The Grower Newspaper July 2012

JULY 2012

CELEBRATING 132 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION

VOLUME 62 NUMBER 07

Asparagus seedco stands for a new business model Fox Seeds is in the hunt for $10 million in sales KAREN DAVIDSON DELHI, ON -- How long does it take to measure longevity? In the case of asparagus, a career lifetime.

Just ask Dave Wolyn, a University of Guelph breeder, who along with technician Paul Banks, have spent 23 years bringing the aptly named Millennium asparagus cultivar to its current apex.

“We still don’t know the actual peak of Millennium after 13 years in commercial production,” says Wolyn. Where other cultivars have tailed off at seven or eight years, Millennium is still producing, tripling yields of the old open-pollinated varieties to 6,000 pounds per acre.

Historically, asparagus stands are expected to have a lifetime span of 15 to 20 years.

“Longevity – you can’t short circuit that trait in asparagus,” says Wolyn. “How to find good parents, good crosses and good seed production, true to variety, is difficult.”

Millennium’s main selling points are longevity, but also yield and tolerance to replant which translates into tolerance to root diseases. The breeding team is looking to improve foliar disease resistance and spear quality when temperatures get above 30o Celsius. “That’s what the new cultivars need to have,” says Wolyn.

INSIDE Quebec lettuce competes in U.S.

Page 4

Alberta opens new research greenhouse Page 6 Speakers’ corner at Tech X-Change hort show Page 16

www.thegrower.org P.M. 40012319

The ultimate worker, the honeybee is an essential service that never goes on strike. In this case, honeybees are critical to asparagus pollination, carrying pollen from male to receptive female plants. It’s just one step of the laborious breeding process directed by University of Guelph’s Dave Wolyn and technician Paul Banks. Together, their years of work have resulted in germplasm that’s worth a bundle to the Ontario Asparagus Growers’ Marketing Board. Photos by Denis Cahill.

This genetic package has impressed not only Ontario growers but those in Michigan and other cool climate zones around the world. And so, the sales of seed have grown exponentially to $1.6 million in 2011.

That seed scoreboard has presented a dilemma for the Ontario Asparagus Growers’ Marketing Board, a non-profit organization. The Ontario Farm Product Marketing Commission has warned the non-profit status could be jeopardized with such a lucrative income and recommended an arms-length business arrangement.

It’s taken months of meetings to structure for the long-term, but the asparagus growers have just announced a new legal entity, Fox Seeds. Named after the welldrained soils of the Norfolk sand plains, this new company has its own board of directors. Jeff Wilson is chair and Jason Ryder is vice-chair. Just as importantly,

Fox Seeds has a separate bank account from the association.

Here’s how it works. The University of Guelph owns the intellectual property for Millennium and subsequent breeding work for what could be called Millennium 2. The asparagus marketing board has access to Millennium seed as a licensee of the University of Guelph. Fox Seeds is the sub-licensee. This arrangement segregates seed sale revenues which can then cover costs such as royalties to the university, technician time, and equipment and land leases. It also allows a generous portion of funds to be plowed back into research to benefit the Ontario asparagus industry.

As Jason Ryder, vice-chair explains, “What this means is not necessarily more acres of asparagus, but more yield and saleable product per acre. It also means that our growers have access to local seed.”

“This is not a golden goose,”

“

Longevity – you can’t short circuit that trait in asparagus. How to find good parents, good crosses and good seed production, true to variety, is difficult.” ~ Dr. Dave Wolyn, University of Guelph

warns Ed DeHooghe, Delhi, Ontario asparagus grower.

“There’s a lot of risk.”

What DeHooghe outlines is a disturbing pattern of closures.

Memories are still sharp about the provincial government’s abandonment of a breeding site at Cambridge, Ontario 10 years ago which set back the breeding program by years. Asparagus crowns can’t be transplanted to a different site without compromising the scientific data, including the elusive trait of longevity.

This year’s federal closure of the Delhi Research Station has renewed fears of similar pullbacks and what consequences might be in store if anything were to happen to the provincial Simcoe Research Station or its staff.

These negative experiences have informed a more commercial approach for Fox Seeds.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

PAGE 2 –– JULY 2012 THE GROWER

AT PRESS TIME… Agritourism explored For a dozen years now, Harvest Ontario has published a guide that’s considered the best source for agritourism destinations in Ontario. This year’s cover features the Thatcher family – Dana, Adam, Sophie, William and Thomas – of Rockwood, Ontario. They finish pigs and raise lambs and calves from birth, selling naturallyraised meat products. They are members of Ontario Farm Fresh as well as verified MyPick producers with Farmers’ Markets Ontario.

Harvest Ontario is an excellent guide to 500-plus farms growing fresh produce, bed-and-breakfasts, and a chart to what’s in season. The various winegrowing areas of Ontario are explored, with new wineries in the listings. Farmers Markets

NEWSMAKERS

Ontario are also listed with detailed information.

The guides are available in Home Hardware, Home Building Centres and Home Furniture locations while quantities last.

Syngenta re-brands its vegetable seed lines During 2012, the Rogers, Synergene Seed & Technology and Pybas Vegetable Seed Company brand varieties are being transitioned to the Syngenta brand. This brand approach matches with the recent integration of its crop protection, seed care, seeds and traits businesses into one Syngenta.

“Although the Rogers, Synergene and Pybas logos and names will no longer appear on packaging and materials, Syngenta remains committed to delivering the same proven quality and performance in its varieties that you've come to know and trust for more than 135 years,” said Scott Langkamp, head of vegetables for Syngenta in North America. “Moreover, the rich history and strong reputation of the Rogers brand will be fully integrated as a significant component of and enhancement to the Syngenta brand.”

Syngenta foresees a one-year sellout period for packaging branded with the legacy company labels. During this transition period, all brands will be active in the market.

Seedway launches eCommerce website Vegetable seed company Seedway has launched an e-commerce area on its website for online purchase of commercial, untreated and organic vegetable seed.

User-friendly improvements include enhanced product listings, sorting options, page views, shopping cart and checkout process. The upgrades make the online shopping experience simpler and faster.

For more information, visit www.seedway.com.

Megaquarry fundraiser: July 28 A StoMp the Megaquarry walk/bike/run fundraiser is planned for July 28, overlooking the proposed 2,316-acre limestone megaquarry north of Orangeville, Ontario. It’s open to all ages and abilities, and is expected to draw 2,500 participants.

A course map of the 5 km, 10 km, half marathon and marathon events take full advantage of the area’s rolling landscape and scenic vistas. This area is prime potato land and home to many vegetable farmers.

All profits will go towards the North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce (NDACT) to help pay for scientific studies, legal fees and other expenses associated with stopping the proposed quarry. To register, visit www.ndact.com.

Poulin has spent more than 30 Marc Poulin years in food retailing, packaged goods and financial services.

Years ago, he was with the Oshawa Group as vice president of grocery merchandising when that company was acquired by Sobeys in 1998. Sobeys’ parent is Empire Co. based in Stellarton, Nova Scotia. Sobeys owns or franchises more than 1,300 stores across Canada under several banners that include Sobeys, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, and Thrifty Foods. (For more in-depth analysis, see Retail Navigator, page 10.)

Bernard Panneton and Shahrokh Khanizadeh, both research scientists at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada experimental farm in Frelighsburg, Quebec are looking for new positions with the farm’s closure announced at the end of the growing season. This site is considered essential to the Quebec Apple Cultivars and Rootstocks Evaluation Project which assesses promising cultivars before planting in orchards.

Saskatchewan’s new agriculture minister is Lyle Stewart. The Thunder Creek MLA owns a cattle farm near Pense, west of Regina.

Farm & Food Care’s first chair is John Maaskant, a Chicken Farmers of Ontario representative and past chair of the Ontario Farm Animal Council. Vice-chair is Larry Lynn, representing Grain Farmers of Ontario. Treasurer is Joe Hickson, representing the Ontario Seed Growers’ Association. Executive member at large is Heather Copland, representing Grober Inc. Chris Veillon has returned to Mastronardi Produce, Kingsville, Ontario, as director of marketing. He had been with the company previously, for three years, before moving to a Canadian retailer of children’s toys for educators in August 2010.

Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation have announced triple 2012 winners of the Friend of the Greenbelt Award: the Wine Council of Ontario, the Grape Growers of Ontario and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO). According to a recent KPMG report, the LCBO sells more Ontario wine than any other region and VQA wine has the fastest growing sales. VQA wine sales at the LCBO have more than doubled over the past five years to more than $110 million annually and now make up about 40 per cent of total Ontario wine sales.

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Sobeys has appointed Marc Poulin as successor to Bill McEwan as its president and chief executive officer, effective June 29. A Sobeys employee since 1997, he’s led the Quebec operations since 2001, most recently as president of its IGA operations there. Claude Tessier will become the new IGA president.

This year’s World Food Prize goes to Israeli scientist, Daniel Hillel, who has pioneered micro-irrigation to maximize efficient water usage in dryland and arid areas of agriculture. His water management concepts, promoted by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization – are now used on more than six million hectares worldwide. The award was founded by former Nobel peace prize winner Norman Borlaug.

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Condolences to the family of David Hobson, past president of the Canadian Horticultural Council (1996) who passed away in Kelowna, B.C. on May 12 after a long battle with leukaemia. He was actively involved in the BC Fruit Growers’ Association, the BC Federation of Agriculture and the Central Okanagan Heritage Society.

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A photo of ginseng under shade netting was placed on page 10 of the June 2012 issue. The Grower would like to give acknowledgment and credit to Dubois Agrinovation for use of their photo.

