The Grower Newspaper February 2011

FEBRUARY 2011

CELEBRATING 131 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION

VOLUME 61 NUMBER 02

The ace of deal-making still has cards to play An industry veteran and recent Award of Merit winner plans succession

By Karen Davidson As if he was in a wine cellar savouring a fine vintage, Adrian Huisman recalls: “1979 – that was a pivotal year.” The general manager of the Ontario Tender Fruit Producers’ Marketing Board has a legendary memory for the milestones of the industry.

Understandably so, since he started working for the Vineland Station, Ontario organization out of adjoining hotel rooms at Prudhomme’s Landing Hotel in 1965.

As it turns out, Huisman is also a master of the understatement. In 1979, he was still in the infancy of his 46-year career which saw the amalgamation of the fresh and processing tender fruit boards and the building of a permanent home for the tree fruit and vine industries. Adrian has seen many changes ranging from loading fruit on the floor of truck beds to palletizing, packaging evolution, conversion to metric, bilingual containers and new master cartons. He notes that one of the major changes has been in the area of retail consolidation.

In the interim years, Huisman’s duties have included an everbroadening array of commodities, starting with peaches, plums, pears and cherries to fresh grapes and even briefly, apples. Every crisis imaginable has come across his desk from how to find markets for bumper crops of sour cherries and processing grapes to the plum pox virus, a disease that still threatens the industry today, a decade after its arrival. It’s for his deft

Inside Sweet or tart?

A new way to slice apple markets

Page 4

OFVGA AGM highlights

Page 12

Focus: Smart crop protection products, smarter sprayers

Adrian Huisman, known as the ultimate deal-maker, poses in the office of the Ontario Tender Fruit Growers’ Marketing Board, St. Catharines where he is finalizing the program for the upcoming Strategic Planning session. It will include participants from a wide cross-section of the tender fruit value chain.

Photos by Denis Cahill. grower newsletter that the California tree fruit growers have rejected their five-year-old marketing board due to dismal prices of fresh peaches.

Those California trends impact prices in Ontario, regardless of the buy-local mantra. It’s clearly too

early to predict 2011 prices, but the Board’s Strategic Planning Committee will be meeting with the major retailers in early February to discuss common issues and build partnerships.

Loblaw, Metro, Sobey’s and in the last two years, Walmart, are the

major players. Sixty per cent of Ontario’s peaches are sold in Ontario with another 35 per cent shipped to Quebec. The remainder goes to Atlantic and western Canada.

Continued on page 3

Page 22

www.thegrower.org P.M. 40012319

craftsmanship of solutions that Huisman was recently honoured with the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) annual Award of Merit.

“His ability to organize, implement, oversee and complete projects has become widely recognized not only by his employers, the Tender Fruit and Fresh Grape Board’s, but also the broader scope of the fruit and vegetable industry in Ontario and Canada,” says Brian Gilroy, OFVGA chair.

Huisman’s leadership and historical knowledge will be difficult to replace as succession plans are underway for his retirement in January 2012. Last fall, the board struck a human resources committee which is now advertising for a Marketing Director position to be filled by April 1.

“Board members take succession planning quite seriously,” says Huisman. “They have no preconceptions as to who this person might be, but someone from existing produce distribution networks, retailers or wholesalers or even from another industry board or association might be interested. The plan is to go through a full growing and marketing season before I depart.”

In the year ahead, Huisman will concentrate on board management, lobbying and government/ public relations. He doesn’t lack for issues to manage.

Increasing production costs and our dollar at par with the U.S. make American fruit supplies more competitive. A close eye is kept on California growers who can ship from May through October from the fertile San Joaquin Valley. Their industry is also under pressure and growers there have removed 8,000 acres of peach production due to economics, an area larger than the entire peach production area of the Niagara Peninsula. Growers have switched to more profitable crops such as almonds and pistachios.

Huisman also reported in his last

Visit www.savvyfarmer.com to learn the secrets of saving money on pest control and to give savvy farmer a free trial.

PAGE 2 –– FEBRUARY 2011 THE GROWER

At press time…

Calling all Ontario cider producers All cider makers, including those using a custom presser, are invited to compete in the first annual Ontario sweet cider competition to be held at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention in St. Catharines on February 23.

Bring two (4L) jugs of cider to the convention that day for judging.

Winning entries will be available for taste testing before the apple session on February 24.

Cider entries can be freshly made or can be frozen until February, says one of the organizers, OMAFRA’s apple specialist, Leslie Huffman. She suggests thawing frozen cider to ensure the jug is thawed for competition time. In Michigan, where cider makers have been competing for 14 years, some cider makers freeze samples from several batches, and select the best entry later.

They have found that mixing apple cultivars results in better flavours.

A cider workshop is planned for February 23 when Dr. Bob Tritten will share toplines of Michigan’s sweet cider industry.

The competition is sponsored by the Ontario Apple Growers.

U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act impacts Canadian trade The Food Safety Modernization Act was passed by the United States Congress and signed by President Obama on January 4, 2011.

This new legislation presents challenges for both the Canadian supply chain and for governments in Canada.

Here are the major impacts on Canadian exporters: • Canadian food businesses that supply product to the U.S. (i.e. facilities registered under the Bioterrorism Act) will need food safety plans in place (based on HACCP), food defense plans and perhaps enhanced traceability (implementation date is January 2012, except for firms defined as “small” or “very small,” implementation date is January 2013 and January 2014).

• U.S. importers will need to verify that the products they import

and the suppliers of those products meet U.S. requirements (regulation due in January 2010, enforcement in January 2013). This will compel many importers to implement more rigorous supplier approval programs.

• Within three years, all Canadian food businesses exporting to the U.S. (in 2009, there were 14,700 Canadian food businesses on the U.S. registry) will have to meet the new requirements.

• These requirements will be subject to inspection by the United States Food and Drug Administration or a body acting on its behalf.

• Importers who want an expedited review of their shipments can participate in a voluntary qualification program (available in July 2012).

• Meeting these requirements will likely involve a third party audit (likely to be a scheme benchmarked by the Global Food Safety Initiative) although that remains to be seen. If this is the case then companies certified to CanadaGAP options B or C will be well positioned to meet the new requirements.

• The Act requires regular (every two years) updating of information on the U.S. registry.

• FDA will develop new regulations for safe transportation of food (implementation date: late part of 2012).

• Laboratories undertaking food analyses must be accredited (as of January 2013).

Source: Canadian Supply Chain Food Safety Coalition Secretariat

Free trial version offered for Savvy Farmer software Growers can try a risk-free trial of the Savvy Farmer software featured in the December 2010 issue of The Grower. This new software allows comparisons between pesticide options. The trial version contains all the features but includes only a limited amount of data according to Warren Libby, president, Savvy Farmer Inc. Go to www.savvyfarmer.com The OFVGA has negotiated a 30 per cent discount on the annual subscription fee for any fruit and vegetable producer who is a qualified subscriber of The Grower.

The $139 offer remains in effect until October 31, 2011. Use discount code OFVGASP-A-30.

Be ready for food safety funding: Ontario Apple Growers The next round of Food Safety

and Traceability Initiative (FSTI) funding is expected to be announced soon, reports the January newsletter of Ontario Apple Growers. Have your project outline completed and submit as early as possible on the first day of the program to avoid an early run on funding. Last year, funding was exhausted on opening day, March 1. Although program criteria are not known, a Food Safety Workshop will likely be required as well as a Premises Identification Number from OnTrace.

For more information, from OMAFRA, contact: www.ontario .ca/foodsafety .

For more information, from OnTrace, contact: www.ontrace.ca or call 1-888-388-7223.

NEWSMAKERS Brian Gilroy, a Meaford Ontario apple grower, was returned for a second term as chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. Newly elected directors include: Jan Vanderhout (greenhouse), Fred Meyers (tender fruit), Mary Shabatura (fresh vegetable –other). Jason Ryder now takes the director seat for asparagus. More details on the annual general meeting can be found on page 12.

Congratulations to Cathy McKay who was honoured with the annual Golden Apple Award at the recent OFVGA annual general meeting. Sponsored by Chemtura, the award is presented for industry service and leadership. Along with her husband Marvin Stevenson, she manages 35 acres of apple orchard at Port Perry, Ontario and offers an IPM scouting service to Durham and Northumberland area growers.

OFVC pre-registration closes February 15 The 9th annual Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention will be held February 23 and 24 at Brock University, St Catharines with one major change. Pre-registration closes February 15 so that guarantees of numbers can be communicated to the caterers. Go to www.ofvc.ca to register and for on-line payment.

On-site registration does not include lunches or admission to the Friends and Family event on February 23.

Details of the speakers and information sessions are posted on-line. Day one includes vegetables, berries, sprayer technology, grapes, direct farm sales, tender fruit, farmers’ markets, winery and apple cider workshop. Day two focuses on compost, water, apples, grapes, alternative crops, organic fruit, tender fruit, tips on making money, farmers’ markets, vegetables and lavender workshop.

Question of the month When walking your fields, do you ever dig up crop plants to examine the root systems?

Vote at www.onvegetables.com. a) nope, I’ve never done that b) yes, in my vegetable crops, if I think there’s a problem c) yes, in my vegetable and field crops, if I think there’s a problem d) yes, in my vegetable crops I will even dig up plants that look healthy to have a look at the roots e) yes, in my vegetable and field crops I will even dig up plants that look healthy to have a look at the roots You can vote -- and see the results of past poll questions -- at www.onvegetables.com.

Cathy McKay, Golden Apple winner, is pictured with her husband Marvin Stevenson (L), and Charles Stevens.

She is very active as a director of Ontario Apple Growers, chairing the research committee as well as serving on the board of Okanagan Plant Improvement Corporation. She also sits on the CHC food safety management committee, the Durham Farm Fresh Marketing Association and the East Central Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association.

The OFVGA’s annual Award of Merit was presented to Adrian Huisman, who has been in the employ of the Ontario Tender Fruit Producers’ Marketing Board since 1966 (see cover story).

With his retirement slated for January 2012, a transition plan is underway with a recruitment search for a marketing director whose mandate would be to enhance the value and returns to grower members and retail partners. Applications are due no later than February 15.

The Ontario Apple Growers have elected a new slate of directors. District 1 includes: Keith Wright, Pete Geerts. District 2 includes Rien Van Brenk, Chris Hedges. District 3 includes Brian Gilroy, Brad Johnston. District 4 includes Bob Bell, Richard Feenstra. District 5 includes Cathy McKay, Charles Stevens.

Gary Linkletter, a Summerside producer, has been elected chair of the P.E.I. Potato Board. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, and is the vice-chair of the Canadian Horticultural Council’s Potato Committee. Gary is a partner in Linkletter Farms, a family farm operation which grows seed, table and processing potatoes, with a focus on the tablestock sector.

Clifford Produce has a new president, Chris Jacobs, who has been hired to oversee day-to-day operations of the Leamington, Ontario greenhouses.

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FEBRUARY 2011 –– PAGE 3 THE GROWER

OFVGA AGM speakers urge political engagement

By Karen Davidson The statistics bear repeating.

Ontario’s fruit and vegetable industry contributes 12 per cent of the province’s total agricultural gross receipts and adds $3.5 billion in economic activity.

Despite those robust figures, the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) is constantly arguing its role to provincial and federal governments for policies that will enhance competitiveness. Its annual general meeting, January 10 to 12 in Niagara Falls, put many of the issues in perspective starting with keynote speaker Bruce Vincent.

The third-generation logger from Montana spoke about how his industry lost its social license to operate due to an environmental policy to artificially reintroduce the grizzle bear to his forestry area. Not unlike agriculture, harvesting the land, Vincent recounted the protracted battle over a public policy that was based on erroneous public perceptions of log-

gers and how they interact with wild habitat.

“Agriculture is the next piñata,” argued Vincent. The conflict industry doesn’t want to understand that the agricultural economy looks after the environment. In lessons learned, he says, “Democracy works but it’s not a spectator sport. Power is driven by single sector voting blocks.” He urges agricultural leaders to become engaged with politicians in their backyards. “The world is run by those people who show up,” he quipped.

While grizzly bears may be considered an endangered species in Montana and Alberta, farmers might be considered on the same list when the next census is conducted this year. Ontario’s land use issue was framed by Margaret Walton, Planscape, who outlined some of the trends in fruit and vegetable markets comparing 2001 and 2006 census figures.

“When the 2011 census figures are released, I expect significant changes,” says Walton. However,

meaningful data probably won’t be available until 2015 – long after it’s best-before-date.

Walton expects decreased production in Hamilton, Ontario – an area of urban encroachment.

Besides that, she expects fragmented change in the Greenbelt area. Despite a strong cluster of food processors in western reaches of Toronto, there are no strong links between food producers and processors.

Overall, threats to the industry are: access to capital, labour/ energy costs, international competitors, the concentration of four large retailers, the multiple layers of government agencies regulating agriculture and consumer attitudes towards the Greenbelt as an environmental playground rather than an agricultural economic driver of health solutions.

With this backdrop, meeting attendees were receptive to the topic of a national food strategy.

Neil Currie, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, is helping to coordinate a strategy that would span

economic, environmental and health sectors. “Resources are a challenge in trying to engage Corporate Canada on this issue,” said Currie.

“Canadians are losing control of their food supply because of low-cost jurisdictions,” said Tom Haskett, an apple and vegetable grower, in an open forum. “We seem to be trading cars in return for cheap food from other countries,” he said.

Entire clusters of expertise are being lost, the most recent with the loss of the Bicks plant and the processing cucumber industry.

“It’s the complete loss of a Canadian brand, the Bicks brand, to the U.S. and all for tax reasons.”

Growers hope that a national food strategy would address some of these issues such as regulating imports with food safety standards less rigorous than Canada’s.

WORKSHOP COMING SOON

Operators plan now to attend:

Airblast Sprayers 101

The ace of deal-making The industry tested new plastic packaging last year with the cooperation of one of their major retail partners. The goal was to improve shelf life and reduce shrink (loss) at retail. Both objectives were met. Some alterations are expected for the 2011 crop including a requirement for 50 per cent recycled plastic in order to meet earth-friendly targets. Today, packaging is as much about food safety as a convenient way to display and transport produce. It’s just one more cost of doing business.

Whether their produce comes from Chile, the U.S. or Canada, it really doesn’t matter to the retailers but they will stay loyal to and support the “Buy Local” initiative provided that Ontario product is of equal quality and competitively priced.

One factor that growers can try to control in their long-term health is the plum pox virus and government policy surrounding it. The 10-year-old scourge of the industry has been aggressively fought with an uncompromising removal and replacement of 300,000 trees out of 1.2 million. Whether a federal/provincial compensation program will be extended is up for discussion. No decisions have been made by government or by the growers says Huisman.

The tender fruit industry is threatened not only by natural pests but the loss of processing capacity. With the demise of the CanGro fruit canning plant in 2008, there is no alternate market. This is an ongoing frustration with an urban market at its back door.

“One arrangement that has worked well is our partnership with CherrCo, an American-based cooperative that coordinates the sale and distribution of the vast majority of the North American tart cherry production,” says Huisman. “This has been a good marriage and a great model.”

While Huisman is commenting on cherries, he could very well be commenting on his own marriage with the tender fruit industry. Compromise.

Deal-making. This has been the hallmark of

Huisman’s career that has sought fairness and equity for all parties.

An interactive workshop that includes hands-on demonstrations and dialogue with an experienced airblast technician that will:

Personal insight • My favourite time of year is . . . Summer. That’s when the action is. That’s when the product gets moved and the growers get paid.

• In my car, I listen to . . . 680 News.

• I define downtime as . . . Golf and family.

• My greatest career disappointment . . . the closing of the CanGro fruit canning facility.

• A highlight of my career was . . . 1988. I arranged for the custom processing and eventual sale of 25,000 tons of surplus grapes, utilizing facilities and markets in Canada and the U.S., when no one said it could be done.

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PAGE 4 –– FEBRUARY 2011 THE GROWER

New consumer research reveals different ethnic preferences for apples

By Karen Davidson For apple marketers, the sweet spot may be tart. A new study, just released by the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre (PARC), reveals statistical evidence of strong preferences that will help the apple industry segment markets. Up to 30 apple varieties are marketed in Canada today, but to date, little has been known about the influence of ethnicity, gender or age on buying patterns.

At last October’s UBC Apple Festival in Vancouver, researchers Dr. Margaret Cliff and Kareen Stanich conducted taste and visual assessments with three apple cultivars: Ambrosia, SPA493 (a new cultivar under development) and Honeycrisp. Of the 1,469 consumers who participated in the apple sampling, 61 per cent were European, 29 per cent were Asian and 10 per cent were other. They were two-thirds female and one-third male and their ages were distributed approximately equally across all age groups (19-29, 3039, 40-49, 50+ years).

A large number (88 per cent) of Asian consumers identified themselves as favouring ‘sweet’ apples while European consumers indicated both ‘sweet’ (55 per cent) and ‘tart’ (45 per cent) apple cravings. Regardless of ethnic background, ‘sweet’ apple eaters scored ‘sweet’ apple cultivars (Ambrosia) significantly higher that ‘tart’ apple cultivars (SPA493) while ‘tart’ apple eaters scored ‘tart’ apples significantly higher than ‘sweet’ apples.

