional growers. We all have some Charlie Hebdo in us, and we need to exercise it – say what’s wrong when oppression threatens our democratic rights, be unwilling to accept extremism in whatever form, and stand up for the kind of free world in which we want to live.
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How changing economics are negatively impacting soil health When beef cattle graze pasture and hay lands, it’s good for the environment. Perennial pastures build soil organic matter, are less susceptible to erosion, have almost no nutrient runoff, and they create some habitat for birds and beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies, thus increasing biodiversity. Hay used to be Ontario’s largest crop. In 1978, hay and pasture represented 35 per cent of Ontario’s farmland. By 2011, hay and pasture were just three per cent of the farm landscape. This change has had a measurable impact on the socio-economics of rural Ontario. It is also affecting ground-nesting birds, small mammals and the birds that feed on them, pollinating insects, and the land itself. During those 33 years, poor cattle returns have driven a 24 per cent reduction in beef cattle numbers and increased specialization in cash crops and vegetable production. The changing crop mix has had a dramatic effect on crop rotation cycles while the more intensive management of hay and pasture lands (such as cutting clover before it flowers) has removed a once-abundant seasonal food supply for pollinators. Hay is grown as a perennial
crop for three to four years before it requires tillage and re-seeding. But as farms have moved to specialized field or vegetable crop production systems, hay is no longer part of the crop rotation system. This response to economic forces is having many unintended consequences on soil health, including increases in soil erosion and nutrient runoff issues. Over the last number of years, vegetable growers have also specialized in fewer crops to remain competitive and supply their markets. Intensive production systems have led to the adoption of short-term crop rotations with low biodiversity. Short-term crop rotations have negative effects on soil fertility, can increase pest levels, and can compromise the long-term sustainability of soil. Cover crops and crop rotations are important parts of tomato, cucumber, potato, snap beans and cantaloupe production systems, and must be factored into land planning considerations. Cover crops and crop rotations are important to reduce weed pressure, prevent nutrient leaching during the non-growing season, minimize soil erosion by water and wind and improve soil microorganism activity. The right cover crop choice can also help reduce fertilizer costs in
subsequent years. At the recent South West Regional Agricultural Conference (SWAC) in Ridgetown, producers were reminded that, under most conditions, corn, soy and wheat make a complementary crop rotation system, giving the best overall yields while maintaining soil structure. It was also suggested that adding red clover as a cover crop after wheat helps improve the overall yield of corn and build soil structure. Many producers are also exploring cover crops to improve organic matter, store nutrients, and reduce erosion. But many producers are short cycling these rotations with continuous corn or soy in an attempt to specialize even further, with potentially negative consequences for the environment. Larger field sizes have made it easier for water to pick up speed as it makes its way down slopes, which increases the potential for soil erosion and nutrient loss. Roundup-Ready crops have integrated well with no-till production, but no-till doesn’t always provide enough surface coverage to stop water movement on slopes. And without grass waterways, the system is still allowing too much phosphorus and soil to erode. There is no doubt that farming operations have changed in response to economic forces over the last 25 years. In many ways, farms are becoming more successful as agronomy and marketing skills focus attention on better, healthier crops using fewer resources and less energy than ever before. The evolution in crop type use in Ontario has been dramatic in response to these changing economic forces, and there is no going back to the old days. But we do need to think about our systems as they evolve. There are measurable negative consequences as we shift agricultural land use practices, and we must take care to minimize the negative as we maximize the positive. As farmers, we always strive for improved economic performance from our farms, but we must also be very careful to
nurture the soil. It takes a long time to rebuild what is lost and you may never regain what is lost by poor management choices.
Bruce Kelly is environmental program manager for Farm & Food Care.
COMING EVENTS 2015 Feb 3-4
The Greenbelt Fund Local Food Symposium, Queen’s Landing, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
Feb 3 – 6
8th North American Strawberry Symposium, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ventura, CA
Feb 4-6
Fruit Logistica, Berlin, Germany
Feb 5
New Brunswick Potato Conference & Trade Show, E. & P. Sénéchal Centre, Grand Falls, NB
Feb 11
Potato Selection Release Open House, Fredericton Potato Research Centre, Fredericton, NB
Feb 17
Ontario Berry Growers’ Association Annual General Meeting, Embassy Suites, Niagara Falls, ON
Feb 18 - 19 Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention, ScotiaBank Centre, Niagara Falls, ON Feb 19
Ontario Fresh Grape Growers’ Marketing Board Annual General Meeting, ScotiaBank Centre, Room 206, Niagara Falls, ON
Feb 21-25
International Tree Fruit Association 58th Annual Conference, Halifax, NS (Honeycrisp Intensive Workshop, Feb 21)
Feb 24
Growing Fruitful Networks, Amy’s Restaurant, Strathroy, ON
Feb 24-25
Canadian Federation of Agriculture Annual General Meeting, Delta Ottawa City Centre, Ottawa, ON
Feb 26
Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS) Annual General Meeting, Delhi, ON
Feb 28
Eco Farm Day, Ramada Inn, Cornwall, ON
Feb 27
27th Annual Cuvee Grand Tasting, Fallsview Casino Resort, Niagara Falls, ON
Feb 27-28
Organic Alberta Annual Conference, Beaumont, AB
March 3
Ontario Asparagus Grower Information Day, Belgian Hall, Delhi, ON
March 5
Ontario Potato Conference, Delta Hotel, Guelph, ON
Mar 10 – 12 93rd Canadian Horticultural Council Annual General Meeting, Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City, QC Mar 23 – 25 Minor Use Priority Setting Meeting, Gatineau, QC Mar 24
6th Annual Ontario Hazelnut symposium, Best Western Hotel, Brantford, ON
March 27
Les Producteurs de Pommes de Terre, Quebec City, QC
April 8-9
64th Annual Muck Vegetable Growers’ Conference and Trade Show, Bradford Community Centre, Bradford, ON
Apr 15 – 17 Canadian Produce Marketing Association Annual Convention & Trade Show, Palais des congres de Montreal, Montreal, QC June 1-7
Ontario Local Food Week
FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE 9 THE GROWER
RETAIL NAVIGATOR
Effective communication with category managers
PETER CHAPMAN When developing and growing relationships with category managers, communication is a very important piece to the puzzle. You need to ensure their perception of you and your business is as accurate and positive as possible. This month we will discuss some strategies to make the most out of the time you get and how to find a few extra opportunities as you go through the year. The first thing you need to accept is that every category manager is different. You might have a preferred method of communication but to be effective, you need to understand their preferred method. You can determine this a number of ways; you can ask them, ask other suppliers who work with them,
try different methods and track the success. Regardless of how you do it, the first thing you need to do is decide which is the best method of communicating. It is very possible that a category manager at one retailer prefers the phone and the person in the same role across the street prefers email. To be effective you need to communicate with each of them differently. In todays world there are many options, perhaps too many! Certainly email is a great method because you are almost certain they get it and you have a record if you need it. My only caution about email is that you do not over use it. A quick email is great but when you consider the person on the other end has 150 vendors all sending ‘a quick email’ it does add up. They also get considerable internal and industry correspondence. My experience lately, as the volume of emails continues to increase, is that if it disappears from the screen it can be gone for a long time. The phone is very important and is probably most effective for shorter time line issues or if there is a conversation required. They might not always be the conversation you want to have, but they need to happen. I have experienced a few emails back
and forth with a category manager and you just know it is going in the wrong direction. You need to pick up the phone and talk. Even if you leave a message the perception of you calling is that you need to get to the bottom of a situation as opposed to back and forth on email. If you do leave a message, note that in the email response. You can slide it in: “the answer to your question is…and I just left you a message if you want to discuss it more.” Short time line issues such as inventory for ads, food safety or negotiation can be more effective on the phone. You need to talk to them to ensure the issue is being addressed. I understand you do not want to call to tell them you will be short but it is better they know and you take your lumps up front. Delaying the inevitable just makes it worse. They might not tell you in the heat of the moment, but they do appreciate you taking the initiative and dealing with a problem. A food safety issue always needs to be addressed as quickly as possible so you need to talk to a person. It is interesting to me to see suppliers and retailers texting back and forth. It is true this is the most immediate form of communication and if you can get the relationship to the point where you can text back and forth
that is a win. I would not assume on this one, you might want to ask the question, can I send you a text? If the answer is yes that is a positive opening and you now have a more effective form of communication. Ten years ago email was relatively quick and many prided themselves by having an empty in box, now the text is the immediate form of communication. Using the mail can be effective to stand out from the crowd. This can be a great tool to send information or other relationshipbuilding pieces. I still remember a mail campaign from Gatorade to industry people that they executed many years ago. Throughout the year they sent a package to people in the industry prior to several key sports events through the year. There was something for Super Bowl, golf balls prior to the Masters etc. You might not have that in your budget but a well thought out direct mail campaign with three to four pieces can be very effective to build the relationship. One of the biggest frustrations when communicating with retailers is the response or lack thereof. You have to rate the communication you send and get a response where needed because you will not get it from every thing you send. Be sensitive to
the amount they receive and the time they have to respond. Get an answer when you need it but don’t pester them if you are simply providing information or being proactive for something with a deadline two weeks away. You will be able to gauge the relationship you have with the response you get. If you don’t get much, you have work to do. Perhaps the method you are using is not the right one. You should also try different times through the day. Some category managers are in the office early and work on email prior to nine o’clock when all the meetings start; others work late after the kids go to bed. Find the patterns that are most effective. Another consideration is the tone of your communication. Some category managers prefer a very pointed conversation; others want to talk sports, movies or family. Use some trial and error to find the most effective methods for each one. The face-to-face time you get with your category managers is very important. Next month we will review how to make the most of it. If you have found effective methods of communicating with retailers it would be great to hear about them. You can send them to me at pchapman@gpsbusienss.ca.
before you are even thinking about shopping. You had to seek it out in Target. Three strikes and they are out. It is unfortunate for consumers and suppliers. Good competition helps and now the mass channel will be dominated by Walmart. I find it interesting to ask: Would Target give Walmart the market of California? The population is 38 million which is not that much bigger than Canada. With the threat of Target gone, Walmart will really generate more sales and traffic in Canada and they will not be challenged by the
current players. Peter Chapman is a retail consultant, professional speaker and the author of A la cart-A suppliers’ guide to retailers’ priorities. Peter is based in Halifax NS, where he is the principal at GPS Business Solutions. Peter works with producers and processors to help them navigate through the retail environment with the ultimate goal to get more of their items in the shopping cart. pchapman@gpsbusiness.ca.
Target strikes out in Canada
, S P O R C HEALTHY
After a brief salvo into Canada, Target announced on January 15 that they will close their operations in Canada. Honestly, it blows my mind that they made the mistakes they did and that they could not get them fixed. There were three issues that caused their demise. 1) Inventory One of the basics of retail that Target knows very well in the U.S is that you need to have what your customer is looking for on the shelf. There are choices out there and when you don’t have
the products the consumers stop coming in. People will not waste their time going into stores where the products they expect are out of stock. 2) Price image The items they did manage to get to the stores were not priced competitively in the categories. Either they were sourcing items that cost too much relative to the similar item at other stores or they were not price checking and reacting properly. Likely it was a combination of both. Regardless, the value just was not there. The
best reason to visit Target U.S. was great value on interesting things. It never happened in Canada. 3) Shopping environment They tried but the stores were never exciting. Seasonal displays did not have the treasure hunt finds that Costco uses as a draw and what they did have cost too much. The signage changed for seasons but the entrance to the store was very static and there was nothing to get the consumer excited about shopping. Walmart and Loblaw get stuff in your cart
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PAGE 10 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER
OFVGA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Executive vice-president report
Photos by Glenn Lowson
JOHN KELLY Introduction The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association is a significant contributor to its members’ interests. We work on issues and challenges that growers face that can have large impacts on profitability and sustainability. These can range from government regulations, industry support, social responsibility and economic viability. The OFVGA was very pleased to show off its new look, supported by a new logo, website and ancillary materials. A lot of effort back and forth with the Board has resulted in a fresh, new branding for the OFVGA, which has been very favourably received. Check out www.ofvga.org for the new look. Government of Ontario The year has seen numerous issues really start to impact the sector. One of the key developments this year was the election of a majority government for the Province of Ontario. A key challenge for this government is that the lion’s share of elected politicians in power comes from urban jurisdictions, with little or no knowledge of the agricultural sector, and certainly less knowledge of those in the edible horticulture business. The Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne, for the first time published her mandate letters to each of the Ministries within the provincial government. The OFVGA sees this as a positive step, because it informs stakeholders of the direction of the government, and does allow for industry to react to each of the Ministry’s priorities. These mandate letters have had a substantial impact on the activities of the OFVGA. 2014 saw the re-amalgamation of the Ministries of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Rural Affairs. The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is Jeff Leal, Member of Provincial Parliament from Peterborough. Minister Leal has been quite visible in the agriculture and horticulture sector, notably spending time at the Breakfast on the Farm event organized by Farm & Food Care and held at Wilmot Orchards near Newcastle. Minister Leal faces a significant challenge in cabinet, with many of his colleagues not understanding the rural dynamic. This government has many policies and proposals that will impact how horticulture producers go about their daily business.