JULY 2012 –– PAGE 3 THE GROWER

Asparagus seedco stands for a new business model CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 An independently owned, five-acre site is currently being planted with crowns grown out by New Liskeard’s Superior Plant Upgrading and Distribution (SPUD) laboratory. This site, dedicated to producing seed, is overseen by a production committee consisting of Ed DeHooghe, Paul Banks and Bill Saunders.

In addition, a science, technology and innovation committee has been struck for long-range planning. This committee consists of Ken Wall, Charles Welsh, Gord Surgeoner and Dave Wolyn.

Yet to be determined are members of a marketing committee.

“New upcoming hybrids that are soon to be released give growers a good commercial sniff of what’s to come,” says Jeff Wilson, chair, Fox Seeds, who recites a long breeding history in Ontario. “The biggest challenge is

to determine the world market for Millennium seed,” says Wilson.

“We really don’t know what that is.”

In the U.S., the states of Michigan and Washington are growing more asparagus, responding to a resurgence in consumer demand. Asparagus is becoming more of a mainstream vegetable with year-round availability from competitors such as Peru. Ontario’s breeding program is one of the few in a cool-climate zone and, as such, is of interest to similar latitudes in the United Kingdom, Germany and China.

If Fox Seeds is successful, as its growers aim to be, then $10 million in revenue is not unthinkable with two new cultivars. The ultimate score would be to sell to China, today’s global leader in asparagus.

While marketing will be challenging, Dave Wolyn insists breeding is still the nut to crack.

And that’s why he’s excited about the stability that Fox Seeds

Photo by Dave Wolyn

“

This is not a golden goose. There’s a lot of risk.” ~ Ed DeHooghe

Murray Porteous (L), asparagus grower and Dave Wolyn, University of Guelph, inspect new upcoming hybrids. provides.

“The reference genome for asparagus is expected to be published by an international research group within a year,” says Wolyn. “With molecular markers today, it’s cheaper and easier to identify the traits we want. We simply couldn’t afford to do this five years ago.”

This year’s asparagus crop is history with Ontario cornering the fresh market from May 1 to end of June. With a strengthening of consumer demand, the hope is that processors may come back too. This future scenario is hedged, if you will, by income from genetics that’s funneled back to research.

How long will it take to know if this business model works? Ask in 10 years.

“

What this means is not necessarily more acres of asparagus, but more yield and saleable product per acre. It also means that our growers have access to local seed.” ~ Jason Ryder

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR

PROMOTION

Who’s to pick Washington apples?

Movie marketing goes bananas

While a bumper apple crop is predicted in Washington state’s Yakima Valley, growers worry there won’t be enough hands to harvest the crop. Last year, about three per cent of the crop and revenue of up to $60 million were lost due to lack of labour.

Strict immigration laws and even stricter border enforcement keep out potential workers. The U.S. labour department estimates that 50 to 70 per cent of the seasonal agricultural work force is illegal.

"We need some kind of movement of something somewhere," says grower John Verbrugge.

"Not just a little bit of this, a little bit of that. Maybe when there is a shortage of food, maybe someone will address the problem."

DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. is promoting the release of its movie, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, with stickers and quick response (QR) codes on bananas. There’s a logical link with the movie’s story line of a banana-powered airplane flown by monkeys.

Dole Fresh Fruit Co. says that 100 million bananas in the U.S. and Canada will sport the sticker and QR code to reach the movie’s target market: mothers.

Consumers are directed to a cobranded mobile page at www.dole.com/madagascar. In the past, movie tieins have been with soft drinks and candy.

However, children nagging

Source: FreshPlaza.com

parents to buy junk food is not going over so well in an era of messages about childhood obesity. Permission-based marketing works better when parents can buy into the promotion and the product.

The prototype for this marketing was set in 2007 when the DreamWorks studio launched Shrek the Third with a promotion on packaged apple slices at McDonald’s fast-food chains.

That successful venture has led advertisers to explore more ways to enhance traditional snack partnerships with healthier brands.

While fruit partnerships are growing, one question remains.

No one has partnered with vegetables.

Source: Globe and Mail

DISEASE

RESEARCH

Michigan reports long-term cherry damage

New digs for vegetable breeding research

Michigan growers are reporting widespread bacterial canker, weakening cherry trees for the long-term. This past spring’s freezing weather during a premature blooming season caused small injuries that allow access to bacteria. The trees were stuck for weeks in their bloom stage, which meant that canker had lots of time to kill the parts of the tree that produce the buds for next year.

Jim Nugent, a cherry grower and researcher, says many lower branches of his trees have browned leaves, dead buds and are covered in sticky goo. The severely weakened trees could die over the next few years.

Bayer CropScience has expanded its centre for vegetable research and development in Leudal, the Netherlands. It is equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories for seed technology, cell biology and molecular breeding research as well as high-throughput biotech services.

Bayer vegetable seeds are sold worldwide under the Nunhems brand. Many successful products have already emerged including: tomatoes that hold onto their juice after cutting, melons that change their colour when they have reached optimal flavour and ripeness, or mild-flavoured onions with a longer shelf-life.

Source: FreshPlaza.com

Source: FreshPlaza.com

PAGE 4 –– JULY 2012 THE GROWER

WHAT’S YOUR STORY?

Removing ‘trip wires’ critical to trade with U.S. markets, fuel efficiently. There’s no reason not to be competitive, even with a dollar at par.

In addition to restricted access to crop protection products, Van Winden is concerned that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is pulling out support to world-class research at the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec station.

“There have been significant cuts which have absolutely astounded us,” says Van Winden.

“We have entered into research contracts with AAFC, have contributed financially and as an industry with $60 million for lettuce in Canada. This is absolutely unacceptable.”

Fears are that research at Saint-Jean will continue for 2012 but will be shut down for 2013.

Without breeders such as Sylvie Jenni developing new cultivars

KAREN DAVIDSON Jean-Bernard Van Winden is used to crossing the lines. As a lettuce and onion grower on the southern shore of Montreal, he excels at exporting 80 per cent of his produce to the United States.

Based on the muck soils of the St-Rémi area, the operation funnels its produce through the border crossing at LaColle. In total, the farm is just four hours from Boston and six hours from New York.

It’s a compelling story of competitiveness in a business that’s never been easy since Van Winden and a friend bought the farm for $250,000 in 1979. Not daunted by high interest rates, they delved into high-value crops.

Like so many other Canadian farmers, their confidence was borne out of a family history surviving war-torn Europe where Van Winden’s grandfather had farmed the muck soils of Delft, Holland and where his father had barely survived as a prisoner of war.

That instinct for survival has served them well. Today, they grow 375 acres of iceberg lettuce,

About 80 per cent of the lettuce production south of Montreal is exported to Boston, New York and other stateside cities. The quality of the leafy greens — disease and insect-free -- is undisputed, but competitiveness is stymied by cumbersome regulations.

125 acres of romaine lettuce, 110 acres of carrots, 115 acres of onions, 60 acres of Chinese cabbage and 60 acres of leeks.

Both Van Winden and his partner each have two sons on the farm.

“We’ve always been proactive in research and technology,” explains Van Winden. “We were the first to wrap and pack in the field, and first to sell lettuce in bulk to value-added/processing

facilities.”

Growth in the last 15 years has been in the value-added segment: ready-to-eat, bagged, lettuce mixes, food service. The fresh market, while stable, is actually softening as consumers want more convenience in their leafy greens. Working with a marketing group, Veg Pro International, the Van Winden farm has contracts to supply Fresh Express, Dole, Ready Pack and others.

While the U.S. market is lucrative, the demands are stringent.

“There is absolutely zero tolerance for insects or defects of any kind,” says Van Winden.

Through Veg Pro International, they have access to the packing facilities that are compliant with food safety criteria of the California Leafy Greens Agreement. CanadaGAP provides the auditing services.

For all the mechanization and technology invested in the operation, Van Winden still bumps into barriers that money can’t remove.

“Crop protection is a hot topic and one which I have passionately advocated for many years,” says Van Winden. “It is critically important to be in a competitive position with the U.S. If we are to compete with California, then we must have access to the same products and tools. We must have complete harmonization and equal and simultaneous access to products.”

“More buyers are demanding reduced-risk products and we cannot have access to the products later than our competitors in the U.S. This is particularly an issue for value-added products and ones where there is zero tolerance for insects and disease.”

Regulatory burdens are frustrating access to the northeastern U.S., a marketplace of 100 million people. This doesn’t make economic sense when perishable produce should find the closest

Jean-Bernard Van Winden, StRémi, Quebec lobbies for equal access to crop protection products available in the U.S. to compete in the lucrative northeast U.S. market of 100 million consumers.

like Hochelaga that can resist disease and pests, the prospects for competitiveness are diminished.

To continue grower-focused research in muck crops, Van Winden favours a partnership with AAFC. “Private models are expensive to establish and manage and industry does not have the resources to replicate the McCain, Pepsico and Frito Lay models.”

To address these competitiveness issues, Van Winden encourages the Canadian Horticultural Council to keep focused on pesticides, research, innovation, plant health and untangling regulations. His trucks cross the U.S./Canada border every day, but it’s those invisible barriers that siphon profits in the long-term. The hope is that the Regulatory Cooperation Council – the prime minister’s initiative to reduce regulatory burdens with the U.S. -can remove those trip wires.

JULY 2012 –– PAGE 5 THE GROWER

CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL

Safe Food for Canadians Act introduced On June 7, 2012 the Safe Food for Canadians Act was introduced in efforts to strengthen the Government’s ability to protect Canadian families from potentially unsafe food. The proposed Safe Food for Canadians Act will improve food oversight by: • instituting a more consistent inspection regime across all food commodities; • implementing tougher penalties for activities that put the health and safety of Canadians at risk; • providing better control over imports and exports; and • strengthening food traceability.