Simply put, Asian consumers prefer sweet apples while consumers of European descent prefer both sweet and tart apples. Interestingly, both Asian and European ‘sweet’ apple eaters scored the visual appearance of red apples with a yellow-green base colour significantly lower than those with a yellow base colour. ‘Tart’ apple eaters did not make this distinction. This finding suggests that ‘sweet’ apple eaters of both ethnic backgrounds have a strong visual bias against apples which are green, expecting them to be sour.

This is critical insight for apple breeders, growers and marketers.

The apple cultivar still in development, SPA493, is rated as tart and therefore not as appealing to the Asian segment. Once commercialized, appropriate marketing strategies should be developed to enhance its success in specific markets and geographies. As the face of Canada’s metropolitan areas change with immigration and indeed, second generations of born-in-Canada populations put down roots, these cultural preferences will be important to know for apple marketing.

Paul Birzins, project manager, Okanagan Plant Improvement Corporation presented the research findings at the recent annual meeting of the Ontario Apple Growers.

Sensory Evaluation – Consumer Research Ambrosia™ red striped apple yellow base colour

Ambrosia™

SPA493 red blush apple yellow base colour prominent lenticels SPA493

Honeycrisp™ bi-coloured apple yellow-green base colour

Honeycrisp™

This research was funded through the Okanagan Plant Improvement Corporation and AAFC Developing Innovative AgriProducts Program.

Right: Degree of liking of apple TASTE for three cultivars by consumers’ apple choice (‘sweet’, ‘tart’). * bar charts with different letters are significantly different.

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FEBRUARY 2011 –– PAGE 5 THE GROWER

PEI culinary alliance digs deep First episode of online web video shows how carrots and broccoli are grown

Vegetable grower Eddy Dykerman (L) walks his carrot fields in Prince Edward Island with native son, Michael Smith, now a celebrated TV personality and cookbook author. He debuted in the first episode of a new on-line video called “Food Country.”

The Culinary Alliance of Prince Edward Island is partnering with one of Canada’s most famous chefs to showcase the province’s culinary excellence in a new online web video series: Food Country. The weekly series features Chef Michael Smith’s food adventures as he sources fresh ingredients throughout the

province then returns to his kitchen to cook.

Launched on January 7, Chef Michael’s first visit was to Brookfield Gardens, a vegetable farm in the heart of Prince Edward Island where he finds carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and a surprising pig roast. A follow-up kitchen episode shows how Chef Michael

tapestry of our culture and why we’re worth a special visit.”

Each week a new episode will launch, alternating between “field” and “kitchen” episodes. In the field, Chef Michael Smith visits potato farms, vegetable farms, beef farms, oyster beds, local markets, a vodka distillery or heads to sea aboard a lobster boat.

As Prince Edward Island’s Food Ambassador, Chef Michael Smith is already well known throughout the world for his advocacy of the Island and support of local food.

His appearances on Food Network Television in “Chef at Home” and “Chef Abroad” have made him a household name.

There are 24 episodes initially created for Food Country, and they can be found at www.foodcountry.ca. Be sure to check out the first episode with Eddy Dykerman at hwww.chefmichaelsmith.com /food-country/brookfield-gardensvegetable-farm/.

PEI potato growers have also sponsored four episodes according to Kendra Mills, marketing director. “Family farming in PEI” launched January 18 and the follow-up recipe, potato bacon cheddar tart, was made available January 25. “Growing PEI potatoes” will go on-line March 1 with “brown butter mashed potatoes” following on March 8.

“We are excited about this project, for many reasons, but particularly because of the nature of the medium, says Gary Linkletter, PEI Potato Board chairman. “By being entirely online, it gets the PEI Potatoes brand in front of our entire customer base, wherever they may be located.”

This is an excellent example of how growers are hooking up with local chefs to tell their production stories while promoting how to prepare the ingredients in tasty recipes.

transforms the bounty of Eddy Dykerman’s fields into garlic steamed broccoli.

“Food Country is an online showcase of Prince Edward Island’s flavours, people and stories,” says Chef Michael Smith.

“We’re showing the world what a special food destination we are, how food is woven into the

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PAGE 6 –– FEBRUARY 2011 THE GROWER

Ontario’s grape industry grapples with definition of quality

By Karen Davidson With the largest wine flute setting a Guinness Book of World Records at the Niagara Ice Wine Festival, Ontario’s grape producers are feeling more celebratory than they have in a couple years.

Follow the money trail to the 2010 crush to find out why. The value of the crop was almost $69 million compared to $56 million in 2009, according to the most recent newsletter from Grape Growers of Ontario (GGO).

Still shy of the $76 million earned in 2008, those figures don’t entirely erase the pain of an industry in transition, but plateau pricing for 3,950 tonnes of grapes seems to have helped according to Bill George Jr., GGO chair. Essentially, the pricing scheme matches production to various price points at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO).

Significantly, the George Morris Centre (GMC) has just released a multi-year varietal plan for the Ontario grape and wine industry that contains input from all stakeholders in the value chain. Growers and wineries agree that major white varietals (Riesling, Chardonnay) and specific reds (Cabernet Franc, Gamay) work best in the cool climate zone. That

varietal choices don’t appear to have been driven by climatic differences.

The varietal plan summarizes what varietals grow best where, what viniculture practices to use to meet winery specifications and more broadly, meet consumer demand in LCBO stores. The LCBO perceives itself as loyal to local wines with its largest volumes in white varietals and non-varietals (both VQA and non-VQA) and in Merlot and Cabernet-Merlot for VQA. The low price point category is declining while the market for VQA wines is growing at price points

the demands of a more demanding and sophisticated consumer.

“Quality is complex, involving measured attributes (brix) as well as a range of other factors such as volatile acids and others,” summarized Al Mussel from the GMC research team. “While existing quality exceeds VQA standards, on average, there is a demand for improved quality. At the same time, there are two wine grape end uses – VQA and International and Canadian Blends (ICB)– which have different quality demands.”

Growers such as Ray Duc, OFVGA director for grapes, says

2010 Crush** Thirty-eight Ontario wineries contributed to the Guinness Book of World Records with 27 litres of ice wine poured into the world’s largest wine flute. With a couple backups for insurance, the custom-made, four-foot-tall flute drew the media to the annual Niagara Ice Wine Festival. Cost?

Not known. Publicity value?

Priceless. said, the climatic conditions vary broadly across the four wine regions of Ontario and to date,

Chardonnay needs to have 22 brix and then acid levels come into play. Others may want something else. I’m not sure quality will ever be hammered out completely.”

As a whole, growers are investing in wind machines and canopy management to ensure the best yields. The research infrastructure in Ontario is much more robust with improved extension resources on winter tolerance, for example.

The elements for a more focused value chain are falling into place. John Burke, Ontario deputy minister of agriculture, intimated at the recent OFVGA

2009 Crush

2008 Crush

Tonnes

Value ($)

Tonnes

Value ($)

Tonnes

Value ($)

Wine

50,567

$67,319,341

44,336

$54,329,291

55,498

$74,491,923

Jam/Juice

2,412

$1,078,088

2,605

$1,094,494

2,601

$1,087,296

393

$582,280

520

$543,357

234

$263,748

53,372

$68,979,709

447,461

$55,967,142

58,333

$75,842,967

Home wine Total

* All 2010 Crush information is up-to-date as of December 3, 2010. Source: Grape Growers of Ontario. above $12.

What is clear is that growers and wineries are not aligned on what constitutes quality to meet

it’s difficult to quantify quality. “If you asked 10 different winemakers, you would get 10 different answers,” says Duc. “They are like artists. Some say the best

annual general meeting that a grape transition program would be announced this spring, one that aligns grape growers with winery demand.

Improving winter tolerance As a cold snap gripped Ontario in late January, Jim Willwerth was teaching grape growers about VineAlert, a service that tracks bud hardiness for vinifera grape varieties in different locations.

He’s a viticulturist with the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI). Temperatures are recorded and compared with previous readings for the same area. The data, which helps determine critical lethal temperatures for buds, can be accessed online by growers. This information helps growers monitor bud winter hardiness during the dormant period from late October to mid-April.

The idea is to predict when it’s most economical to turn on wind

machines to prevent bud damage.

This is one of several CCOVI extension efforts that is sharpening the agronomic prowess of Ontario grape growers. In its fourth annual lecture series, CCOVI is presenting on topics ranging from viticulture and winemaking to business practices, wine marketing, policy and culture. For example, Annette Nassuth, CCOVI Fellow and Associate Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology at University of Guelph presented “Empowering growers: using molecular tools to select for freeze-tolerant grapes.” Her January 26 webcast can be viewed at www.brocku.ca/ ccovi.

If your farm is open to the public . . . find out why you should be a member of Ontario Farm Fresh!

For membership benefits, go to www.ontariofarmfresh.com or call 905-841-9278 for a membership brochure.

Make joining Ontario Farm Fresh your #1 business decision for a more successful 2011.

FEBRUARY 2011 –– PAGE 7 THE GROWER

AUTOMATION

Equipment mechanizes colour sorting of cherries Cherry Lane Frozen Fruits has received $163,000 of repayable government funding to mechanize part of its processing operation.

This investment will be used to purchase and install twin advanced colour detector sorting machines.

Automating a function previously Left: Niagara MP Dean Allison (right) and Cherry Lane Frozen Fruits operations manager Jenifer Smith inspect new colour detector sorting machine.

done manually, the new equipment sorts cherries according to desired quality characteristics.

Increased efficiencies and improved consistency in the sorting function will allow Cherry Lane to secure a customer base and retain its position in a competitive market. The project also allows the firm to continue its supply-chain relationship with 22 cherry growers thereby providing another distribution channel to Ontario-based producers.

“We’re very excited about the opportunities that this funding provides,” said Jenifer Smith, Cherry Lane. “We operate in a global market and have been challenged to stay competitive while keeping our commitment to purchase as much Ontario fruit as possible. The new colour sorter will create efficiencies that allow us to process more locally grown cherries from our grower community.”

Ontario winery plans to double capacity and expand marketing A premier producer of VQA sauvignon blanc wine is expanding its Lincoln, Ontario operation thanks to a $97,000 federal repayable loan for a high-speed bottling and labeling line. Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery is expected to double annual production capacity to 30,000 cases says Norm Beal, president.

Expansion has been underway in recent years with new plantings of Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio varietals. In addition to the home base of 38 acres, another 55 acres are planted in a partner’s vineyard. Supplemental grower contracts will help meet overall production targets.

“VQA wine sales grew by 19 per cent in 2010, a trend that has encouraged us to move into new markets,” says Beal. “We are expanding our presence in Manitoba and Alberta as well as Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. In recent months, we’ve picked up contracts with local agents in China, South Korea and Japan. With growth in the

Niagara MP Dean Allison (left) reviews new bottling machinery with Norm Beal, owner of Peninsula Ridge Estate Winery in Lincoln, Ontario. Photo by Simon Wilson, Canadian Press Images.

middle class in these Far East markets, we see real interest in the Canadian brand. Ice wines led the way, but now there’s more interest in table wines.”

The federal government’s AgriFlexibility funding comes at an opportune juncture to take advantage of these new markets while improving food safety, productivity and competitiveness. While cork closures have been traditionally used, the winery is embracing screw cap closures. In addition, a hot water rinse and nitrogen purge will disinfect the glass bottles which are sourced in Europe and China. New labels are anticipated next June.

The AgriFlexibility investment is delivered through the five-year AgriProcessing initiative which has up to $50 million in funding for Canada’s agri-processing sector. “This is a great program that gives us a leg up in cash flow and doesn’t cost the taxpayer a penny,” says Beal.

Heads-up: 2011 agriculture census on May 10 The 2011 Census of Agriculture questionnaire contains questions asked in 2006 as well as new ones. Some questions remain unchanged to maintain consistency and comparability of data over time. Other questions have been added or deleted to reflect changes in the agriculture industry. For example:

• Business Number: A question has been added to request the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Business Number for the agricultural operation. In addition, a brief explanation of the intent of this question has been added to the back cover of the questionnaire.

Using this data, a pilot project will evaluate the feasibility of replacing the financial information asked in Step 32 with CRA tax data, which could significantly reduce the response burden for

farmers.

• Paid work: The number of employees working full or part time has been added in order to provide a measure of the number of people working on farms. This will significantly add to the picture of agricultural labour when coupled with the established questions on the number of hours or weeks of paid work on farms.

• Crop residue: A new step has been added to request the area from which crop residue was baled. This is an environmentally relevant question, as crop residue management affects erosion rates, contamination of surface and groundwater, greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon sequestration.

• Practices and land features: Two new questions have been added to identify agricultural operations involved in “in-field winter grazing or feeding” and “nutrient management planning.”

These questions will provide more comprehensive data on farmers' adoption of environmental management techniques.

• Internet: A question on access to high-speed Internet has been added in order to evaluate the accessibility of respondents to services provided by Internet. This will assist agriculture service providers in the public and private sectors in planning service delivery to farmers.

• Farm-related injuries: These

questions were removed because better quality data are available from alternative sources.

• Organic but not certified:

This category was removed in order to reflect the new regulations on the use of the term “organic.”

The farming community should

not expect any data until May, 2012.

Source: Statistics Canada

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PAGE 8 –– FEBRUARY 2011 THE GROWER

Winking and blinking

Art Smith CEO, OFVGA Years ago, my father told me that accomplishing things and not communicating them to others was like “winking at a girl in the dark”….you may know what you are doing but no one else has a clue. The financial position of the OFVGA falls into this category I believe, so I thought I would bring our membership up to speed on this topic.

When I started here in the spring of 2003, the OFVGA was in serious financial shape. We owned three condo units, a $100,000 GIC and had a bank loan totaling a quarter of a million dollars. Our cash flow was so restricted that we were deliberately slow in paying accounts and directors often did not file their expense claims for months know-

ing the situation the organization was in; fortunately the situation has changed.

From having a net worth of only a few hundred thousand dollars and no money in the bank, today we have a net value of approximately $2 million and unrestricted cash assets of about $1.4 million. A nice turn around indeed but the story goes much further.

Now anybody can increase their returns if they increase their fee rates, but we didn’t. The rate is the same today as it was in 2003.

The other way to increase your reserves is to spend less but we are not doing that either. In fact we are spending considerably more -much of that on or on behalf of our member organizations and our joint producer members.

Up until 2004, the OFVGA paid Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) fees on behalf of the unregulated fruit and vegetable sectors. There was no other mechanism to collect and pay these fees other than through this organization. In 2005 however, that all changed and we started to pay CHC fees on behalf of all of our members who pay us a container toll. That cost us an extra $70,000 that year and while there was no promise we did make a commitment to continue those

payments as long as we could afford them.

We are still making those payments today and to date we have contributed an additional half million dollars over and above the old method of just paying for the unregulated groups. That half million is a direct benefit to all of the fruit and vegetable sector marketing boards who no longer have to collect these fees from their members.

In addition to that, our better financial position has enabled us to pay the Labour Issues Coordinating Committee (LICC) an additional $80,000 over the past two years to help pay legal expenses in the fight against farm unionization.

Last year, we gave $250,000 to the member commodity groups for their needs thus enabling them to keep their marketing board fees lower or to do much needed marketing or research work on behalf of their members. It was another example of benefiting our membership but one that most folks were not aware of.

This year, the OFVGA is setting up a $300,000 marketing and research fund to be distributed back to the producer groups, as was last year’s, based on the percentage of container fees that originate from each sector.

STAFF Publisher: Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Editor: Karen Davidson, 416-252-7337, kdavidson@ecomente.ca Production: Carlie Robertson, ext. 221, production@thegrower.org Advertising: Herb Sherwood, 519-380-0118, hsherwood@cogeco.ca

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The Grower is printed 12 times a year and sent to all members of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association who have paid $30.00 (plus G.S.T.) per year for the paper through their commodity group or container fees.

Others may subscribe as follows by writing to the office:

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This year about 40 per cent of all the container tolls collected was or is slated to be given to the commodity groups in fruit and vegetable sectors or was paid on their behalf.

Forty per cent is an incredible figure and I am not aware of any other agricultural organization that can lay claim to such an achievement.

When we add the additional CHC fees that we have paid over the past six years, the additional LICC monies paid and the $250,00 given to the commodity boards last year it amounts to more than $800,000.

This is clearly a remarkable change in the financial fortunes of the OFVGA . . . and all done without reducing our expenditures or increasing our fee rate. The question is how?

Several ways, the first of which is through enforcing our regulations and ensuring that all producers are paying the fees that they are supposed to and while we are not quite there yet, the slippage is getting smaller. The second is by accessing outside our additional income and this past year that amounted to more than $300,000 all of which means more service for fewer grower dollars.