An immediate impact is felt with the increase in minimum wage, from $10.25 to $11.00 per hour. While the impact on the target for this legislation may be positive (that being the low income earner living in significantly urban centres), there is a corresponding negative impact on the ability of our growers to compete due to reductions in annual net return. Similarly, the government of Ontario has a position to develop a provincially based pension plan. The Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP) has an Associate Minister (Mitzie Hunter) dedicated to the implementation of this scheme. The details of this program have not yet been released, but the suggestion out there is that this will be a matching plan, with employees and employers each contributing 1.9 per cent of the gross earnings into the plan. There is no contribution to this plan from the government, but there could be significant administrative costs associated with the development of a provincial-only based plan. The government of Ontario also changed the Ministry of the Environment to the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) under Minister Glen Murray. This is significant in that the government will be placing added emphasis on those activities and processes that will contribute to climate change. Water management will continue to be a strong focus of the MOECC, and with the recent algal bloom and subsequent negative impact on drinking water in the Toledo, Ohio area, all potential sources of pollutants will be under intense scrutiny. In November, the MOECC and OMAFRA jointly released a paper entitled “Pollinator Health: A Proposal for Enhancing Pollinator Health and Reducing the Use of Neonicotinoid Pesticides in Ontario.” While the preliminary targets for this paper for the use of neonics are the grains and oilseeds farmers, neonics are certainly a tool that many in the horticultural sector use in an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy. This paper has galvanized the industry to form a coalition called FarmActionNow. This coalition includes Grain Farmers of Ontario, Seed Corn Growers, Ontario Pork, Ontario Bean Producers, Ontario Canola Growers and the OFVGA. Its purpose is to draw attention to key issues and to ensure that growers have a strong voice in policy decisions, with a focus on science-based regulation. Farm & Food Care has also been asked to provide communications support. More information on this can be found in the Crop Protection Report. The use of Reusable Plastic Containers
(RPCs) was challenged this year through a study conducted by Dr. Keith Warriner at the University of Guelph (which was corroborated in an independent study from the University of California) indicating the presence of bacterial contamination on “clean” containers. The OFVGA will continue to follow this work, and clearly supports the position that provision of safe fruits and vegetables is a key mandate. Canadian Horticultural Council The OFVGA continues to pay membership fees to the CHC on behalf of all members who remit container fees. This is a significant amount of money, and the OFVGA is a key funder of the national organization. As a result of the leadership provided by the CHC Oversight Committee and the cooperation and support of the staff and the Board of Directors, the CHC’s financial position has become more solid. CHC fees were increased by 17 per cent two years ago in order to address a chronic underfunding challenge. This year, the increase in CHC fees (3%) was more in line with inflation. One of the recommendations from the Oversight Committee was the sale of its office building and relocation to a more suitable office condo in Ottawa. The move to the new location is expected in late January. As a result, the organization has been put in a much more favourable financial position. The Budget Committee continues to provide financial direction to the Board. A key issue culminated in October with the withdrawal of preferred status under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) for Canadian produce marketers who sell into the United States. This has brought new focus to fruits and vegetables federally. The federal government is being strongly encouraged to implement a PACA-like trust in response to the U. S. The CHC, OFVGA and Canadian Produce Marketing Association encourage members to speak directly to their MPs on this issue. The OFVGA is well represented at the CHC level. Adrian Huisman and Brian Gilroy are the two representatives from Ontario serving on the CHC Board of Directors. Adrian Huisman chairs the Budget Committee. Ontario is well represented at the Standing Committee level as well. Charles Stevens chairs Crop Plant Protection and Environment, Brian Gilroy chairs the Apple Committee, Phil Tregunno chairs the Tender Fruit Committee, Ken Forth chairs the Trade and
Marketing Committee, Mark Wales chairs the Finance and Marketing Committee and Murray Porteous chairs the Human Resources Committee with Ken Forth as vice chair. Permits to Take Water This program is in its sixth year, and over the years has helped many farmers with their efforts to obtain water-taking permits. This program is self-funded with George Shearer being the key deliverer of this service on behalf of the OFVGA. Working closely with engineers, both well and surface water permits are required through the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change when more than 50,000 liters per day are taken. In 2014, 39 projects were conducted providing benefit to OFVGA members. We expect that this will remain a revenue-neutral cost centre within the OFVGA and that the services for these activities will be done on a cost-recovery basis. We encourage members of the OFVGA to contact George for assistance with their permitting requirements. Northern School Program The OFVGA and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC) entered into a partnership several years ago to introduce fresh fruits and vegetables to communities in Northern Ontario. When the program began, it involved 32 schools in the Porcupine region of northern Ontario, serving 5,835 students. Since then, the program has blossomed to more than 191 schools in the Porcupine, Algoma and Greater Sudbury regions with the communities of Fort Albany, Kashechewan, Peawanuk, Moosonee, and Attawapiskat successfully included in the program. Now with more than 35,000 students, and if you extend this to their families, more than 100,000 people in the north benefit from this program. This program provides a market for Ontario-grown fruits and vegetables, creating a demand in communities for improved selection, variety, and availability of produce. The co-ordination by the OFVGA has meant tremendous cost savings in terms of purchasing and distribution. This is a Win-Win-Win for the residents of the north, the OFVGA and the government of Ontario. Coordinated by Alison Robertson, it results in very good relationships with our stakeholders: government, agriculture, distribution and consumers. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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OFVGA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Executive vice-president report Fresh from the Farm
Crop Protection
The OFVGA supports the Fresh from the Farm Healthy Fundraising for Ontario Schools project. The basis of this fundraiser is to sell fresh Ontario vegetables and fruit to the community to raise funds for the schools. In this pilot program, 19 school boards from Algoma to Windsor-Essex, participated in this collaborative initiative between the Ontario Ministry of Education, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, and Dietitians of Canada. Other school boards are encouraged to enroll (see www.freshfromfarm.ca/ home.aspx for more information). This year, 165,000 pounds of root vegetables and apples were sold to school communities.
The crop protection sector has been dominated by the pollinator/neonicotinoid issue. The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, along with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs have issued an aspirational goal of an 80 per cent reduction in the acreage of corn and soybeans using this product as a seed treatment. This is in response to a purported reduction in the number of bees within the province of Ontario. This is a very contentious issue, with the decisions not being based on all of the available science, but rather using the precautionary principle using limited science. It is very important that members of the OFVGA have their voices heard on this matter and they are encouraged to speak to their local MPP. Other issues being handled by the OFVGA and the CHC include harmonization of requirements across borders, and the establishment of common maximum residue limits (MRLs) for products moving across borders. A Terms of Reference proposal was sent to the CHC on the activities of the Crop, Plant Protection and Environment committee, chaired by Ontario apple grower Charles Stevens.
Labour The labour file has been dominated by the minimum wage debate, which was settled this past year. The government of Ontario raised the minimum wage from $10.25 to $11.00 per hour, representing a 7.3 per cent increase. The government has committed that any future increases in minimum wage will be tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This will allow for some predictability and consistency over the coming years. Early on, there was some discussion of a unique agricultural minimum wage, however this is not going to happen. Instead, the government wants to speak to the OFVGA about how to keep the sector competitive and what it can do to assist. The province of Ontario has also announced the creation of the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP). The ORPP is intended to provide a predictable source of retirement income for those most at risk of under-saving, particularly middle-income earners without workplace pensions. The details of this pension plan have not been released. OFVGA has been working hard to sustain the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) which has been running for 49 years. This program is a model program for others, as it is run by industry for industry at reasonable cost. Through our support of the Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS), Ontario growers have access to a sustainable work force. A key change for Ontario growers this year is that all positions must be advertised online through Service Canada and that there are specific timelines and requirements to be met. Other areas in Canada have had this requirement for several years.
Property The Property Section of the OFVGA was active on several fronts. Working with the Horticultural Value Chain Roundtable, there are directions on sustainability, consumer focus, and research and innovation. Water is continuing to be a significant issue for horticultural producers, and the long awaited Nutrient Management Act regulations for the Greenhouse sector is expected soon. Farm & Food Care has been working on water projects, which also include fruit and vegetable wash water, irrigation, and drainage. The use of predatory birds to help prevent bird damage has been investigated in 2014. This project will continue into 2015, with nest boxes for kestrels being provided to numerous sites. Because these issues cross several commodities within the membership of the OFVGA, these types of projects will provide value to a wide group within horticulture. Safety Nets OFVGA members receive substantial financial support each year through the Self Directed Risk Management program (SDRM). This support is a direct result of negotiations conducted by OFVGA. This coming year, a key advance for SDRM participants is the removal of the AgriStability enrolment requirement. For 2015, the SDRM Reference Committee
will work together with government to fully analyze the administrative implications of this change. The analysis will be assessed and a decision made as to whether any corresponding SDRM program adjustments are needed prior to the 2016 program year. Research The OFVGA, in conjunction with the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland), conducted a research priorities meeting at Woodstock. This was to assist the sector in dealing with limited funding opportunities from the province of Ontario and other funding agencies. A report on the outcomes of this session, along with the work of an expert panel, will be provided to the membership in early 2015. The OFVGA is also committed to working with Vineland in the development of a library of genetic information so that it can be available to people looking for plants with specific characteristics. This library was developed from thousands of individual seeds forced to mutate, growing them out and identifying individual characteristics. Using naturally occurring mutations, Vineland researchers have an opportunity to use this library to meet the future needs of the sector. OFVGA contributed $5000 to this project in 2014. Finances The OFVGA continues to be in a positive financial position. We were fortunate to see an increase in the production of greenhouse vegetables and recovery of the apple and cherry sector. Some sectors suffered due to the record cold winter of 2014, including tender fruit and grape production. We also were fortunate to have four record months in performance at The Grower, along with increased revenues from the money that the OFVGA received for administration of the Northern School Program, a percentage of in-kind contributions on several projects. Research and Promotion Fund Consistent with the direction from the Board of Directors of the OFVGA, and the 2013 Resolution to consider maintaining the OFVGA Research and Promotion Fund – contingent on the direction from the Board motion “to consider it annually based upon the financial position of the organization” – I am very pleased to announce that the Board of Directors of the OFVGA has voted favourably to reinstate the Research and Promotion Fund this year in the amount of $300,000. As in previous years, this fund will be distributed on a prorated basis, based upon the amount of container and membership fees paid in the
Palais des congrès de Montré éal April 15-17, 2015
past fiscal year by each sector. Acknowledgements We have many stakeholders who have supported the OFVGA over the past year. Deputy Deb Stark is a strong advocate for the agricultural sector and understands the issues that we face. Phil Malcolmson has provided encouragement and advice in this transition year. Many others within the OMAFRA staff have worked hard on issues faced by the OFVGA and appreciate the impacts of various pieces of legislation on horticultural production in Ontario. Foodland Ontario supports all of our efforts through supporting homegrown fruits and vegetables. Agricorp, which delivers the SDRM program to our members, has provided excellent input and support. Randy Jackiw and Mike Vlcek have been very supportive of our efforts and it is appreciated. The work of the OFVGA could not be done without the tireless efforts of the Section Chairs. The consistency that they bring to the OFVGA and their hard work is very much appreciated and has certainly helped make this transition year as smooth as possible. Their work has provided the lobby efforts of the OFVGA a significant advantage and places the OFVGA in high regard with the provincial and federal governments. Our thanks go to Charles Stevens (Crop Protection), Ken Forth (Labour), Harold Schooley (Research), Brian Gilroy (Property) and Mark Wales (Safety Nets), and also to Adrian Huisman as our representative on the Canadian Horticultural Council. The Board of Directors, as well as the membership of the OFVGA, have welcomed me to this new position. They have been very supportive and have provided guidance and counsel whenever needed. I would like to thank them for their support, and the cohesiveness of the Board is a key strength of the organization. I would particularly like to thank Ray Duc, who has always been available for counsel and guidance. The staff of the OFVGA is a first-rate group of people who are responsible for the day-in, day-out operation of the organization. It is their diligence, professionalism and attention to detail that has moved this organization forward. Tremendous to work with, they have made my transition into this position seamless and quick. Thank you to all of you. It is very much appreciated! John Kelly is executive vice-president, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association.
convention.cpma.c ca
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Crop protection report CHARLES STEVENS CRAIG HUNTER This year (2014) started with a meeting with Niagara Regional Council on bees and the use of Neo-nicotinoids (NN) the first week of January. There was much discussion, and no further action was taken at the time. Throughout the year, we were dealing with the bee issue, up to and including the last week of the year. We did join with other affected parties to deal with the issue, but so much is still up in the air at year’s end that it will spill over at least until 2016. We have shown the value of close contacts and working together on this file with other affected parties, and this will be of long-term value going forward. There were several pesticide files being dealt with during the year. These include Thimet (for wireworm especially for potatoes), Mancozeb, Polyram and Captan fungicides, and Carbaryl (Sevin) for thinning. The crux of all of these appears to be concern related to post-application worker exposure. We have met with PMRA staff and had productive meetings, but the full resolution of the issue is still not a done deal. Further meetings are planned in January 2015. The GROU program has had its share of ups and downs. Grower utilization of the program remains low. Companies have thrown up further roadblocks to prevent certain actives to be in the program. WE have nominated a further 15 products for inclusion in the lists for import, and time will tell when/if they are approved. There needs to be improvements made to the program, but there appears little appetite to do so in Ottawa. Part and parcel of the GROU program was the new legislation to codify the data protection rules and, to put in place a
Photo by Denis Cahill. framework to foster generic pesticide registrations. So far this has NOT worked well. Consultations have been made, but the program remains mired in controversy over what data needs to be paid for, and by how much. Our comments were taken but we have not yet seen significant movement. Until this is resolved, our prices will remain higher in Canada. Our annual Minor Use Priority setting meetings were once again a success for growers. More than 40 new projects were selected, and many more joint projects with the US IR-4 program were also selected later in the year. A new approach to help bio-pesticide companies to get registration was tried and time will tell how successful that becomes. The next Global Minor Use meeting was discussed by the planning team while we all attended the Minor Use meetings. It will be held in September 2015 in Chicago, and is the first attempt to set international priorities and to conduct global work towards common registrations and MRLs. This is the future, and we will embrace it to the extent possible. The international harmonization of MRLs is becoming ever more important.
The OFVGA has partnered with Pulse Canada and others to assemble data to show the impact in Canada that a lack of coordinated and common MRLs is having on trade and production. This has also helped stimulate more interest at AAFC, and they have been chairing meetings to discuss the issue in Canada. Unfortunately, this has not translated into enhanced Canadian participation internationally where these decisions are made. This will remain a problem until we can exert more influence. We did contribute to the CODEX list of priority MRLs needed here, via PMRA. They have done a much better job in seeking this input, and we appreciate that. However, more is needed! Charles Stevens and I attended the NAFTA TWG meetings this fall. They were very different, and better than prior meetings as they focused on three key items: MRLs and trade, Minor Uses, neo-nicotinoids and bee mortalities. They sought out grower input on all three items. A highlight was the attendance of Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile observers. They were quite impressed with the process, and expressed a desire to have a greater participation in Minor Use than in the past. A large contingent of Mexican Growers pressed their government reps very hard on several issues, including the lack of registered solutions for invasives such as spotted winged drosophila. It was a good and worthwhile meeting to attend. This year’s IR-4 meetings were highlighted by a workshop on bacterial diseases. It was highly appropriate as we too had a very serious problem with bacterial diseases this year. Much valuable information was shared on registration issues, resistance, and the shortage of candidate materials to work with. As a result, another workshop will be convened at our Minor Use meetings in March 2015.
At the recently held Ontario Horticulture Research Priority Setting meeting it was gratifying to see the confluence of opinion from almost every commodity sector ranking Pest Management Research the highest priority. Although there is only a small research fund available from OMAFRA, at least the importance of Pest Management was highlighted. It can be used to lever funds from other areas as well. The year end was again dominated by the bee issue with the government coming out with a controversial plan to limit use of seed treatment on corn and soybeans. Although horticulture is not seemingly impacted, yet, we remain vulnerable, and it is on that basis that we participate to get a better outcome. No one wants to see unintended impact from pesticide use, and we will work hard to prevent that. On the other hand, we do not want proven effective and safe products removed from use without strong argument based on risk rather than just on hazard assessment. There is hazard throughout life- it is how one manages and mitigates the risk from the use of a hazardous product that allows good decisions. Horticulture must insist on sound decision-making and not knee-jerk reactions based on a whim. As it is every year, nothing would be done without the strong input of many members. We would like to thank the team at OFVGA, both staff and board members, for all their endless hours spent on the Crop Protection file on behalf of all our members. Charles Stevens is crop protection chair, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. Craig Hunter is crop protection and research advisor, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association.
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OFVGA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Fresh Vegetable Growers of Ontario (FVGO) report
TOM MIEDEMA In 2014, FVGO was once again able to provide funding for vegetable crop research deemed of benefit to the fresh vegetable sector. This was made possible through the Research & Development Funding available from the container rebates at the OFVGA. Projects were submitted to the FVGO and the following projects were reviewed and approved. Survey & Identification for Carrot Fusarium in Ontario 2014 This project was submitted to the FVGO by Marion Paibomesai, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The goal of this project was to determine the distribution and severity of Fusarium root and crown rot in central and southwestern Ontario. To assist with the development of management strategies of Ontario carrot growers, it is important to understand the distribution and severity of
this disease in Ontario carrot fields across different years, production styles and soil types. At this time there were no management strategies identified for this disease. Since it is possible that different species of Fusarium are found in different locations in the province, DNA sequencing will aid in the identification of the species of Fusarium affecting carrots in Ontario, which is important for developing management strategies. This project completion date was October 2014. Vegetable Virus Survey 2014 This project was submitted to the FVGO by Janice LeBeouf, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The goal of this project was to survey snap beans, cucurbits, tomatoes, peppers, sweet potatoes, cole crops and carrots for three viral diseases/sample/crop. Each crop will be tested for CMV and tomato spotted wilt viruses since these viruses have large host ranges. The third virus tested will
depend on the vegetable crops. This project completion date was October 2014. The FVGO currently has two projects being funded under the Ontario Farm Innovation Program Funding (OFIP).