The Act will consolidate the Fish Inspection Act, the Canada Agricultural Products Act, the Meat Inspection Act, and the food provisions of the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act. The Act will align inspection and enforcement powers across all food commodities, improving the safety of food as well as reducing overlap and helping the industry to better understand and comply with food safety law. The Act will also provide a new mechanism for regulated parties to seek review of certain decisions made by CFIA officials.

By further aligning Canada’s food safety system with

those of our key trading partners, the Act will enhance international market opportunities for the Canadian food industry. A new authority in the Act would allow certification of any food commodity for export and increase global confidence in Canadian food. The Act will also strengthen controls over imported food commodities, introduce powers to register or license regulated parties, and prohibit the importation of unsafe foods. For more information on the Safe Food for Canadians Act, please visit www.inspection.gc.ca

Hortifrut signs McDonald’s blueberry deal Chile-based company Hortifrut has signed a deal to supply blueberries to 14,000 McDonald’s restaurants in North America through its subsidiary Naturipe Farms. The deal was

made possible through its innovative ‘Ready to Eat’ technology, which allows it to supply fresh blueberries to food service chains.

The company has invested around US$20 million into the ‘Ready to

Eat’ technology which is applied at a facility in Delano, California.

The technology is expected to be

implemented in Chile in November this year with a US $5 million processing plant, while a

U.S. East Coast plant could be on the cards in the future.

The Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) The EFP educational workshop is free and is a pre-requisite for many cost-share programs in Ontario

Note to CanadaGAP enrollees HEATHER GALE We realize there are a number of CanadaGAP Program Participants who, unfortunately, have been impacted by frost damage to Ontario orchards this spring. If you have experienced a total crop loss and will not need to be CanadaGAP-certified this season, please communicate your situation to us. We will convey this information to your certification body (GFTC / QMI-SAI GLOBAL).

Contact us Mailing address: Email: offs@hortcouncil.ca CanadaGAP Program c/o CHC Fax: 613-226-4497 9 Corvus Court Questions: 613-226-4880 Ext. 206 Ottawa, ON K2E 7Z4 It is important that you inform us in writing. If we don’t hear from you, and no audit or self-assessment is completed in 2012, without other information the CHC and certification body would not be aware of your situation and would conclude that you have simply let your certification lapse.

Regarding your program enrollment fees, CHC's policy is as follows: If you have already paid your program enrollment fee for 2012: • You can have your paid enrollment fee carried over and applied to next year. You must request this in writing to CHC. • You remain "enrolled" in the program but are simply inactive this season.

• Alternatively, you may withdraw from the program and request a refund of your paid enrollment fee for 2012, less a $100 administrative charge. You would need to re-enroll next year.

If you haven’t yet paid your program enrollment fee for 2012: • Please let us know your situation, to avoid receiving an invoice from CHC. You may already have received an invoice, and we will continue to send statements unless we hear otherwise from you.

For those enrolled in option A1 or A2: • You must inform us of your status if you lost your crop and don’t need your certification this year.

• You are not expected to submit a self-assessment checklist for the year of the crop failure. There is no crop and nothing to assess in terms of safe food handling practices.

• If you are in Year 2, 3 or 4 of the four-year audit cycle: if the reason for the crop loss is frost damage, this does not present any new food safety risks for next year. Therefore in 2013 you would continue on where you would normally be in the cycle.

For example, if 2011 was Year 1 in the program, 2012 was to be Year 2 -- then 2013 will be Year 3 and 2014 Year 4. You would not have to start over in Year 1 next season.

Heather Gale is CanadaGAP national program manager.

• Complete an assessment to identify environmental strengths and risks • Design an Action Plan based on your priorities and timeline • Have the Action Plan peer-reviewed and deemed appropriate “Today’s farmers are proud to work towards a healthy future for all. The EFP has received tremendous uptake from the farming community because it supports, through financial incentives, what farmers have been doing all along – providing a diversity of crops, reviewing best management practices as knowledge changes, and understanding the essential nature of agriculture within society.”

Doug Van Luyk, Vegetable Producer and Director of the Holland Marsh Growers’ Association

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PAGE 6 –– JULY 2012 THE GROWER

RESEARCH

Greenhouse sector sets the table for cleaner water in Alberta . . .

KAREN DAVIDSON BROOKS, AB -- Water. Clean water. It’s a common theme in the greenhouse industry whether it’s Alberta or Ontario. Growers in both provinces are conducting research that reflect the nature of their respective growth curves.

Nationally, greenhouse sales topped $1.1 billion in 2011. Most of that was generated in Ontario with $778 million in sales, dwarfing Alberta’s slice of $39.3 million.

Just because Alberta’s industry is much smaller doesn’t mean it isn’t playing a role in research.

The Alberta government has

recently invested $17 million to open a research-focussed greenhouse in Brooks, Alberta. Why? The town that’s best known for its XL Foods beef processing plant is also home to the government’s Crop Diversification Centre South.

Business development leaders see an opportunity to produce more locally-grown produce in a booming province. They also see potential to hook up with Fort McMurray’s oil-and-gas industry to take advantage of waste heat.

The politics, if not the economics, are obvious in greening the fuel industry with greenhouse vegetables.

Of the 328 greenhouse crop

growers in Alberta, 50 are located in the Redcliff-Medicine Hat area, primarily producing vegetables.

Alberta growers are unique in that seedless cucumbers are the major crop compared to tomatoes in Ontario and other provinces.

In a 2010 survey conducted by the Alberta Greenhouse Growers’ Association, the findings underscore that water will become a bigger issue in a sector that recorded 10 per cent growth from 2001 to 2010.

• a large number of growers did not keep records of water use • growers used multiple water sources including: dugouts (32%); wells (24%); canals (4%); city water (35%); rivers (6%) • Almost half of the growers (45%) reported quality of water was hard • Only 4 out of 10 growers (39%) collected water from greenhouse roofs • Only 4 out of 10 growers (41%) knew the sodium level in their water • Only 3 out of 10 growers (31%) recycled greenhouse water With 167 acres in vegetable production – 76 in cukes, 71 in tomatoes, 16 in peppers, three in lettuce and more recently one acre in eggplants -- it’s important to remember that these statistics represent vegetable, nursery and floral growers.

The four vertical red hoses are the irrigation feeding lines. The four white pipes on the ground under the gutter are the drain lines to collect the leach from the slabs for recirculation. The metal pipe on the bottom left corner is a ground heating pipe.

Mohyuddin Mirza, a greenhouse consultant and one of the report’s authors, says that Alberta growers have recycled water for three decades. With more recent focus on winter production, a few growers have installed heat-pasteurization systems.

In the case of the Redcliff/Medicine Hat area, the growers tap into treated water from the city which in turn sources water from the South Saskatchewan River. They recycle water through ultra-violet sterilization and biofiltration systems.

Lacombe-area growers, on the other hand, collect water from

their greenhouse roofs and source from dugouts.

With these industry statistics as background, it’s easy to understand why the new Brooks greenhouse complex has a storage tank for collected rainwater. In such an arid climate, water is precious and humidity control is a key component for the health of the tomatoes and peppers currently in trials.

As John Zhang, manager of the greenhouse complex gives a tour, he points out a poster for aquaponics.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Waterloo Region 2012

INTERNATIONAL PLOWING MATCH AND RURAL EXPO As manager of the Greenhouse Research and Production Complex, John Zhang welcomes private businesses and associations who want to conduct their own trials in Brooks, about two hours’ drive east of Calgary. Averaging 10.2 hours of sunshine per day in July and recording reasonable gas prices for heating, Brooks is an ideal place to conduct research.

The new 60,000 square-foot, one-acre facility features 10 research bays, four production greenhouses (both poly and glass) with administrative, training, storage and plant management work areas. Red Hat Cooperative, headquartered in nearby Medicine Hat, was quick on the draw to test Endeavor tomato cultivars.

“It’s open to greenhouse growers, breeders, crop protection companies and fertilizer manufacturers,” says Zhang. “It’s a business model that bridges public research and commercial interests.

Hopefully this model can work better than others.”

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JULY 2012 –– PAGE 7 THE GROWER

RESEARCH

. . . and Ontario CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 Not to be confused with hydroponics, this system combines fish and plant culture so that the fish waste serves as a source of nutrients for the plants. In turn, the plants regenerate the water quality absorbing mineral salts. The water is recirculated in a closed loop.

In Alberta’s spring greenhouse newsletter, Nick Savidov, explained, “The key factor in any aquaponic system is an active role of microorganisms, which links fish and plants to form a selfsustainable ecosystem, while the microorganisms are excluded and nutrients are supplied as mineral fertilizers in hydroponics.

Microorganisms have multiple functions in aquaponic systems including breakdown of organic material, promoting plant root growth and protecting both fish and plants from diseases. The discovery of the enhanced plant root growth in aquaponics was reported for the first time by Alberta researchers.”

While aquaponics are not likely to storm the greenhouse industry anytime soon, it’s an example of integrated waste management, an issue that Ontario growers are now facing.

“Canadian water is a heritage

for everyone,” Mirza says. “Let’s share our information to make our production practices sustainable for the entire sector.”

LEAMINGTON, ON – The sheer size of the burgeoning greenhouse vegetable sector -2067 acres -- and how it uses water is attracting scrutiny of the province’s Ministry of the Environment (MOE). In the last two years, MOE has sampled and tested water quality in the Leamington area, measuring increasingly elevated levels of nutrients, particularly phosphorus.

Some greenhouse farms are contributors.