As mentioned above nearly 40 per cent of the container fees paid

ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2011 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Brian Gilroy, Meaford Management Committee TBA Apples Fresh Vegetable - Other Tender Fruit ON Asparagus Grws’. Mkg. Brd. GGO/Fresh Grape Growers Fresh Vegetable - Muck ON. Potato Board Small Fruit/Berries ON. Ginseng Growers’ Greenhouse

Brian Gilroy, Meaford Mary Shabatura, Windham Centre Fred Meyers, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Ryder, Delhi Ray Duc, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Verkaik, Bradford Mac James, Leamington Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin Doug Bradley, Tillsonburg Jan Vander Hout, Waterdown

by growers in 2010 will be paid on their behalf or to their commodity association or board and if those boards and associations use the $300,000 marketing and research fund wisely, those dollars can be doubled or even tripled through organizations such as Agricultural Adaptation Council and Ontario Market Investment Fund returning even more dollars and value back to the farming community.

Years ago I wrote about my goal to reduce the container toll fee to one per cent and this year we looked at that very option. We are not quite there yet however, as there still exists a number of scenarios that if we were to reduce the fee to one per cent might well be detrimental to OFVGA and if not us, then certainly to CHC. As a result we decided to implement the marketing and research fund instead. As mentioned above if those funds are used wisely then these dollars will return even greater benefits to fruit and vegetable growers across the province.

So while I might be too old to be winking at girls in the dark, I’m not too old to smile and possibly even wink when we talk about the financial situation of the OFVGA. And now, you know why.

For what it’s worth, it’s the way I see it.

OFVGA SECTION CHAIRS Crop Protection Research Property Labour Safety Nets CHC AGCare/Nutrient Man.

Charles Stevens, Newcastle Harold Schooley, Simcoe David Lambert, Niagara-on-the-Lake Ken Forth, Lynden Mark Wales, Alymer Murray Porteous, Simcoe Charles Stevens, Newcastle

FEBRUARY 2011 –– PAGE 9 THE GROWER

Positive perceptions of Canadian farming on the rise, survey shows

By Lilian Schaer for AGCare Canada’s love affair with food and farming is intensifying.

Results from a new online study by Ipsos Reid show that more than half – 57 per cent – of Canadians surveyed have a positive impression of agriculture in this country, a figure that has risen 16 per cent since the survey was first conducted four years ago.

In 2006, only 41 per cent of Canadians had a positive impression of Canadian agriculture and 52 per cent reported a positive impression in 2009. The percentage of negative impressions has also continued to decrease to 11 per cent in 2010 compared to 15 per cent in 2009 and 20 per cent in 2006.

“Canadian farmers work hard to produce quality food, protect the environment and care for their animals”, says Crystal Mackay, Executive Director of AGCare and the Ontario Farm Animal Council, which commissioned the study.

“Farmers have really been going the extra mile to open their proverbial barn doors these past few years to talk about what they do and why. These poll results reflect those efforts and demonstrates that the Canadian public appreciates having conversations with the people who grow their food.”

Although nearly all provinces across Canada showed an increase in the overall positive impression of Canadian agriculture, one of the strongest gains was found in Ontario. Positive perceptions in this province rose from 56 per cent in 2009 to 66 per cent in 2010, a jump of ten per cent. Only nine per cent of Ontarians reported a negative image of Canadian farming in 2010, compared to 21 per cent in 2006. Interest and investment in farm tours, farmers’ markets, and agricultural awareness and education efforts are also at an all-time

Larry Verbeke was photographed at his Leamington, Ontario farm last summer. Photo by Korinne Robertson. high in Ontario.

“To know that the majority of Canadians trust us and think that we’re doing good things is a great honour and it’s also very inspiring,” says Stewart Skinner, a hog farmer from the Listowel area.

“We know we’re doing our best to protect the environment and produce healthy and safe food and these results are a breath of fresh air as they help dispel some of the negativity thrown at us by activist groups.”

Skinner, who this past year returned home to his family farm after completing a Masters’ degree at the University of Guelph, says consumers can turn that positive sentiment into concrete support for Canadian farmers through their food buying decisions.

“The best thing consumers can do for us as farmers is to find out where their food dollars are going and demand from their retailers that they’re spent on Canadian food products from Canadian farmers,” he says. “I believe people want to support farmers and that they’re going to choose Cana-

dian products if they’re given the chance.”

The survey also showed that farmers enjoy a high rate of public credibility on issues related to food and farming, such as animal welfare. Ranked second only to veterinarians, farmers jumped eight points to 67 per cent from 59 per cent a year earlier. Skinner attributes this to a certain mystique around farming; most Canadians are far removed from agriculture yet are connected to the popular image of the family farm and of farmers as hardworking, honest people. For Mackay, the survey results present an opportunity and new motivation for the farming sector to connect with urban consumers.

“Farmers have always been credible and trusted spokespeople about food and farming as they’re the ones directly involved with raising animals and growing crops every day,” she says. “This study shows there’s a real opportunity for farmers to keep the open and honest dialogue going with everyone who eats about how their food

OMAFRA clarifies research contract with University of Guelph In the January issue of The Grower, the article “Competitiveness should be key issue in election year” contains some inaccuracies about the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ support for the University of Guelph.

The Ministry allots more than $59 million to the University of Guelph each year. This is part of a fiveyear partnership agreement, renewed in 2008, that will provide the University with approximately $300 million in total for ongoing work that includes research, as well as food and animal health laboratories and veterinary training.

Funding is not allocated to the University’s arts programs; however, there have been research projects

that involve staff from different areas of the University, such as a recent study on “Understanding and managing consumer concerns relating to new food technologies,” lead by Spencer Henson of the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics.

Research is fundamental to Ontario’s quality of life and economic development. We will continue to collaborate with our many partners, all of whom play a key role in enhancing the agri-food value chain.

Susan Murray OMAFRA Senior Communications Advisor Issues & Media

is grown, so we can continue to build that sense of trust and pride in Canadian farming.”

Skinner, too, believes in building bridges between farmers and consumers and in getting farmers involved in telling the story of what they do on their farms and why. As a young farmer, he sees it becoming an essential part of being a food producer in Canada.

“The more we can pull up the window shades so to speak and let people know how we produce food is a good thing,” he says.

“It’s our way as farmers to say to consumers that we’re going to keep getting up every morning to produce high quality food and we appreciate the support and trust

you have in us.”

The survey was conducted as part of the Ipsos Reid Online Express Omnibus with Canadians aged 18 and over from November 26th to November 28th, 2010.

Results are considered to be representative of the Canadian population.

AGCare is the voice of Ontario’s field crop, horticulture and greenhouse farmers on environmental issues and the Ontario Farm Animal Council represents over 40,000 Ontario livestock and poultry farmers, associations and businesses on issues in animal agriculture. Learn more at www.agcare.org or www.ofac.org.

COMING EVENTS 2011 February 8

OMAFRA On-Farm Food Safety Workshop, Desbarats, Algoma District

February 8, 9

Ontario Apple Academy “Harvest More Profits,” Hockley Valley Resort, Orangeville, ON

February 8 – 10

Canadian International Farm International Centre, Toronto, ON

February 8, 9

Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association Annual General Meeting, Sheraton Fallsview Hotel, Niagara Falls, ON

February 9

OMAFRA On-Farm Food Safety Workshop, Sturgeon Falls

February 14

New Brunswick Potato Conference, Senechal Centre, Grand Falls, NB

February 17

Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS) Annual General Meeting, Roma Club, Leamington, ON, 9 am to noon

February 23

Ontario Berry Growers Association Annual General Meeting, Four Points Sheraton Suites, St. Catharines, ON

February 23, 24

Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, St. Catharines, ON

Feb 26 – Mar 4

International Fruit Annual Conference, (www.ifruittree.org)

March 1-3

Ontario Agricultural Irrigation Conference, Elmhurst Inn, Ingersoll, ON

March 3

Ontario Potato Guelph, ON

March 8 – 11

Canadian Horticultural Council 89th Annual General Meeting, The Westin, Ottawa, ON

March 13 – 19

Canadian Agricultural Safety Week

March 21

Castor Working Group Meeting, Research Station, Simcoe, ON

March 22

Moving Genomics in Specialty Agriculture, Holiday Inn, Guelph. ON

March 23

2nd Annual Hazelnut Information Day, Simcoe Research Station, Simcoe, ON

March 31, 31

The 60th Annual Muck Vegetable Conference, Holy Martyrs of Japan Parish Centre, Bradford, ON

April 13 – 15

86th Canadian Produce Marketing Association Annual Convention and Trade Show, Palais des congres de Montreal, Montreal, QC

June 9, 10

2011 Riesling Experience, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON

Tree Pasco,

Conference,

Show,

E.P.

Association Washington

Holiday

Inn,

Simcoe

PAGE 10 –– FEBRUARY 2011 THE GROWER

Don’t count on a European market just yet

Owen Roberts University of Guelph You’d think the world was opening up a bit trade-wise, given some of the statements that have been coming from the European Union (EU). It’s rewriting its Common Agricultural Policy and

is considering easing import restrictions on genetically modified crops from Canada and elsewhere, which have been mostly banned there.

The official word lately has been the EU is going to let member states make their own decisions about GMOs. That would be great for a major exporting nation – and GMOusing nation -- such as ours.

But I’m not so sure thinking there is indeed liberalizing, having just spent nearly a week in Berlin, Germany, at something called Green Week, the continent’s biggest agriculture and food show.

Listening to agricultural and political leaders speak at news conferences and information sessions underlined a significant point to me – that is, the same

wonderfully diverse culture that makes the EU so unique is also a stumbling block for consensus on thorny issues such as technology, especially genetically modified products.

Technology moves ahead at a breakneck speed. But culture doesn’t. Genetic manipulation is on the B-list with many Europeans who either remember or were told about genetic experiments and atrocities of World War II. Cultural reservations abound with some when it comes to geneticrelated technologies (especially about using them there, not just importing them).

That leads to confused and confusing messages. For example, Roger Waite, the EU’s press spokesman for agriculture and rural development, said the EU

wants to encourage faster technology transfer and that farmers’ access to innovation is important, as the overarching agricultural policy there is being revised.

But broadly, it’s hard to think of a bigger innovation in agriculture than biotechnology, which among other things offers farmers higher yields and protection against disease and insects, with fewer chemicals.

Waite describes the situation with GMOs as “rather complicated.” He also said the EU wants famers to be competitive, and get most of their income from the market.

Fine. But he also said the EU is not prepared to sacrifice efforts that make it possible for countries to retain their rural culture and

small farms.

Governments respond to their own citizens. And people everywhere are saying they want local, safe food. Inevitably, that sentiment will result in more support for small farmers, who can be competitive growing labour intensive, specialized crops such as fruit and vegetables. They too need innovation and technology to prosper and keep costs down.

If the EU really wants to help its farmers be modern and efficient, it needs to stop considering technology the boogeyman, and stop penalizing countries who have figured it out. Only when EU farmers have access to the same technology as others and consumers see its advantages will Europe open up.

Ring in the year of the rabbit

By Karen Davidson It was a revolutionary move. One week before the American elections -- October 23, 2004 to be exact -- the Globe and Mail devoted its entire weekend paper to China.

While many were fixated on politics, the axis of commerce had tilted.

In subsequent years, the pace of change has accelerated.

Just ask any Ontario ginseng grower who has come to know the Chinese appetite for the man-root. It’s one of the few commodities heading to China with a profit that stays in Canada. According to Wikipedia, China now leads the world in production of apples, garlic, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, carrots and turnips.

These statistics have implications for Canadian horticulture not just on the trade ledger but as the players in agricultural finance and inputs evolve.

Let’s look at banking first. RBC. CIBC. FCC. They’re all familiar acronyms of Canada’s lending institutions.

What about ABC? It’s the biggest bank you’ve never heard of because it’s the Agricultural Bank of China.

Formed in 1951, this Beijing-based bank is the lender of choice for rural China. Since 2007, ABC banks have been strategically planted from Fujian to Hunan to Sichuan. Its rural loan portfolio is expected to grow faster than its overall loans with forecasts of 21 per cent growth in 2011.

That’s a number now on the radar of TheStreet.com which recently named ABC one of nine Chinese bank stocks to watch.

While it has no outpost in Canada, ABC has offices worldwide with business addresses in New York, London, Frankfurt and Sydney, just to name a few. Of course, no credible Chinese bank would be without a shingle in Shanghai, the city predicted to be a global banking centre by 2020.

That’s a gateway to the Middle Kingdom well-known to China National Chemical (ChemChina) which is negotiating to buy Makhteshim Agan Industries, the Israeli-maker of off-patent agricultural chemicals. It’s known as MANA Canada here. The Shanghai Daily reported December 29 that a merger is imminent for $2.4 billion US, a sum that would displace DuPont as the world’s sixth-largest

producer of crop protection products.

That China is hungry for energy and to own the means for agricultural inputs is not news. Here’s the surprise. A recent survey of more than 1,300 small and medium-sized enterprises in China shows strong interest in investing in Canadian manufacturing with about eight per cent planning an investment in the next three years. The report was prepared by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

Counter-intuitive to our belief that China wants to keep all of its production behind the Great Wall, the Chinese realize they need technological, management and marketing expertise to become global companies. Could their interest be piqued in processing, in investing in a renaissance of fruit and vegetable processing here?

China Investment Corporation, the country’s $300 billion sovereign wealth fund, is setting up an office in Toronto to explore investment opportunities according to the Globe and Mail. (China looking beyond Canada’s resource sector, January 18).

A silk road is not guaranteed. Despite a recent rehabilitation of Confucius and a return to his ethical sayings, the business modus operandi is just the opposite in China. In another Globe and Mail story “The sour side of nature’s golden sweetener,” Jessica Leeder draws a beeline from China, the world’s biggest producer of honey, to its dumping of antibiotic-laced honey into North America.

When the U.S. placed tariffs on Chinese-sourced honey, brokers simply diverted drums into other east Asian countries – India, Malaysia and Indonesia – that had no history in hives as recently as 2000. The story provides raw insight into the business practices of a China which is forecast to overtake the U.S. as the world’s largest economy by 2027.

For Westerners, understanding China will be our greatest challenge in the 21st century writes Martin Jacques. In his 2009 book, “When China Rules the World,” he argues that there are eight differences that define China. One is that intellectual superiority is part of the Chinese psyche.

Although we expect China to modernize to western standards and anticipate nothing less than western-style democracy, Jacques says we are acting in our usual patriarchal way. We think of China as a nation-state rather than regarding it as a civilization-state. It will act patiently with long timelines, informed by a 5,000-year record that easily eclipses North America’s brief history and shorter memory.

As China continues to monopolize business headlines, we would do well to take stock of these changes on February 3, the Chinese New Year. For starters, learn to read ABC balance sheets in Chinese currency: the renminbi. Be nimble. Be quick. It’s the year of the rabbit.

FEBRUARY 2011 –– PAGE 11 THE GROWER

Ottawa to host Canadian Horticultural Council AGM Leaders of the Canadian Horticultural Council will be meeting March 7 – 11 in Ottawa for the annual general meeting. Seven working groups are currently studying water, labour, ornamentals, energy/environment, fresh fruit and vegetable issues, horticulture for health and market development. A reception for the horticulture for health initiative is planned for March 8 at the National Press Club with MPs invited.

Here are some important reminders and highlights: Resolution Submission The deadline for submitting resolutions that your organization wishes to have considered at the 2011 AGM is Monday, January 31, 2011. Any resolution(s) received after this date will be considered as a Late Resolution and will be reviewed by the Resolutions Review Committee. Please submit any resolutions you may have by email to aargentino@hortcouncil.ca or fax to the National Office at (613) 226-4497. If you have any questions regarding resolutions, please contact Amy at

Guest Speakers Wednesday, March 9, 2011 Canadian Horticultural Council 89th Annual General Meeting March 8-11, 2011 The Westin Ottawa Ottawa, ON

Dr. Philippa Guest, Managing Director, Agronomica Limited Philippa Guest, Managing Director, Agronomica Limited is an international expert on sustainable agriculture and stewardship practices and works with a wide range of clients including policy makers and commercial businesses operating along the food chain.

Prior to joining Agronomica Limited, Dr. Guest worked in the crop protection industry (ICI Plant Protection, Zeneca and Syngenta) and held a number of senior positions in research and development, product stewardship, marketing and business strategy. Dr. Guest received a doctorate in integrated pest management from Imperial College, University of London.

She is currently a member of the UK Sustainable Development Commissions Expert Advisory Panel.

OFFS CanadaGAP Program has issued updates to its On-Farm Food Safety (OFFS) Manuals for 2011. The 2011 version incorporates previously released updates as approved by the Global Food Safety Initiative in 2010.

The implementation date (effective date for certification purposes) of all updates will be April 1, 2011. A revised version of the audit checklist will be published well before this date.

Dr. Robert Buckman, Communications Expert A world-class expert on interpersonal communication, Dr. Buckman is also one of the funniest speakers in the world. He combines a mischievous sense of humour with world-class communication training that set the standard for personal and professional development programs.

613-226-4880 ext 208.

