The Grower March 2014

MARCH 2014

CELEBRATING 134 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION

VOLUME 64 NUMBER 03

THE FOUR SEASONS OF SEASONAL LABOUR

Ontario’s increase to an $11 minimum wage will take $30 million out of grower margins

Horticulture requires minimum-wage workers to prune, sort and harvest in every season. Ontario’s new minimum wage of $11 per hour is set for June 1, in the middle of this year’s most labour-intense time. Photos by Denis Cahill, Glenn Lowson and Linda Williams.

KAREN DAVIDSON

INSIDE Canadian Horticultural Council meets in Kelowna Page 10 Potato nation

Page 18

Focus: Crop protection and spraying Section B

www.thegrower.org P.M. 40012319 $3.00 CDN

When Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announced last month that the minimum wage would increase from $10.25 to $11 per hour as of June 1, Ken Forth called home. The broccoli grower and president of Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS) told his 35-year-old son, “Don’t plan to be in this business by the time you’re 40.”

Growers are dispirited to say the least. Despite a pledge to support local food production, the provincial government has rejected the economic reality that fruit and vegetable producers don’t compete locally but instead operate within a global marketplace.

Ontario apple pricing, for example, must compete with apples from Washington state or Chile even though both of those regions have significantly lower wage rates. Along with Nunavut,

Ontario’s minimum wage will become the highest in North America and 20 per cent higher than the $9 per hour in California, and a whopping 34 per cent higher than the $7.25 minimum wage in other border states. This data was presented to the Minimum Wage Advisory Panel last fall, but “We were ignored out of hand,” says Forth.

In its findings, the panel identified that agriculture, along with retail and hospitality service sectors, are the three industries most dependent on minimumwage labour (See Chart 1) and together, account for approximately two-thirds of the province’s minimum-wage workers.

What’s particularly troubling is that the provincial government appears to have dismissed the counsel of its own panel which predicted an adverse impact on employment, especially youth employment, from minimum wage increases. If the govern-

ment’s objective is to reduce poverty, then all the research shows that minimum wage is a blunt instrument to wield.

Although the panel did not comment on the issue of an immediate increase, it’s important to note that its mandate was specifically limited to recommendations on how the minimum wage increases should be assessed in the future. It made four primary recommendations: 1) that the minimum wage should be revised annually by an amount equivalent to the per cent change in the Ontario consumer price index (CPI); 2) that a minimum notice of four months be given for each increase and the effective date for such increase be set at April 1 each year; 3) that the provincial government review the process every five years; 4) that ongoing labour research be conducted as is currently done in the United Kingdom.

In addition, the panel reported that business is better able to absorb increases that are small and incremental. It further noted that “Ontario’s minimum wage should be in line with other Canadian provinces, the U.S. and other jurisdictions of relevance to the Canadian economy.” Forth couldn’t agree more, but that advice was ignored.

“Production efficiency will have to change,” predicts Ken Linington, policy advisor to the Labour Issues Coordinating Committee (LICC). “That means each worker has to perform at $11 through piece work and probably a more mature, more focused workforce will be required. A seasonal worker has to be a seasoned worker.”

It’s no secret that Americans are actively recruiting Canadian businesses to relocate and build in Michigan, Ohio and New York states.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

PAGE 2 –– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

NEWSMAKERS

AT PRESS TIME… Federal funding welcomed

Grocer margins under pressure

Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz attended the 2014 Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention in Niagara Falls to announce support for a new research cluster led by the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC).

On February 13, the National Post reported that the three publicly traded grocers – Loblaw, Sobeys and Metro – face a stiff competitive environment in the absence of food inflation, a budget-conscious consumer and a strong U.S. dollar which increases procurement costs. U.S. giants Walmart, Target and Costco accounted for about two-thirds of the industry’s three per cent growth in square footage over the past year. That figure is well above Canada’s demographic growth rate of one per cent. Yet Walmart has announced $500 million in new building, anticipating a total of 395 stores in Canada by year-end. Not to be outdone, Costco plans to add 25 more warehouses this year.

Industry retailing analysts expect further erosion of grocer margins.

Brian Gilroy, (L) 2nd vice-chair Canadian Horticultural Council, thanked Hon. Gerry Ritz for the funding support. Photo by Herb Sherwood.

The $7 million investment, made under the AgriInnovation Program, will support industry experts, scientists and academics conducting research focused on reducing crop input costs while improving marketable yield and margins for apple and potato growers.