OFIP #0051 - Innovative Application Method for Insecticides to Control Root Insects on Carrots and Radishes – Researcher – Mary Ruth McDonald – University of Guelph
OFIP #0050 – Disinfectants and other treatments as preventative tools for bacterial spot in tomato transplants – Researcher – Cheryl Trueman University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus
This project involves on-farm demonstrations. The project will evaluate an innovative method of applying insecticide to carrots at seeding. Carrot seeding equipment has been modified to apply insecticide directly below the seed at seeding. The technology has just been developed in Ontario for use with carrot seeders, but has potential for adaptation to other vegetable crops such as beets, radishes and direct seeded Brassica crops such as rutabagas and Chinese greens. The project has a completion date of December 1, 2015. In 2014 we continued to work with Jim Chaput at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in assisting when requested with the registration fees for the Emergency Minor Use Submissions. The FVGO Directors also take
The object of this project is to look at new strategies in the treatment of tomato transplants. She hopes to evaluate a plant disinfectant (KleenGrow) in addition to other products such as Actinovate and Mycostop to determine if a) the population of Xanthomonas bacteria on tomato transplants can be eliminated or reduced, and b) if we can observe a difference in the time to the field observation of bacterial spot symptoms in transplants (in the greenhouse and after planting in the field). The project has a completion date of December 1, 2015.
part in the conference calls in the months of November/December to help set minor use priorities for Ontario for the upcoming annual meeting. Mary Shabatura represented FVGO at the 2014 Canadian Minor Use Priority Workshop in Gatineau, Quebec. We anticipate that we will continue working in a supportive role with Jim Chaput on minor use issues in 2015. The FVGO was also able to co-sponsor with several other organizations on the 2014 Foodland Ontario Fall Harvest Vegetables Retail Display Contest which runs each year from October 1 – Nov 29th. As FVGO looks forward to 2015 we anticipate working on additional research projects that will benefit our members as well as all fresh market vegetable growers in Ontario. Tom Miedema is chair of the Fresh Vegetable Growers of Ontario.
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Property section report BRIAN GILROY Water continues to be a primary focus of our provincial government and a very active file for most of our members. The need to be solution focused and work co-operatively towards improving water management continues to be our message to government officials. The Nutrient Management Act (NMA) is seen as the preferred water regulatory framework for farming activities involving nutrients. The greenhouse sector is the first in horticulture to be regulated under the NMA. As of January 1, 2015, the new Greenhouse Nutrient Feedwater Regulation will allow the land application of greenhouse nutrient feedwater (GNF) under the Nutrient Management Act. The regulation provides eligible greenhouse growers with a new option to manage GNF in a way that enhances the protection of the natural environment and supports the sector's sustainability through a streamlined approval process. The Great Lakes Protection Act has been referred to Standing Committee and there are a number of amendments to be dealt with. The timing on the next phase of this overarching water act is uncertain but it will impact farmers. It is estimated that there are 1,920 fruit and vegetable operations in Ontario that may require an Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) for water discharge. The need to have best management practices developed and compliance work supported will be the goal that we are working towards. The Water Adaption and Quality Initiative (WAMQI) is a provincially funded program with three main objectives; to help farmers adopt water conservation and efficiency practices, prepare for and better manage extreme or damaging weather events and better manage nutrients and minimize off site impacts. Farm and Food Care is coordinating 29 WAMQI research projects that work to answer related applied research
questions. For a full list of the projects visit the Environment section at www.farmcare.org. The Surface Water Specialist position at the OFVGA continues to provide an invaluable service to farmers and has completed another year on a cost recovery basis. Thanks to George Shearer for his help in keeping these compliance costs as reasonable as possible. For more details, review his report, contained in your workbook. As OFVGA’s representative on the Board of Farm and Food Care I am impressed with how the organization has managed so many files this past year. The need for credible information about food and farming has never been greater as the public’s perception of farming activities is being influenced by special interest groups with money. The bee and pollinator health issue has been huge this year and the focus on the family of insecticides, neonicotinoids (neonics) has been a concern. There are a number of people who feel that this is an issue that can be best resolved without provincial regulations. It is felt that the bee health issue is much more complex and a significant number of Ontario beekeepers would list their priority concerns for bee health as #1) in-hive pest control, #2) bee disease/virus control, #3) nutrition and #4) pesticide exposure management. Although the focus is currently on corn and soybeans the OFVGA has been very involved on this issue and I am part of the federal Pollinator Health Roundtable that was established in 2014. Public consultations have been taking place on the proposed Ontario Government actions regarding pollinator health and information is posted on the EBR. Submissions must be received electronically or by mail by January 25, 2015 to be part of the public record. Farm & Food Care is currently developing a draft submission to the EBR that can be used or cited by our members. Link to the EBR submission website: www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEBExternal/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTIzOTE5&st atusId=MTg2NDA3
Farm and Food Care has released the third edition of The Real Dirt on Farming with an ambitious goal of helping to engage and educate the public on farming and how their food is grown. This 50-page magazine has been circulated to all federal and provincial members of parliament as well as the public in general. A smaller digest version will be released soon for broader distribution as an insert in other publications. An online version of the publications is also available. The Environmental Team at Farm and Food Care is very active in a number of other areas including the Uncontrolled Electricity Agriculture Working Group and the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS). At last report there were just over 100 volunteers in Ontario collecting and submitting daily precipitation information. More volunteers are needed to help develop more accurate precipitation mapping and all the details are available at www.cocorahs.org/canada. Sustainability is the emerging corporate buzz word that is gaining traction and something that farmers have been focused on for some time. I am involved with the Sustainability Working Group of the Horticulture Value Chain Roundtable and to date we have developed an ambitious work plan. A sustainability definition has been agreed upon and we are working to increase the value chain’s participation in the committee and develop an inventory of sustainability tools that can be used by farmers. The OFVGA has taken the lead on a Bird Deterrent Project which is looking at options to minimize bird damage to horticultural crops. The Agriculture Wildlife Strategic Fund has fully funded this three-year project. In closing I would like to take the opportunity to thank the hard-working and supportive staff of the OFVGA. Brian Gilroy is property section chair, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association.
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OFVGA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Labour section report 2014 was a different year for the labour section and Labour Issues Coordinating Committee (LICC). For the first time in a long time we were not involved in a legal action. However, LICC on behalf of the labour section and agriculture in general was busy. Issues continue to arise and have to be dealt with: vulnerable worker committee, the MOL tac committee, meetings with the Ministry of Labour Chief Prevention Officer for Ontario and dealing with the WSPS (new name for the conglomerate which contains the farm safety association). So far, most have at least listened to the story of agriculture and labour issues, but we must be ever vigilant. Labour section and LICC’s Ken Linington, we are a great team working together. We are on top of these issues and will continue to watchdog these issues.
Much has been made of the TWP reform. For the record, there are more than 500 job categories in the TWP. The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) is one and the AgStream is the other under this umbrella of the TWP. Reform did not happen to these two programs with a couple of exceptions: • SAWP – the changes that happened to the SAWP are that we must advertise in the National Job Bank and one other place before placing an order • AGSTREAM – has gone from total availability of a worker for 48 months to 24 months And one other thing that affects all TWP including SAWP and AgStream is the integrity office. The agreement you sign in your LMIA application must be followed! If you are found to be noncompliant you may be fined and in severe circumstances, suspended for one year to forever from any TWP including SAWP. Folks, play by the rules!!
Minimum wage
FARMS and CANAG travel
OFVGA and LICC had many meetings with MOL and the Premier to no avail: 7.5 per cent increase in minimum wage.
FARMS and CANAG continue to serve you, the growers of Ontario. Our aim is to place workers and employers together at the right time, as efficiently as possible. In 2013, there were problems in the Jamaican program. On the invitation of the
KEN FORTH
Temporary Worker Program (TWP)
Ministry of Labour of Jamaica and sanctioned by FARMS’ Board of Directors, the FARMS General Manager, Sue Williams spent approximately 12 weeks in the Ministry of Labour in Kingston, Jamaica. The process in Jamaica now is efficient and streamlined. Our General Manager went way beyond the call of duty on this one – we did not want a repeat of the fall of 2013. 2014 worked much smoother and we believe it will be much better in 2015. Special thanks to Ministry of Labour, Minister Kellier, and Permanent Secretary Alvin MacIntosh for their assistance in repairing this program and of course to Sue Williams for her work and dedication to the program. This type of work could only be accomplished because you, the growers, have the foresight to continue to support a structure that was developed 28 years ago by you and for you: FARMS. The SAWP processing now takes longer. You need to advertise for at least two weeks and then submit your order at least 14 weeks prior to when work starts. Most of the extra time is the elevated security measures that now take place in the Caribbean and Mexico. Background checks MUST be cleared or no visa. This is not only Canada – ever since 9/11, access to most countries is under heightened scrutiny. There are no
exceptions. The SAWP is in your hands, treat it right like most of you do and it will last a long time. Currently our federal government, including most cabinet ministers, are totally in favour of SAWP. We cannot afford to have its reputation tarnished. Guard it!! Groups continue to attack this program with half-truths, out-of-context remarks, self-absorbed persons – yes, including academics. We must continue to tell our story, and continue to make this program the success you have made it! Thanks to all of you! Closing We all have many people to thank; it will never be enough but here it goes: OFVGA staff and Board of Directors; FARMS & CANAG Travel staff and Board of Directors; Ken Linington, our Senior Policy Advisory at LICC; and YOU the growers, who continue to support the Labour Section of the OFVGA. It has been my pleasure to work with and represent you this past year. Thank you.
Ken Forth is labour section chair, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, LICC chair, president of FARMS.
ADVERTORIAL
LaHave Natural Farms Haskap Berry 2014 Update Did you try a fresh Haskap Berry or product in 2014? If the answer is no, then you do not know what you have been missing! 1. What is a Haskap or Honeyberry? These berries have been treasured and loved in Russia and Japan for centuries. A freshly picked Haskap Berry produces a full sensory explosion in the mouth–tart, yet sweet, robust and complex–it leaves the taster with a beautiful wine-like finish. It has three very distinct advantages over other fruits or berries. Firstly, the berries unique and sensuous taste. Secondly its natural deep-blue colour, and thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, it provides remarkable health benefits. Haskap berries were known by the ancient Ainu people of Japan as the “berry of long life and good eyesight.” It contains extremely high levels of Vitamin C, Potassium, phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, and other antioxidants. Recent research shows that Haskap berries have nearly three times the number of antioxidants as wild blueberries. 2. Are you interested in buying Haskap plants or creating an orchard? LaHave Natural Farms has scoured the world looking for complimentary varieties of Haskap or Honeyberries. We are pleased to be able to offer not only the University of Saskatchewan varieties, but also tried and tested LaHave Haskapa varieties with their origins in Eastern Europe and mixed Russian varieties from the US. We are happy to announce that we have teamed up with and are continuing to work very closely with Berries Unlimited, located in Arkansas, to bring our customers many of their new and exciting Russian Honeyberry varieties. For further information on our 19 varieties, plant sales or help in creating and maintaining a healthy Haskap orchard. Please get in touch with Lynn Pettypiece by email or phone. We are here to ensure your new orchard is berry successful! 3. Our 2014 exciting haskapa Branded Products News We have taken a passionate approach to our branding
by combining the berry's benefits with exceptional packaging to create an exciting buzz. This year we are proud to announce that our range of Haskap Berry ‘haskapa’ branded products are now available in over 20 Sobeys stores across Nova Scotia. The number of stores is expected to increase to over 50 stores in Atlantic Canada by Spring 2015. “Sobeys’ focus on quality and promoting locally-made products means that they are the perfect partner to help bring the ‘haskapa’ range of Haskap products to a wider audience in Atlantic Canada”. Says Liam Tayler, Commercial Director of ‘haskapa’. Stephen Read, Buy Local Specialist for Sobeys Atlantic is equally excited about the launch, noting “Sobeys is proud to support local businesses – as we have for over 107 years now. And we’re excited about this partnership with a great Nova Scotia company, ‘haskapa’. Working with Liam and the team and supporting them in their success is a win-win. We get a great locally-made product that we know our customers will love, and we help ‘haskapa’ grow its business.” Sobeys Bedford Chef, Scott Morash, created some beautiful Haskap dishes and cocktails (with the aid of the NSLC), and is discovering exciting ways to use the ‘haskapa’ products in his exquisite dishes. “The ‘haskapa’ products have been an integral part of the menus of many of HRM’s most discerning restaurants for more than a year now,” he says. “As a chef, I am looking forward to working with these premium products to create some unique dishes with a local flair and showcasing them to our customers.” In addition to the signature ‘haskapa’ Juice, Sobeys will also carry Haskap products such as jam, jalapeño relish and chutney. For more information on our haskapa branded products, please go to our www.haskapa.com website. 4. So What does 2015 bring? “We have no plans to slow down, due to its fastgrowing popularity, we intend to triple production levels in 2015.” The company is also stirring up much excitement in the juice world. Last year, the company first hit the headlines at Germany’s prestigious World Juice
Awards, where LaHave’s Haskap juice won ‘Best New Juice’. There is also accumulating scientific evidence that bioactive compounds such as antioxidants found in berries have significant potential health benefits. Researchers at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture have just announced their intention to examine the anticancer activity of Haskap bioactives after being awarded a grant from the Cancer Research Training Program (CRTP). We would like to thank all our plant growers and haskapa fans for all their support in 2014 and look forward to meeting old and new faces at our orchards in the coming year. For plant sales and orchard inquiries please contact Lynn Pettypiece at lynn@lahavenaturalfarms.com LaHave Natural Farms, 1776 Northfield Road, P.O Box 86, Blockhouse, Nova Scotia BOJ 1E0. P: 902 527 2139 F: 902 482 3429 www.lahavenaturalfarms.com www.haskapa.com
PAGE 16 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER
OFVGA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Research report HAROLD SCHOOLEY I serve as your representative on the board of directors of Ontario Agri-Food Technologies and for the past three years I have had the honour of chairing that board. This past year has been a challenging one to recruit a replacement for retiring President Dr. Gord Surgeoner. In September, 2014, OAFT passed the leadership torch from Surgeoner to Dr. Tyler Whale. Gord has been a dynamic force in OAFT’s mission to engage agri-food businesses in commercializing new technologies. Tyler is experienced in the field of bringing innovation to commercial use and his skill set is an excellent addition to that organization. In recognition of the contribution that Gord has made to the agri-food industry in Ontario, he was inducted into the Agricultural Hall of Fame in the summer of 2014. It is an honour that is well-deserved. To see the wide variety of technologies that OAFT becomes involved with, visit Game Changers in Agriculture at www.Biotalk.ca . Research priorities The OMAFRA Research Advisory Network (ORAN) puts out a report every year that lists research priorities for plant science research. These become the foundation for the OMAFRA research agenda and are the basis of research under the OMAFRA/U of G Agreement. In 2010 commodity priorities were requested from industry and Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland) was commissioned to collate these into a report for ORAN. We did this again in early 2013 and again in late 2014, on these occasions physically meeting in Woodstock. It’s not done every season because things don’t change that quickly but we do have opportunity to make input every year. For example, last spring Art Smith and I met with Vineland and suggested we bring labour efficiency priorities to the top because of the wage increases we faced. We have asked for and received from producers both short and long-term priorities,
although you are a lot better with the short-term picture. OMAFRA asked us to include commodities not included under the aegis of OVFGA (apiculture, maple syrup, mushrooms, processing v egetables and most recently sugar beets). It results in a very long list of research needs. Too long we’re told, prioritize it. This list is then further distilled to about one eighth of its original number by an expert panel convened later for that purpose. The industry expectation from this is that everyone’s needs will be addressed – and if not all of them, at least one or some of them. That doesn’t happen. This has brought a good deal of dissatisfaction to the process as you can imagine. Working in the forefront of this, and doing what they have been commissioned to do, Vineland has had to take the brunt of this as we fire shots at the messenger. The real issue of course is the challenge of condensing everyone’s top needs to a short priority list when they are derived from the whole broad scope of edible horticulture. Doing this to the satisfaction of even most, if not all concerned, is nigh on impossible. The industry previously accepted that research needs should be succinct, focused and prioritized, but is beginning to recognize the futility in an exercise that distils their inputs out of sight. I fear that in future we will get less industry cooperation and participation and have already been told by some that it is a waste of their time. The present priority setting process itself is flawed in some ways and this became very apparent during our last session. OFVGA and Vineland met after this session to see what changes could be made: 1. Pest management is always the dominant topic and a common need across all hort crops. Nothing new about this, I first noted it in my research report of 2003. It is where we invest our first research dollar. We have to or we’re not in business. It burns up the majority of our research priority list leaving little room for longer term, innovative projects. When we condense the combined industry priority list, many of these needs fall off and are lost. This creates winners and losers in an area that is harmful to the
industry. There is a good example of this in the last ORAN report that excluded pest management research for all fruit crops. In future all individual needs will be captured into one over-arching pest management priority. This does not mean all pest issues will be addressed. It is left to individual groups to find a researcher, develop a project and make the case to a funding agency. Collaboration between industry stakeholders and your researchers is crucial here. Work together so that well-written, scientifically sound proposals are submitted. 2. With pest management a given, we now have room to address other issues. Some of these might be productionoriented, but it is hoped that thought will be put into considering the value chain perspective. That would include factors that address product quality, consistency, differentiation and factors affecting price. 3. The most glaring inequity in the present process is defining “Field Vegetables” as a single category. Many, many crops are lumped together here and given just five priorities – the same as single categories such as maple syrup, apiculture, mushrooms and sugar beets, not to mention apples, grapes, ginseng, asparagus and potatoes. To address this imbalance, it is proposed to subdivide field vegetables into ‘Bulb and Root Vegetables,’ ‘Leafy Vegetables’ and ‘Fruiting Vegetables,’ each with their own list of research needs. Ontario horticulture’s research priorities should address both research for changing times and research that drives change. Most of the available research dollars can easily be spent just addressing changing times. Change in pest dynamics and pest control products; change in cropping systems, nutrient and water requirements; change in quality, food safety and traceability parameters; and change in environmental considerations for air, water, soil, wildlife, etc. We become focused on problem solving, scrambling to keep up with change. We do it to stay in business. And so, we do most of our problem solving in the context of higher yield, better quality, and more efficiency. If we are to be the masters of our own destiny, some of our research priorities and dollars will need to drive change rather than react to it. Some of our research needs to be “outside the box” innovation that drives change: change that will differentiate our product in the marketplace and make it more valuable for a period of time; change that gets us out of the commodity price rut, like a new variety, a qualityimproving storage regime,
innovative packaging; change that drives profitability and growth. Research funding The reason to prioritize, of course, is to be smart about spending scarce financial resources. In my Research Report of 2003 it was observed that fixed funding and increasing overhead costs were diminishing our research capability. Still happening, isn’t it? Research funding is cause for concern for most commodity groups. We are trying to solve our production problems with too few dollars while trying to develop long-term technology to put us ahead of the game. And the ratio of industry dollars needed to match program funding dollars keeps going up. But the OMAFRA/U of G research funding agreement is not the only game in town. The following is a list of the sources of available funding. Federal programs AAFC • Agri-Innovation Program • Agri-Marketing Program • Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program Genome Canada • periodic calls with a genomics focus NSERC • Discovery Grants NRC • Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) Provincial programs Agricultural Adaptation Council • Growing Forward 2 for Organizations, Collaborations, Processors Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs • U of G partnership • KTT (Knowledge Translation and Transfer) • New Directions Ministry of Research and Innovation • Ontario Research Fund Ontario Centres of Excellence • several programs available Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association • Growing Forward 2 for Producers As you can see, these funds are “directed” in ways that achieve outcomes in desired areas. Funding is “directed” to genomics, basic discovery research, Knowledge Translation and Transfer, to marketing and to innovation. If any of these directions fit your intentions, you need to avail yourselves of the opportunities. In a perfect world, governments would fund innovative research (a very good investment of public money).