Hotel Reservations The CHC group rate cut-off at the Westin Ottawa Hotel is Friday, February 4, 2011. To make reservations, please call 1-800-2283000 and reserve your room today! Please let reservations know that you are with the Canadian Horticultural Council to take advantage of the guaranteed rate,

group code: GCH01A. Accredited Representatives The deadline for Accredited Representative submission is Friday, February 11, 2011. Please forward the previously emailed form by fax at 613-226-4497 or email at edickinson@hortcouncil.ca.The Accredited Representative is your organization's voting delegate who will be present at the

Board meetings held at the Annual General Meeting in Ottawa. There will be an opportunity to amend the listing at the Board of Directors Meeting on March 9, 2011.

Registration Those interested in registering for this conference at the Westin Ottawa should check www.hortcouncil.ca.

PAGE 12 –– FEBRUARY 2011 THE GROWER

OFVGA 152nd AGM In his novel “A tale of two cities,” Charles Dickens wrote: “It was the best of times and it was the worst of times.” This statement could pretty much sum up the past year at the OFVGA. As most of you are aware, OFVGA was engaged in facilitated discussions with Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) concerning container fees and governance issues.

Unfortunately we were unable to come to an agreement and as a result the OGVG has written the Agriculture Minister seeking an exemption for their growers from container fees or failing that seeking a rebate of the same.

I liken this to a family argument or separation and they are never pleasant. It is our hope that we can find a way to resolve the issues; it has remained our position that in an association such as ours we need to treat all of our members the same.

We know the Container Act is not perfect but it is the only Act we have and it forms the basis of our core funding. Without this Act or a suitable replacement, the OFVGA could not survive.

Developing a Research Strategy Several years ago, at the request of former Deputy Minister Archibald, the OFVGA applied for a grant from the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) to develop a long-term funding strategy for horticulture research. The George Morris Centre took the lead and a strategy was developed that would see producer dollars used to leverage government funds on an ongoing basis. Unfortunately the impact of the global financial meltdown in 2008 and the subsequent infrastructure spending by the Ontario government has resulted in a shortage of available

c e o ’s funding required to make this strategy a reality. We were told this past spring that there would be no funding for this in the foreseeable future. As a result this project has been placed on hold. It remains our hope however that

design providing the program had the support of the entire sector.

With that in mind and in an attempt to develop a simple, understandable and bankable program that the entire sector would support we developed a modified

Art Smith, CEO (L), Brian Gilroy, Chair and Deanna Hutton, Executive Assistant, pose at the recent OFVGA AGM in Niagara Falls, ON. A silent auction at the meeting raised $4,796 for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. AGM photos by Herb Sherwood. this strategy can be resurrected in the future to secure stable funding for our research needs.

Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition (OASC) In 2008/09 the OFVGA Safety Net committee developed a Risk Management Program similar to that of the Grains and Oilseed sector as this was felt to be both doable and supportable by government. In Dec 09 Minister Dombrowsky committed to OASC that if we could come forward with one program and get support from the federal government that she would champion this program at the provincial cabinet table. The program however was not embraced by all within the sector especially those dependent on exports. In late summer we were told that Agriculture Minister Mitchell was prepared to look at any program

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Self-Directed Risk Management (SDRM) program for the edible horticulture sector and on Dec 7th took that program to the Minister for consideration. There was no word back at the time of printing this report.

Rebate Prior to last year’s annual general meeting and in response to our very healthy financial position, the Board of Directors decided to distribute in the form of a rebate $250,000 to the various commodi-

ty groups that are represented by the OFVGA. The mechanism to determine the amount of dollars that was sent to the various commodity groups was based on the origin of the funds in the first place. Specifically for example, if 15 per cent of the total fees came from a commodity group then that commodity group received 15 per cent of the rebate. Legal interpretation received during our discussions with OGVG suggested that we should stay away from “rebates” as it was not covered under the Act.

during the duration of this fouryear program. It is hoped to turn this into an ongoing full-time position and service to our members at the end of the four year Growing Capacities Initiative. If you have PTTW needs do not hesitate to contact our office and talk to George.

Sunrise Crops Last year I reported on our proposed involvement with Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (VRIC) on a research project to grow non traditional (to Ontario)

Erie Innovation and Commercialization After only a year and a half of heading up this project Dr. John Kelly has had a multitude of successes on which he will be reporting to you. I am not going to steal his thunder but I will say that I am most impressed with the progress that has been made to date.

Surface Water Specialist The OFVGA continued its service to Ontario farmers with their surface and ground water permit needs. To date more than 120 applications have been completed resulting in Successful Permit-toTake Water (PTTW) permits being issued. George Shearer’s work is everything water from helping farmers fill in their application to measuring streams and volume flow to satisfy Ministry of Environment requirements. The current rate of applications and permit issuances is on target with the 200 to 300 that was anticipated

Ahmed Bilal, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. crops to satisfy the needs of Ontario’s new citizens, specifically those from southeast Asia.

Ahmed Bilal was hired by VRIC in early 2010 and grew several crops utilizing numerous cultural methods in several different locations in southern Ontario. Results from the first year are most promising.

Continued on next page

FEBRUARY 2011 –– PAGE 13 THE GROWER

report Continued from last page

rently working with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to implement a fresh fruit and vegetable program that would see fresh produce flown into Canada’s far north. Alison Robertson is our staff person who looks after the co-ordination of these programs.

Farm Innovation Program (FIP) The OFVGA continues to be the horticulture sector lead for the FIP program. To date we have approved 28 different programs for a total value of $2,492,833.80.

This program will terminate March 31 2013 but projects need to be completed and submitted to AAC for payment no later than Dec. 1st 2012. Currently there is a total of $1,110,766.24 yet to be allocated in the program.

Bunk Houses For far too long the tax treatment of some farm buildings including bunk houses has been a source of aggravation for many of our members, I am pleased to announce that through our ongoing lobby efforts with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and others, the government of Ontario announced that all bunkhouses will be given the farm class taxation rate starting January 1, 2011.

Apart from the good news it is proof positive that working together with a single voice is perhaps our greatest strength.

George Shearer, Water Specialist, OFVGA

Northern Ontario School Snack Program 2010 was the fifth year of our involvement in The Northern Ontario School Snack Program.

The program ran as normal in the first half of the year but was delayed in the fall due to changes at the Ministry of Health Promotions. Not only will it be back up and running starting early January but expanded to another 55 schools later in the month. In addition to this program we are cur-

Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) Once again the OFVGA paid the membership fees to CHC on behalf of all our member associations whose growers pay container fees. This past year this amounted to more than $125,000. We started paying these fees for our members

Andy Vermeulen, President, CHC

in fiscal 2005 and since then we have paid approximately $500,000 more in CHC fees than we would have under the old system where we just paid for the unregulated commodity groups or put another way, half a million dollars that our regulated commodity members didn’t have to pay.

of 12 per cent.

When I started as the CEO in 2003, this organization was in serious financial shape. At that time we owed the bank $150,000.

Royal Agricultural Winter Fair For the fourth consecutive year the OFVGA has been involved in the Royal. Again we sublet out space at the Royal’s Journey to Your Good Health so that many of our members can afford to participate at the show. Once again the booth space was fully sublet over the ten-day fair. It is our intent to keep participating and subletting out the space as it has become too expensive for any of our member organizations to commit to the full ten days on their own.

The Grower Once again The Grower had a very successful year on all fronts.

Judging by the comments that I have received the paper continues to improve and impress. There were more pages published this year than ever before and revenue was at an all time high. This is especially impressive considering that a number of larger advertisers had reduced their advertising budget in light of the economic slow down.

Financials Fiscal 2010 was another good year in terms of revenue over expenses for the OFVGA. Non allocated revenue over expense was $301,000 compared to $267,000 last year for an increase

Karen Davidson, Editor, The Grower Today, we have $1.4 million in the bank and in addition to that we rebated $250,000 last year, paid $80,000 to the Labour Issues Coordinating Committee (LICC) the past two years and as mentioned earlier approximately $500,000 to CHC over and above what we had traditionally paid on behalf of non-regulated sectors.

Being in such a solid financial position and to be able to make payments on behalf of our member associations and as well to rebate dollars to them makes for the best of times.

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PAGE 14 –– FEBRUARY 2011 THE GROWER

labour

By Ken Forth As always, the Labour section of the OFVGA had another busy year; I will touch on many of the main issues: Labour Issues Coordinating Committee The LICC was very active in 2010 on many labour issues. As of this writing, a decision in the Frazer Supreme Court Case has not been rendered. This is not unusual as this is a highly complex case and much research and deliberation will take place before a decision is handed down. The only time we will know of the decision

is when it is rendered.

Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) We have been in meetings with the WSIB - most important is the new Agricultural Safety Audit Program (ASAP). This new audit tool may be easier to work with than the old one; the final version should be available sometime in 2011. WSIB rates for this sector will remain the same as last year; some other sectors have moved up so good job to rate group 169!

Minimum wage Minimum wage is always on everyone’s mind. We must do a recap as it seems most have forgotten how this went down. In 2007 the NDP decided to make 10

Apple harvest 2010 at the farm of Tom Haskett, Vittoria, ON. Photo by Denis Cahill. dollars per hour an election promise. The leaders of the provincial political parties got together and made a deal to phasein the increase - $8.75 in ’08, $9.50 in ’09 and $10.25 in 2010.

This is the first time in my recollection that a consultative process was NOT used; it was a three party agreement.

LICC, OFVGA, Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) and commodity groups all voiced their concerns. Immediately upon the announcement, LICC staff and management met with Minister of Labour Steve Peters and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky on this issue. We were told it was a done deal and to not discuss it again. Many presentations were made by LICC and OFVGA on the impact of such decisions over the last three years to no avail. The ramifications of these high wages (the highest in the hemisphere) are now being felt by the sector.

Code of practice for safety and health in agriculture I was also involved in an international drafting of a code of practice for safety and health in agriculture through our international employers committee. I believe that I lent a degree of reality to the

code, and the code is now reasonable.

FARMS and CANAG These two firms continue to represent the member growers on all facets of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program. The strength of being together was never more evident than 2010. A full report will be available at our Foreign Agricultural Resources Management Services AGM on February 17th.

Closing Thank you is due to many staff persons who work on all of our behalf: Ken Linington at LICC, Art Smith, CEO at OFVGA, and Sue Williams, General Manager at FARMS and CANAG Travel.

Also, thanks to the Board of Directors of LICC, OFVGA, FARMS and CANAG. As you may not imagine, this file has grown over the years to become very complex and time consuming. Unless we are evervigilant, decisions will be made by governments that we could not live with.

Ken Forth is chair of the Labour Section, OFVGA; Chair, Labour Issues Coordinating Committee, and President, Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services.

FEBRUARY 2011 –– PAGE 15 THE GROWER

research

By Harold Schooley National Science Clusters Agri-Science Clusters were launched in 2009 to provide funding to accelerate innovation in agriculture to make it more profitable and competitive. Clusters are an industry-led strategic approach to applied science, technology development and commercialization around industry priorities and needs.

Funding for the four-year initiative would be split 25 per cent industry – 75 per cent government to a maximum of $16 million per Cluster.

About a year ago at this time, the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) Science Advisory Committee that included Brian Gilroy and me, was busy bringing together input for research proposals to the Agri-Science Cluster for Horticulture. Five commodity groups worked at these proposals including greenhouse crops, tree and vine fruit, small fruit, potatoes and vegetables.

In late January of 2010, CHC submitted 16 research projects to the Agri-Science Cluster for Horticulture that totaled almost $16M. The first year had already passed by and was lost to research effort.

We were now working on a three year program that will end on March 31, 2013. In that submission $11.275 M was requested from AAFC with industry contributing $4.718M. What happened?

In early May AAFC announced that Horticulture would receive $3.6 M to fund eight projects. This was later pared down to $2.7 M plus $1.2 M from industry.

So what started out as a $16 M federal program is now a $3.9 M reality.

Horticulture Cluster Projects underway: Tree Fruit - Postharvest research for apples OMAFRA Small Fruit

Dr. Adam Dale (L) and Harold Schooley, Simcoe Research Station.

Photo by Denis Cahill.

- Wild blueberry research NS - Day neutral strawberry research Quebec - Tunnel systems for raspberries U of G Potato - Late Blight - 2 projects Atlantic Canada Water - Food safety/irrigation management for broccoli, lettuce and spinach - 2 field experiments, Quebec Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is now in the process of conducting regional meetings to discuss the nature of the next round of Growing Forward. I think all have learned from this first experience.

The OMAFRA Research Advisory Network and TAGs In 2009 the OMAFRA Research Advisory Network (ORAN) came into being.

OMAFRA wanted to ensure that information flows among all partners in the ag research system.

So, ORAN is a flexible approach to research priority setting and allows participation and input from a broad array of stakeholders and institutions.

ORAN established Theme

Advisory Groups for each of the seven research themes. Their function is to evaluate priority setting input and produce an annual updated priorities and emerging issues document.

These recommended priorities become the foundation for the OMAFRA research agenda.

They are the basis of research under the OMAFRA/U of G Agreement.

They guide OMAFRA current competitive research programs including the New Directions, Food Safety Research and Alternative Renewable Fuels Programs.

In my research report a year ago I expressed my concern that producers had lost the ability to make ‘grass-roots input’. Hort crop subcommittees were gone. And it was up to us to come up with a replacement. Not an easy task since edible horticulture is so diverse. Who is going to ensure that the wide array of hort crops is properly represented in the priority setting process?

The OFVGA approached Vineland Research and Innovation Centre to discuss gathering commodity priorities for formal presentation to ORAN. The process

was organized and on Nov 17th, 2010, 13 separate grower commodity organizations provided direct input into the research priority setting process. It was interesting to see participation by AAFC, University of Guelph and Vineland Research and Innovation personnel in this facilitated process. But the priorities came only from producers or their representatives. Each commodity was asked to present three short-term and three longterm priorities. Not all managed the long-term picture this time around but I believe this process will nudge us in the direction of longer term strategic thinking.

Out of this brainstorming session also came cross-commodity issues and broad research themes.

All in all it was a very productive forum and I hope it will become entrenched as industry’s input mechanism for the immediate future. All commodities will have received the report by now and if it has not trickled down, you will find it on Vineland’s website.

December is the start of the research review process that your

chair takes part in. At this time in 2009, University of Guelph scientists submitted 54 Letters of Intent to the review panel. Out of those, about half were asked to submit full research proposals and out of those about two thirds received funding. That means about onethird of the initial 54 requests received funding and two-thirds did not. In December 2010, 21 Letters of Intent were submitted and have now been reviewed. It remains to be seen how many will be asked to submit a full proposal.

The funding is never enough but we can be grateful here in Ontario for a process that does not change parameters and rules in midstream.

I wish to thank Art Smith and his staff for the effort put into this year’s priority developing process.

It has been a pleasure to serve as your research chair over the past year.

Harold Schooley is chair of the Research Section, OFVGA.

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PAGE 16 –– FEBRUARY 2011 THE GROWER

property

By Dave Lambert OFVGA’s property section was kept busy with a number of issues this past year.

Bag fertilizer disposal fee OFVGA helped secure an exemption for farmers from a proposed levy on fertilizer sold in bags 30 kg or less that came into effect in July 2010. The fee was proposed by Stewardship Ontario and scheduled for implementation in Ontario under the Ministry of the Environment’s Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste Program.

In the original proposal, fertilizer sold in bags over 30 kg were

to be exempt from the fee, which had originally been set at $0.41/kg but was reduced to $0.02/kg.

Many growers would have been affected by this tax as they purchase fertilizer in smaller bags for orchards, vegetable farms and greenhouse production. It is estimated that OFVGA’s efforts in securing the exemption represents savings in the millions of dollars for Ontario growers.

Bunkhouse taxation On-farm bunkhouses, used to house seasonal farm workers, have traditionally been assessed as farm buildings. In some cases, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) is now assessing them as residential buildings, resulting in significant

tax increases for affected farmers.

Bunkhouses are seasonal on-farm accommodation for workers who are employed during the fruit and vegetable growing season and as such, are a very crucial component

of the agriculture sector’s need to ensure an adequate supply of farm employees to meet the seasonal requirements of farm businesses.

These buildings are only used for part of the year, yet residential

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assessment and taxation are being applied on a year-round basis, subjecting farmers to unfair and unnecessary additional expenses.

The OFVGA, Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council and Ontario Federation of Agriculture all wrote to Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, (the minister responsible for MPAC), asking for a review of this policy and to develop a formal definition of these structures so they can be included in farm class for assessment purposes. OFVGA also encouraged all of its members to contact Minister Duncan, as well as Agriculture Minister Carol Mitchell, on this issue.

Municipal taxation OFVGA continues to push for clarification of the definition of farming practices. Farm assessment should apply to all on-farm practices that are required to transform agricultural commodities into a marketable state. Currently, the province does not have a consistent definition of farming as it relates to taxation issues. This means that property tax issues are being addressed or resolved on an individual instead of provincial basis. The OFVGA and other farm organizations are part of a working group whose goal it is to develop a definition that can be accepted by government and farmers. We look forward to working with you on this issue.

Permits to take water The surface water scientist project funded through the Agricultural Adaptation Council continued for another year. In 2010, OFVGA staff member George Shearer helped more than 100 growers with completing permit applications, providing information and troubleshooting issues related to water taking.