CHC is also receiving more than $450,000 via the AgriMarketing Program for two additional projects that will benefit the apple and potato industries. One project will help promote Canada’s high-quality apple varieties at international trade shows and increase export potential. The second project will allow the CHC to work on issues affecting market access for potato farmers and to increase global awareness of Canadian potatoes.

Vegetable fundraiser takes root Manitoba’s Farm to School Fundraiser has raised more than $1.1 million for the province’s schools and daycares since the program was initiated three years ago.

In 2013, 410 schools and daycares participated. More than 60,000 bundles of vegetables were distributed. Put another way, that’s 790,671 pounds of vegetables sold.

“People also had an option to buy bundles and have them delivered directly to their local

food bank,” says Larry McIntosh, president and CEO, Peak of the Market. “This year, 30,477 pounds were donated – up significantly from the 8,584 pounds donated last year.”

Berry growers seek stable funding The Ontario Berry Growers’ Association is exploring a different business model says Kevin Schooley, chair. Currently, the 170 members pay dues on a voluntary basis, however a more secure funding mechanism is needed.

“We need stable funding,” says Schooley. “To qualify for many government programs, we need to offer matching funds.

We’re struggling to do the research that was done in the past.”

The association has received Growing Forward II funding to explore options. An acreage fee is not likely to work, given that strawberry plantings change so frequently. An annual membership fee plus a checkoff on number of nursery plants purchased is one scenario.

Statistics Canada reports that 660 strawberry growers ply their trade in Ontario, but Schooley questions that number. The association is currently building a database of potential growers that might belong to a strengthened body. These statistics will be part of a proposal to the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission.

The Innovation Award for Best New Product at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention was won by Roger Vail, Vailmont Vineyards Ltd for his Tow and Blow Portable Wind Machine. The Best New Service Award was won by Don Parsons, Farm-Apps Inc. for Field-Tractor Pro software. For more details, go to page 4.

The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention is the host venue for several competitions.

Congratulations to all participants. Hard cider competition winners are: First place, West Portable wind Avenue Cider, Chris Haworth with ‘Heritage machine Dry’; Second place, Bonnieheath Estate Winery, Steve and Anita Buehner; Third place, The County Cider Company, Grant Howes and Jennifer Dean with ‘Waupoos Draft Cider.’

Sweet cider competition winners are: First place, Larry Short, Beamsville; Second place, Al Ferri & Sons, Brampton; Third place, Delhaven Orchards, Blenheim.

This year, an American Brown Ale was the style chosen for the Great Ontario-Hopped Craft Beer Competition sponsored by Goal Zero. Winners are: First place, The Blue Elephant/Carolinian Hop Yard; Second place, Get Well Brewing/Nation Hops; Third place, The Olde Stone Brewing Company/Slow Acres Organics.

Re-elected vice-chair for the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association is Jason Verkaik, a carrot and onion grower from Bradford, Ontario. Along with chair Ray Duc, the management committee for 2014 will comprise Norm Charbonneau, Charles Stevens and Jan VanderHout.

The Niagara Peninsula Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association has posthumously presented its award of merit to Wayne Roberts.

He was instrumental in the region providing counsel on integrated pest management strategies, setting up a plum pox certification program and introducing a virus-free common mother block program.

Gord Surgeoner is one of four to be inducted into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame on June 8. While his career started at the University of Guelph in 1976 as an entomologist researching insect-borne disease control, he has made extensive, significant and ongoing contributions to the entire agri-food industry.

The Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers elected a new chair at their annual general meeting. He is Jim Poel, a pea grower from Thorndale. Vice-chair is Francis Dobbelaar, a tomato, cucumber and pea grower from Wallaceburg. Joining the board is Tom Keller (Leamington) and Frank Schonberger (Langton).

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Mark Shainblum has joined the Canadian Horticultural Council as manager, commodity coordination and communications. His responsibilities include coordination for the blueberry and apple commodity groups as well as communications for all stakeholders: members, government, media and general public.

At the first annual general meeting of members, CanadaGAP program participants elected a new board of directors by webinar and teleconference on February 10. Serving a two-year term until 2016, they are: Jack Bates, Tecarte Farms; Hugh Bowman, Misionero Vegetables; Avia Eek, Eek Farms; Keith Kuhl, Peak of the Market; Stephanie Lariviere, Erie James Ltd.; Paul Leblanc, Apple Growers of New Brunswick; Cathy McKay, Nature’s Bounty; Dean Thomson, Thomson Orchards.