“The ministry indicates that the nature of these nutrients suggests a fertilizer-based source,” says Justine Taylor, environmental projects specialist, Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG).

A sector-driven plan is already underway that spans regulatory reform and science. In January 2012, the OGVG applied to the agriculture minister to have the greenhouse vegetable sector regulated under the Nutrient Management Act. “We feel strongly that the overall environmental footprint of greenhouse vegetable production is small compared to other areas

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of industry and agriculture, but we are not yet where we need to be,” says Don Taylor, chair, OGVG. “Issues like the phosphorus releases recently identified by the MOE sampling studies in Essex county need to be addressed. Our farmers need the type-specific standards, best management practices and solutions like those developed for the livestock sector under the Nutrient Management Act. As part of this effort, we have initiated a number of environmental research programs which will go a long way in developing the information base we need for these standards and practices.”

On the science front, a multipronged effort totals about $1.25 million of public and private sector funds in research in the next

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two years. One of the largest is $570,000 to showcase efficient greenhouse water recycling systems. The goal is to reach 100 per cent recycling of greenhouse nutrients by developing technologies to control the build-up of limiters in the recycling water, to determine a utilization or disposal strategy for the limiters that are removed and then to document the environmental and economic benefits of efficient recycling.

The entire sector is cooperating in this project from the Towns of Leamington and Kingsville to the provincial ministries of agriculture and environment, the federal ag ministry and The Ontario Greenhouse Alliance (TOGA).

Funding in this and other projects has been tapped from a number of programs: Farm Innovation

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Program (FIP), Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP), and Showcasing Water Innovation Program (SWIP).

These projects will extend the capabilities of recirculation systems that have operated in vegetable greenhouses since the mid1990s. While $71 million has been invested in these technologies to date – about 80 per cent of Ontario’s greenhouse production is grown with recirculating facilities – the growth and scale of the sector demand some fine-tuning to propel the cluster into world leaders of totally closed loop systems. In the interim, the OGVG recommends all new and expanding greenhouses incorporate nutrient recirculation. Owners of older facilities are encouraged to retrofit, as finances allow, to install nutrient recirculation systems.

The OGVG is also recommending all growers examine their plant fertility programs to closely match fertilizer applications with crop requirements.

Whether that’s achieved through enhanced recycling or through safe application as fertilizers to field crops, it’s up to individual growers.

Results of some research projects are expected as early as this fall.

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PAGE 8 –– JULY 2012 THE GROWER

Legislation is in the pipeline

MAC JAMES CHAIR, OFVGA

Both the federal and provincial budgets are in their final stages and will be passed without modification despite the lobbying efforts of OFVGA and the Canadian Horticultural Council.

The major changes concern the standardized containers act and the risk management program.

When the new programs or lack thereof are in place we will all have to learn to live with them.

Looking to the future, the provincial government is in the process of bringing forward new legislation in the fall; the Great

Lakes Protection Act on which there has been some preliminary consultation with agriculture including OFVGA. It is hoped that more discussion takes place before the act becomes law; some of the points include optimal width of vegetated buffer strips, application of liquid manure, waste water discharge etc.

The second piece of legislation is the Local Food Act. Very little is known about this so far.

One point of interest, food processing revenues alone surpass

the automotive industry.

Everyone needs to keep up-todate as this new legislation moves forward. Stay tuned.

USDA says pesticide residue not a food safety concern

ADRIAN HUISMAN ONTARIO TENDER FRUIT PRODUCERS

From an article in The Packer – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) pesticide residue data (2010 Pesticide Data Program Annual Summary) on fresh produce and other foods confirm that the residues do not pose safety concerns. The data has been used since 1995 to compose the so called “Dirty Dozen” list of produce with the most pesticide residues.

The USDA and other federal officials emphasize the safety of the food supply.

The data supports advice to

consumers to eat more fruits and vegetables, whether conventionally grown or organic.

Carl Keen, professor of nutrition and internal medicine at the University of California, Davis, said, “The potential health benefits of increasing one’s produce intake clearly outweigh the hypothetical risks associated with the ingestion of the trace amounts of pesticides that might be associated with these foods.”

Ray Gilmer, vice president of the United Fresh Produce Alliance said that “United Fresh

is gratified that the USDA’s PDP report verifies the safety of consuming fresh fruits and vegetables at every meal.”

According to the report, overall pesticide residues found on foods tested are at levels well below the tolerances set by the EPA. Of the 12,845 samples collected and analyzed, the USDA found that only 0.25 per cent of samples tested at levels exceeding EPA tolerances.

The so called “Dirty Dozen” refers to produce with the most pesticide residues. The USDA

confirms that the levels are well within tolerance and that they pose no safety concerns. This being said, referring to them as the “Dirty Dozen” is totally unfair and misleading.

I am sure Canadian data also confirms these results and we totally support United Fresh in their attempts to have the use of that term discontinued.

THE WEATHER VANE

Ontario ag minister Ted McMeekin (L), is shown the effects of extensive frost damage to apples by grower Richard Feenstra, Ontario Apple Growers chair Brian Gilroy and Ontario Tender Fruit Producers chair Phil Tregunno.

A freak hail storm cut a swath through the organic asparagus field of Charles Welsh, Scotland, Ontario.

According to the Ontario Asparagus Growers' Association, yields were already down 30 to 40 per cent across the sector due to extreme spring weather. The season ended two weeks earlier than usual.

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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Davina Lechowicz has partnered with Tom Komienski to operate a roadstand stand near Scotland, Ontario. Her entrepreneurial spirit has been aided with graphics from Foodland Ontario and an eye for presentation of the season's first strawberries.

ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2012 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Chair Vice-Chair Fruit Director Veg Director Director

Mac James, Leamington Ray Duc, Niagara-on-the-Lake Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin Jason Ryder, Delhi Jason Verkaik, Bradford

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

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

OFVGA SECTION CHAIRS Crop Protection Research Property Labour Safety Nets CHC

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

THE GROWER

PERSPECTIVE Farm weekend one step to bridging producers and consumers

OWEN ROBERTS UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH Connecting consumers and farmers has become a new imperative. Research from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has shown people want some kind of connection to those who grow their food. One company is taking that connection to the next level – by actually sending Ontario consumers to the prairies for a farm weekend.

In May, BASF randomly

approached people at a Cambridge shopping mall, and offered two of them the chance to spend parts of next month on Saskatchewan and Alberta commercial farms.

There’s no script or debate planned. Instead, the initiative is being presented as an opportunity for an on-farm discussion about why farmers do what they do – including using crop protection products -- and why consumers think like they do.

The visit will be recorded in part and used for education and training. Scott Kay, business director for BASF Canada, expects the results to be enlightening for all concerned – the farmers involved, the consumers and BASF staff. “I want our company to have informed conversations about farmers and consumers, too,” he says.

Sponsoring a cross-Canada farm experience is one way to help move those conversations along. People hold farmers in esteem, yet sometimes consider

“

I want our company to have informed conversations about farmers and consumers, too.” ~ Scott Kay, BASF Canada farming to be corporate and unruly.

Factually, that’s not true – the overwhelming majority of Canadian farms continue to be family owned and operated.

They’re growing in size – and indeed the ones dubbed “commercial,” deemed to be the most likely to support a full-time farm

family, are becoming more numerous, according to University of Guelph research.

They may have incorporated, mainly as a business move to protect their assets.

Still, misunderstandings abound, particularly about the role of multi-national corporations in agriculture. Crop protection products seem to be a particular target. Industry organizations such as CropLife Canada that support commercial farms have an army of statistics that show how much less farmers would likely produce if it was not for crop protection products.

For example, they say consumers pay less for groceries

as a result of modern technology – almost 60 per cent less, in fact.

And they maintain that without crop protection products and plant biotechnology, Canadian farmers would need 37 million more acres of land – about the total annual crop area of Saskatchewan – to produce the same amount of food they produce now.

Research-based information is vital for a calm, measured conversation about the need for such products. In fact, it’s vital. At a recent symposium sponsored by BASF, JoAnn Buth, a newly appointed Canadian senator and a former president of the Canola Council of Canada, told participants there’s “an increasing demand for science to demonstrate impact.” Ottawa will continue funding research, but the scientists will need to show how their studies affect the lives of Canadians, and others.

And with federal and provincial budgets stretched to the limit, expect to see corporations such as BASF becoming more active in research. They too have heard governments say industry needs to be more active. They’re planning accordingly, and they’re ramping up communications – including new ventures such as prairie farm weekends -- to help people understand where they fit in.

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PAGE 10 –– JULY 2012 THE GROWER

RETAIL NAVIGATOR

New Sobeys leadership promises change advantages have to be realized in the bottom line.

PETER CHAPMAN There are some significant changes happening at Sobeys and you need to be aware of them.

The first big change is leadership; we all know Bill McEwen is retiring. Sobeys announced on June 7th that Marc Poulin would be the new president of Sobeys.

The decision took longer than first indicated which could mean it was a tough decision and that more than one qualified candidate was in line for the position. Marc Poulin has been responsible for Sobeys Quebec operations, which was probably the most successful region for the company. They are good stores in a tough market. It is apparent that he has been rewarded for his strong performance in this market. The challenge now will be to rise above one region that is very unique and run a national retailer. I would expect we will see more IGA initiatives in other regions.

If you work with Sobeys, you should know that they are starting to implement more national initiatives under the Sobeys One program. The previous strategy was very regional. It had to happen, you cannot compete with national retailers such as Loblaws and WalMart with a cost structure that repeats every function four times across the country. There are advantages to being a good regional operator but the

It is a challenge to work in an organization going through this type of change. Trust me - I have been there. The people in each region are doing what they think is right, then someone decides there will be one way to execute a program. It might not be perfect in each region but, when you look at the national picture, it is the only solution. Not wrong, but tough to take when you are the one who has to change. There will be a lot of internal tension.