Industry would fund problem solving, putting-out-fires, production research. It doesn’t seem to work that way. The current weakness of agri-food value chains continues to inhibit our research funding capability. The relationship between producers and retailers is adversarial in nature with no process for fair price determination or sharing of the consumer food dollar. It is not enough to compete with global prices. Arbitrary fees are imposed for arbitrary reasons, and few dare speak about it. Producers continue to remain powerless price-takers operating below, or at, cost of production. How can things change? What value chain models will put participants back in control of their destiny? Models in which producers get research and development dollars from the marketplace. The research payback The Business Development Bank of Canada predicts that “health mania” along with “Made in Canada” (buy local?) are the two major “game changing” trends that will dominate the food scene for the foreseeable future. Agriculture is one of Ontario’s largest and most important industries, contributing more than $5 billion to the provincial economy annually. Add in the technical supply and value-added chains to farm production and the net value to the economy is more than $15 billion. Fruits and vegetables necessary for good nutrition and health provide jobs and income to thousands of people in the production, processing, wholesaling and retailing of fruit and vegetable products. We have 100 million customers a day’s haul from our farms. To the benefit of all, thriving agricultural businesses contribute to the attractiveness of Ontario, encouraging tourism and recreation and enhancing the environment. A few years ago a Deloitte study pegged the return on investment of public money put into agricultural research at 20:1. Perhaps we should recalculate the value of our research investment in view of the opportunities in these game changing trends. I would like to thank Art Smith for the guidance he has given me during his tenure. I enjoyed it all. I look forward to working with John Kelly given the opportunity. It has been a pleasure to serve as your Research Chair for the past year. Harold Schooley is research chair, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association.
FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE 17 THE GROWER
OFVGA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Small fruit and berries report 1. Create a funding formula and funding mechanism we can all work with.
NORMAN CHARBONNEAU This year had many challenges. In case you have forgotten: aphids, anthracnose, a cool and wet summer, an increase in the minimum wage, loss of an Ontario plant propagator and on top of all that, we as an organization have been struggling to find an acceptable method for stable funding. That issue is going to determine if we as an industry will have an effective voice to defend our interests. There are many issues to consider when trying to change the funding mechanism of an organization. Right now we use a flat fee, which assumes funding sources to supplement the income, such as plant royalties, government programs, plant sales from the T/C lab, and check-off from plant sales. With the loss of an Ontario plant propagator, it puts everything but the membership and government programs in jeopardy as there are not really sufficient funds to run an organization and provide services for the membership. The people making the decisions in Toronto that are going to affect the future of agriculture are not making them on the basis of benefit to agriculture. Their decisions are reflecting the special interest groups that got them elected. To list a few of the contentious issues: neonics, minimum wage increases, and a continuous move toward over-regulation. But not only do we have the burden of these issues, we also have our own production issues such as Spotted Wing Drosophila and viruses. So it is time that we, the berry industry, take hold of the problem and find a way to fund our organization and unite the industry under one strong, well-funded grower group. The big issues we have to deal with are uniting organizations, not dividing. Then we all have to come to the table to solve the issues of mistrust. The blueberry growers may be right that we don't have the funding mechanism right or funding level, but those can be solved. I think we have to make this work. We have to be sure the funding mechanism is right to be sure the organization is around and we can pay the people we need to represent us. The central issue we have to settle is the funding of the berry organization. The further the agendas of the special interest groups diverge from ours, the more commitment and money it will take to represent our industry. So we have to have stable funding. My feeling is we as berry growers and blueberry growers have to unite in one strong voice:
2. Create a board structure that will fairly represent all interests. 3. But mostly, all of us have to be active in the new organization. So when we see our industry lobby groups struggle for funding and participation, we should all ask ourselves "how can I serve?" Thanks for letting me represent you for another year.
Photo by Glenn Lowson
Norman Charbonneau is small fruit and berries director, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association
PAGE 18 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER
OFVGA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Safety nets report
Photo courtesy Charles Stevens
MARK WALES After one of the harshest winters in many years, we had a late cool spring followed by a cool wet summer and not much of a fall. This challenged many crops and some performed well and others did not. Some varieties of apples and other tree fruits were killed outright by the severe winter weather as were some varieties and locations of grapes. Once again, the weather has shown the need for continued improvement and investment in well-designed and practical crop insurance programs.
vegetable growers with the late spring and wetter than normal summer. This carried over into the fresh vegetable program as well. This year saw grower participation up from 91 producers in 2013 to 104 producers in 2014 with more acres insured as well. Production insurance for all crops will pay out between $50 and $145 million depending on how bad the field corn yields are. This is not a record payout year and the program is in a healthy position. Most of the field corn will be harvested by Christmas, however there are serious yield and quality challenges.
Photo by Glenn Lowson
were below $40 million, which is reflective of overall better grain and livestock prices in 2013 and the reduced coverage levels that began for the 2013 program year. As well, there are just over 15,000 growers enrolled in AgriStability in Ontario for 2013 whereas there were over 16,000 enrolled in 2012. The new program does not cover grower losses until your production margin drops below 70 per cent of your reference margin, and then it only covers 70 per cent of your loss, not 85 per cent as was the case before. AgriInvest
for 2013, and is seeing some drop in enrollment as well. SDRM 2014 saw the second year that our program and the five RMP programs were limited to the $100 million cap. As of early December, many growers had still not submitted their deposits and withdrawal requests, but we appear to be on track to use our allocation of $23 million out of the $100 million total. When looking at the statistics for last year, 279 growers opted out of SDRM, but stayed in AgriStability.
AgriStability Production insurance There were substantial claims and challenges for processing
With more than 91 per cent of files processed for 2013 by October 31, program payouts
This program was cut as well to only allowing government to match one per cent of a producer’s Allowable Net Sales (ANS)
LAHAVE NAT ATURAL FA ARM MS 19 9 cultivars available
Th he Haasskap Berry. Natuura urally l Inspi Inspire red! d! Have you discovered the Haskap berry yet? Grown in Japan and Russia for centuries, this unique, aining huge momentum with h delicious berry is ga ntario! growers and food-lovers alike in Nova Scotia and On At LaHave Natural Farms, a we’re helping to pionee er Haskap and can advise you on growing and maintaiining a healthy and successful Haskap orchard.
For further informa orrmation and plant sales, sales contact Lynn Pettypiece: Tel: 902 527 2139 Cell: 902 209 2912 2 email: lynn@lahavenaturalfarms.com 1776 Northfield Rd, Blockhouse, Nova Scotia B0J 1E0 1 www.lahavenaturalfarms.com www.haskapa.com m
Growing Forward 2 non-BRM We are nearing the end of year two of GF2 and innovation funds continue to roll out and the process continues to improve as growers better understand the process. What's new? In late November, Minister Leal approved the industry request that growers no longer have to be enrolled in AgriStability in order to be eligible for SDRM or any of the RMP programs. This will be in place for the 2015 program year. For SDRM there will be no changes for 2015 while we evaluate the extra administration costs for growers who opt out of AgriStability but stay in SDRM. These growers may see a reduction in the level of ANS matching for 2016 and we will advise well ahead of time. This change in requirement will mean growers will no longer see a claw back of SDRM payment if they had an AgriStability claim. However, they will no longer have an AgriStability claim in the event of crop loss. Over this winter at CHC and OFVGA we will be seeking grower input on three upcoming issues: 1. What does horticulture want from the 2015 federal election? 2. The mid-term GF2 program review will be taking place
immediately after the federal election and what changes would we want to see for the remainder of GF2? 3. In 2016 governments will be working on the design for GF3 so what would we want to see in this program for 2018 to 2023? I am sure that comments including full funding for SDRM and reinstate the cuts to AgriStability and AgriInvest will be heard during this process. We will of course continue to seek improvements to our crop insurance programs. Another topic that may surface during the spring budget process is discussion around bringing in a Carbon Tax by the province. Given the recent drop in oil prices and this government’s desire to do something about climate change, I am willing to predict that we will see something in the budget. All reports are that it worked out well in B.C. which will add further reason to do it here. There are pros and cons to this course of action and the OFVGA board will likely have some lively discussion. Another issue that will move forward in 2015 is the proposed ORPP (Ontario Retirement Pension Plan). The legislation came to the legislature but details continue to be scarce. This will fundamentally be a payroll tax of 1.9 per cent with no production benefit. Some of the unknown areas include whether off-shore employees will be covered and whether the same deduction exemption thresholds as CPP will be used. To conclude, we are now seeing the full effects of safety net program cuts and the need to roll them back. The 2015 federal election will be decided in Ontario and we will have an opportunity to influence the results. New concepts such as the ORPP and a carbon tax will keep us busy trying to get the best results for Ontario growers. Mark Wales is safety nets chair, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association.
FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE 19 THE GROWER
PAGE 20 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER Yield
Black plastic: is there a viable organic mulch alternative? EVAN ELFORD Black plastic mulch is widely used in the production of specialty vegetable crops due to its effectiveness as a weed barrier, capability to conserve soil moisture and ability to warm soil temperatures in spring. Although it is permitted in organic production, the question of using a product which creates nonbiodegradable waste is of concern to many organic producers. Early forms of biodegradable films were developed to address this concern, however due to poor performance in early years and restrictions on starch-based feed stocks (e.g. Genetically Modified Organism starch) by organic regulations, many producers continue to use plastic mulch. The quality of biodegradable films has improved in recent years but growers and researchers are still exploring other options for organic farms, including organic no-till systems, in order to find management strategies that benefit the whole biological system. Research supporting organic no-till options for vegetable crops is still in early development. The system is termed ‘no-till’ but it should be clarified that it is actually a rotation based on reduced tillage and the use of cover crops to build soil health and manage weeds. The Rodale Institute located in Pennsylvania, U.S. outlines three fundamentals
of organic no-till: “1) soil biology powers the system, 2) cover crops are a source of fertility and weed management, and 3) tillage is limited and best described as rotational tillage.” (Feeser et al., 2014). In 2009, the Rodale Institute received funding to study alternative no-till options to black plastic mulch in vegetable crop production systems. Results from their three-year study (20102012), including replicated trials and on-farm experiences, are summarised in a free resource entitled “Beyond Black Plastic: Cover Crops and Organic No-Till for Vegetable Crops” and is available on their website at http://rodaleinstitute.org/assets/S ARE_BeyondBlackPlastic_20140 401.pdf. The treatments investigated during the study were based on cover crops which were terminated with one of three methods: a) tilled one month prior to application of black plastic mulch; b) use of a roller-crimper; or, c) mowed. Tomatoes were the representative vegetable crop used in the replicated studies. Figure 1 outlines the nine mulch and termination treatments used in the study. Data on weed biomass, tomato yields (total and marketable), cover crops (biomass, carbon input and nitrogen input), soil moisture, soil temperature and other parameters were collected in each of the three years of the study. Weed biomass and tomato yields will be the focus in the remainder of this article.