On a happy footnote to the Olympics, Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse, brand ambassador for PEI potatoes, won the gold medal in two-women bobsleigh.

PROUD TO SUPPORT ONTARIO FARMERS

MARCH 2014 –– PAGE 3 THE GROWER

THE FOUR SEASONS OF SEASONAL LABOUR

Ontario’s increase to an $11 minimum wage CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The greenhouse business, in particular, is regularly lobbied to expand in these jurisdictions that have lower labour, energy and tax rates. Building permits are granted quickly and American bankers are happy to be part of the pitch package to relocate.

That attractive combination has already lured Mastronardi Produce, for example, to build in Coldwater, Michigan where the greenhouse grower is currently doubling its acreage there from 30 to 60 acres. When completed later this summer, the state-ofthe-art facility is expected to hire 90 new workers.

Source: Minimum Wage Advisory Panel Report The long-term implications Without a proper policy environment to counter global competition, Ontario innovation strategies may die in their incubators. The higher labour rates – a seven per cent increase – will cost Ontario growers another $30 million a year.

Undoubtedly, this will mean fewer eligible dollars for innovation or matching fund government programs. And for those considering investments in alternative crops, the minimum-wage announcement could strangle higher-risk ventures, while limiting further expansion in established

Ken Forth

The short-term response

businesses.

Linington makes the point that provincial and federal policies are currently at odds. While the federal government is championing free trade agreements, Ontario is instituting more regulations across all ministries. “It’s just more and more on the backs of growers,” says Linington. “It’s death by a thousand knives. Quite literally, our social standards are legislating us out of business.”

In the horticulture sector’s brief, there was a call for an agricultural rate, distinct from the overall minimum wage rate. The premise being that any rate tied to the CPI will be artificially high because it will be weighted toward the higher cost of living in metropolitan areas, particularly Toronto.

At a meeting with the premier held in early February, Ken Forth from FARMS and Art Smith and Don Taylor from the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) had a chance to pre-

sent their case. “What we’re asking the premier for is an agricultural rate pegged at the current $10.25 per hour plus the consumer price index,” says Forth. “We are also exploring an offset program for horticulture.”

It’s a safe bet that but for the fact that Ontario’s premier is also the agriculture minister, this face-to-face would never have taken place. Because it did, hope runs high that the close working relationship between the premier and Ontario growers, built over the last year, will produce a sustainable, long-term outcome.

INTERNATIONAL GERMANY

PERU

Spring crops grown in tunnels

Berries boom globally

Tunnel greenhouses are permitting the simultaneous harvest of asparagus and strawberries says German grower Jörg Heuer, based in Burgwedel. He’s invested $350,000 euro to ensure optimal growing conditions and harvest timing for a combination pack.

Last year, only half of his strawberry crop was ripe enough when asparagus season was at its peak. At the same time, the German market was facing strawberry competition from Spain and Italy.

"We were left with a remaining portion of the harvest," explained Heuer. To ensure the twin offering of strawberries and asparagus in 2014, Heuer has built a high tunnel covering 1.8 hectares.

Peru’s fledging berry industry is expanding rapidly due to international demand for blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and a native of the Andes, aguaymanto.

The $400,000 US berry crop in 2012 skyrocketed to $10 million US in 2013.

Peruvian newspaper La Republica reports that the rising popularity of eating healthy in Asia, Europe, and North America is helping to drive growth of superfruits.

Alfonso Velasquez of the government trade organization Sierra

Exportadora says that 2,800 hectares are devoted to berry production, with 1,500 for strawberries and 700 for blueberries. By the end of the year, plans are to cultivate 1,000 hectares for blueberries alone.

Aguaymanto is known internationally as golden berries or groundcherries. A member of the nightshade family, the crop is helping to expand the berry category with its small orange fruit encased in a large papery husk.

COLORADO

BRAZIL

No jail time for Jensen brothers

New competitors in greenhouse sector?

Eric and Ryan Jensen, the Colorado farmers whose listeria-tainted cantaloupe killed 33 people and sickened 147, have been sentenced to five years of probation. The first six months will be spent in home detention. In addition to 100 hours of community service, each was ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to victims’ families.

U.S. Attorney John Walsh said, "No sentence of incarceration, restitution or financial penalty can undo the tragic damage done as a result of the contamination at Jensen Farms.

Today's sentence serves as a powerful reminder of farmers' legal and moral responsibility for ensuring their product is safe."

Thirty Brazilian growers recently explored the potential for a greenhouse industry by visiting Mexico’s Expo AgroAlimentaria.