Be aware of this when working with Sobeys. There will be considerable change for the

employees - and not just one or two programs. People will question their role and future, which leads to distractions and stress. Make sure you consider this in all of your interactions with them.

If you do not work with Sobeys, the message is the same.

Understand what is going on with your customer and remember they are people. Organizational change is tough for many people and it will impact their work, so you need to make sure you incorporate it in to your interactions with them.

So you want to raise your prices?

without major loss of sales and disrupting the relationship you have been working so hard to develop. There are several factors that need to be considered with increases: timing, trust, commodity pricing and retail pricing.

Timing is critical. Most retailers will only accept cost increases in certain months. You need to know these and work your conversation around these time lines.

November and December are critical months for selling and most retailers will not entertain any cost increases during this time.

They are focused on selling and plans are made several months in advance, so retail prices cannot

change. Make sure you plan cost increases within the windows they give you. You should also give the retailers some warning if you can - lay the groundwork about ingredient costs or labour costs. Tell them you are doing everything you can but in three months it might not be possible to hold the line.

Your relationship is very important and a cost increase is a good test. If you looked for an increase last year and based it on rising

The final thing you have to consider when trying to increase a cost is what will happen to the retail price. You know your cost today and you know the retail price today. If your cost must change by five per cent, what will happen to the retail price? Does it go to a level that will slow sales or change the ad retail price? If so, consider the ramifications before making the change.

Chances are the retailer will either pass the increase on to the consumer in a higher retail price or challenge you on the change.

They are not going to absorb lower margins.

This is a critical component of your relationship with your customers. You must both come to the conclusion that the price is fair. No one likes to see a cost increase but, if you manage the relationship, you can minimize

COMING EVENTS 2012 July 10

Unfortunately cost increases are a fact of life in the food industry. The challenge is to get retailers to accept the increase

ingredient costs that did not materialize, you can be assured you will have a tougher time this year.

Make sure you have your facts together and can justify the increase. Retailers understand costs go up; they are dealing with it every month in their stores and warehouses. Assemble your business case and do not make unfounded claims.

Many ingredients are commodities and it is relatively easy to prove that commodity costs are increasing or decreasing.

Make sure you have the facts correct. That eliminates the grey area that leads to mistrust. If a commodity is 10 per cent of your cost, a 10 per cent increase in that commodity is not a three per cent cost increase; it is one per cent in the mind of the retailer.

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Aug 24 – 26 Winona Peach Festival, Winona, ON Sept 8, 9

Stratford Garlic Festival, Stratford, ON

Sept 11 – 13 Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, Woodstock, ON Sept 12 – 14 Federal, provincial, territorial agriculture ministers’ meeting, Whitehorse, Yukon November 1 Ontario Harvest Gala, Delta Hotel, Guelph, ON Nov 2 – 11 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Direct Energy Centre, Toronto, ON

the negative impact on your business.

Your next vacation can pay dividends!

You need to remember two words when you are visiting grocery stores: retail anthropology. I think this is a great term for checking out what is going on in retail stores. I had the opportunity to speak in Winnipeg recently and one of the people working with the host association suggested that these trips are retail anthropology. Sounds much more exciting than 'visiting a grocery store' and it is very appropriate. Go in with the idea you are going to learn something or discover some ideas.

When you travel, pick your stores carefully and do some research before you go. Find out where the new stores or the good ones are. There is always someone in the industry who can be a resource before you land in a new place. If you are in Canada and going to the U.S., an obvious choice would be a Target store before they start to open in Canada in 2013.

If you have a phone with a camera, take a few discreet photos and remember to share them with your customers when you get home. You never know what great ideas you will see in terms of execution, packaging, merchandising or even new items. If you have the opportunity to travel somewhere such as Europe, take note of the flavours, sizes and packaging. Although we do not like to admit it, often they are ahead of North America in terms of trends.

Remember to look at the entire store and find some ideas that might be good to suggest to your customers as well. Retailers look forward to getting some insight into other markets. Pick up a few flyers and go through them to see if there are themes or item combinations that might work for you or your customers. Sharing this with your customers is another opportunity to illustrate you are interested in their business as well as your own.

I admit it does make my family cringe some times when I say I need to do some retail anthropology, but they understand. I can find great things in stores. You can do the same. Your summer vacation can pay big dividends when you get home and implement all the new ideas!

Peter Chapman, a retail food consultant and professional speaker, is principal of GPS Business Solutions, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Peter works with producers and processors to help them navigate through the retail environment with the ultimate goal of getting more items into the shopping cart. pchapman@gpsbusiness.ca.

JULY 2012 –– PAGE 11 THE GROWER

Farm media tour shines spotlight on apples, tender fruits and horticultural research KELLY DAYNARD If you were following the conversation on Twitter on June 14, you would have thought that every food enthusiast in Ontario was visiting a farm that day.

The chatter from more than 100 tweets was generated by a bus load of food writers, bloggers, chefs and professional home economists participating in Farm & Food Care Ontario’s annual Toronto media tour. This year’s sold-out event of 50 included representatives from the Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, What’s Cooking, Fresh Juice Magazine, City Bites and others.

Annually, the tour focuses on different types of crop and livestock farms within driving distance of Toronto. The farm media tour was co-hosted by Dairy Farmers of Canada and sponsored by the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, Ontario Apple Growers and the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.

With Niagara region as the destination, the Ontario Apple Growers’ general manager Kelly Ciceran, set the context with the frost crisis of April. The group was shocked to learn of the frost damage and estimates of a loss of 88 per cent of the 2012 Ontario apple crop. One freelance writer, in her evaluation form, wrote that she was astounded to learn “how vulnerable our farmers are and how dependent they are on the elements like weather.”

Arriving at the orchard of Art Moyer in Grimsby, the group learned about apples, sour cherries, grapes and pears. Pointing to some of the apple trees in his orchard, Moyer noted that trees that would traditionally have 80 apples on them might now have 12 to 15 which makes the production too low for a commercial crop. Regardless of the damage, though, Moyer noted that the trees must still be pruned and cared for as normal through the 2012 growing season so that they’re ready for production in 2013.

During their visit, the group peppered Moyer with questions on such topics as the science behind pruning, pest management (both insects and deer), foreign workers, farm succession planning and research into apple varieties and tree densities.

Leaving Grimsby, the tour continued to the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre to see research plots for global vegetables more suited to Canada’s newest immigrants.

Different types of eggplant, okra, Chinese hot peppers, Indian red carrot and yard long beans are

just some of the produce that are being adapted for Canada’s shorter growing season.

Michael Brownridge, Vineland’s research director in horticultural production systems, explained that Ontario imports $61 million worth of exotic vegetables per month. If farmers in Ontario could grow those crops, these imports could be replaced by local growers.

Valerio Primomo, Vineland’s vegetable breeder, talked about the centre’s work growing sweet potatoes. He also touched on some of the more unique products such as round cucumbers – an item that spurred a flurry of photographs and tweets.

One food writer tweeted that

she was “proud to be Canadian because the Vineland Research Station is doing some great work.” Another noted that they had no idea “of the amazing innovation being pursued at Vineland.”

The group then enjoyed a gourmet Taste of Ontario lunch sponsored by Dairy Farmers of Canada and catered by Chef JanWillem Stulp of the Grand Oak Culinary Market in Vineland and finally a tour of a progressive Ancaster dairy farm.

Farm & Food Care partners annually with different farm organizations to introduce different commodities to the food experts.

Suggestions for future tour stops within an hour’s drive of Toronto

Michael Brownridge, research director in horticultural production systems, welcomes food media to the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. or Ottawa are always welcome.

Email ideas to info@farmfoodcare.org A second tour will take Ottawa-area writers and chefs to

farms near the nation’s capital in September.

Kelly Daynard is communications manager, Farm & Food Care Ontario.

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PAGE 12 –– JULY 2012 THE GROWER

JULY 2012 –– PAGE 13 THE GROWER

PAGE 14 –– JULY 2012 THE GROWER

2012 Summer Tour, Aug. 14 & 15 08:00 AM -- Departing from the Quality Inn at Airport 09:00 AM -- Arriving at Burgess Baskets Newport Station, Nova Scotia • Tour of box factory 10:00 AM -- Departing Burgess Baskets 10:45 AM -- Arriving at Webster Farms Cambridge, Nova Scotia • Biennial Raspberries • Raspberry variety trial and new Kentville selections • Raspberry trellising • Matted row strawberry

production 11:45 AM -- Departing Webster Farms

03:00 PM -- Departing Vital Berry CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

12:00 PM -- Arriving at Berwick Apple Dome for lunch Berwick, Nova Scotia 01:30 PM -- Departing Berwick Apple Dome 01:45 PM -- Arriving at Vital Berry Centreville, Nova Scotia • Strawberry plasticulture – dayneutrals and June-bearers • Compost x fertigation research trial

Are you applying the proper water volume with your herbicides?

KRISTEN CALLOW, WEED MANAGEMENT PROGRAM LEAD – HORTICULTURE Why is water volume so important when you apply herbicides? Inadequate spray volumes will result in poor coverage of the herbicide on the weed surface. Herbicide coverage is critical because the spray solution acts as the carrier of the herbicide active ingredients that are absorbed by the weeds causing death. Weed density, environmental conditions, and growth stage of the weeds should be

Herbicide Group

Site of Action

1

Inhibitors of acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase):

2

3

determined prior to making applications.