Shearer also continues to be actively involved in helping address issues that have arisen between growers and Ministry of the Environment’s Central Region. There is a sense that regulations governing permits to take water may be interpreted differently by Central Region than other Ministry of Environment (MOE) regions across the province, causing barriers and confusion.

OFVGA has worked on facilitating some meetings in an effort to resolve these conflicts, and has also participated in meetings in relation to the Lake Simcoe Act and Source Water Protection Watershed Plans.

Waste water discharge The Ministry of the Environment has started stepping up enforcement activity in the area of farm waste water discharge – such as results from washing carrots, for example – and related concerns about nitrate and phosphorous levels in lakes and streams. OFVGA is monitoring this issue as it develops.

Dave Lambert is chair, Property Section, OFVGA.

FEBRUARY 2011 –– PAGE 17 THE GROWER

safety

nets

By Mark Wales When trying to write the chair’s report I always try to refer to the previous year’s report and attempt to measure progress on the Safety Nets file. This can of course sometimes be challenging. The safety nets file never rests and we tend to measure progress in terms of what is new. We also have to make sure that we look at what is working, and make sure that it keeps working, what do we have that needs improvement or evolution, and what is missing.

Agri-Invest So what is working? The AgriInvest program delivery now has almost all the kinks worked out.

We now all have Agri-Invest accounts at our local banks and have made our deposits, received the matching government funds and either withdrawn the money or left it in. The time lag for those who file tax as corporations has been greatly reduced (down from eight months to a few weeks) so that all growers are being treated fairly. However, there are still a few growers whose files have presented data transfer challenges to Agricorp and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) but they are working to sort those out.

The Agri-Invest program was not designed to solve big drops in income, but was designed to deal with small income drops within the program contribution limits, and to do this in a timely, and simple manner where growers had control of the accounts. So from that standpoint this program is working and is doing what it was designed to do.

Agricorp At the recent Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council (OACC) meeting we had our regular and very professional update from Agricorp on the programs that they deliver. Their service standards continue to improve and are much better than what growers in other provinces can expect (or in some cases even hope for!). The Orchard and Vineyard Transition program is winding up and all the dollars have been allocated to all of the growers and acres that applied.

Thru Agri-Recovery Agricorp delivered the Ontario Tornado Initiative (OTAI) in response to the fruit tree losses suffered in the tornado that hit Grey County apple producers in August of 2009. $572,000 was paid out to 13 producers, paying approximately $45 per tree lost. There was a possible request to have a similar program for the tornado damage in the Leamington area this past summer, but so far the province has not requested the federal government to look at Agri-Recovery for this.

In terms of Crop Insurance, 2010 will turn out to be a year of

Mark Wales, chair, Safety Nets Section, OFVGA very few claims which will help keep future premium costs down.

As well, it means that we all had more crop to sell. The Fresh Vegetable Acreage Loss Program continues to grow and evolve and the working group will need to meet this winter on necessary changes.

In terms of program delivery, Agricorp is doing quite well, but there is ongoing improvement which they are working on. Could the programs they are delivering be better? Of course, and it is our job to identify needed changes and improvements.

As an organization we have been trying to promote wherever possible that growers be aware of the deadlines for all programs. For the 2008 year, a fair number of growers did not participate in Agri-Invest when they should have, so we will keep reminding members about these deadlines.

2010 This year saw the final installment of Ontario's minimum wage increase policy taking the minimum wage to a continent-high rate of $10.25 per hour. Needless to say, this has impacted our sector, which its many labour-intensive crops, by far the most. With a provincial election looming, we have to worry about what will the future hold.

The Canadian dollar seems to have more or less stabilized at or around par. Fertilizer prices have come down from the crazy highs of 2009, but today potash is still 50 per cent higher than it was in 2007.

Oil seems to have settled in somewhere in the high $80 per barrel range and it’s difficult to tell where electricity prices are going.

Politics will have more to do with that than paying the true cost. We are now into the world of "smart meters" with whatever impact that will have. Our competition continues to produce with wages that are often a tenth of ours and no other add-on costs. As well, we continue to have limited access to crop protection products and find ourselves the victims of many non-tariff

trade barriers especially at the U.S. border.

Safety Nets Committee 2010 and Beyond With the change in minister at OMAFRA we were able to finally create and present to the Minister a simple, workable plan to help our sector that is in line with what the other non-supply managed commodities are seeking. We have updated the Self-Directed Risk Management (SDRM) program with principles that all of our members have agreed to: 1. Open to all edible horticulture producers 2. Premiums to be based on matching five per cent ANS 3. Grower premiums go into their own accounts

4. Matching contributions from provincial and federal government go into grower accounts 5. Dollars can only be removed after triggering; there will be mandatory triggers, the same as in place for SDRM extension in 2006-07 6. No cap on ANS 7. ANS is per entity, similar as Agri-Stability 8. Account cap of 50 per cent of a rolling five year average of a farm entity’s ANS as a cumulative account cap 9. Unlimited annual withdrawals up to farm entity account balance 10. Program account to collect bank interest 11. All money in the account at the time the operation ceases remains property of the producer 12. Cross compliance with AgriStability 13. No cross compliance with crop insurance We presented this program request to the Minister on December 7. It was very well received and she and her staff both recognized the need for such a program and understood the parameters that were presented.

The program, if implemented, will not solve all of our problems, but will go a long way towards helping us offset extra industry costs that we have no control over.

In 2010, both levels of government began industry consultations on Growing Forward 2 which will come into effect in 2013. Consultations took place in late May and early June in different parts of the country and we attended and

brought forth our challenges and some suggestions.

Your committee has begun work on designing a Non-Business Risk Management (BRM) infrastructure program that we feel is needed as part of GF2. It will be based on the ANS grower account contribution model. We all felt that in the absence of profits to fund needed infrastructure improvement, this type of program would help. In order for us to deal with added costs, we will need assistance to improve our infrastructure to continue to be innovative, efficient etc.

It’s both frustrating and yet encouraging that politicians going into elections at both the federal and provincial levels in 2011 seem finally willing to listen and hopefully adopt our asks. With both major parties very close in the polls we have perhaps a unique opportunity to get our needs addressed in their policies.

We have the solutions, they have to implement them. Despite all the hype about deficits, the key to economic recovery in Ontario and Canada is jobs. Horticulture is the largest employer in agriculture. We produce the greatest variety and the greatest volume of fruit and vegetables in Canada. To do that, we need Safety Net programs that we have designed, and that will work to move our industry forward.

Mark Wales is chair of Safety Nets Section, OFVGA.

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PAGE 18 –– FEBRUARY 2011 THE GROWER

crop

By Charles Stevens As I sift through my stack of documents relating to crop protection issues, it occurs to me that we, as an industry, focus 99 per cent of our efforts on the chemical component of crop protection.

Because we are focusing our efforts there, the additional environmental components that include excess heat, moisture, hail, wildlife, and frost, to name a few, are often overlooked. In 2010, it was the environmental conditions that caused the most economic loss in horticulture. Next year it could be something entirely different.

Earlier this year, Dr. Jim Brandle, CEO of the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre discussed a new frost protection system called The Tempware System. It uses radio wave heat to prevent frost and freeze damage to crops and is expected to be available for the 2011 season. If you have a high-value crop and are located in a frost pocket, this is an option that will help to keep us competitive in a global marketplace. Crop insurance also remains a necessary option until we have

obtained other viable controls.

An ongoing issue is resistance management which affects every level of crop protection from the grower to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) and everyone in between. Given that newly registered pesticides have only one mode of action, an industry resistant management policy is more important than ever.

At the provincial level, Kathryn Carter, Pomme Fruit IPM Specialist for OMAFRA is working on apple scab and powdery mildew resistance with a group that has been assembled from across Canada. Kristen Callow, Weed Management Program lead in Horticulture for OMAFRA, is currently working on a weed resistance project. While I commend these initiatives, it is only the beginning. We need resistance management policies to be a larger component of the Federal Reduced Risk Strategy and, more importantly, a well-staffed resistance testing laboratory for Canada referred to as, “The Centre of Excellence for Resistance Testing.� The cost to the industry and the environment of not placing resources and consideration into this proposal is great and, at this time, I would like

Charles Stevens, chair of Crop Protection Section, answers questions at the OFVGA AGM. to thank Kristen and Kathryn for their efforts on behalf of the industry.

On a positive note, a new residue testing laboratory will open soon in Vineland, thanks to the leadership efforts of Dr. Manjeet Sethi and his team at the Pest Management Centre (PMC).

This new facility will allow faster registration of new pesticide uses under PMC’s Minor Use program.

The PMC, along with the

Provincial Minor Use co-ordinators and PMRA, have developed an action plan that deals with the backlog of projects with the intent of reducing the time in which new submissions are made. In the past year, PMC has almost doubled their submissions to PMRA. I am also pleased with the continuing work on joint projects with the U.S. moving us towards harmonization through joint submissions to both PMRA and

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the Environmental Protection Agency. The PMC hosted the Minor Use meeting in Ottawa this past March but attendance by horticultural growers from across Canada was dismal. We need to get involved if we expect great progress. Farmers have the ability to see and communicate on a very different and relevant level than government. I encourage everyone to get involved.

For those growers that I am putting to sleep this next topic should spark your interest. The new Grower Requested Own Use program referred to as GROU, replaces the Own Use Import program and allows growers in Canada to purchase qualifying crop protection products from the U.S. GROU was developed with input from growers, Croplife Canada members and PMRA with the intent to be fair to all, given only off data protection products can be used by GROU. The Own Use Import program was primarily designed for the grain and oilseed producers. As of August 2010, 24 horticultural pesticides are available with more to come in 2011 including Avid for greenhouses and Retain for tree fruits.

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protection In my research, the savings that can be obtained through using this new program can be as significant as 300 per cent. Are you awake now? Craig Hunter, our OFVGA technical advisor, has negotiated steps to make this program more user friendly for horticultural producers and is adding viable pesticides to the list annually.

Currently parity with the U.S. dollar makes this program even more attractive. It is my opinion that if all new registrations took place under NAFTA allowing free movement across member borders without permits or duty then programs such as GROU would not be necessary. Only seven pesticides are currently registered under NAFTA. The benefits of registering under NAFTA are enormous. With the same maximum residue levels, there would be no trade issues, a level playing field and reduced registration costs for all.

Along the topic of getting your pesticides at a fair cost, discussions with some large crop protection companies indicate that while they have no problem with the GROU program they do have concern over the use of generic pesticides coming into Canada.

Again, it is about a level playing

Carbaryl, the key active ingredient for thinning apples, is under review.

Work is underway to prevent restrictive uses until a viable replacement is found. field. The cost for a generic manufacturer to bring the product to Canada is considerably less than the original manufacturer. The generic manufacturers do not follow through with support of the product on the market nor do they support Not-For-Profit agricultural organizations. Until the industry creates a more equitable playing

field for both the generic and original manufacturing companies to register new actives, buy wisely.

Today, there are three crop protection products in the news that require mentioning. They are: telone, endosulfan and carbaryl.

Telone, a fumigant registered worldwide and used on many horticultural crops, is having its

registration rescinded by Dow chemical because of a large data package required by PMRA. Craig Hunter has met with both Dow and PMRA to get Telone back on track. Many of the alternative fumigants registered in the U.S. will not be accepted into Canada and presently, Canada does not have a viable replacement for Telone. There is a large economic impact for horticulture if Telone is lost.

In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency has pulled the registration of Endosulfan and thus, Canada is also willing to deregister this product. Craig and our commodity organizations have worked with PMRA to determine a suitable time frame for deregistration to take place. Alternative products for some crops are a major issue so sufficient time is needed. The Maximum Residue Levels in the U.S. for key crops should be maintained until final deregistration is complete.

The re-evaluation of carbaryl has been ongoing for the past year. carbaryl is used as an insecticide and thinner for major horticultural crops in Ontario and Canada.

Bayer Crop Science, the registrant, PMRA and the commodity organizations are working to find

common ground so that carbaryl does not have new restrictive uses put in place making it unusable in the field. Being proactive, a screening process has been implemented by PMC under David Courcelles to find a replacement for carbaryl as a thinner for apples.

The Crop Protection section of both OFVGA and Canadian Horticultural Council are closely monitoring this progress.

The issues confronting crop protection will continue to increase as our environment changes and food safety becomes more ingrained in our industry.

With a passion to work together as a team, PMRA, PMC, OMAFRA, Croplife Canada members, CHC, and Horticultural organizations will solve the crop protection problems enabling us to compete on the global front.

In closing, I would like to thank all the people I have had the pleasure to associate with during this past year. I am very proud to work with such considerate and professional people in this industry.

Charles Stevens is chair, Crop Protection Section, OFVGA.

PAGE 20 –– FEBRUARY 2011 THE GROWER

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PAGE 22 –– FEBRUARY 2011 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Review equipment to reduce spray drift

By Dr. Jason S.T. Deveau, Application Technology Specialist It’s a good time to reflect a little on the last spraying season and to consider what changes to make for 2011. Ask yourself a few questions: • Do you want to keep more of your product on target?

• Do you want to extend your spray window (a little)?

• Do you want to improve the overall effectiveness of your applications?

• Do you want to reduce the risk of off-target deposition?

Of course you do!

That’s why you want to make adjustments to your spray equipment to reduce pesticide drift.

Spray drift is everyone’s responsibility. When applying pesticides near sensitive crops, areas of human habitat, or environmentally-sensitive areas such as open water, all reasonable precautions must be taken to prevent spray drift. Extremely low, and often invisible, amounts of spray drift can be very damaging; even long after the application.

While there are many types of agricultural sprayers used for the

ground application of pesticides, the two most often associated with spray drift are the airblast sprayers (including cannon sprayers) and the boom sprayers (typically horizontal).

Generally, the goal is to produce a coarser spray quality and bring the nozzle as close to the target as possible, without compromising coverage or spray quality. There are a variety of ways to modify your sprayer to accomplish this.

For airblast sprayers, the potential for drift can be reduced by: • adjusting fan settings to produce the minimal effective air speed throughout the season. High fan speeds early in the season are almost never appropriate; • increasing droplet size by using lower pressures, air-induction nozzles or disc-core (or disc-whirl) nozzles that produce a coarser spray quality; • using deflectors to channel air into, not over or under, the target; • using towers to reduce distance-to-target and direct air into the target. Be careful not to get any closer than 50 cm; • using foliage sensors that turn boom sections on and off to match the size and shape of the canopy; and • switching to a tangential, recycling, multi-duct, or multi-fan sprayer, all of which reduce offtarget deposition. Many of these sprayers are rare in Ontario, but they are available. Ask your local

Figure 1. Even with the best equipment, weather plays a big role in increasing or decreasing the potential for pesticide drift. Check out OMAFRA factsheet 09-037W “How Weather Conditions Affect Spray Application” www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/09-037w.htm retailer for more information.

Many pay for themselves in saved pesticide.

For horizontal boom sprayers the potential for drift can be reduced by: • maintaining a minimal effective boom height; • using low-drift nozzles, such as air-induction, drift-guard, turbo tee jet, etc.; • using drop-arms to bring nozzles closer to the target; • using the appropriate spray angle. Wider spray angle nozzles (e.g. 110°) create smaller droplets than nozzles with narrower spray angles (e.g. 80°). Although small-

er droplets generally increase the chance of drift and reduce penetration in dense canopies, the wider angle nozzles allow the boom to lie closer to the target; • using air-assist to direct spray into the canopy; and • using shrouds to create physical barriers to drift; Be aware that the equipment described here can reduce, but does not eliminate pesticide drift.

Spraying in bad weather and not accounting for the nature of the target increases the potential for drift (see Figure 1).

If you’d like to know more about spray drift, methods for pre-

venting it and what to do if you suspect drift damage, keep an eye out for a new OMAFRA Factsheet titled Pesticide Drift from Ground Applications Order #11-001. It should be available before the 2011 spraying season. Be sure to check out these two videos hosted by the Ontario Pesticide Education Program: How to manage spray drift: www.opep.ca/Video/video.cfm?n ame=video7 Spray drift reduction through air induction: www.opep.ca/Video/video.cfm?n ame=video8

Airblast sprayer course will sharpen precision application Agricultural Adaptation Council funding. Those courses will continue to run in other provinces, while the new airblast sprayer course will run in Ontario this year.

Any sprayer that uses a blast of entraining air to broadcast pesticide into its target can qualify as an airblast sprayer, says Russel Hurst, CropLife Canada director of stewardship. They come in many shapes and sizes and are used in horticultural crops ranging from nurseries and berries to nuts and grapes.

To keep the course interactive, pre-registration is required for a maximum of 15 applicants per venue on a first-come, first-served

basis. The $20 registration cost includes a 35-page workshop kit and a packet of water-sensitive paper. Dates will be announced shortly on www.croplife.ca. To register, call Russel Hurst, CropLife Canada, at 416-6229771.

For out-of-province growers, the workshop booklet is available by contacting Dr. Deveau at jason.deveau@ontario.ca.

Did you know?