Many are now planning new projects with a view to using existing structures says greenhouse consultant Andrés da Silva.

“We have customers doing tests on high tunnels which are not so expensive, and with no concrete it is very fast to install, for growing in soil and hydroponics,” says da Silva. “It’s a way to start low-tech, but also a way of improving with tomatoes and bell peppers. High tunnels are increasing for hydroponic salad leaves and berries.”

Their first greenhouse growers’ association annual meeting is planned for next fall.

Source: FreshPlaza.com

Source: Hortidaily.com Source: Hortidaily.com

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association invites you to Live Healthy, Eat Fresh at the 2014 Convention and Trade Show in Vancouver.

APRIL 2-4, 2014

PAGE 4 –– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

OFVC INNOVATION AWARDS

In the field, portability and flexibility are king BEST NEW PRODUCT: TOW & BLOW PORTABLE WIND MACHINE

Roger Vail shows off his Innovation Award trophy at the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention for Best New Product.

“Using wind to fight frost is not new technology,” says Roger Vail, Vailmont Vineyards Inc., “but harnessing its power in a portable manner is.”

Traditional ground-powered, fixed installations are expensive to operate. “For safety reasons, the traditional wind machine moved from engine-on-top to being groundpowered with large horsepower engines driving ever increasing fan sizes, through clutches, gear boxes and long drive lines,” explains Vail. “This wastes enormous energy, uses lots of fuel, has a poor carbon footprint and is very expensive to maintain.”

The Tow & Blow portable wind machine solves some of those issues.

It can be set to oscillate through any angle so it doesn’t have to work against the natural air drift • low operating cost, very low fuel consumption • it is whisper quiet, inaudible at 300 metres BEST NEW SERVICE: FIELD TRACKER PRO The Field Tracker Pro is a crop-recording web app for smartphones, tablets and computers. Login is secure from anywhere, anytime on any device that’s connected to the web.

The service is set up for multi-users with different levels of access to record re-entry intervals, prek-harvest intervals. It will send alerts, automatic updates and will archive multiple years of field history. Launched by FarmApps Inc, Don Parsons says, “Field Tracker Pro works on all platforms so there is no need to buy a new smartphone.

The farm management team, no matter where they are, can access the information as it’s updated. Different levels of access allow for use by consultants or employees. The

• fan operates from three metres to seven metres in height and is adjustable on the impeller head • it’s portable -- move it anytime; anywhere you need it • out of sight, off season. Put it away when you or your neighbors don’t want to look at it • no concrete foundations needed • no building permit needed • no need to pull out vines or trees to install, thereby not reducing income from your crop • no installation costs • easy service and no specialty service equipment needed • no reliance on manufacturer for unique spare parts This is the only fan currently in use that has gone through wind tunnel testing to verify its output.

New to Ontario, this piece of equipment could be used to cover two crops with varying bloom times, as in apricots and sour cherries. Its flexibility would also allow its use on rental properties that don’t merit the capital cost of fixed wind machines.

For more information: www.vailmontvineyards.com free-form comment sections allow for field-related notes within each activitiy. All the field activity entries can be viewed with one click and then by scrolling down the page.

This tool helps manage herbicide and pesticide spray applications for food safety accountability.

For more information, go to: www.farm-apps.com

Photo left: Don Parsons and his mother Janet show off their Innovation Award trophy for Best New Service.

Photos by Denis Cahill.

MARCH 2014 –– PAGE 5 THE GROWER

FRUIT LOGISTICA INNOVATION AWARD

Vegetable-based innovations sweep gold, silver and bronze For several days every February, Berlin is the epicenter of the global fresh produce industry. This year, more than 60,000 visitors from 140 countries visited the trade fair.

Part of the exhibitor excitement – and there were 2.600 of them – is who will win the

Fioretto cauliflower, Tokita Seed Co Ltd, Japan

The Eisberg BBQ Grill-Mix is a new range of convenience products that offer a simple, easy and light solution for barbecue fans. The package consists of washed, sliced “ready to grill” vegetables which are served in a 100 per cent recyclable aluminum tray, suitable for grilling on the barbecue or roasting in the oven.

Each tray is sealed with a special film which keeps the product under vacuum and can be removed without any trace of plastic or glue being left on the aluminum tray. This technology offers longer freshness, optimal presentation at point-of-sale and maximum convenience for the consumer. For more information: www.eisberg.com

Fioretto is a long, thin-stemmed variety of cauliflower with tiny heads. With its evenly long bright green stems and snowy white heads, the Fioretto almost has the appearance of a flower bouquet. The flesh is somewhat softer than conventional cauliflower while remaining nicely firm.