Higher water volumes are usually required for contact herbicides (Group 6, 10, 14, 22 and 27), particularly when: • spraying a pre-seed burn off when weeds are small • spraying through a dense canopy • spraying later in the day or evening when weed leaves may not be as horizontal to intercept the herbicide Follow label directions to maximize herbicide performance.

Herbicide Example

Assure II, Excel, Poast Ultra, Select, Venture

Water Volume** for Best Results (L/ha)

Water Volume** for Best Results (Imp. gallon/ac)

100 - 300

10.7 – 32.1

Inhibitors of acetolactate synthase Prism, Pursuit (ALS) and also called acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS)

100 - 400

10.7 – 42.8

Microtubule assembly inhibitors

Prowl H2O

200 minimum 21.4

Treflan

100 minimum 10.7

4

Synthetic auxins

2,4-D, Dicamba, MCPA

100 - 650

10.7 – 69.5

5

Inhibitors of photosynthesis at photosystem II, Site A

Princep Nine-T

300

32.1

Sencor, Sinbar

150 - 300

16 – 32.1

Basagran

100 - 400

10.7 – 42.8

6

Inhibitors of photosynthesis at photosystem II, Site B

7

Inhibitors of photosynthesis at photoLorox system II, Site B (alternate binding site)

100 - 600

10.7 – 74.9

9

Inhibitors of 5-enolpyruvylshikimimate- Round-up 3-phosphate synthase (EPSP) (glyphosate)

50 - 300

5.3 – 32.1

10

Inhibitors of carotenoid biosynthesis

Ignite

170 - 220

18.2 – 23.5

13

Diterpene synthesis inhibitor

Command

5 - 375

10.2 – 40.1

14

Inhibitors of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (Protox)

Aim, Chateau, Goal 100 - 500 2XL

10.7 – 53.5

15

Conjugation of acetyl co-enzyme A

Dual II Magnum

150 – 400

16 – 42.8

20

Inhibits cell wall synthesis Site A

Casoron

Non specified Non specified

22

Photo system I – electron diverters

Gramoxone

187 -1100

20 – 117.6

29

Inhibitors of cellulose biosynthesis

Alion

Minimum 93

Minimum 9.95

Table 1. Water Volumes for the Best Herbicide Results *Conversion factor: Multiply gal/ac by 9.35 to get L/ha **Volumes on herbicide labels vary based on crop type, crop growth stage, weed type and weed growth stage

JULY 2012 –– PAGE 15 THE GROWER

BERRY FOCUS

Emergency use registrations for spotted wing drosophila JIM CHAPUT, OMAFRA, MINOR USE COORDINATOR, GUELPH The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has approved several emergency use registrations for Delegate, Entrust, Malathion, Pyganic and Ripcord insecticides for control / suppression of spotted wing drosophila (SWD) in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia on berry crops and stone fruit. In 2011, the emergency use registrations of several of these products helped berry crop and stone fruit producers manage this serious pest problem.

Furthermore several minor use submissions are underway to seek eventual, full registration of these products for SWD control in Canada.

SWD is a new pest to North

America and attacks thin-skinned, ripening fruit of blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, peaches, apricots, cherries, nectarines, grapes and others and was identified in fruit growing areas in the U.S. and British Columbia in 2008 and 2009. 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. The damaged, infested fruit is unmarketable and an economic loss to growers. In 2010 significant fruit damage occurred in B.C.’s stone fruit and berry crops. In 2011, SWD spread to many regions of North America putting many berry crop and stone fruit producers at risk for serious crop losses. See the following link also: www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/cr ops/facts/pest-alert-swd.htm

The following table provides a summary of the emergency use registrations for SWD on the Entrust, Delegate, Malathion, Pyganic and Ripcord labels.

Consult the full product labels for detailed instructions, precautions and restrictions. Note that each label is approved for use on crop subgroups 13-07A (caneberries), 13-07B (bushberries), grapes, strawberries and crop group 12 (stone fruit) except for Pyganic. Product Rate(s)

Remarks

Pre-harvest Interval(s)

DELEGATE Consult label for crop specific information

Maximum of 3 applications per year with a re-treatment interval of 7 days

5 days – cherries 4 days - grapes 3 days – apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines, bushberry 1 day – caneberries, strawberries

ENTRUST Consult label for crop specific information

Maximum of 3 applications per year with a re-treatment interval of 5 days

9 days – grapes (hand harvest) 5 days – cherries 4 days – grapes (mechanical harvest) 3 days – apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines, bushberry 1 day – caneberries, strawberries

Tour cont’d 03:30 PM -- Arriving at G.W. Allen Nursery Centreville, Nova Scotia • Nursery packing house and northern variety screenhouse • “Southern” certified strawberry nursery field • Raspberry certified nursery field • “Northern” certified strawberry nursery field 05:00 PM -- Arriving at C.O. Keddy Nursery for supper Kentville, Nova Scotia Day 2 08:15 AM -- Arriving at Elmsdale Sobey's Elmsdale, Nova Scotia 09:00 AM -- Departing Elmsdale Sobey's 10:00 AM -- Arriving at Millen Farms Debert, Nova Scotia • Strawberry plasticulture (dayneutrals, June-bearers, and 60day crop) • Matted row strawberry production system • Raspberries • Fresh pack wild blueberries • Fresh QC traceability system 12:00 PM -- Departing Millen Farms

The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association s second bi-annual, industry-wide, universal guide assists farmers in finding companies and organizations within the fruit and vegetable sector.

The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association is bringing the industry together, again – and you can help. If you are interested in being listed, FREE of charge, merely fill out the information below and fax it back to 519-380-0011 .

This resource guide will be sent out via The Grower throughout Canada, providing fruit and vegetable farmers with a valuable contact tool for future reference. While keeping it as simple as possible, the guide will be broken into 12 sections for ease of management and accessibility for the farmers using it.

This is one booklet that will always be on-hand with fruit and vegetable farmers in Canada – count on it.

The sections for the guide are as follows please circle each applicable section for your business : Equipment Pollination Seed Rootstock Irrigation Greenhouse Packaging Container Crop protection Fertilizer Miscellaneous Farm Organizations It’s literally a “Who’s Who” for the fruit and vegetable industry. Don’t be left behind.

Get your information in today.

For advertising in the guide, contact Herb Sherwood who will be happy to explain other options aside from the FREE listing.

Ph: 519-380-0118 Fax: 1-519-380-0011 Email: advertising@thegrower.org Pricing Back Page. . . $1,250 Page 3 . . . $1,100 1/2 page . . . $625

Inside Front . . . $1,100 3/4 Page . . . $850

Inside back. . .$1,100 Full Page . . . $975 1/4 page . . . $375

Process Colour is available on all pages and is included in cost per page

Company Name: Address:

City:

Prov./State:

Postal Code/Zip: Tel: Fax: General Email: Mailing Address if different than above :

12:15 PM -- Arriving at Masstown Market for lunch Masstown, Nova Scotia • Tour of market 02:45 PM -- Arriving at Eikelenboom Vineyards Rines Creek, Nova Scotia • Welcome by John Eikelenboom • Tour of vineyard

Website: Year Established: Products:

PAGE 16 –– JULY 2012 THE GROWER

CANADA’S FRUIT & VEG TECH X-CHANGE

Lots to see at summer show, July 12 - 14 It’s trade show time. Canada’s Fruit & Veg Tech X-Change will be rolling out the “green” carpet on July 12, 13 and 14.

Located on the shores of Lake Erie in Norfolk County, St. Williams is located on a horticultural highway that stretches from Essex County to Niagara Region.

A free brunch will be served from 10 am to 11:30 am on opening day. Two hundred and fifty exhibitors will be demonstrating specialized equipment on the grounds. A two-day speaker program will highlight the latest research. Look for the equipment innovation contest, live demos and a Farm Family XPO. The launch of ‘robot farmers’ is expected to draw a crowd.

“With Essex County and the greenhouse growers concerned more than ever with environmental impact and water recirculation, these growers are motivated to attend the X-Change with

their families, to see such things as irrigation field days and the new greenhouse farmer robot launch,” states Jillian McCallum, Essex County Growers’ Association. “Our greenhouse operations have significant impact in the horticulture sector; they are serious about technology and educating the next generation, they know they will see it all in one place at the X-Change this July.”

For those visiting on Saturday, plan to catch David Chilton, Canadian author of “The Wealthy Barber Returns.” He’s slated to speak at 12 noon, discussing financial planning as it relates to agriculture. For more information and a $5 discount coupon, see www.fruitveg.ca Plan to follow The Grower’s editor, Karen Davidson on Twitter, as she tweets from the show on Thursday, July 12. @karenthegrower.

Innovation is focus of CFVTX Speakers’ Series JOHN KELLY Market analysis. New crops.

Industrial uses of established horticultural crops.

Check out these topics at the Speakers’ Series at Canada’s Fruit & Veg Tech X-Change July 12 and 13 in St. Williams, Ontario. Organized by Erie Innovation and Commercialization, these topics will provide a window on horticulture’s future.

underserved, providing more opportunity for profitability.

One such example is global vegetables, a market that’s become mainstream to serve the growing population of immigrants from southern and eastern Asia as well as the Afro-Caribbean community

dren are asked to eat their “veggies, ” they may be asked to eat only one bean! Jamie Reaume, executive director of the Holland Marsh Growers’ Association, will continue in the same vein,

•

Agricultural * Commercial * Industrial

50 Years of Excellent Service

Tracking the trends John Cranfield, a University of Guelph professor, brings years of analysis of market trends in food and health. Using a value chain perspective and pointing out that consumers will dictate the market pull, Cranfield will help producers target markets that may be

in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Valerio Primomo from the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre will focus on specific opportunities such as yard long beans. Now when chil-

Refrigeration (All Types) Heating, Air Conditioning Controlled Atmosphere Valerio Primomo

905-685-4255 www.pennrefrigeration.com info@pennrefrigeration.com 18 Seapark Drive, St Catharines ON, L2M 6S6

describing how bok choi has been marketed from the the muck-soils area north of Toronto.