Weed Biomass Weed biomass was recorded four weeks after tomato planting in each of the three years. Data recorded in 2010 and 2012 were taken in the planting bed and in paths between beds, whereas data recorded in 2011 were only taken in the planting bed. Variable results were observed across the three years, possibly due to differences in data collection
Tomato yields were recorded once or twice per week as harvest dictated through the growing season. Only total yields were recorded in 2010 and the highest yields were obtained in rolled and mowed treatments of all organic mulch types. In 2011 and 2012, total yields and marketable yields were recorded. Marketable yields of tomatoes were approximately 20 per cent lower than total yields in the 2011 growing season. The highest marketable yields were obtained in black plastic mulch treatments followed by the rye/vetch mixture that had been rolled or mowed. Marketable yield in the rye/vetch mixture (rolled or mowed) was approximately 70 per cent of the black plastic mulch marketable yield. In 2012, severe late blight reduced marketable yield to 23 per cent of total yield across most treatments. Vetch treatments ter-
and therefore a longer term analysis should be considered for organic mulch treatments. Initial outcomes from this study suggest that organic mulch mixtures (e.g. vetch/rye mixture) terminated through rolling may provide a reasonable alternative to black plastic mulch for weed management in most years. In order to obtain acceptable weed control, the Rodale report suggests using cover crops that produce 6.5-9 tonnes of dry matter per hectare in order to have enough biomass for weed suppression after termination. Additionally, cover crops with a carbon-nitrogen ratio of 20:1 or higher should be considered as they will break down more slowly, thus providing longer weed suppression through the growing season. References Feeser, J., Zinati, G., and Moyer, J. 2014. Beyond Black Plastic:
Figure 1 (from Feeser et al., 2014): Cover crop treatments used for organic no-till vegetable crop study consisting of vetch cv. ‘Purple Bounty’ planted at 39 kg/ha; rye cv. ‘Aroostook’ planted at 188 kg/ha; and rye-vetch mix planted at 106 kg/ha (78 kg rye:28 kg vetch). methods as well as environmental effects. Overall, the black plastic mulch treatments were the most consistent in suppressing weeds. However, the rye/vetch mix and individual rye and vetch cover crops terminated with rolling performed better than the cover crop treatments terminated with mowing.
minated by rolling or mowing exhibited the lowest yields of all treatments. No significant differences were observed between the other treatments.
cover crops and organic no-till for vegetable production. Pennsylvania, USA: Rodale Institute. Evan Elford is OMAFRA’s new crop development specialist.
Summary Results were variable over the three years of this initial study
Exploring value-added opportunities course Ever wondered about turning your fruit into jam? Ever dreamed about making gourmet ready-to-eat meals with your produce? Take the free Exploring Value Added Opportunities course, offered by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), to learn whether adding value to your products and services is right for your business.
Course Description
Course Dates and Times
Course Testimonial
Participants will learn how to generate ideas for value-added opportunities, assess an idea’s business potential, identify and manage risk and develop a plan to execute their idea.
The course is being delivered through three, one-hour interactive webinars. These sessions are taking place on February 24, March 3, and March 10 (all Tuesdays) from 12-1 pm. To participate in this free learning opportunity, you will need Internet and phone access. Pre-registration is also required.
“Sessions were dynamic and engaging. We were also very impressed with the sheer quantity of good information offered to us. Thank you!” A past course participant. Learn more or register at: ontario.ca/e996 1-877-424-1300
Farm & Food Care Ontario pesticide survey, 2014 A reminder for Ontario farmers that the deadline for filling in the Farm & Food Care Ontario Pesticide Survey is February 13, 2015. This information is very useful for: • understanding trends in pesticide use, • identifying potential needs of farmers and, • identifying research needs. All Ontario farmers who grew any
conventional or organic crops in 2014 can fill out the anonymous survey at: www.ontariopesticidesurvey.ca Thank you for your cooperation. Farm & Food Care will also accept mail-in, fax or email returns of the survey. For more information contact: Bruce Kelly, Environmental Program Lead Farm & Food Care Ontario bruce@farmfoodcare.org or (519)837-1326
FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE 21 THE GROWER
VEG FOCUS
Field vegetable program at Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention The Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention will be held on February 18-19, 2015 in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Information about the conference can be found at http://www.ofvc.ca/. Registration information for the convention is at http://www.ofvc.ca/pricingA.html. Vegetable Session - Wednesday, February 18 (morning) 9:30
New Research on Rust
Elaine Roddy, OMAFRA
10:00
Tomato diseases
Cheryl Trueman, University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus
11:00
Integrating Contans into white mold man- Alex Stone, Oregon State University agement systems on vegetable farms
Vegetable Session - Wednesday, February 18 (morning) 9:3011:30
• Drop in to speak with researchers, OMAFRA specialists and other key industry resources. • Come with your own ideas or questions and explore a wide array new opportunities and key business decisions
Sweet Corn Session - Wednesday, February 18 (afternoon) 2:00
Bacterial leaf spot pumpkins/squash
Cheryl Trueman, University of Guelph, Ridgetown
2:30
New control tactics for changing insect pressure in sweet corn
Tony Shelton, Cornell University
3:00
Problem weeds workshop
Dave Bilyea, University of Guelph, Ridgetown
Photo by Glenn Lowson
Next generation IPM – a webinar series for field vegetable growers The webinars will run on Mondays from noon until 1 pm. It is the perfect opportunity to grab some lunch, log onto the computer and access some new ideas as you plan
for 2015. Great information without the travel! To attend any of the webinars, simply register by calling: 1-877-424-1300 or email
Date
ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca with a list of the dates you would like to attend.
Topic
Presenter
January 26th
Tomato Late Blight Update Why we are seeing late blight every year? How the pathogen is changing? Fungicide efficacy, management practices, and more.
February 2nd
Bacterial Diseases – Beyond Copper Janice LeBoeuf, OMAFRA The vegetable industry has struggled with bacterial diseases for decades, with no silver bullet in sight. Relying on copper bactericides alone is not the answer, but what other management practices will help?
February 9th
Growing Watermelons in Ontario – production and pest management Explore the causes of various soil diseases, hollow heart and other important production issues for watermelon growers.
February 23rd
Cover Crop Selection for Vegetable Growers Laura Van Eerd, University of Guelph – Uncertain how you can fit a cover crop into your rotation? Wondering which one to use? Questioning if the economics Ridgetown Campus really do pay off? This is the session for you!
March 2nd
White Mould of Vegetable Crops Learn how to look for symptoms and signs of white mould in different vegetable crops. Tips on management based on newer research will be discussed.
About The Speakers
OMAFRA in Ridgetown. Her focus is on field tomato, pepper, eggplant, table beet and sugarbeet production.
Meg McGrath is an associate professor at the Long Island Horticultural Research & Extension Center in Riverhead, NY. The goal of her research program is to improve the management of important diseases of vegetable crops.
Elaine Roddy is a vegetable crops specialist with OMAFRA in Ridgetown. She specializes in sweet corn, legume vegetables, cucurbits and asparagus crops.
Janice LeBoeuf is a vegetable crops specialist with
Laura VanEerd is an associate professor at the University
Quality Seed
Quality Service
Meg McGrath, Cornell University
Elaine Roddy, OMAFRA
Marion Paibomesai, OMAFRA
of Guelph – Ridgetown Campus. Her research program focuses on vegetable crop production systems looking at soil fertility, crop rotation, and cover crops. Marion Paibomesai is a vegetable crops specialist with OMAFRA in Guelph. Crops of interest include root, bulb, leafy and brassica vegetables.
Quality Information ~ Quality Seed Since 1881 ~
Henry Zomer (ON/MB/SK) 905-308-4396
Jim Robinson (ON/MB) 905-715-8595
Rob Hovius (ON/PEI/NB) 519-580-3231
Paul Banks (ON/NS) 905-688-4300
Leah Erickson (BC/AB) 604-957-2359
Marc André Laberge (QC) 514-984-4589
Laura Caralampides (QC) 514-984-0662
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PAGE 22 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER
BITS AND BITES
Putting a spotlight on farm families Each year, Farm & Food Care opens the Faces of Farming calendar contest to Ontario farmers and families. One winner will be chosen from the applicants. Each year, the calendar is distributed to thousands of Ontario media, grocery retail outlets and politicians and is sold through the Farm & Food Care office. The winning family, pairing or individual will participate in either a spring or summer photo shoot, and will receive complimentary copies of the calendar plus two tickets and accommodation for the 2015 Ontario Harvest Gala and calendar launch later this fall. Farmers or farm families are encouraged to enter the contest by submitting both an informal family photo and short essay (400 words or less) describing their family. Candidates must make their primary income from agriculture. Their
Last year’s winning entry came from the Howe family of Aylmer who grow strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelons, squash, pumpkins, beans and other vegetables. Their three-generation family photo appears in the 2015 edition of the calendar.
essays must include the following: • Names and ages of all family members • Address including county or region of residency • A description of the farming operation including types of crops grown and/or livestock raised • History of the farm – number of generations farming, etc. • Any other details that make their story unique including community involvement, environmental initiatives, unusual hobbies, etc. • Why they’d like to appear in the Faces of Farming calendar. Entries can be emailed to contests@farmfoodcare.org or mailed to 100 Stone Road West, Suite 106, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 5L3. Applications will be accepted until March 16.
Research dollars granted for Ontario processing tomatoes The Ontario Tomato Research Institute (OTRI) has received $214,682 in federal AgriInnovation funding to increase yields and develop new varieties of tomatoes that are better adapted to domestic growing conditions and market needs. “This project provides the building blocks for the development of varieties ideally suited to the Ontario industry,” said Phil Richards, OTRI chair. “OTRI recognizes the
importance of this project for the long term viability of the Ontario processing tomato industry and it is extremely gratifying that the federal government has seen this value also.” Photo right: (L-R) Steve Loewen, Ridgetown College tomato researcher; MP Dave Van Kesteren for Chatham-KentEssex; Phil Richards, chair of the Ontario Tomato Research Institute.
Looking to the Middle East for blueberry sales The British Columbia Blueberry Council is set to exhibit at Gulfood in February, following the success of their first appearance at the Dubai trade show in 2014. As the world’s
largest food and beverage industry trade show, Gulfood presents the council with a unique opportunity to explore new markets for British Columbia’s naturally sweet and healthy
blueberries. “In 2014, British Columbia’s 800 blueberry growers produced 69 million kilograms of blueberries,” said Debbie Etsell, executive director of the B.C. Blueberry
Council. “Canadians consume around half of those berries, but with such strong production, we’re able to export blueberries in many different formats to international markets around the globe.”
As in 2014, the council will again exhibit at Gulfood (February 8 - 12) as part of the AgriFood Canada pavilion in Sheik Saeed Hall 1, stand S1M43.The show attracts 85,000 trade-only visitors from 170 different countries, with more than 4,200 companies represented over five days. “Attending last year allowed us to measure the amount of interest and demand for blueberries from Middle Eastern markets, but also meet with potential customers from India, other parts of Asia and Europe,” said Etsell. “As a result, we now have some of our export-ready packers and processors working with agents based in the Gulf region to bring British Columbia blueberries to this market. We’re looking forward to seeing some of the representatives we met last year, and connecting them with suppliers that can fulfil their requests, whether they’re looking for blueberries in fresh, frozen, dried, powdered, juice or puréed formats.” The BC Blueberry Council works closely with government trade offices at both a provincial and federal level, making the most of opportunities to take part in trade missions, delegations and shows such as Gulfood. Other international missions planned for 2015 include Fruit Logistica and Anuga in Europe, FoodEx in Japan, and Fruit Logistica Asia in Hong Kong.
FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE 23 THE GROWER
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PAGE 24 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER
MARKETPLACE
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If you have a rural route address, please update subscription with your civic address to ensure delivery.
ANNUAL MEETING
Ontario Highbush Blueberry Growers Annual Meeting 2015 Saturday March 7, 2015 - 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. At Parks Blueberries 14815 Longwoods Rd, Bothwell ON Please reply by March 1 if you plan to attend Please reply to bruce@parksblueberries.com
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FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE 25 THE GROWER
MARKETPLACE
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PAGE 26 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER
MINOR USE CRAIG’S COMMENTS
Resolutions needed for 2015
CRAIG HUNTER OFVGA I had the chance this fall to ride in the combine one night with my neighbour. It has been a welcome opportunity that I have had over the years, but not every year because sometimes the corn is there in the morning when I set out for the office, and all gone by day’s end when I get back home. When we first moved out here, it was a long day of planting and an equally long one for harvest on the farm behind our home. Now it is but a few hours of planting and about eight hours on the combine. Add in a few hours to lightly disc down residue and one pass with fertilizer and herbicide, and that is the sum total of time that anyone besides me is on the land in a year. I always seek permission before entering private land, and renewed that request again this year. The response was gratifying -- “no problem but I reserve the right to ask what you saw!” In the course of our conversations, we covered a lot of ground (and a lot of corn acres too). Modern farmers get their information from a wide array of sources and I was just one more
source. It came as no surprise to me to find how current the conversation could be on every topic. Interesting, too, were the insights that come from a long career on the farm and with various farm organizations. The only complaint that came forth was that it was a long way down the ladder to be the ‘night guy’ on the combine instead of taking the cushier route that he could have given himself, as farm manager. In fact, he was being protective of his sons and farm help by taking on the possibly more stressful and dangerous job himself. It can be a long, boring, and thankless job at the best of times, and to have a rider for some of those hours is a treat -even a chatty one like me! In my mind’s eye it would be tougher, albeit safer, to have taken on one of the other two positions -- to ride alone like the driver of the grain buggy or the semi driver hauling grain to the dryer. In the course of our talk, we chatted about many local farmers no longer with us and various historical events in our careers. We talked about the local municipal situations that at times are hard to understand. Of course we chatted about the bee/neo-nic situation. His slant was quite interesting. Their farm operation may have a seed cost (my figures) of about half a million dollars. With that much on the line, they do not want to do anything to jeopardize that annual investment. Likewise, as they are also growers of horticultural crops, they have an abiding interest in a strong bee population. They have been IPM practitioners for a long time -- for the crops that have a program. Their
farm is always looking for the very best options available, and quick to adopt new practices. I suspect they mirror most other growers in that regard. If an IPM program for grain soil insects was available, they would be early adopters. Perhaps it is this ‘oversight’ that government never developed such a program (because a cheap and very effective seed treatment did the job so effectively) that has contributed to the current issue being debated today. In the month since that combine ride, I have pondered how growers actually feel when they get “bad news” from government, or banks, or from their families and friends. Again, I suspect they react exactly like anyone else, be they from the city or from a rural area. Issues that could have an effect on their farm environment may have an immediate impact on them and their families as well. The difference is that because farmers live closer to the
environment, they understand it better, probably see the early warning signs sooner, and deal with it more immediately. Maybe their reactions are more thoughtout than those of city folk, and maybe they ponder the options for longer because they have combine time or tractor time to do so. When a farmer makes a pronouncement on an issue, it is usually well thought out, and insightful. This compares to many socalled pronouncements in major media that are inciteful, poorly thought out, and full of invective to elicit a response. I guess I would prefer the farmers’ opinions and options over those in big city media any day! As we enter the New Year, I remain ever hopeful that the nagging issues from last year will be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. 2014 was NOT a good year for many, nor for me on a personal front. Sometimes it seems that it is only you that faces the loss
of close friends and family- often to cancer these days, but it also includes those dealing with other serious health issues and family woes far beyond anything one would want to deal with. The loss of close colleagues who have retired and moved on seems to accelerate every year; at this year’s end there have been an unseemly number who have gone. Some days one feels very alone out there. This year I received more negative response to things I wrote than the sum total from all the rest of the years of columns put together. Either I didn’t make my point well enough, or I struck a chord because I wasn’t afraid to speak my mind. In either case, the attaboys still win, and I prefer to focus on them instead. There are still a lot of issues to be resolved, and more coming at us. Some days I would rather be the ‘night shift’ on the combine. But not yet!