A boom that has both worn and plugged nozzles can still deliver the calculated output, so every nozzle must be tested! It is not unheard of for new nozzles to deviate from the ideal by as much as 15 per cent!

Six elements that affect airblast spraying Here’s an expanded version of the six elements. All of these factors contribute in some fashion to an effective and efficient application.

Thanks to funding from CropLife Canada, a new pilot workshop “Airblast Sprayers 101” will be offered to growers in southern Ontario in March 2011.

Four venues are currently being scouted in Meaford,Woodstock, Simcoe and Harrow by Dr. Jason S.T. Deveau, OMAFRA applica-

tion technology specialist who developed the course.

Those who take the course will learn how to: - maintain and clean airblast sprayers - calibrate airblast sprayers - match settings to the weather, crop and pest for best performance

- optimize sprayer output and spray distribution to achieve right amount of coverage - confirm spray performance using water- and oil-sensitive paper CropLife Canada hosted several boom sprayer courses for three years in conjunction with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and

Which of these water-sensitive papers shows adequate airblast coverage for most pesticides? Find out from the course and receive a sample packet of water sensitive paper to try for yourself.

FEBRUARY 2011 –– PAGE 23 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Precision variable-rate sprayer slays weeds – and costs

By Karen Davidson Wild blueberry growers enjoy high demand for their crop but also face high risks managing a product that essentially grows on uncultivated, challenging terrain.

To reduce these risks, Oxford Frozen Foods Limited and the Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC) started the process of establishing a precision agriculture research program in 2002. Combined with the support of existing researchers and the wild blueberry producers associations in the Maritimes, the initial vision of the research was to substantially reduce crop protection usage, improve land stewardship and increase berry yields. After several years of phased development, the commercial prototype boom sprayer was tested last year by Qamar Zaman, the Precision Agriculture Research Chair, NSAC. “Preliminary results indicate cost savings of up to 80 per cent,” says Zaman. “If we can make this work in the difficult wild blueberry production system– then it will be easier to modify for other fruit and vegetable production systems.”

With wet growing seasons and increasing pest pressures, wild

Researchers at Nova Scotia Agricultural College test the prototype of their variable rate sprayer. blueberry growers have had to rely on pre- and postemergent herbicide applications, fungicide applications for leaf and floral diseases and insecticide applications to control insect outbreaks. According to Gary Brown (wild blueberry technology advisor, Bragg Lumber Company), this has resulted in more trips across the field than what was the case 20 years ago, and an increasing desire to “keep the chemical in the can.”

The prototype, 40-foot sprayer

is equipped with digital colour cameras on both sides of the boom, which are attached by USB cables to the computer in the tractor. Custom software – patent pending – processes the images to detect weeds, bare spots and blueberry plants in real-time. In turn, these weed or plant triggering signals are transmitted to the eight-channel computerized VR controller. This device has userprogrammable inputs such as a before-and-after buffer, time delay

and ground speed corrections.

In effect, the flow rate can be adjusted automatically based on the number of nozzles operating at a specific time. The corresponding solenoid sprayer valve can be activated to spray crop protection product in the specific boom section where the weeds or plants have been detected.

What Zaman and his colleagues have developed is a variable-rate sprayer that’s fail-safe if the operator loses the Global Positioning System signal.

That’s significant because the sprayer is often operating in fields with hills and wooded areas.

Besides the substantial crop protection savings, the researchers

easy. The precision agriculture chair evolved from meetings almost a decade ago when John Bragg, President and CEO of Oxford Frozen Foods Limited met with David Percival (lead investigator and plant physiologist at the NSAC), prioritized research and set the goal of reducing crop protection usage in both wild blueberries and carrot production by 30 per cent. Combined with this was the desire to maintain or improve pest control and also increase yields. As Percival recalls, “The idea was to maintain a competitive edge and sustainable, inheritable production systems while cutting costs. Producers realized that a minimalist approach was needed to retain market share and keep building product reputation.”

The result was a six year, environmental technologies and precision agriculture initiative that received $4 million in funding.

This is now transitioning to a field sanitation and precision agriculture project that is part of the Canadian Horticultural Council’s Science Based Cluster with the majority of funding coming from Oxford Frozen Foods Limited and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

This new technology has immediate applications for wild blueberries which are harvested on about 60,000 hectares in Canada and exported as Individual Quick Frozen (IQF) product. However,

Spraying wild blueberries. tout the environmental benefits on a crop that must maintain its wild and pristine image for markets in Japan and Europe.

Harnessing and integrating current technologies have not been

next steps are to broaden the technologies being developed to include fertilizer applications and eventually broaden the use of the resulting technologies for other horticultural crops.

PAGE 24 –– FEBRUARY 2011 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Know your friends and foes!

By Tracy Hueppelsheuser By learning how to identify some major insect and mite pests and beneficials, and how to use key features to tell them apart, growers can determine life history information, biology, and when to plan control treatments for best efficacy and efficiency. Bottom line: correct identification saves you money!

Clues to pest presence: Plants “just don’t look right.” They can appear unthrifty, pale, discoloured. Damage caused by pests is diverse, and result in speckling, spotting on leaves or stems, galls or growths. There could be holes in leaves or along the sides of leaves. Root-feeding pests can cause leaf discolouration and unthriftiness. Leaf damage by sucking/piercing insects: flecking or speckling, leaf damage by chewing insects: holes in leaves and edges, galls on plant parts can be caused by mites, aphids, wasps.

Drosophila adult fly, sponging.

Sponge-like, for ‘soaking up’ fluids on surface. Feeding does not damage plants.

Grasshopper chewing mouthparts: Darkened patch at bottom of head (circled)_ is where the mandibles meet/close.

Additionally, look for signs of pest presence, such as eggs, larvae, adults, shed insect skins, pupal cases, frass, webbing.

Pesticide labels give information on pest life stages and specifics on timing applications to target the most susceptible stage.

For example, some products control caterpillars (larvae) and some are meant to control adults (flies).

Using products for the wrong life stage will result in poor pest control and possibly crop loss.

Always ensure the target pest and life stage is present at time of application by regular crop scouting (monitoring).

Why is knowing what mouth parts look like and how insects feed be useful? Because different types of feeding damage are distinct and can therefore help with identification of the problem.

Four main mouthpart types can be associated with agriculture pests.

“Piercing and sucking” mouthparts are long and needle-like, used for piercing into tissue and sucking up fluids. Common pests with these mouthparts are aphids, stink bugs, leafhoppers, lacebugs, mosquitos, lice.

“Rasping” mouthparts are fairly unique, and are used to scrub the surface of plants and then extract plant fluids. Thrips, slugs, and snails (molluscs) feed this way.

“Chewing” mouthparts include distinct mandibles, which allow insects to cut through plant tissue, similar to how we use our teeth.

Examples of pests which ‘chew’ are caterpillars, weevils, and sawflies.

“Cutting and sponging” mouthparts are most common in flies, including horse flies, horn flies, house flies, fruit flies. Flies may cut into flesh or plant tissue and suck fluid out, or simply

‘sponge’ up the fluid on the surface.

An Arthropod (insects, mites, spiders, etc) is defined by two main features: Having an exoskeleton, and having a segmented body and limbs. Insect bodies are divided into three main parts, which each have specific functions (head, thorax, abdomen). Mites and spiders, however, have two main body parts (cephalothorax and abdomen; the head and thorax are fused). The insect head contains the brain, eyes, mouth, and antennae; the main purpose is sensory.

The insect thorax contains major muscles, three pairs of legs, both pairs of wings (or modified wings); the main purpose is locomotion. The abdomen contains major organs for digestion, reproduction, respiration.

Stink bug, piercing and sucking.

Straw-like, for piercing plant tissue and sucking up fluid. Held against body when at rest, extended forward or down when feeding.

Major pests and biocontrol agents have two main types of

development or metamorphosis.

The first is incomplete or gradual metamorphosis, where the young or nymph is similar in appearance to the adult, but smaller and without wings. Both nymph and adult have a similar diet and ecology.

There is no pupal stage, and wings develop externally (you can see the ‘wing buds’ on nymphs).

Examples of pests with this type of development include grasshoppers, stink bugs, pirate bugs, aphids, cockroaches, mites and spiders.

The second is complete metamorphosis, where the young or larvae and adult are very different in appearance, diet, and ecology.

Sometimes the adult doesn’t feed at all. Examples include lacewings, butterflies and moths, bees, ants, parasitic wasps, beetles, and flies.

“Classification” is the process of grouping living things together based on similar traits. “Identification” is the process of determining the correct grouping and name of an organism. Example of classification for Cabbage root maggot: Kingdom – Anamalia, Phylum – Arthropoda, Class – Insecta, Order – Diptera, Family – Anthomyidae, Genus – Delia, Species – radicum.

The name used when discussing Cabbage root maggot is Delia radicum.

For pests, the level of identification we want to get to varies from situation to situation but in most often we want to get to Genus and Species level. Identification to Genus and Species level is usually done by experts, but it is realistic for agricultural professionals to be able to identify common pests at least to Order. All organisms within an Order share a similar set of features. Depending on the reference, there are 28 to 32 Orders of insects. Mites and spiders are in a different Class: Arachnida rather than Class Insecta, and therefore have additional Orders. If you can determine the Order, then you will know the type of metamorphosis, and can start to decide on management approaches.

Ask some key questions when tackling identification of an arthropod: How big is the organism—do I need magnification to see it? Are wings present? Are the forewings and hind wings the same or not? What do the antennae look like? Are there any unique body features? What life stage is it—adult or immature/ young or other? It is useful to know at least two key features of each Order of insects to be able to distinguish them from one another. When in doubt about the identification of a pest, use colour photo ID charts or consult a specialist for help. Remember, you must know what you have BEFORE you can decide how to control it.

Tracy Hueppelsheuser is the provincial entomologist for the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, based out of Abbotsford.

FEBRUARY 2011 –– PAGE 25 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Mind your buffer zones A new PMRA calculator considers equipment and weather conditions for safer pesticide application.

By Karen Davidson If growers are upgrading their pesticide applicator certificates this winter, they will soon become aware of a new focus on buffer zones. Using pesticides at safe distances from water bodies or planted areas is part of sound stewardship says Madeline Waring, pesticide specialist, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Abbotsford.

“The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has been re-evaluating pesticides to meet current standards and part of that process is updating labels to mitigate any environmental damage and prevent human health prob-

Figure: Courtesy of British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture lems,” says Waring. “Many labels now contain more direction, and even tables, on what equipment to use and what distances to incorporate downwind-side.”

Buffer zones are strips of land designed to protect sensitive areas

from pesticide drift. Applicators are required to leave a buffer zone when the label says to do so. A buffer zone only needs to be left between the end of the spray boom and the downwind sensitive area.

Labels will explain what sensitive

areas must be protected and the size of the buffer zone.

The pesticide labels may specify: - whether the buffer zone is to protect aquatic and/or terrestrial habitat - what is considered to be aquatic

or terrestrial habitat - the type of pesticide application equipment that requires a buffer zone - if and how buffer zones can be reduced; the use of drift reducing spray - what shields, special nozzles or other application modifications may allow the applicator to reduce the buffer zone - and any types of application equipment that do not need a buffer zone - that the buffer zones on a label are required between the point of direct application and the closest downwind edge of sensitive habitats - buffer zones may depend on wind direction The new PMRA calculator is expected to be online by March 2011.

Food systems re-visited

By Craig Hunter By all accounts, the Food Systems 2002 program was a success.

Over 15 years, the program was able to fulfill all its original aims, and then some. The Grower Pesticide Education Program was funded and developed, and is one

of the best of its kind in North America. Research into pesticide use and special pest control issues, especially minor use pests, found and led to the registration of dozens of solutions to keep growers competitive. The expansion and development of Integrated

Pest Management Programs were funded to allow hiring of field specialists, who in turn fine-tuned the programs that allowed grower participation in most programs province-wide. The results were both a reduction in pesticide use and better pest control. The

reduction in “risk” as measured by a ‘quotient’ developed at Cornell University was actually even greater than the actual reduction in amounts of products used. This is mostly attributed to selection and use of newer, low risk products, which have less impact on the environment.

All of this said, the program did come to an end in 2002. The number of specialists dwindled as government needed to make cuts to balance their budgets. The competitive research projects under FS 2C AAFC research positions that supported field development have been lost. The saddest part is that the participation by Growers in IPM programs supported by in-field specialists has also declined. The 2008 Pesticide Use Survey showed the first up-swing in pesticide use in 20 years. The positive developments appear to be unraveling.

The first program was created by a political opportunity, but driven by a long-held need for our growers to adopt IPM programs-

for all the benefits to them, the public, and for the environment.

Perhaps it is time for a NEW Food Systems Program. Indeed, in the post mortem of the last program, there were recommendations to continue, but with falling (failing?) budgets, that just never happened. In the light of 2011, and the demands of the market for perfect produce with virtually no residue and no environmental impact, the need for a program to address these needs for our producers has never been higher.

Many of the pieces are there, but all of them need a boost from research, education, field delivery and support services. There is still a core of program knowledge that could be harnessed to set up and position a new program. In a very short time, all past experience with the program will be lost. There is little time to dither.

It is time to ACT to re-develop such a program, and to meet the needs of the new generations of growers.

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PAGE 26 –– FEBRUARY 2011 THE GROWER

Pest alert: brown marmorated stink bug

By Hannah Fraser, OMAFRA Entomology Program Lead Horticulture Growers should be watching for a potential new pest this year.

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is an invasive alien species that was introduced to Pennsylvania about 10 years ago.

Since that time, it has spread and has now been reported in more

Figure 1. BMSB adult and nymphs on corn (Starker Wright, ARS-USDA) than 26 states. The BMSB is an excellent hitchhiker and is readily moved over great distances in cargo and vehicles. In Canada, the BMSB has not been found yet in

any crops; however, this pest was intercepted in some shipments of imported goods coming into several provinces including Ontario. It is likely only a matter of time before this insect shows up in the field. The United States Department of Agriculture does not regulate BMSB. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has not formally communicated their decision on BMSB, but since it has spread over such a wide area in the U.S. and because it is not possible to control the pathways for introduction, it is very unlikely that this insect will be regulated in Canada.

What does BMSB look like?

Common stink bugs and other similar looking insects are easily confused with the BMSB, including species of brown stink bugs, western conifer seed bugs (which also end up in homes), squash bugs, and the predatory spined soldier bug. All of these bugs have obvious alternating light and dark pattern geometric described as being “checkered,” a feature which may confuse the untrained eye. The BMSB is a relatively large stink bug (up to 17 mm), with smooth / untoothed “shoulders” (edges of the thorax), and with two white bands on each antenna that are not found on other common stink bugs; this feature is obvious on adults and on nymphs (Figures 1 and 2.)

Figure 2. Late instar BMSB nymph. Note the obvious white bands on the legs and the antennae. (Gary Bernon, USDA APHIS, Bugwood.org) Why worry about the BMSB? This insect has a very large host range that includes more than100 plant species, such as stone and pome fruit, berries, grapes, vegetables (corn, tomatoes, peppers), soybeans and edible beans, hardwood and ornamental trees, and woody shrubs. Severe losses have been reported in apple and peach orchards. Damage has also been reported in sweet corn, field corn, soybeans, tomatoes, lima beans and green peppers.

What does damage look like?

Stink bugs have piercing-sucking mouthparts that are used to

Figure 3. Stink bug damage on tomatoes and peppers (Starker Wright, ARS-USDA) insert digestive enzymes and to remove plant fluids.

Feeding damage by the BMSB cannot be distinguished from those of other stink bug species found in vegetable crops. In tomatoes, stink bug damage appears as cloudy spots on the surface of the fruit.

When the skin of the fruit is pulled back, these areas appear as light, spongy / pithy masses of tissue.

Similar damage occurs in peppers (Figure 3). In corn and soybeans, damage to kernels (or leaves) and seeds may not be obvious until the whorl or pod is opened (Figure 4).

Feeding on young plants can result in stunted growth and distortions.

Brown marmorated stink bug adults overwinter in sheltered areas that may include homes and other heated structures. As they can aggregate in large numbers, the BMSB has become a considerable nuisance pest for home owners where established. While the bugs do not bite humans, they will release a foul smell when handled or otherwise disturbed. Aggregation in artificial structures is not common among stink bugs, and is a behaviour that may provide an early warning that BMSB has established in Ontario.

Timely identification of this insect while populations are low will facilitate response and allow for the implementation of management strategies to limit damage to

agricultural producers. We could use your help with the early detection of BMSB. If you suspect damage or suspect stink bugs, please submit a sample to the University of Guelph Pest Diagnostic Clinic, the CFIA, the National Insect Collection in Ottawa (they have an identification service), see www.canacoll.org/NIS/NIS.html) or an OMAFRA office.

Figure 4. Stink bug damage to corn (Steve Jacobs, Entomology, Penn State University) Hannah Fraser, OMAFRA Entomology Program Lead for Horticulture will be presenting in the vegetable session at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention on Thursday February 24, 2011 at 2 p.m. about BMSB and other vegetable insect threats.