Researching new crops Hazelnuts represent a very strong opportunity for Ontario growers.

Martin Hodgson, a hazelnut farmer from Courtland Ontario, will evaluate the market potential through Ferrero Canada Inc.’s Nutella and Ferrero Rocher chocolates. His slide show will provide personal experience as well as analysis of how hazelnuts fit within a diversified horticultural economy.

Other crops provide potential for their nutraceuticals and specific impacts on human health.

With much research, Jim Todd says that health claims in any number of horticultural crops could produce profits in the increasing health and wellness market.

A current development is hops, with the burgeoning micro-brewery market demanding local product. Hops were grown in Ontario until the 1930s when acreage decreased due to disease problems and market pressures.

OMAFRA’s Evan Elfort will highlight commercial hop cultivar research that’s underway to support more than 20 hop growers in Ontario.

Tapping into industrial uses

The best producing orchards start with exceptional trees.

Apples Apricots Cherries Nectarines Peaches Plums

Quality Fruit Trees for 60 years.

Mori Nurseries 1695 Niagara Stone Rd., RR#2 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S1J0 T: 905-468-3217 F: 905-468-7271 Email: fruittrees@morinurseries.com

www.morinurseries.com

Dave Wolyn Imagine a field of dandelions producing inputs for rubber tires or non-allergenic latex gloves and medical devices.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

JULY 2012 –– PAGE 17 THE GROWER

CANADA’S FRUIT & VEG TECH X-CHANGE

CFVTX Speakers’ Series CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

Industrial chemicals from plants will be the focus of University of

Guelph’s Dave Wolyn. Joining him will be Franco Berutti from

BEDDINGPRO

the Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR) at Western University Engineering in London who will showcase opportunities for the Jerusalem artichoke. The plant shows economic potential for industrial use as a precursor to produce biofuels and biochemicals. The active ingredients taken from different parts of the plant can be used for food additives, flavours, pharmaceuticals and medicinal purposes.

Craig Hunter, who will be updating growers on the latest registrations and tools. Hunter is an expert advisor, specializing in pesticide, minor use, food safety and on-farm pesticide management issues.

As the organizer of the Speakers’ Series, Erie Innovation and Commercialization continues to provide access to new technologies and to encourage diversification in the south central Ontario region.

Learning what’s new in crop protection

John Kelly is vice president, Erie Innovation and Commercialization, OFVGA.

To stay on top of the latest in crop protection, take in OFVGA’s

SPRING OR FALL THE BEDDINGPRO DOES IT ALL between the rows in the spring or on top of the rows in the winter The only round bail shredder that offers controlled and consistant spreading and requires only a 40 hp tractor.

The best solution for all spreading requirments.

Self-propelled harvester

Double R Manufacturing 270 Branch Road, Crapaud PE, C0A 1J0 1-888-658-2088 • beddingpro@gmail.com • www.doublermanufacturing.com

program designed to help Ontario farmers with water taking permit needs

S G

Soil preparation

Vegetable washers and polishers

urface Water Services round Water Services

G S

eorge Shearer urface Water Specialist

Cabbage harvester

Vineyard equipment

Stripper LF

Onion Harvester

Trimmer LF

Carrot Harvester

Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association 105-355 Elmira Road North Guelph, Ontario N1K 1S5 ph: 519-763-6160 ext. 219 cell: 519-222-3272 fax: 519-763-6604 email: water@ofvga.org Univerco_2009_11_18-j

A

FALC products

PAGE 18 –– JULY 2012 THE GROWER

CANADA’S FRUIT & VEG TECH X-CHANGE

Program highlights

Here is one example of 2011 test plots showing amaranth.

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

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

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

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

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

July 12

July 14

Meet the brokers. Cost of brunch is included in daily admission. Five or six brokers from Ontario and Michigan will speak about their services and what they offer!

Rob Knipf, Investment Advisor at TD Waterhouse Private Investment Advice is pleased to bring Dave Chilton to the 2012 X-Change. A highly sought after speaker globally, David will deliver a compelling message on smart financial planning as it relates to agriculture. Saturday, July 14th - included in the price of general admission.

JULY 2012 –– PAGE 19 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

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

400, 500, 600 GAL.

ALL STAINLESS STEEL Made in Canada

NEW Turbo-Mist SPRAYERS - CLEAN TRADES NEEDED - ALL MAKES LOW DRIFT SPRAY TOWERS to fit any TURBO-MIST - IN STOCK NOW Turbo-Mist 500 gal, Myers Centrifugal Pump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,500 Turbo-Mist 400 gal, 30” Fan, Standard Outlet or Tall Tower John Bean/FMC 252 Stainless, 500Gal Hydr-Valves, A-1 . . . . . . . . $7,500 Durand Wayland 500 gal, Stainless Steel, Centrifugal Pump . . . $5,500 Perfect ZA380, 13ft Rotary Mower, 11ft + Swing Cutter . . . . $4,950 Votex 3-PH, 11FT Mower, New Blades - 6 Yrs Old . . . . . . . . . . . $4,700 New and Used Bin Trailers For Wood and Plastic Bins . . . . . . . In Stock Bin Rotator for Tractor Loader or Forklift , Incl Forks & Hose . . . . . . .$1,100

New Perfect H.D. Flail Mulchers in Stock New Myers Centrifugal Sprayer Pumps in Stock **Turbo-Mist Parts & Service Available - 7 Days a Week (In Season)**

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

Winona Concrete & Pipe Products Ltd. 489 Main St. W., Grimsby, ON. L3M 1T4

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

** Instant photos to you by e-mail - all advertised items ** TRADES, CONSIGNMENTS, LEASING, DELIVERY ANYWHERE

1-800-361-8515

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

CLASSIFIEDS

FOR SALE Two produce lines.

1st: Greefa 2 lane 12 drop color sorter/sizer includes 8 round tables with three cross conveyors. It also has an Orbit labellerall in excellent condition, works great. $30,000 obo.

2nd: 2 lane 8 drop Autoline weight Pro Sizer for tomatoes, peppers or fruit. 360 bushel per hour, great line.Serviced by an Aweta tech last fall. Works great, $10,000 obo.

Call 519.476.4623 CONTAINERS

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

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

• Berry Boxes • Waxed Cartons • Crop Protection Material

Slightly used watermelon and pumpkin cardboard bins for sale.

36” and 30” bins in very good shape. $3 for 30”, $5 for 36”.

Call 519-318-8709 For Sale: National cucumber grader. 8 sizes. Works great. $2,000. 289-237-8053 For Sale: Crop tumbler, wet & dry sections. Variable speed drive. Excellent condition.

519-424-2632

CONTAINERS

CONTAINERS

PAGE 20 –– JULY 2012 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

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

NURSERY AND ROOTSTOCK

Alpine Nurseries

Complete Greenhouse Systems For Your Needs!

(Niagara) Limited

SPECIALIZING IN FRUIT TREES & GRAPE VINES & ELDERBERRIES. VARIETY AND PRICE LIST AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Complete Greenhouse Systems Since 1986

Tel: 519-582-3081 Fax: 519-582-0851 Toll Free: 888-786-4769 RR 1, Simcoe Ontario, Canada info@decloetgreenhouse.com www.decloetgreenhouse.com

Howard A. Colcuc Nursery Manager R.R. #4 Creek Road Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON. L0S 1J0 Tel: (905) 262-4971 Fax: (905) 262-4404 howardcolcuc@rogers.com

BIOPROTECTION

Secure the varieties you need for 2012 and 2013 planting.

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

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

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' ( ) WATER TREATMENT

The 'AQUA Wetland System' “A new breed of constructed wetland�

REAL ESTATE

AQUA Treatment Technologies Inc. designs and installs the 'AQUA Wetland System' (AWS) for tertiary treatment of many types of waste water including sanitary sewage, landfill leachate, dairy farm & abattoir wastewater, greenhouse irrigation leachate water & mushroom farm leachate water (i.e. manure pile leachate) and high strength winery washwater.

The 'AQUA Wetland System' is operated out of doors and can achieve year-round tertiary treatment of wastewater. This sub-surface, vertical flow constructed wetland consists of sand & gravel beds planted with moisture tolerant plant species. Water is pumped vertically from cell to cell. There is no open or standing water.

Treatment occurs through physical filtration & biological degradation. Plants shade & insulate the cells, cycling nutrients while preventing algae growth. There is no production of sludge.

The AWS has been approved for use by the Ontario Ministry of Environment through over 40 Environmental Compliance Approvals. Recently the Region of Niagara began approving the AWS for treatment of 'small flow' winery washwater I.e. < 10,000 liters per day. Other agencies who have issued approvals include Health Canada, USEPA and OMAFRA. Recent projects include: 1) treatment of cider mill washwater at Bennett's Apple and Cider in Ancaster 2) treatment of winery washwater at DiProfio Wines and Lincoln Farm Winery in Niagara 3) treatment of pond water at Hihojo Farms for supply of hog drinking water

For additional information please Contact Lloyd Rozema at: cell. 905-327-4571 email. lrozema@aqua-tt.com

JULY 2012 –– PAGE 21 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

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

CROP TUNNELS

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

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

REFRIGERATION

ASK FOR MORE INFORMATION

Change of address?

866-898-8488 ext. 221

Turn your used farm equipment into cash.