Crop Protection Advisory Committee meets The Canadian Horticultural Council’s Crop Protection Advisory Committee (CPAC) met with key regulators in Ottawa in early December. Members planned for committee meetings for the coming year with repre-
sentatives from the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) and Pest Management Centre (PMC). Importantly, they met with Dr. Richard Aucoin, PMRA executive director and his staff to discuss the status of the
Growers Requested Own Use (GROU) program and potential improvements, the need for enhanced collaboration in product re-evaluations, next steps for the NAFTA TWG and next steps relating to pollinators both at the
federal and Ontario level. Dr. Manjeet Sethi (PMC) and his team updated their activities regarding the Vineland lab, budget, joint projects and laboratory capacity. Additional discussion centred on the Invasive Alien
Species Coordination Group, and the status of the next Global Minor Use Meeting. Source: Canadian Horticultural Council
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FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE 27 THE GROWER
MINOR USE
New Nealta miticide controls key mite pests BASF Canada Inc. (BASF) has been granted registration for Nealta miticide for control of all lifestages, including eggs, of European red mites, two-spotted spider mites and McDaniel spider mites. “Nealta’s unique mode of action will provide growers with excellent control of all stages of mites, even eggs, combined with full safety for bees and other beneficial insects. Nealta will not only reinvigorate growers’ mite control programs, but also fit perfectly into their IPM strategies,” says Scott Hodgins, brand manager for horticultural products with
Coragen insecticide manages caterpillars JIM CHAPUT The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of several URMULE registrations for Coragen insecticide for control/suppression of several Lepidopteran pests of peanuts, artichokes and the green onion subgroup in Canada. Coragen insecticide was already labeled for management of a number of insect pests on a wide variety of crops in Canada. The following is provided as an abbreviated, general outline only. Users should consult the complete label before using Coragen insecticide. Coragen insecticide should be used in an integrated pest management program and in rotation with other management strategies to adequately manage resistance. Coragen insecticide is toxic to aquatic organisms and non-target beneficial insects. Do not contaminate aquatic habitats when spraying or when cleaning and rinsing spray equipment or containers. Chlorantraniliprole is persistent and may carryover. It is recommended that any products containing chlorantraniliprole not be used in areas treated with this product during the previous season. The use of this chemical may result in contamination of groundwater particularly in areas where soil is permeable. For a copy of the new minor use label contact your local crop specialist, regional supply outlet or visit the PMRA label site www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/ pest/registrant-titulaire/toolsoutils/label-etiq-eng.php Jim Chaput is minor use coordinator, OMAFRA, Guelph
BASF. Nealta is the first Group 25 insecticide to be registered in North America. In preparation for its introduction, Nealta has been extensively tested across both Canada and the U.S. by both public and private researchers and has produced excellent results. Nealta is registered for use on pome fruit, grapes, strawberries and tomatoes and uses a single rate to control all pests. For more information visit ww.AgSolutions.ca. Source: BASF news release
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PAGE 28 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER
THE GROWER
FEBRUARY 2015
CELEBRATING 136 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION
SECTION B
FOCUS: ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION
2,000 + growers and value-chain partners sharpen strategic plans for 2015
On-line retailing may work for equipment parts but nothing can replace the dynamics of a trade show and convention. Think of the happenstance introductions, fresh insights from speakers and face-to-face encounters with providers of new products and services. This is the place to connect the dots. This year’s Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention (OFVC) follows a successful recipe of in-depth, commodity-specific seminars and an evolving program of events on the trade show floor. What’s new? Take a peek inside.
Photos by Denis Cahill
PAGE B2 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER
FOCUS: ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION
FEBRUARY 18 - 19
2015 show round up COMPETITIONS
TRADE SHOW
SPEAKERS
AT PRESS TIME
STUDENT POSTER COMPETITION
201 exhibitors have registered, including 38 first-timers. “This is the largest number of exhibiting companies ever for the OFVC,” says Glenna Cairnie, OFVC executive coordinator. She suggests that latest updates can be viewed at www.ofvc.ca. For those who tweet, use #OFVC2015 and follow @ofvc1.
Organized by OMAFRA’s Jason Deveau and Hannah Fraser, the long-standing student poster competition more than doubled in entries this year to 19.
INNOVATION PRODUCT BOOTH See exhibitors’ new products for 2015 near the food court.
NEW! MEET THE BUYER Thursday, February 19 7:45 am – 9:15 am Scotiabank Convention Centre (public café area by the Stanley St entrance) When purchasing the overall OFVC registration package, register your intention to attend this complimentary event. Participating buyers include Loblaw, Sobeys and Gordon Food Service. For more information, contact: Matthew Ecker at matthew.ecker@vinelandgrowers.com.
Student entries are from University of Guelph, Trent, Brock, Western as well as Agriculture Canada and OMAFRA. Poster topics span horticultural issues from “Soil amendments for the management of Fusarium wilt in spinach” to “Integrated pest management of muck vegetable crops in the Holland Marsh.” The top three winning posters receive cash awards of $500, $300 and $200, generously sponsored by Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute. “The calibre of this competition is not to be missed,” says Deveau. “All posters are displayed in the Scotiabank Convention Centre atrium before entering the trade show area.” Learn more at www.ofvc.ca/posters.html.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS Fireblight Wednesday, February 18 9:20 – noon Room 204 OMAFRA’s Michael Celetti reviews the fireblight situation in 2014 and hosts guest speakers on prevention, alternative and novel products for management, and a growers’ panel on frontline orchard management. (Start time is not a misprint). Organic Weed Control Wednesday, February 18 9:30 am – noon Room 203 Experts from Quebec, Cornell University, OMAFRA and Montana State University share their best weed management strategies. Apple Cider Workshop (Sweet and Hard) Wednesday, February 18 9:30 am – 11 am Room 206 OMAFRA’s Leslie Huffman chairs session on innovative cider products, sanitation to improve cider quality, tips to make winning craft cider and quality factors in cider-making. Pollinators in Horticulture Thursday, February 19 2 pm – 4 pm Room 204 OMAFRA’s Paul Kozak chairs six topics ranging from Ontario honeybees pollinating Maritime lowbush blueberries and linking pollinator services to northern Ontario blueberry production, to an expert panel on pollination in Ontario. Spotted Wing Drosophila Thursday, February 19 9:30 am – noon Room 203 OMAFRA’s berry specialist Pam Fisher chairs a session on pest monitoring, research updates and how one grower manages this invasive pest in a pick-your-own operation. VegConnect Thursday, February 19 9:30 am – noon Room 201-202 This informal, drop-in session will connect vegetable growers with researchers, OMAFRA specialists and other key industry contacts.
FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE B3 THE GROWER
FOCUS: ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION
WWW.OFVC.CA
We all have a stake in the future
JOHN KELLY EXECUTIVE VP, OFVGA One of the key events for horticultural producers in Ontario is the 2015 Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention (OFVC). The value that comes out of this meeting is beyond what happens on the trade floor or the sessions. There is a really good opportunity to discuss production, challenges and opportunities, innovation, strategy and more. The organizers do a tremendous amount of preparatory work to make this event run smoothly and it is a credit to them that it is a first class showcase. The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) sees this as a tremendous venue for our members.
This is a great example of a public-private partnership coming together. Farmers, suppliers and government work side by side to deliver exciting new technologies, training sessions, and networking and business development opportunities. The Niagara Peninsula Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (NPFVGA) and Horticultural Crops Ontario (HCO) should be very pleased with how this meeting comes together so well year after year. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs provides a lot of resources to this meeting, and in particular coordinates the speakers’ program. Kudos to OFVC president Matt Peters and OFVC volunteer committee chair Tony Sgambelluri and their team for putting on such a dynamic convention. So why should you consider going to the OFVC? There are tremendous business and learning opportunities at this show. I am always keen to walk the floor in the 80,000 square foot tradeshow. With around 200 exhibitors, the diversity of displays, the ability to do business, and the general buzz of activity is always exciting to anyone in the sector. It gives you the opportunity to speak directly
to suppliers, competitors, government personnel and academics. The latest information on technology, markets, new cropping opportunities, funding programs, regulations and new services can be found here. The speakers’ program is always well attended, often overflowing out of the rooms and into the halls. This is a credit to the quality of speaker that is attracted, the topics being useful and interesting to growers, and the well organized program. This is a program that does not shy away from the issues: water management, labour, disease, insect and weed management, traceability, new innovations in information technology, new crops, regulations, business and end use markets have all been part of these sessions. The University of Guelph and the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, both key participants in Ontario-based horticultural research, have a strong presence at this convention. One area I would encourage growers to participate in is the “Meet the Buyer” session. This happens first thing Thursday morning, and participants are encouraged to register for this when doing the full OFVC
registration. There is no additional charge, but it helps organizers with knowing who wants to attend, numbers in the session and gives the buyers an opportunity to tailor their discussion. Then it becomes a “speed dating” game, with short, distinct meetings between growers and buyers from the grocery chains and food industry. I hope that growers and industry speak about the issues that are affecting them in 2015 in an open and frank discussion. Certainly the recent discussions on labour costs and competitiveness (including occupational health and safety, minimum wage, and the looming Ontario Retirement Pension Plan – ORPP), the regulatory challenge to neonicotinoid use, trade negotiations (vis-a-vis the removal of preferred status for Canadian producers under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act – PACA – in the United States), and changes to risk management programs will all find their way to the OFVC. So will discussions on how to improve efficiency, costs of production, how to deal with natural competitors (eg birds), working closely with urban populations and selling product to consumers.
With all that happens at the event, there is a legacy that occurs as a result of each meeting. The net revenues raised at the OFVC are directed back to the fruit and vegetable industry in Ontario, either through research and development, marketing and other association identified programs. These are directed at promoting Ontario product, through initiatives such as direct farm-gate sales to in-store display contests, identifying and managing challenges to production (whether it be pests or plant nutrition) or looking to the future on what the business of farming fruits and vegetable will look like in the future. The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association is very proud to be a gold sponsor of this event! It provides our members with an excellent learning opportunity, exposure to new technologies, the ability to speak with suppliers, networking with people normally outside their own group, but also to reconnect with friends and colleagues in a very open and friendly manner. We encourage you to attend and also to come say hello to our staff at OFVGA booth # 915!
S
IEGERS EED CO.
PAGE B4 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER
FOCUS: ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION
FEBRUARY 18 - 19
Northern Italy’s apple expertise is showcased on ITFA tour Leslie Huffman: “They are harvesting the light”
KAREN DAVIDSON If Italy looks like a boot to you, look up, way up. At the northern reaches of that fashionable piece of geography, you will find the South Tyrol – a region whose history is more German than Italian. In fact, nestled around the river valleys are half a million inhabitants, the majority of which speak German. This was the first of many surprises to Leslie Huffman, apple specialist for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), who toured the region last November. This is the home of Gewürztraminer wine and a favourable place to grow Golden Delicious apples. For many Italian apple growers, a farm size of 8.6 acres is the average. However, they make every tree count, often harvesting 80 bins to the acre. “They are harvesting the light,” says Huffman. Back in 1969, the South Tyrol region had only 74 acres of high-density plantings. Today it boasts 45,695 acres of richly patterned quiltwork as seen from an aerial shot.
Huffman was part of a tour group organized by Cornell University’s Terence Robinson and Italy’s Kurt Werth. Last November’s study tour was part of the International Tree Fruit Association’s calendar. The group included growers from Quebec, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick as well as the states of Michigan, New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Growers from India, Brazil, Chile and Mexico also attended. All the latest technology – hail netting, sprinkler irrigation, platforms -- is employed to produce immaculate fruiting walls. Italian researcher Alberto Dorigoni is getting positive results using hedgers to reduce pruning costs. He is also working on multi-leader trees as a vigour management tool. The government’s extension service works closely with the growers as do the marketing cooperatives to produce high-quality fruit and packouts. The trend is towards amalgamating cooperatives to reduce costs. Each farmer is assigned a 10-day window to deliver. This seemingly impossible goal is easier to achieve due to different
elevations on the mountains which means differing maturity times. Labour from Poland and eastern Europe help to harvest fruit from these uniform orchards. “They’ve replanted these high-density orchards three times since expansion,” says Huffman. “They’re not taking out posts anymore. They move the wires up and down. A plow brings fresh soil to the top.” The regional packing plant was impressive with a pre-sort, storage room that contained 27 bins high. A robotic forklift picks out the apple bins for washing and packing. Since every market requires a different apple and package, this system tailors a shipment of Italian Golden Delicious apples, for example, going to Africa. This idyllic region also harbours a nasty surprise: apple proliferation phytoplasma (APP). Observed all over Europe, it’s a bad disease spread by leafhoppers during bloom. Economic damage is due to reduced fruit size, weight and quality as well as reduced tree vigour. Up to 30 per cent tree loss has been recorded in the area some years. Huffman’s tour ended in Bolzano-Bozen for the annual
Interpoma trade show. “This is the mecca for apple growers,” says Huffman. “Try to visit once in your lifetime.” Back in Ontario, Huffman is distilling the learnings of her “mecca” trip as well as a long career with OMAFRA before retiring at the end of February. The trip to Italy has confirmed for her, that Ontario has a bright future.
“
The annual Interpoma trade show is the mecca for apple growers. Try to visit once in your lifetime.” ~ Leslie Huffman
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“High-density plantings are the way to go,” she says. The Ontario Apple Growers have 227 members who steward 15,604 acres. Another 4,000 acres are estimated to be smaller farms which direct-market to consumers. Huffman encourages more partnerships with these growers who have daily conversations with the public. Why not introduce new varieties? Or introduce sweet cider? Huffman also points out value-added opportunities for apples such as baked, dehydrated and fermented products. She suggests outreach to health units, teachers, wellness programs, bootcamps, personal trainers and gyms/fitness outlets. While Huffman will be chairing the apple session at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention on February 19 as one of her last duties, she will still be on social media. She’s keeping her Twitter handle: @aOntAppleLady. An early adopter of Twitter back in 2010, she encourages apple farmers to join social media. It’s a great channel to start a Slice and Share campaign.
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FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE B5 THE GROWER
FOCUS: ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION
WWW.OFVC.CA
Grow the apples that consumers want
The Honeycrisp variety, at 7.2% of Ontario orchard plantings, is the sixth most popular variety planted after McIntosh, Gala, Empire, Northern Spy and Red Delicious.
“Having been an apple farmer for 40 years has now provided me with good insight into growing apples profitably,” said Charles Stevens, chair of Ontario Apple Growers (OAG) when he reported to the January 13 annual general meeting in Niagara Falls, Ontario. “For me, the main insight is to grow apples that the marketplace wants, both in variety and quantity and which are not overproduced. While this may sound simple, we, as apple farmers with broad understanding on how to grow apples, know it is not simple.” “Looking to the future, we need access to the right varieties and create demand for them. OAG’s vice-chair and research chair, Cathy McKay, has worked diligently with others over the past few years to create an environment where leaders across Canada work together to bring us the best varieties. I believe that positive collaborations are taking place between OAG, Summerland Varieties Corporation (formerly PICO), and Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.” Following are statistics which summarize Ontario’s current apple production trends and varieties.