Ontario fruit and vegetable conference 2011 Mark your calendar for the 2011 Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention conference on February 23 and 24, 2010 at Brock University, St Catharines. This conference gathers the best speakers from Canada and the United States to provide information on the latest innovations and advances in the fruit and vegetable industry. Guest speakers include farmers, researchers and government specialists providing technical and applied information that is important for producing high quality fruit and vegetables in Ontario.

Returning sessions this year include grape, tender fruit, berry, apple, winery, vegetable, direct farm sales and farmers’ markets. Highlights of some of the presentations and speakers at these sessions include: • Vegetable Nematodes and Soil Quality, Dr. George Bird, Michigan State University, MI • Challenges and Opportunities for Managing Cucurbit Diseases, Dr. Meg McGrath, Cornell University, NY • Pesticides, Sustainability, and Consumer Perception, Dr. Steve Savage Cirrus Partners, Evergreen, CO • Development and Management of Fungicide Resistance in NY Vineyards, Dr. Wayne Wilcox, Cornell, NY

business started, research, pests, soil management, and agri-tourism. The keynote speaker will be Pierre Pellerin from Fitch Bay, Quebec, president of Bleu Lavande, the largest lavender farm in Canada.

• Soft Pruning Techniques, Riccardo Turata, Consultant, Italy • New Cherry Developments in Michigan, Dr. Nikki Rothwell, MSU • Vision Robotics for Orchards and Vineyards,Tony Koselka, Vision Robotics, California • Orchard management, Dr. Ron Perry, MSU and • 36 Yrs of Observations of Bulb Nematode on Garlic, Dr. Fred Crowe, Fred Crowe Consulting, Washington Based on feedback from previous years we have also added a variety of new sessions including: Sprayer Technology, Compost, Alternative crops, Growing Fruit Organically, Money Making tips and Water: out of your watershed & out of your reach.

• Pest control with reduced pesticide and carrier rates in nurseries, Dr. Heping Zhu, Wooster, Ohio, USDA ATRU • Utilization of compost in fruit and veg-

etable production.

• Sustainable Hops Production in the Great Lakes Region, Dr. J Robert Sirrine – MSU • Economics of organic agriculture- Gregory peck, Cornell university, NY and • Growing Forward and Growing Your Farm Profits The Farmers and friends evening event promises an abundance of tantalizing wines and savoury food. The trade show is almost sold out and has companies coming from as far away as Italy and California to show their products.

The conference also has a series of workshops focusing on topics, and providing more hands on information. The following workshops will be provided at this years conference: Workshop 1 – Lavender Workshop The lavender workshop will cover a range of topics including getting a lavender

Workshop 2-Permit to take water Harald (Hal) Schraeder the Permit To Take Water (PTTW) Program Specialist for the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) will provide tips on filling out a successful application for a permit to take water. An opportunity to ask one-on-one questions will be provided at the end of the workshop.

Workshop 3-Apple cider workshop The apple cider workshop will provide information on developing a sweet or hard apple cider business, and best management practices for cider production. A sweet apple cider competition will also be held during the conference. Guest speakers include Dan Young and Niki Rothwell Tandem Ciders, Michigan and Bob Tritten, MSU. Registration forms and an updated program are available in the Fruit and Vegetable Magazine, at local OMAFRA Resource Centres, or online at www.ofvc.ca.

FEBRUARY 2011 –– PAGE 27 THE GROWER

Scurf in sweet potatoes

By Melanie Filotas – Specialty Crops IPM Specialist/OMAFRA Scurf is a common disease of sweet potatoes that has been reported from most regions where the crop is grown, including Ontario. Formerly known as soilstain, scurf is caused by a soil-borne fungus which attacks the skin and outer layers of sweet potato roots. This fungus, Monilochaetes infuscans, is a different pathogen than the one causing scurf of white potatoes and has a narrow host range, infecting only sweet potatoes and close relatives in the morning glory family.

Figure 1 – Scurf lesions on a sweet potato root.

Sweet potato roots with scurf have superficial, grayish- or purplish-brown to black lesions on the skin (Figure 1). These lesions

slowly enlarge and can affect large portions of the root surface (Figure 2). Scurf lesions do not penetrate the inner portions of the root (Figure 3) and don’t affect eating quality; however the cosmetic damage can affect marketability of affected sweet potatoes.

Additionally, infected roots can lose water more quickly than healthy roots, leading to increased shrinkage in storage.

Scurf is spread primarily through infected planting material. If a scurf-infected root is used to produce slips, the fungus can spread from the root to the lower (belowground) portion of the sprouts in the greenhouse or plant bed. The fungus can then spread from infected stems back down to the daughter roots after the slip is transplanted to the field. Disease development can occur at a range of temperatures, and is optimized at soil moistures that are also optimal for sweet potato growth (neither too high, nor too low). Lesions usually begin to develop on the roots in the field, and continue to enlarge in storage, particularly when relative humidity in the storage facility is high. While there is some evidence to suggest that the fungus can spread from infected roots to healthy ones in storage, the most increase in scurf observed in storage is actually enlargement of existing lesions that formed in the field. The fungus can also persist in the soil for one to two years, with increased survival in heavier soils, or those with high levels of organic matter.

There are no fungicides registered in Canada for the control of scurf after it

sweet potatoes.

(2) When ordering slips, ensure your slip supplier has taken steps to avoid contamination of planting material with scurf or other pathogens.

(3) Rotate sweet potatoes with other crops to avoid build-up of the disease in the soil.

A two- to three-year rotation is usually adequate for lighter soils. In heavier soils, or fields with a history of scurf, a three- to four-year rotation may be required.

Figure 2 – Scurf lesions can enlarge and coalesce, covering large portions of the root skin. appears in the field or storage facility. Scurf is best managed by taking measures to prevent the disease before it appears. These include: (1) When producing your own roots: • Do not use scurf-infected roots for slip production.

• Ensure that soil and greenhouses used to produce slips are free of the scurf pathogen.

• Do not pull sprouts from the roots.

Because the scurf fungus is generally restricted to the below-ground portion of the sprouts, cutting slips at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) above the soil line will avoid spreading scurf-infested portions of the plant into the field. This is one of the most important measures for reducing incidence of scurf in

Figure 3 – Scurf’s impact is mostly cosmetic, with infection restricted to the skin of the sweet potato root.

(4) Do not dispose of scurf-infected roots in a field where sweet potatoes will be planted.

From public perceptions to persistent pest: wide range of vegetable topics at the OFVC The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention will be held at Brock University in St. Catharines on February 23-24, 2011. For full details, visit the website at www.ofvc.ca. The field vegetable program spans two days. An exciting line-up of speakers is planned. Here are some highlights: Dr. Steve Savage – Cirrus Partners Dr. Savage has spent more than 30 years working in the agricultural industry, with universities and private industry. He now works as an independent consultant with Cirrus Partners. Over the past two years Steve has written more than 100 blog posts on a variety of sustainability-oriented web sites in an effort to counter the typically negative and misleading characterizations of farming and agricultural technology.

Cirrus Partners has been involved with the Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops (http://www.stewardshipindex.org /), promoted as “a system for measuring sustainable performance throughout the specialty crop supply chain.” It is expected that WalMart will incorporate the Stewardship Index into its U.S. sustainability program. Cirrus Partners’ involvement is ensuring that the producers’ needs are heard. This is key when others at the table include groups such as Defenders of Wildlife, Environmental Defense Fund, World Wildlife Fund and large buyers such as Del

Monte, Sodexo, SYSCO, and Wal-Mart.

Dr. Savage is also an articulate advocate for science-based assessments of crop safety and environmental sustainability. An example of one of his blog postings in response to the “Dirty Dozen” list is www.redgreenandblue.org/ 2010/05/12/two-radically-different-views-of-celery/. The blog Red Green and Blue focuses on “environmental politics from across the spectrum”.

Find links to more of his blog posts at www./appliedmythology.blogspot.com/.

Dr. George Bird Dr. Bird is a renowned nematologist and professor with Michigan State University (MSU).

Before coming to MSU in 1973, he was a Research Scientist with Agriculture Canada in Harrow and an Associate Professor at the University of Georgia. In the 1990s he served as Director of the United States Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program.

Dr. Bird has expertise in the areas of soil biology, nematology, integrated pest management, sustainable development and organic agriculture. He is a recipient of the MSU Distinguished Faculty Award and serves on the Board of Directors of the Rodale Institute.

Dr. Margaret Tuttle-McGrath Dr. McGrath is a pathologist with Cornell University at the Long Island Horticultural Research & Extension Center.

She does research and extension on vegetable diseases, including investigating pathogen biology, developing scouting protocols and action thresholds, and evaluating control practices, including fungi-

cides, resistant varieties, and integration of chemical and genetic control. She also examines the impact on diseases of practices to improve soil health such as annual compost amendments, reduced

tillage, and clover living mulch.

NPR listeners may have heard her on Science Friday this summer, discussing late blight, downy mildew, and other vegetable diseases.

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PAGE 28 –– FEBRUARY 2011 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Pest alert - spotted wing drosophila

By Hannah Fraser, et al, OMAFRA Spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is an invasive vinegar fly of Asian origin that has the potential to cause extensive damage to many fruit crops. This insect was first identified in California in 2008, with additional finds in Florida, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia (BC) in 2009. North and South Carolina, Utah and Michigan were added to the list as a result of state-sponsored surveys in 2010. National surveys by the CFIA this year resulted in additional finds in Quebec, Manitoba and Alberta.

In early November, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency collected spotted wing drosophila flies from a trap located in a residential area of the Niagara region, Ontario. The positive find occurred well after fruit crops were harvested. So far, SWD larvae have not been found in fruit crops in Ontario. SWD may have been introduced through the fresh fruit pathway on imported fruit from infested areas. While the origin of the trapped flies may be difficult to determine, the fact remains the SWD has made its way to Ontario. Early detection is key to limiting economic damage.

What crops are at risk?

Most vinegar flies will only attack over-ripe or decaying fruit that has fallen to the ground and that is unmarketable. However, the SWD is one of the few species in the vinegar fly family that are able to feed on healthy ripening fruit that is still attached to the plant.

The female SWD has a serrated ovipositor that enables this insect to saw through intact fruit and lay its eggs under the fruit’s skin. The SWD will attack thin-skinned fruit such as raspberry, blackberry, Right: Figure 1: Spotted Wing Drosophila Adult Male with wing spots. Photo Credit: Sheila Fitzpatrick, AAFC, Pacific AgriFood Research Centre, Agassiz

blueberry, strawberry, cherry, plum peach, nectarine, and possibly grape. Larvae hatch and feed on the fruit. Disease pathogens and other insect pests can enter through the egg-laying holes, causing further deterioration of the fruit. This injury results in unmarketable fruit and an economic loss to growers.

Identifying spotted wing Drosophila The SWD adults and maggots are very similar in appearance to the common vinegar fly normally associated with over-ripe, decaying or damaged fruit. They are not related to the much larger fruit flies found in fruit, such as the apple maggot, the blueberry maggot, and the cherry fruit fly larvae.

The adult is a small (2-3 mm), red-eyed fly with a pale yellow or brown abdomen marked by dark brown unbroken bands or stripes.

Males have a distinct black spot towards the tip of each wing (Figure 1). Females lack the spots on the wings, but have a saw-like ovipositor which is used to cut into fruit for egg-laying (Figure 2).

Larvae are tiny (up to 6 mm), white, cylindrical and generally featureless maggots that can be found feeding in fruit (Figure 3).

A single fruit may be infested with multiple maggots. After maturing, the larvae partially or completely exit the fruit to pupate. Pupae are 3 mm in length, brown, and have two stalks with small finger-like projections on one end (Figure 4).

Biology Since we have no field experience with SWD in Ontario, we need to rely on information from other areas where this pest exists.

In other temperate climates, the SWD overwinters as an adult in protected areas, including heated buildings and heated foundations.

They move back into host crops in the spring. There can be multiple, overlapping generations each year.

Adults become active in the spring, with damage occurring to fruits as they begin to ripen throughout the growing season.

Climate models indicate that the SWD will survive Ontario winters, but without further study in our fruit production areas, we won’t know for sure. The best available evidence suggests establishment in agricultural areas of Ontario will occur, and that pest pressure will be highest and earliest in the season in the south and near urban areas. More information on the distribution and survival of SWD is required before effective management strategies can be developed for Ontario.

Management Management of SWD involves monitoring, identification and control. Monitoring for SWD should include the use of baited traps to collect adults and examination of susceptible fruit near harvest for the presence of larvae.

Continued on next page

FEBRUARY 2011 –– PAGE 29 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Pest alert - spotted wing drosophila Continued from last page Simple traps can be constructed of plastic containers with lids.

Perforate the containers with small holes (0.5 cm) to allow entry of SWD flies and prevent trapping of larger species. Bait traps with a small amount of apple cider vinegar, and check them regularly.

Place traps when the temperature is consistently over 10°C, and/or when fruit starts to form, at least one month prior to fruit ripening.

Once fruit begins to ripen, flies are less likely to be attracted to traps.

The best locations for traps are sheltered areas near field edges or in hedgerows, particularly if wild hosts are present.

Research conducted in BC indicates traps have limited value in predicting the presence of SWD as early-warning monitoring tool, particularly early in the season.

By the time flies are caught in traps, infestation of fruit may have already begun. Numbers in traps increase dramatically in late summer, following harvest. Suspect infested fruit can be collected and larvae reared to adults for identification purposes.

Cultural controls are important components of management.

Removal of over-ripe or dropped

Figure 2: Spotted Wing Drosophila Adult Female. Inset shows ovipositor. Photo Credit: Sheila Fitzpatrick, AAFC, Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Agassiz fruit, timely harvest, and removal of wild hosts will help reduce populations. Composting is not a reliable way to destroy eggs and larvae in fruit. All culled fruit should be buried or disposed of in a sealed container.

In British Columbia, several products have emergency use registrations on multiple fruit crops to support management of SWD. These registrations expired on October 31st, 2010 and will have

Figure 3: Spotted Wing Drosophila Larva in blueberry fruit. Photo credit: BCMAL Figure 4: Spotted Wing Drosophila pupae. Photo credit: BCMAL to be renewed for 2011.

OMAFRA will work with BC and other affected provinces to obtain management tools and to develop surveillance and management strategies for 2011.

Please check the OMAFRA website for updates. For additional information on spotted wing drosophila, visit the following websites: Useful links These sites have excellent

information on the biology and management of SWD, as well as pictures of SWD and damage. The content is updated regularly.

Oregon State University spotted wing Drosophila website: www.swd.hort.oregonstate.edu/ Contains information on identification, biology, monitoring, management, and research reports BCMAL website on spotted wing Drosophila: www.agf.gov. bc.ca/cropprot/swd.htm Contains

information on identification, general biology, monitoring and interim management strategies in tree fruit and berry crops.

Hannah Fraser - Entomology, Horticulture Program Lead, OMAFRA; Denise Beaton - Crop Protection Program Lead, OMAFRA; Leslie Huffman - Apple Specialist, OMAFRA; Pam Fisher - Berry Specialist, OMAFRA.

Farm Credit Corporation releases “optimism” survey Optimism of farm business owners is at a four-year high, according to a new Farm Credit Canada (FCC) national survey of its Vision Panel clients.

“Challenges in agriculture are all around us,” says FCC president and CEO Greg Stewart. “It’s a complex industry. At the same time, when we ask about the future of agriculture in general, the survey results echo what we hear from the majority of our customers. They love their work and believe that agriculture is a sector with opportunities.”

FCC shared the horticulture results with The Grower. The horticulture respondents numbered 347 across Canada.

Six in ten (62%) horticulture respondents report that they are better off now than they were five years ago • Looking ahead, three quarters of horticulture respondents (75%) believe that their farm or business will be better off in the next five years.

• Horticulture producers (20%) see public demand for new products as the greatest opportunity in agriculture and are more likely to feel this way than crop (7%), dairy (13%), beef (13%) and hog (7%) producers.

• Horticulture producers (16%) are more likely to cite niche market specialties as the greatest opportunity in agriculture compared to crop (5%), dairy (5%), poultry (7%) and beef (8%) producers.

• Horticulture producers report that making a profit is the greatest opportunity facing agriculture (25%).

• For horticulture producers (12%), the challenge of rising input costs has diminished greatly (2007, 33%; 2008, 44%; 2009, 23%).

• Six in ten horticulture producers (60%) would recommend a career in primary production, while three quarters (78%) would recommend

a career in an agricultural related field.

• Horticulture producers (60%) are

ness compared to crop (52%), beef (49%) and hog (42%) respondents.

• The majority of horticulture pro-

labour (40%) compared to most other sectors (13% - 26%) • One third of horticulture produc-

more likely to encourage a career in primary production than beef (52%) and hog (46%) producers.

• Horticulture producers (65%) are more likely to report that in the next five years they plan to expand and/or diversify their farm or busi-

ducers are not planning to increase capital spending in 2011. Those who are, they plan to increase spending on equipment (41%), labour (40%) and inputs (36%).

• Horticulture producers are more likely to increase spending on

ers (33%) report that the changes they are planning to make to their capital spending are primarily driven by their current business or succession plan.