Classified ads 866-898-8488 ext. 221

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

Reliable Refrigeration Systems

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Custom Built Designs • Domestic and International Markets

FOOD SAFETY

PAGE 22 –– JULY 2012 THE GROWER

MINOR USE CRAIG’S COMMENTS

From the ‘Didja ever wonder?’ files

CRAIG HUNTER OFVGA Disclaimer: I didn’t make these up! They are based on readily assessable news clips and other public sources.

Didja ever wonder: How the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) could justify having a staffer travel weekly to and from Guelph to Ottawa for a year (to the tune of over $100,000) to consult on, wait for this, saving money! The excuse rolled out was that he was consulting with several Ottawa staff using ‘secret’ documents that could not be copied nor shared electronically. I remember a wise Deputy Minister who defined ‘secret’ as anything that was not yet on his desk. If it existed on paper (or electronically), others must already be ‘in on it’ and have seen it. Likewise, if several staff worked on this issue for a year, and were sworn to secrecy, why could it not be available to him to use ‘secretly’ from Guelph? Does anyone really believe it was not ‘leaked’ somehow during that year? (In addition to all of this, what could possibly be so secret yet be available for so many to work with daily for a year?)

Didja ever wonder: Why the federal agriculture ministry would close down their only sprayer technology program (in Saskatoon)? In an era where focus on pesticide use, environmental safety, worker protection, and food safety continues to make headlines, how can one justify cutting out a world-class operation? Oh, I think the ministerial answer was that it would allow

industry to step up to do the work! Duh!! It was to ensure that what came from the application industry to farmers for their use was indeed functional, operationally safe, and how to optimize its benefits while safe-guarding the operator and the environment.

If one assumes that industry will now do this, how does one explain all the changes, modifications and downright dismissal of some equipment that came as a result of the evaluations coming from this program? That equipment was ‘supposed’ to have already been grower-ready! I still recall a twilight meeting where a new (and somewhat naïve) sprayer salesman was demonstrating a new machine to a group of apple growers. He asked some of the growers to get right into the tree canopy and he would spray water from the sprayer to show how much tree penetration it could get. It did do a great job of penetration! However, when we (independent extension staff) were asked by the host grower to examine the machine, not really to our surprise it had been set up with a full set of D-45 swirls and #7 discs! (Much like from the local car-wash!) If used as equipped, it would spray out about 1200 gallons per acre--over three tanks per acre! The growers were so impressed with the performance, they never bought any!

Didja ever wonder: Why there was a recent announcement that all provincial adaptation councils would be dis-banded, and all research and development projects would be evaluated just from Ottawa? Given that the funds are distributed to provinces based on a formula, and that the provincial groups decided what were the most pressing needs, locally, and what work should get the highest (if any) priority for funding, and given the cost for administration for each province came from their allocation, what was the problem? Perhaps the very fact that these councils were hugely efficient, very well connected to the local needs via their memberships, and maybe because they were NOT bending towards any particular political position

but rather, addressing grower needs, it was felt that more political control was necessary. Putting it all in Ottawa may not save much in administration costs. It will certainly eliminate the most and best local inputs towards deciding how and where to allocate the provincial shares.

OOPS! I got ahead of myself.

Who thinks there will continue to be a hard and fast provincial or even regional allocation? Who thinks there will even be a program? Who even suggested that fair and appropriate funding would be done equitably, and not

licensed applicators to spray for serious pest issues with some “banned” products? After three years of increasing problems, the public may be fed up, but the house has done nothing to fix their woes! The reports from various sources suggest the three-year supply of ‘the good stuff’ that many stockpiled in their garages has now been used up. The evidence is plain to see! In addition to serious weed infestations, the grub control in lawns is out of control! Plus, there are now some new invasive species of insects that can attack and destroy over

Didja ever wonder if a dandelion seed head is perfection or a pest?

Photo by Denis Cahill re-directed to more ‘favourable’ locations and ‘folks’? What can be definitely said is that a highly efficient, fair, and reasonable approach to ensuring allocation of funds in each province will be eliminated. Would it not have made more sense to make GREATER use of them to deliver umpteen other programs? Would it not have made sense to utilize a GOOD delivery system than to scrap it, and keep other ones that are not as transparent, and not as well run? In fact, wouldn’t it have been better to scrap the Ottawa evaluation centre instead? (I guess we all know who was closer to the decision makers!)

Didja ever wonder: Why an opposition member of the Ontario legislature would find it necessary to introduce a private member’s bill to modify the ‘Cosmetic Pesticides Ban’ to at least allow

300 species of plants. None of the registered products that may help are available to a homeowner. In addition, there have been some ‘reduced risk’ products registered

by Health Canada, but these have also been kept away from homeowners’ use! There ARE some products available, but ‘in the day’ none of these would have a market share, because they do not work well enough, or long enough, or cheaply enough to satisfy many consumers! The private member’s bill did not receive allparty approval, and it died on the floor of the legislature. The intent of the proposed bill was good-- to at least allow commercial applicators to apply the ‘effective stuff’, when warranted. It would be nice to see more education and re-certification for applicators and the public put in place too, but that is another story!

Didja ever wonder: Why the province would allow a municipality (Coleman Township in northeastern Ontario) to pass a by-law using the ‘Health and Safety provision’ under the Municipal Act, to restrict pesticide use? In fact, one of the ‘sorta’ good things about the Cosmetic Ban Act was to eliminate all such existing local bylaws dealing with pesticides. This is a new one. (Makes one wonder who drafted it, what their background is, who they receive funding from, etc.) It not only restricts domestic pesticide use, it requires farmers to report, IN ADVANCE!!, each and every pesticide application they are going to make. This runs in opposition to A) Common sense; B) Good pest management practice; C) The intent of the Cosmetic Ban Act. Once again we have a ‘runaround’ of having three ministers involved. Isn’t it so easy to shrug and say “It is not my responsibility/problem”? It affects agricultural producers, but pesticides are not the agriculture minister’s responsibility. It affects the environment minister, because it is about pesticides, but, since the by-law comes under the Municipal Act, it is not his responsibility. The minister of Municipal Affairs is directly affected, but because farmers and pesticides are not his problem, there is no problem for him either! Has anyone asked what the municipality is going to DO with these plans, even if they were available? Has anyone there got the level of expertise to review them and even know what they mean? Does Health Canada need such a third (with questionable expertise) level of scrutiny after they have approved the labeled uses for all of Canada?

What comes next? Will campers need to fill out paperwork to use DEET? Will the sod-replacement businesses continue to grow?

Time will tell.

Didja ever wonder: What else I peruse and gather when keeping up on pesticide issues?

You don’t want to know!!!

JULY 2012 –– PAGE 23 THE GROWER

MINOR USE

Phostrol fungicide granted Canadian registration JIM CHAPUT, OMAFRA, MINOR USE COORDINATOR, GUELPH Engage Agro Corporation and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the registration of Phostrol (sodium, potassium and ammonium phosphites) fungicide for several crops in Canada.

Phostrol belongs to the phosphonate group of fungicides and this registration marks an important milestone in addressing the pest

control product technology gap between the U.S. and Canada.

This group of fungicides including Phostrol and the diseases they control have been identified for many years as important disease management and resistance management tools needed by Canadian producers.

Phostrol fungicide is registered for control or suppression of pink rot and late blight of potato, downy mildew of grape, leafy greens, cucurbits and head and stem Brassicas, leather rot of strawberry, Phytophthora root rot

of raspberry and ornamentals, late blight of tomato and Pythium blight of turf.

Consult the full product label for detailed instructions, precautions and restrictions.

For copies of the new Phostrol fungicide label contact Jim Chaput, OMAFRA, Guelph (519) 826-3539 visit www.engageagro.com

Late blight

Quash fungicide now available Valent Canada, Inc. and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the registration of Quash (metconazole) fungicide for several crops in Canada. This is the second group of registrations for this active ingredient in Canada and marks an important milestone in addressing the pest control product technology gap between the U.S. and Canada. BASF’s

Label expansion granted for Goal 2XL herbicide The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of a minor use label expansion for Goal 2XL herbicide (oxyfluorfen) for control of redroot pigweed and purslane and suppression of lady’s thumb and eastern black nightshade on broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower in Canada. Goal 2XL herbicide was already labeled for management of weeds on dry bulb onions, strawberries and field conifers in Canada.

Goal 2XL herbicide can be used for control or suppression of labelled weeds on broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower at a rate of 1.13 - 2.0 L per ha applied once pre-transplant (preplant). Goal 2XL can be applied in a minimum of 200 L water per ha applied after completion of soil preparation but prior to transplanting. Consult the label for specific details about crop injury, soil texture and transplant vigour.

Do not apply Goal 2XL herbicide to broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower within 60 days of harvest.

For copies of the new supplemental label contact Kristen Callow, OMAFRA, Ridgetown (519) 674-1335, Jim Chaput, OMAFRA, Guelph (519) 8263539 or visit the Dow AgroSciences Canada website at http://www.dowagro.com/ca

Caramba fungicide containing metconazole was registered for cereals, soybeans and sugarbeets

in 2011. These products and the diseases they control have been identified for many years as

important disease management tools needed by Canadian producers.

PAGE 24 –– JULY 2012 THE GROWER

Now Registered!

Make them all count.

Phostrol® helps maintain the quality of your potatoes while in storage so you can get the most out of your crop. Phostrol® is an extremely systemic and highly unique fungicide that provides effective, convenient & flexible preventative protection of late blight and pink rot when applied during the season and at harvest.

For more information on Phostrol please contact Engage Agro 1-866-613-3336

engageagro.com

Always read and follow label directions Phostrol is a registered trade-mark of Engage Agro Corporation.