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905-685-4255 SANDRA JONES After a successful and eventful 2014, Foodland Ontario is looking forward to even greater things in the New Year! There are so many different ways we at Foodland Ontario promote the good things that grow in our province. We help connect consumers with farmers to build people’s understanding of where their food comes from. Using a variety of marketing initiatives, we encourage consumers across the province to choose fresh, locally grown food wherever they shop, be it at the grocery store, farmers’ market, or directly from a farm. We kicked off the New Year by distributing our 2015 Foodland Calendar to more than 1,200 grocery retailers, farmers’ markets and on-farm markets across the province. From January right through to December, each month in the calendar includes a delicious recipe containing Ontario-grown ingredients and links to helpful recipe videos. For those who market directly to consumers, we will have new spring, summer and winter recipe brochures. We’re adding eight new organic cards to our current roster of 24 commodity-specific recipe cards, and will have a new recipe brochure to promote Ontario organic produce. With all of our resources available
in English and French, and free to those who have a Foodland Ontario licensing agreement, it’s easy to promote Ontario’s local food. We will continue to promote local food through television, radio and our digital and social media channels and we will also run local food sampling events at multiple Ontario retail locations. As an integrated part of the Ontario government’s supports for our agri-food sector, we are planning promotional activities for Local Food Week (June 1–7) and Agriculture Week (October 5–11). This year, more than 1,000 sellers will use the Foodland Ontario logo to identify their Ontario food. And you can too! All you need is a Foodland Ontario licencing agreement. With nine out of ten consumers recognizing our logo, it’s easy to showcase the great things available right here in the province. For more information on the Foodland Ontario program or how to get a Foodland Ontario licencing agreement, visit us at www.foodlandontario.ca or contact Foodland Ontario’s Client Services Officer Sandra Jones at Sandra.jones@ontario.ca or toll free at 1-888-466-2372 ext. 5198263947 Sandra Jones is Foodland Ontario’s client services officer based in Guelph, Ontario.
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PAGE B6 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER
FOCUS: ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION
FEBRUARY 18 - 19
Show and sell: how social media offers new traction for videos Match the video style to your target audience KAREN DAVIDSON Taken to the extreme, everyone has the capacity to be a media company. Websites, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, for example, all make it possible to communicate your unique story. Each is a powerful channel reaching different audiences in an age of limited marketing budgets. “I personally feel that everyone has a story and that everyone’s story is epic,” says Allyson Reid, Chockablock Media Inc. “You have an opportunity to reach not only the next county, but the next country.” As a guest speaker at the Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association’s Summit on February 19, Reid will be sharing advice on how to start shooting video. IPhones take good-quality video that’s suitable for posting to Facebook and Twitter accounts. If
you’re an on-farm market with seasonal specials, then it’s easy to shoot field harvest and to showcase the product coming to market. Audiences will forgive you if the camera is a little shaky and the footage is raw. You’re dropping the curtain on your business so the video should feel authentic and realistic. With a little on-camera practice, you’ll feel comfortable explaining what’s happening in the field or your business. There’s no expert better qualified than you to tell the story. “Let your audience be the guide,” she says. For a website, you may consider a more professional video with a longer length. The costs are minimal to start doing your own videos. With an IPhone, purchase a clip-on lav microphone for $150. A handicam costs about $1,000 to $1,300. Research editing software through the internet. Or find a
The Automated Vending Machine is designed to reach produce category managers, upholding the Nature Fresh Farms’ brand of highly sophisticated technology.
digital assistant to edit and post your video to YouTube. Some programs offer a transcription of the video at the same time as you post YouTube. “Look to other industries for inspiration,” says Reid. One of the most high-profile examples of a one-person media company is British food chef Jamie Oliver. He now has more than a million subscribers to his FoodTube channel. About 18 months ago, Paul Smith of Northern Equipment Solutions took notice of the burgeoning video trend and started making videos on service calls. His company, based in Wasaga Beach, Ontario, specializes in potato, vegetable and cash crop equipment. With 130 videos now under his belt, Smith is transitioning to a Mac-based computer system and uses IMoviemaker to edit his raw footage. The videos are posted on his website but also through his Twitter account which has close to 1,700 followers. “As a service to growers, we showcase their new equipment and how it actually works in the field,” explains Smith. “Through video, we’re explaining the infrastructure that’s required for equipment to work properly but we’re also promoting the process to other industry stakeholders. By no means are all our Twitter followers, customers.” Echoing Reid’s statements, Smith finds a wide following that reaches beyond Canada to the United States. As an equipment specialist, Northern Equipment Solutions appeals to a broad range of farmers looking to adopt and adapt leading-edge technology such as GPS-guided precision systems. Cash crop farmers may be intrigued by a carrot harvesting video and then come back to
Purple Top Turnip Harvest 2014 was shot in the Holland Marsh and made into a YouTube video. It was also highlighted in a tweet from Northern Equipment Solutions. Target audience? Growers looking for labour-saving equipment.
“
I personally feel that everyone has a story and that everyone’s story is epic. You have an opportunity to reach not only the next county, but the next country.” ~ Allyson Reid, Chockablock Media Inc.
the website to find out what’s new in content. Last fall, an Illinois corn customer was close to defaulting on his contracts, unable to get the harvest off due to inclement weather. Large equipment manufacturers said his only solution was to buy a new combine. Rather than a sale, Northern Equipment provided a solution. Smith recommended other growers in U.S. states who had the right parts. The interaction resulted from the networking that happens through all these social media channels. Above are two examples of videos that demonstrate how they are crafted for specific audiences.
FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE B7 THE GROWER
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WWW.OFVC.CA
Growers recommend unique produce for farmers’ markets
Butternut squash
Watermelon radish
Yellow watermelons
Heirloom cherry tomatoes
Warty pumpkins
Cindy Bircham, who’s involved in Our Little Farm near St. Thomas, Ontario, is interested in trying a new squash. She thinks it will be ideal for the CommunitySupported Agriculture (CSA) boxes distributed to shareholders. Mature in 85 days, this specialty butternut squash comes from Cornell University’s Breeding Institute. Honeynut Butternut Squash produces on a compact and space-saving bush type plant. The five-inch long fruit weighs from 1 to 1-1/2 lbs. and has a sweet and rich flavoured deeporange flesh. The rind starts off a dark green, turns tan and then a rich burnt orange colour at full maturity. It has intermediate resistance to powdery mildew. Plant as early as possible due to long maturity.
This cool-season crop has a globular root attached to thin stems and waxy green leaves. The creamy-white exterior has pale green shoulders, but when the radish is cut open, striations of pink and magenta are revealed. Hence the name: watermelon.
MyPick Market grower Robert Chesney is well-known for his Thames River Melons, Innkerkip, Ontario. He notes that there’s a resurgence in interest in oldfashioned watermelons with seeds.
Vicki’s Veggies is a well-known vendor at Toronto’s Evergreen Brickworks. Based in Prince Edward County, Vicki Emlaw brings tasty heirloom tomato varieties to market. One of her new favourites is Jaune de Chardonne. “It’s yellow and at two ounces, the size of a golf ball. And it’s so-o-o beautiful,” she says. Originally sourced from Seeds of Diversity, she saved enough seed to grow out for the 2015 season and also plans to sell seedlings in her annual spring sale, May 16 and 17.
Goldsmiths Orchard Market in Thornbury is thriving under the new ownership of Brad and Teresa Oakley and Kyle and Debby Oakley. Thanks to high tunnels, they will be planting market vegetables the first week of May. Kyle recommends the Yellow Pear grape tomato with its unique shape and colour. “It will look nice in a mix of grape tomatoes,” he says.
The Red Meat cultivar has a slightly peppery taste with almond-sweet notes. These radishes pair well with fennel, apples and cheeses such as feta and chèvre. Pettinelli and Sons Produce Company recommended this radish on Twitter last summer. Source: Johnny’s Selected Seeds
“Maybe it’s nostalgia, but also for the flavour,” he says. Sangria is his cultivar of choice. Yellow watermelons also sell well at farmers’ markets with their yellow flesh and black seeds. Mature in 75 days, New Yellow Baby is a diploid-type watermelon. It’s described in the seed catalogue as a six pound, personal-sized melon with tender, juicy 11-12 per cent brix flesh. Source: Stokes Seeds
Source: Stokes Seeds
International retail consultant launches “Food Tourism” book in Canada If you haven’t heard of “glamping” then international retail consultant John Stanley is coming to the Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association (OFFMA) seminar on February 18 to explain why this trend is hot. Glamorous camping – upgrading from a tent to a cedar cabin – is a tourism movement that is the bulls’ eye target for on-farm retailers. This urban demographic is seeking farmers’ markets, taste tours and agri-entertainment. Think of lavender tours, apple pie trails, wine tastings and such. John Stanley and his wife Linda are currently launching “Food Tourism” to explain the opportunities of this trend. The book is anticipated to be a valuable resource for tourist boards, owners and managers of retail farm operations, farm association members and anyone with an interest in driving increased visitor numbers to a region through food tourism. “Whether you are thinking about starting an on-farm market or have been in the industry for a while, this book is an invaluable resource,” says Cathy Bartolic, OFFMA executive director. “As the lives of the majority
of people become busier with less green space and nature surrounding them, farms are playing an ever increasing role as a way to get out of the concrete jungle and re-connect with our roots, literally. Consumers want to know how their food is grown, who is growing it and what it tastes like right at the source. Food tourism is not going away. It is growing stronger with each season.” Bartolic explains that OFFMA has been working with John Stanley for more than a decade. Because he travels the world working with various food tourism businesses, he has his finger firmly on the pulse of the industry. OFFMA is coordinating a full-day, pre-convention workshop with John Stanley entitled ‘2020 . . . Will you be a player? The Future On-Farm Market.’ For those who want specific direction in a small group atmosphere, a New Visions workshop will be offered in March. All are welcome at any venue. Pre-registration is required. Email cathy@ontariofarmfresh.com.
Another important mention is a cherry tomato called Blue Smurf. “It’s like Indigo Rose but tastier,” she says. Source: Greta’s Organic Seed Company
Also recommended is Knuckle Head warty pumpkins. They are a medium-sized, 12-16 pound decorative pumpkin. Its green warts ripen to orange over the harvest period. Be sure to spray for powdery mildew, says Kyle, to help prevent damage to the handle. Source: Siegers Seed Company
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Exhibitor gallery
FEBRUARY 18 - 19
FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE B9 THE GROWER
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Exhibitor gallery
WWW.OFVC.CA
PAGE B10 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER
FOCUS: ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION
FEBRUARY 18 - 19
Bitten by fire blight, orchardists look to preventive tactics KAREN DAVIDSON Apple growers in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia learned a hard lesson in 2014. Fire blight flourished under warm temperatures and rainy skies, infiltrating blossoms and re-emerging weeks later as a bacteria that killed trees. “Any grower who has experienced fire blight understands the need to spray,” says Michael Celetti, OMAFRA plant pathologist for horticulture. “But for those growers who have never had fire blight and ignored the predictive models, they got burned.” Fire blight is always present, explains Celetti, but is activated under certain weather conditions. The bacteria Erwinia amylovora oozes out of the trees’ cankers and then is rain-splashed onto blossoms. Infection often occurs during secondary bloom, about seven to 14 days after petal fall. Blooms are the primary entry point to the entire tree. From there, it’s carried systemically, tarnishing the branches as if with fire. If the bacteria reaches the
This Ontario orchard is infected with severe fire blight. Notice how the trees appear as if they were scorched by fire.
Here, a shoot is infected with the fire blight pathogen. Photos by Michael Celetti.
roots, the tree dies. Fortunately, Washington State University developed a predictive model for risk assessment called Cougarblight that’s situation-specific. Celetti runs this computer model from May 1 until mid-June and issues a risk assessment for all apple-growing counties in Ontario. The program estimates risk based on temperatures and rainfall in your area, but also whether you have never had fire
in high-investment, high-density orchards. Celetti is chairing a fire blight session at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention on Wednesday, February 18. He will be joined by other experts including:
blight, a neighbour has fire blight or whether fire blight visited your orchard last year. The predictive forecast was very accurate in 2014, even though symptoms were not observed during the bloom period. “Science worked last year, even though we were questioning it,” says Celetti. Fire blight is a sporadic scourge that’s devastating to any orchard but hits particularly hard
• George Sundin, Michigan State University – Fire Blight Management Begins with Prevention
• David Rosenberger, Cornell University – Fire Blight in my Orchard: Now What? • Antonet Svircev, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Alternative and Novel Products for Managing Fire Blight • Grower Perspective: My Experience Managing Fire Blight (Cathy McKay, Murray Porteous, Lindsay Pink, Paul Frankis)
FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE B11 THE GROWER
PAGE B12 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER
FOCUS: ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION
FEBRUARY 18 - 19
Ontario schedule of noxious weeds changes Weeds added to the Schedule of Noxious Weeds common crupina
serrated tussock
wild chervil
jointed goatgrass
smooth bedstraw
wild parsnip
kudzu
tansy ragwort
woolly cupgrass
Weeds removed from the Schedule of Noxious Weeds
Willd parsnip
black-seeded proso millet
nodding thistle spp.
tuberous vetchling
goat’s beard spp.
Russian thistle
yellow rocket
Johnson grass
Scotch thistle
wild carrot
Effective January 1, 2015, the following nine weeds were added to the Schedule of Noxious Weeds (a regulation under the Weed Control Act). These non-native weeds were added to minimize their interference to agriculture. In addition, effective January 1, 2015, the following nine weeds were removed from the Schedule. The weeds are being removed because they are no longer considered significant threats to agriculture and can be managed through modern management practices. These changes will help support pollinators. About the Schedule of Noxious Weeds The Schedule of Noxious Weeds identifies weeds that can seriously damage agricultural land, crops or livestock. If these weeds are growing in a location that negatively impacts agriculture or horticulture, then they must be destroyed. If you feel that your agricultural or horticultural land is being negatively impacted by noxious weeds, contact your local Weed Inspector. Contact Us Learn about Schedule and weed management options at: ontario.ca/by7q or 877-424-1300.
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FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE B13 THE GROWER
FOCUS: ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION
WWW.OFVC.CA
Mapping a strategy for unpredictable weather KAREN DAVIDSON Weather is mercurial but climate is predictable. How can growers buffer these day-to-day challenges and capitalize on the long-term opportunities? That’s the science of Tony Shaw, geography professor at Brock University. He’s looked at the major and emerging wine regions of Ontario for some time now and concludes: “Temperatures are increasing for all months. But it’s the growing season of April to October that we’re most interested in with respect to grape and wine quality. However, winters still remain a challenge.” One of the most useful climatic indices is heat units or growing degree days (GDD). In the example of Lake Erie North Shore and the Niagara Region, growing degree days have increased by more than 200 GDDs from 1970 to 2012. Under climate change, the Lake Erie North Shore is evolving and has proven to be suitable for red grape varietals such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The North Shore is not a cool climate area in the true sense because it can be very warm in summer. However, it’s the distribution of heat units that makes a difference in grapes ripening to full maturity before cool fall weather shuts down the vines. While climate warming has been proven, it’s no solace for growers in Prince Edward County. Due to geography, the area is a poor candidate for wind machines to mitigate extreme winter freezes. Arctic air masses flow over the area from the north with no warming effect from Lake Ontario. “Total heat units don’t tell the whole story,” explains Shaw. “We’re seeing more volatility, more extreme weather from one year to the next. And that means more variation in vintages from one year to the next as in the Niagara Region.” Ontario grape growers and winemakers are a hardy and innovative lot themselves. Attuned to weather year-round, they are using Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) VineAlert, a program that measures the cold hardiness of grapevines and warns growers when to turn on their wind machines. As another tool, CCOVI is also partnering with Ontario Grape and Wine Research Inc. (OGWRI) to produce a best-practices manual to help growers avoid devastating injury to grapevines. Some wineries take the weather in stride, planting three or four red varietals to spread the risk of not all of them reaching full maturity. Others plant a dozen varieties,
both red and white, with a strategy of blending to overcome vintage variation. Still others are cooperating with wineries in different regions, buying certain varieties to complement their own. What’s Shaw’s best advice for the emerging Ontario regions such as Grey and Northumberland counties? “I would suggest that the first step growers should undertake is to install a comprehensive climate
monitoring system in these areas to determine the risks of freeze injury, the growing season potentials and the locations ranging from most suitable to least suitable. From these data, a range of grape varieties and rootstocks can then be matched to the climate and soil attributes of the areas. However, these are just the initial first steps in the assessment process.”