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FEBRUARY 2011 –– PAGE 33 THE GROWER

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PAGE 34 –– FEBRUARY 2011 THE GROWER

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FEBRUARY 2011 –– PAGE 35 THE GROWER

Get potato crop off to a good start This year’s Ontario Potato Conference is organized for March 3 at the Holiday Inn in Guelph. This year’s theme is: Potato Production: Let’s Get the Crop off to a Good Start.

Eugenia Banks, OMAFRA potato specialist and colleagues have organized the following agenda: • Anne Verhallen, OMAFRA, Ridgetown. She will talk on “Keeping Your Soil Healthy for Optimum Yield and Quality.â€?

Anne is the Soil Management Specialist with OMAFRA.

crop production and pest management. He will discuss “Top 10 Things to Know To Manage Potato Diseases Successfully with Phosphorous Acid.�

• Mark VanOostrum, WD Potato Ltd. Beeton. Mark will discuss “Seed and Planting Performance.â€?

He has results from last year on handling, storing, cutting, treating and measuring seed size and planter spacing. • Amanda Gevens, University of Wisconsin. Her main research area is management of potato diseases. Wisconsin was hit hard last year with different strains of late blight. She will discuss “Late Blight Management Practices in Wisconsin.â€? • A.J. (Alvin) Bussan, University

of Wisconsin. He will discuss “Improving Processing Quality� and “Future Challenges in Potato Pest Management Systems.� A.J. Bussan is a well known potato

extension professor with practical experience in potato production. • Jeff Miller, Miller Research, Idaho. Jeff conducts research on

• Joe Munyaneza, Yakima Agricultural Research Station, Washington State. Joe discovered the vector of Zebra Chip, a disease that can cause serious economic losses. The title of his presentation is Zebra Chip Disease: What are the chances of it developing in Ontario?

For registration and more details, contact: Eugenia.Banks@ Ontario.ca

Genomics, cooperation and specialty agriculture

By Dr. John Kelly, Erie Innovation and Commercialization When you think about agricultural genomics, it is very easy to consider only the possibilities for major crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat and canola. These crops, after all, carry the bulk of the acreage of those grown in Ontario. However, there is a lot of interest in a wide range of crops for Ontario producers, and in particular, those that have the opportunity to improve diversification.

To that end, the Ontario Genomics Institute has partnered with Erie Innovation and Commercialization and the University of Guelph. Together, they are bringing speakers to address the common theme of developing partnerships, investigating opportunities and creating research grant applications that are comprehensive and of value to the grower. Entitled “Moving Genomics in Specialty Agriculture,� this event will be held in Guelph on March 22, 2011 at the Holiday Inn. Its purpose is to highlight current, ongoing programs, but also to develop those crops that appear to have commercial strength and viability.

Topics to be presented include: Intergovernmental and International Co-operation in Specialty Agricultural Genomics Grant Applications, Meeting Market Demands through Specialty Agricultural Genomics, and Co-ordinating Priorities and Projects for the Horticultural Science Cluster.

Harold Schooley, chair, research section, for the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association will lead a panel. Dr. Chris Hall, Plantform, will address how his company is bringing forward new tobacco genomics. Dr. Peter Pauls, chair of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph will speak about industrial collaboration and bean genomics. Dr. Alessio Casale from Ferrero Italy will talk about meeting quality standards through genomics. Each of these areas represents a different opportunity for Ontario growers.

Rounding out the global roster is Dr. Pedro Oliveira from the Universidade Catolica Portuguesa in Portugal. He will discuss the latest berry research and develop-

ment from the European Union.

Dr. Shawn Mellanbacher from Oregon State University will show how co-operation in hazelnut

research has led to production enhancements, and Dr. Liv Severino from EMBRAPA, Brazil will showcase their important industri-

al castor program. All of these crops have opportunities for Ontario producers and are at various stages of development in

Ontario.

For more information and how to register for this session, please visit www.erieinnovation.com.

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FEBRUARY 2011 –– PAGE 37 THE GROWER

Is there an opportunity to grow castor in Ontario?

By Dr. John Kelly, Erie Innovation and Commercialization It has been said that most chemicals that result from petroleum extraction can be produced by plants. This has led to a question surrounding the usefulness of castor as a plant for growth in Ontario and this has been gaining a lot of interest in the past couple of years. The interest lies in the industrial usage of castor, and in particular, for the derivatives that can be extracted from castor oil.

Castor seed is the source of castor oil, which has a wide variety of uses. The seeds contain between 40 per cent and 60 per cent oil that is rich in triglycerides mainly ricinolein. The seed contains ricin, a toxin, which is also present in lower concentrations throughout the plant. Despite this significant drawback, interest in this plant is very strong and the

Hazelnut information day: Simcoe The development of a new industry sector in Ontario will be showcased at the 2nd Annual Hazelnut Information Day planned for March 23, 2011 from 9 AM to 5 PM at the University of Guelph / OMAFRA Research Station Simcoe Ontario.

Hazelnuts, which have multiple uses in the confectionary industry, represent a novel development for Ontario growers.

Industry potential is strengthened by the presence of the Ferrero Canada Inc. plant in Brantford, Ontario. This plant is responsible for the production of two major products containing hazelnuts: Nutella and Ferrero Rocher chocolates. Currently, their products do not include any hazelnuts sourced from Ontario.

We do have some agronomic challenges, with the main ones being the presence of Filbert blight, an insect that can damage the tree (a bud mite) and also the requirement for the production of cold tolerant trees. Significant progress has been made with regard to these challenges.

Dr. Shawn Mellenbacher, Oregon State University will review their experiences. Dr. Alessio Casale from Ferrero in Italy will be speaking on global production systems of hazelnuts, and will also address the quality requirements for their products.

Dr. Tony Shaw from Brock University will provide information on the geographic conditions needed to meet production in Ontario.

This meeting will also feature speakers from the Society of Ontario Nut Growers, the University of Guelph, OMAFRA, the Ontario Centres of Excellence and AgriCorps.

For more information visit www.erieinnovation.com.

potential for castor to contribute significantly to the agricultural economy is high. Developing answers to the technical challenge of toxicity is high on the agenda of North American researchers.

Globally castor is produced in numerous countries, with India being the largest. In Brazil, much of their fuel oil is produced from plants (for example ethanol from cane sugar). Castor oil (locally known as mamona oil) is now being used as a key source of biodiesel fuel. Additionally the industrial uses of castor oil are many, ranging from plastics and rubber, cosmetics, lubricants, textiles, paper, electronics, pharmaceuticals and also food uses.

On March 21, 2011, Guelph will host a Castor workshop, with the express purpose of gauging the interest in the agricultural, research and industrial sectors in

the development of an Ontario specific castor strategy. Scientists from the University of Windsor, University of Guelph, Trent, University of Toronto, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Vineland Research and Innovation Centre will discuss the prospects and challenges for a research consor-

tium. Industry will have the chance to drive the end use of these products, and the opportunity for agriculture is to be able to supply a potentially valuable crop to the chemical industry.

Addressing the challenges of castor production, oil extraction and chemical derivatives will be part of this meeting. Liv Severino

from EMBRAPA, Brazil will discuss the implications of castor in that country, and the opportunities for collaboration with Canadian scientists. American castor researchers from Texas and Mississippi have been invited to video conference into this meeting, with the purpose of extending a North American consortium on castor production.

Finally, the market uses of castor will be highlighted, with presentations from engineers and current end users. This will be followed up by an early economic analysis for Ontario producers.

The opportunity is there, it needs to be critically evaluated, and if it makes sense, a value chain developed.

For more information and how to register for this session, please visit www.erieinnovation.com/ events.

PAGE 38 –– FEBRUARY 2011 THE GROWER

Minor Use Craig’s Comments

There is good and bad in everything

Craig Hunter OFVGA Before reading any further, please sit down, take off the rosecoloured glasses or the blinkers, because you need an open mind to go further.

Our perspective is often moulded by what we have read in the press, or nowadays on the web. It may be from TV or radio where ‘commentaries’ are aired daily.

How often is our opinion developed by an unseen unknown person or group, whose thoughts are accepted at face value? (Most of the readers know me, or of me, and know they can pick up a phone to chastise me if they don’t like or believe what I am about to say!)

Let me give a few examples.

Pesticides. There is a long definition for them in both the Pest Control Products Act (fed) and The Pesticides Act (prov.). The short version is that they are products intended to kill pests. In Canada at least, those pesticides that are registered have been fully evaluated for health and safety to people and the environment. The ones that some groups ‘promote’

for use such as boiled cigarette butts, or stewed rhubarb leaves have NOT been registered. In fact they are extremely toxic. That means to the user, kids, pets and other species that come in contact.

The ‘promoters’ never face the reality of their illegal actions, nor the unintended consequences when accidents happen. In fact, they shirk all such responsibility.

Registered pesticides have saved millions of lives. They have made a better environment for us to live in, and allowed us to enjoy such a good ‘diet’ that our bigger problem is obesity! Think of the control of mice and rats. Of cockroaches, termites and mosquitoes. Think of the bedbug epidemic, and of the gypsy moth or tent caterpillar outbreaks. All of these resolved with pesticides as a part of the solution. Think of the cutting boards in a restaurant, the medical instruments and surfaces that are sterilized with pesticides.

Think of the paint, wallpaper, the facial cosmetics, the clothing worn by our troops in Afghanistan. All contain pesticides. Think of the clean swimming pools and the clean pure water in the taps in the cities. None of these are accidents.

The very people that decry ANY pesticide use have benefitted hugely from pesticides, whether they wanted to, or even knew (or thought!) about it.

There HAVE been problems with pesticides- but how many of those problems were because their use was made improperly, illegally, or accidentally? How many ‘incidents’ over time were because or caused when the product was used according to the label in all

regards? How many problems have occurred when properly trained applicators (including homeowners) read and followed the instructions? We try to keep unlicensed car operators off the road, and expect our doctors and auto mechanics to be trained and licensed. Why do we expect anything else than problems when we allow untrained, and uncaring use or promotion of pesticide use?

When the Ontario Ministry of Environment was given a recommendation to put a training program for domestic use into place, it was denied. When they were asked to require all exterminator personnel to be actually trained and licensed every five years, they denied that too. Our farmers are trained and certified. (Or now the ministry has changed that to ‘qualified’) Why should the public decry farmers’ use of products when they themselves are not trained? Why do products no longer allowed outdoors continue to be allowed for use by these self-same people INDOORS? Why is it that while their own rules dis-allow the classification (and therefore the use) of domestic products with a soil half life of more than one month, they continue to allow some of them to be used in Ontario, when it suits them?

It seems that some officials want it both ways!

I can move on to drugs. Drugs are designed to control, mitigate or eliminate pain, disease organisms, toxic reactions etc. They either act on one’s body’s functions, or directly on an invasive pest (disease). Drugs have saved mil-

lions of lives, have allowed many to live pain free when they would otherwise suffer mightily. They have shortened recovery time from surgery, and prevented infections that would have otherwise killed you. (More soldiers died in WW1 from wound infections than from the bullet wound itself- sulfa and penicillin saved the same lives in WW2) However, the drugs prescribed by doctors must also be reviewed and approved by Health Canada before they can be sold.

We the public assail the illegal drug community and the promoters of such drugs like amphetamines, speed, crack cocaine etc., but some seem to think that illegal pesticides are OK? We support the registration process for drugs, but don’t know or care that pesticides face the same battery of requirements, plus a huge number more to deal with the environmental fate. (Drugs do get into the environment but so far little is done about that. Birth control drugs are routinely found downstream from urban centres where they enter through the urine in sewage.)

The next one is alcohol. Some refer to it as ‘the demon alcohol’.

There is no doubt that much human suffering and misery can be laid at the feet of alcohol.

However, it is alcohol ABUSE that is the culprit! Alcohol has also saved millions of lives. It is a basic constituent in leavened bread.

(Ever noticed that nice sweet smell in a bakery? That is the alcohol formed by the reaction of yeast, carbohydrates and water plus heat!) Alcohol is used to power our cars (the 10% ethanol is

indeed an alcohol!) It is used in Bunsen burners in high schools as we try to teach science to our children. It is in the windshield washer fluid too. (methyl alcoholpoisonous so don’t drink it!) It is in many cough syrups, many drug formulations, and has thousands of industrial uses too. When it was prohibited in the 1920’s, it lead to massive illegal activity (Al Capone et al.) and the illegal production of ‘booze’ in unmonitored poorly constructed facilities that led to poor quality- too much methanol leading to blindness and death. (The term ‘blind drunk’ was coined then and referred to those too stupid to know what they were doing with disastrous consequences). Once again, it is the mis-use and abuse that causes the problems. The unscrupulous who sell the illegal stock are vilified, yet the illegal pesticide promoters are often portrayed as folk heroes!

I could go on, but think I should desist from portraying the religion and political sectors in the same vein! Suffice to say, there are many parallels between pesticides, drugs and alcohol.

All can do good. All need to be used correctly. All can be abused.

All of them are controlled by government legislation. We should respect what they can do if not used appropriately, and safeguard them for the benefits they can provide. We need to be equally judicious in our use, storage, and protection of them when in our possession.

Lastly, let us not forget that we are all better off WITH them in our society.

Bulb and stem nematode clinic at OFVC 2011 Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). Nematode specialists will be on-site testing the garlic samples to determine if they are infested with bulb and stem nematodes. Take this opportunity to meet the experts and ask questions about the biology and management of this pest.

For details on the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, please visit: www.ofvc.ca/.

For information on the clinic contact Marion Paibomesai, Vegetable Crops Specialist, OMAFRA at 519-826-4963.

During the 2011 Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention (Feb 23rd and 24th, 2011 at Brock University, St. Catharines, ON), a diagnostic clinic for bulb and stem nematode (Ditylenchus dipsaci) will be held. The bulb and stem nematode is a destructive pest of garlic, onion and leek as well as many other host crops. Note that garlic bulbs infested with this nematode do not necessarily show symptoms. Bring samples of garlic bulbs from your farm to this free-of-charge clinic that was initiated

by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) with the support of Ontario

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FEBRUARY 2011 –– PAGE 39 THE GROWER

Chemtura AgroSolutions launches new website Chemtura AgroSolution has launched a new website to provide up-to-date information on the company’s portfolio of pest control, plant health and seed enhancement products.

Growers can search for pest solutions with the product finder tool. For example, if you are an apple grower, select tree fruits, then select pome fruits, then select Rimon 10EC insecticide. Full labels are available for specific advice.

The new website, www.chemturaagrosolutions.com is

tailored to each customer’s unique needs in a wide range of high-value crop markets. There are several places within the website where viewers can specify their geographic location and crops produced in order to view information about products and treatment options to fit specific growing conditions. Visitors can also quickly find contact information for their company field and technical representatives.

The website’s homepage features current company news

delivered by brief video messages from president Greg McDaniel. In the current video, McDaniel addresses Chemtura Corporation’s successful emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 10, 2010.

Visitors from Canada can find their site at www.chemturaagrosolutions.com/ca.

Label expansion for control of phylloxera, Japanese beetle and GBM on grapes

By Jim Chaput, OMAFRA, Minor Use Coordinator, Guelph The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of a minor use label expansion for ASSAIL 70 WP Insecticide for control of phylloxera and Japanese beetle and suppression of grape berry moth on grapes in Canada.

ASSAIL 70 WP (acetamiprid) was already labeled for management of a variety of insect pests on a range of crops in Canada.

The following is provided as a general outline only. Users should consult the complete label before using Assail insecticide.

For management of phylloxera (aerial form only), Japanese beetle and grape berry moth: Assail insecticide can be applied as a foliar spray at 80 grams per hectare in a minimum finished spray volume of 200 L/ha.

Consult crop specialists and/or extension personnel for specific pest timing and threshold levels.

Do not make more than two

Minor use priorities to be set March 21 – 24 Representatives from the various commodity groups across Canada are encouraged to attend the minor use priority setting workshop in Ottawa. If you have specific needs, be sure to communicate with your group’s designate.

March 22 will be set aside for entomology priorities, March 23 for plant pathology priorities and March 24 for weed science and growth regulator priorities. A separate biopesticides prioritysetting workshop will be held March 21. Designates should register through the provincial minor use coordinator by February 3.

All of the provinces will have submitted minor use needs with key pests prioritized for each crop.

The national prioritysetting meeting brings together all national commodity organizations, registrants, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Pest Management Regulatory Agency, IR-4 and other stakeholders to establish key projects for the 2012 growing season. The top-ranked projects will be completed by the AAFC Pest Management Centre.

applications of Assail insecticide per season and do not apply more than once every 14 days. The preharvest interval is three days.

Assail insecticide should be used in an integrated pest management program and in rotation with other management strategies.

Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Assail insecticide label.

For copies of the new supple-

mental label contact Wendy McFadden-Smith, OMAFRA, Vineland (905) 562-3383, Grape Growers of Ontario (905) 6880990 or visit the DuPont Canada website at www2.dupont.com/ Crop_Protection/en_CA/.

PAGE 40 –– FEBRUARY 2011 THE GROWER

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