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PAGE B14 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER
FOCUS: ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION
FEBRUARY 18 - 19
Exotic pest is threatening common crops Spotted wing drosophila likes strawberries, blueberries…and grapes KAREN DAVIDSON Don’t shoot the messenger. Virginia Tech’s Doug Pfeiffer is coming to Ontario to warn about spotted wing drosophila (SWD) in grapes. The invasive species is present in several Canadian provinces, and to date, has threatened strawberry and blueberry growers. However, the entomologist warns that grape growers also have cause to be on guard. In 2014, commercial wineries in Virginia noted larvae in crushed grape juice. One grape grower suffered the loss of one-third of his crop after initial infestation led to sour rot. The entomologist notes that the insects carry yeasts and bacteria via wounds left on grape skins by the females’ serrated ovipositors. In a university-conducted spray trial in 2014, results showed 18 per cent of the grapes had SWD infestation in the uncontrolled plot. The numbers were generated by dissecting clusters. In one grower’s vineyard
of Petit Verdot grapes, two different results were observed under the same management. In one block, 24 per cent of the grapes were injured and in another block, there was five per cent injury. Again, these numbers were generated by dissecting grape clusters and making counts of larvae and damaged berries. These differing observations are leading to more questions than answers. What are the environmental conditions causing the invasion of SWD? Are late-ripening, red grape cultivars such as Petit Verdot more at risk because other favoured hosts such as strawberries have finished fruiting? Pfeiffer notes that pyrethroid insecticides have limited effect in controlling SWD because they also wipe out natural predators. It’s imperative to rotate insecticides as standard procedure. For cultural control, he advises harvesting fruit promptly to liminate breeding sites. This may conflict with usual harvest
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practices of leaving grapes on the vine to meet brix standards. At the very least, any overripe or rotten fruit nearby should be destroyed. In vineyards, pomace produced during the crushing process should not be dumped near the producing vineyard block. This can become a source for many SWD. What’s become worrisome is that another exotic member of the drosophilid family has been identified in Pennsylvania, Michigan and New England states. The African fig fly, Zaprionus indianus, is a tropical-loving species first identified in Florida in 2005. This insect relative appears to be following the migration of SWD as it’s been found in vinegar traps in northern states since 2012. Since the African fig fly does not have a large, sharp ovipositor like SWD females, it appears to attack only damaged and over-ripe fruit. As Pfeiffer notes, it’s not clear whether the African fruit fly can successfully oviposit in intact grape berries. This pest may be acting symbiotically,
Side by side photos of Spotted Wing Drosophila (L) and African fig fly show the differences between these related species. The African fig fly is red-brown in colour, with longitudinal white body stripes, thinly bordered by black. following the damage made by SWD. For more in-depth information, come to the Grape Session, Room 207-208, at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, February
19. Doug Pfeiffer’s topic – Spotted Wing Drosophila in Winegrapes: a bigger issue for eastern growers than previously suspected.
New appassimento chamber set up to dry grapes Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland) has partnered with MTX Postharvest to build grape drying chambers that will transform the Appassimento wine industry in Canada. The first prototype unit, installed at Kew Vineyards in Beamsville, Ontario, will be used to dry the winery’s 2014 grapes. The Appassimento chamber is the first modular, self-contained, controlled-environment system in North America and features Vineland’s proprietary ventilation technology for uniform grape drying. “The unit, manufactured by MTX Postharvest, includes wireless controls,” says Bernard Goyette, research scientist, postharvest science at Vineland. “The novel system allows winemakers to control temperature, humidity and air flow to create a customized drying process, allowing the user to achieve the desired sugar content (°Brix) and chemical balance for
Bernard Goyette winemaking.” This compact unit (2 m high x 3 m wide x 9 m long) can hold up to 7,200 kg of grapes. It offers various cooling and drying modes and cellular/VPN connectivity. Appassimento is an Old World drying technique that has been practised in Italy for more than a century. The process allows for enhanced development of flavours, concentration of sugars and contributes to more complex
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aromas in wines made from high quality grapes harvested in cool climate areas with shorter growing seasons. In addition to winemaking, this system has potential applications for food processing including postharvest cooling and sweet potato curing. Standard or custom units are available to purchase through MTX Postharvest.
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FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE B15 THE GROWER
FOCUS: ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION
WWW.OFVC.CA
Quality assurance of biocontrol products Vineland Research and Innovation Centre has published a Grower Guide on quality assurance of biocontrol products. The guide is compiled by Rose Buitenhuis, PhD, research scientist, biological control. Purpose of Guide Successful biocontrol
programs depend on a number of factors, but good quality natural enemies are fundamental. However, as living organisms, biocontrolproducts are subject to variability caused by various factors, starting at the insectary where they are reared through to the crop where they are released. Production of biocontrol agents is a self-regulated industry and
quality assessments by the end-users are important to provide producers with feedback and to maintain high quality products. Biocontrol suppliers are facing the challenge of producing a constant and reliable supply of high quality natural enemies. Therefore, quality control (QC) checks are done at the supplier level to make sure the products
meet certain standards before they are shipped to the customer. However, it often takes several days before the products arrive at the grower and are released into the greenhouse. During this time, uncontrolled packaging, transport and storage conditions may affect the quality of the product and therefore the performance in pest control. Shipping is probably the most critical period. Temperature extremes, condensation from ice packs, restricted oxygen supply, unnatural high population densities and long shipping and storage times are some of the factors that can adversely affect quality. Therefore, growers should open packages upon arrival to provide a better environment for the biocontrol agents and to detect any potential problems related to shipping conditions (too
Cryptolaemus adult, a predator of mealybugs. Photo courtesy of Biobest Canada. warm, too cold, wet, bad smell). In an ideal situation, growers would perform quality checks on every biocontrol product they receive as quality will directly impact efficacy; a shipment of poor quality can result in failure to control the target pest. If a quality issue is detected the grower can react proactively, adjusting release rates accordingly.
PAGE B16 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER
FOCUS: ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION
FEBRUARY 18 - 19
Hop growers aspire to $50 million, Ontario craft beer market Competition showcases fledgling industry
In last year’s Great Ontario-Hopped Craft Beer Competition, judge Jeff Stevens examines the fill level of the bottle and checks for any telltale ring in the neck that would suggest contamination. Photos by Denis Cahill.
Jason Deveau, competition co-organizer, is pouring into the center of the glass, not down the side. This creates the head and promotes aroma.
KAREN DAVIDSON Hops growers can only salivate over their beers on how to crack the $50 million craft market that’s evolved seemingly out of nowhere. With only 50 acres of hopyards in the province, there’s ample opportunity and a learning curve as tall as their trellises. 2014 was a tough production year with diseases such as alternaria and downy mildew. Determined to overcome agronomic challenges, growers are submitting cone samples to the University of Guelph and project investigator Mary Ruth McDonald. Loyalist College will be offering their lab this winter for analyzing 100 samples to
better understand Ontario hop profiles by cultivars. With science-based analysis, the industry will benefit by sharing their baselines with craft brewers and understanding what numbers to target for brewing values and essential oils. Meanwhile, Jason Deveau and Evan Elford are helping to showcase the fledgling industry through the Great OntarioHopped Craft Beer Competition. Both employed by the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), they have spearheaded a competition that’s now in its third year. In 2015, a panel will be judging samples of locally made beers created with locally grown hops in the robust porter style. The tasting criteria assess aroma, appearance, flavour, mouthfeel and overall impressions – a task that will take 2.5 hours for 10 entries. This is an old-style beer that’s
undergoing a renaissance, explains Deveau. A couple centuries ago, British porters used to fortify themselves on cold, wet nights with this dark and gritty beer. According to the entry requirements, this is a rather broad style open to brewer interpretation. It’s distinguished from stout as lacking a strong roasted barley character. It differs from a brown porter in that a black patent or roasted grain
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character is usually present, and it can be stronger in alcohol. Roast intensity and malt flavours can also vary significantly. This style may or may not have a strong hop character, and may or may not have significant fermentation by-products. Last fall, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) had its cicerone -- beer expert Crystal Luxmore – review 11 porters. Here’s a taste of one of her beer reviews: “Notes of figs and prunes with a firm hop centre.” As one of only 27 certified cicerones in Canada, her profession is a sign of the times. While the United States started their certification program as recently as 2008, a Canadian program was just launched in 2014. In the last five years, the LCBO reports that Ontario craft beer sales have risen by nearly 220 per cent from $15.7 million during its 2009-2010 fiscal year to $50.2 million in 2013-2014. With positive trends like these, it’s not surprising that growers want to marry fresh beer with fresh food. That’s exactly what last year’s winner, Blue Elephant pub and microbrewer, has done in Simcoe, Ontario. This year’s third annual competition is slated for February 18 at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention says Evan Elford for OMAFRA. A media event will be hosted by Blue Elephant and Carolinian Hop Yard at Simcoe, Ontario to present the Bottomless Cup Trophy to the 2015 winner. For more information, go to www.ONhops.ca
FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE B17 THE GROWER
FOCUS: ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION
WWW.OFVC.CA
Farmers’ Markets Ontario marks milestone of 25 years There’s lots to celebrate at the Farmers’ Markets Ontario symposium at this year’s Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention. A 25th anniversary is reason enough to join the seminars on February 18 and 19, but also note the metrics of success. • 171 member farmers’ markets • more than 300 MyPick Farmers • 16 million shopper visits to Ontario markets • more than $700 million in 2014 sales • 3 ONroute mini farmers’ markets along highway 401 in 2015 (2 at Trenton, 1 at Cambridge) “We expect to see eight to 10 new farmers’ markets launched in 2015,” says Bob Chorney, executive director. “Altogether, the provincial economic impact is $2.3 billion.” One of the guest speakers will be chef Cindy Bircham who brings a farm-to-table perspective from Elgin County. She’s channeling energy into Our Little Farm, a joint farming project with Mark Cosens who grows vegetables for the St. Thomas Horton Farmers’ Market and a budding Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) box program.
“I’m not a gardener,” says Bircham “so the 2014 season was one big experiment.” What surprised her the most was producing more food than expected and the challenge of storing produce after harvest. The learning curve is how much to grow to serve 100 shareholders on a weekly basis. Raising awareness is also an objective through traditional channels (www.ourlittlefarmCSA.ca) and social media. What she’s learned is that a mix of printed brochures, Facebook and events are required. One recent success is partnering with the local Heart and Stroke Foundation at a soup fundraiser. By supplying the fresh produce for soups, Bircham can raise awareness of healthy as well as local eating. A mobile, wood-fired oven is the most recent acquisition from Maine Wood Heat Company. Hooked onto a custom-made trailer, this oven will draw customers to the farmers’ market and fundraisers alike. In the run-up to the Christmas season, she made sourdough breads, scones and . . . maple-bacon butter tarts. Recipe, please?
With a mobile, wood-fired oven, market gardeners Cindy Bircham and Mark Cosens are ready to go to the 2015 edition of the St. Thomas Horton Farmers’ Market.
PAGE B18 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER
FOCUS: ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION
FEBRUARY 18 - 19
Vivando SC fungicide to manage powdery mildew on several new crops Crop(s)
Rate (L/ha)
Maximum apps per season
Application Interval (days)
PHI (days)
Cherries
0.75 – 1.12
2
14 - 21
7
Peaches/Nectarines
0.75 – 1.12
2
14 - 21
7
Cucurbits
0.75 – 1.12
3
7 - 14
0
Hops
0.75 – 1.12
2
14
14
JIM CHAPUT The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of several URMULE registrations for Vivando fungicide for control/suppression of powdery mildew on cucurbits, hops, cherries, nectarines and peaches in Canada. Vivando fungicide was already labeled for management of powdery mildew on grapes in Canada. These minor use projects were submitted jointly by Agriculture
& Agri-Food Canada’s Pest Management Centre (AAFCPMC) and US IR-4 as a result of minor use priorities established by growers and extension personnel in Canada and the US. Management of powdery mildews has been a priority of producers of many crops. The following is provided as an abbreviated, general outline only. Users should consult the complete label before using Vivando fungicide. Vivando fungicide can be used for control or suppression of powdery mildew on the following
crops as outlined in the chart. Vivando fungicide should be used in an integrated pest management program and in rotation with other management strategies to adequately manage resistance. Vivando fungicide is toxic to aquatic organisms and non-target terrestrial plants. Do not contaminate aquatic habitats when spraying or when cleaning and rinsing spray equipment or containers. Metrafenone is persistent and may carryover. It is recommended that any products containing metrafenone not be used in areas treated with this product during the previous season. Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Vivando fungicide label carefully. For a copy of the new minor use label contact your local crop specialist, regional supply outlet or visit the PMRA label site www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/ pest/registrant-titulaire/toolsoutils/label-etiq-eng.php Jim Chaput is minor use coordinator, OMAFRA, Guelph
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FEBRUARY 2015 –– PAGE B19 THE GROWER
FOCUS: ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION
WWW.OFVC.CA
Taking advantage of weeds’ weaknesses Lesson #3. Be observant. KRISTEN OBEID Dr. Seuss: “Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” The simple answer to controlling weeds in an organic production system is “know your weeds.” If you know what you are dealing with and manage based on biology you will have much more success. Sure there are at least 14 other production practices that can help you minimize weeds in organic systems; but, knowing your enemy will help you win the war. You can use weed biology and seed bank dynamics to your advantage against your most problematic weeds. It is time to change the way we think. Let’s start from the beginning. Scientists guesstimate that there are approximately 100,000,000 weed seeds per hectare of agriculture land. Yes, it is true. Scientists around the world dug up soil and counted the number of weed seeds. The numbers varied from different countries, but 100,000,000 is a good estimate. Of those 100,000,000 weed seeds approximately 1,000,000 emerge every year. This is why it is very unlikely that anyone can deplete the weed seed bank (weed seed that is dormant in the soil) to zero. Seed enter the soil from several sources, but most commonly from weeds that are allowed to mature on an already occupied site.
Watch for species shifts in your fields over time. It’s typical in agriculture, as it is in everyday life, that once we get one problem under control we have somehow provided the right conditions for another problem to develop. This is true with weed control. “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change,” said Charles Darwin. Understanding the strengths
and weaknesses of various weed species will help you understand how cropping practices alter weed-selection pressures. Understanding this relationship will provide a starting point to develop management strategies, such as fine-tuning your crop rotation. Kristen Obeid, M.Sc., is OMAFRA’s weed management program lead – horticulture.
Lesson #1. Do not let your weeds go to seed. In general, the amount of seed produced by agricultural weeds is astonishingly high, but it can also vary significantly due to the highgrowth plasticity of most weed species. Therefore, the actual amount of seed produced per individual plant can vary from nothing to millions, depending on its growing conditions. Weeds vary considerably with respect to the longevity of their seed, depending upon species, depth of seed burial, soil type, and level of disturbance. Many weed species are noted for the especially long-lived nature of their seed. Weed seeds that are currently germinating are not necessarily the most abundant in the weed seed bank. Rather the crop type and production practice are providing that particular weed species with an advantage over others.
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PAGE B20 –– FEBRUARY 2015 THE GROWER