Cooked or raw, it is sweeter tasting and more aromatic. When cooked, the stems become even greener.

A fully-grown head with a diameter of 30 cm weighs around one kilogram. Each individual stem weighs around 10-20 g.

Production is no different to standard cauliflower. Three varieties are currently available with growing times of around 65, 80 and 100 days. For more information: www.tokitaseed.co.jp

Oriental Mixed Living Salad, Home Harvest Salads Ltd, United Kingdom

Compostable packaging nets from beechwood cellulose, Verpackungszentrum Graz, Austria

Oriental Mixed Living Salad is a unique mixture of salad leaves available straight from the growing pot to the table. The mixture includes coriander, mustard, tatsoi and pak choi. This unusual salad mix in a pot introduces consumers to new varieties while at the same time offering freshly harvested lettuce leaves. The growing tray can be placed on a windowsill and with light watering can be harvested for up to ten days.

Oriental Mixed Living Salad offers improved freshness, a longer shelf life without additives, better nutritional values and less waste. For more information: www.livingsalads.co.uk

These compostable packaging nets are produced from modal cellulose fibre and are environmentally friendly both in production and in waste disposal. The raw material is derived from beechwood from the thinning of PEFC and FSC certified forests. The compostable nets can be used with standard clipping machines and are available in different widths.

A special method means that the modal fibre can be dye-coloured using very little dye. The nets are currently available in the standard colours white, potato yellow, lemon yellow, orange, red, bordeaux and dark brown. For more information: www.vpz.at Extended shelf-life packaging for broccoli, Brimapack B.V, Netherlands

Vegetable crumbs, Aureli Mario, Italy

Extended shelf-life packaging gives broccoli significantly increased shelf-life by creating a special natural atmosphere inside the packaging film without chemicals or gases. It combines innovative packing (tight packing film with a seal at the butt) with an efficient modular machine. A single unit can clean and pack up to 17 items per minute. One person can operate two units simultaneously.

The new film increases the shelf-life of broccoli and other brassicas such as cauliflower and cabbage by at least five to eight days at 18°C. The film is optimized for broccoli with no expensive perforation and no additional substances to absorb ethylene. www.brimapack.com

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Vegetable Crumbs are a pure vegetable coating available in the varieties of Carrot Crumbs, Purple Carrot Crumbs, Celery Crumbs, Spinach Crumbs and Red Beet Crumbs. According to the manufacturer, they are free of preservatives or other additives and are gluten-free. The production method maintains fibre and secondary ingredients in nutritionally relevant quantities.

Vegetable Crumbs open up new taste and visual possibilities in food presentation.

They can be used with meats, chicken nuggets or fish fingers, for example, and combine a strong taste of vegetables with a delicate flavour. For more information: www.aurelimario.com

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coveted Innovation Award. The BBQ Grill mix won the top prize with the Oriental Mixed Living Salad coming second and Vegetable Crumbs earning third place in the top 10 finalists.

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PAGE 6 –– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

WORLD CROPS

Major grocers stocking more locally grown okra, eggplant KAREN DAVIDSON Okra, long and round eggplant are no longer fringe vegetables.

Since 2008, consumption has increased 55 per cent for okra and 27 per cent for eggplant according to Statistics Canada. Demand is estimated to be much higher if the right quality of produce could be delivered.

But there’s lots of risk hiding in the grass for growers to consider these subtropical crops. After almost four years of intense study, those risks are more quantified along the entire value chain, thanks to the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland).

“The biggest challenge to production is labour at planting and particularly at harvest,” says Lana Culley, Vineland’s director of business development. With the minimum wage rising to $11 per hour in Ontario on June 1, some growers will be hesitant to try okra which requires harvesting almost every day at peak season.

That’s despite a forecast of 1600 acres of okra needed to fulfill demand. And a median price of $20 per 20 lb. box at the Ontario Food Terminal. As growers know, those prices can nosedive overnight with a glut on the local market or a freight-load of cheaper okra from Latin America.

Three years of consecutive trials prove that these crops can be grown in Ontario. In-depth agronomic knowledge -- variety selection, planting instructions, crop protection controls and harvesting methods –is now available. Post-

World Crops Update: 2013 Economic Analysis Highlights Acres Required to Fill Canadian Demand Source: Vineland Consumer and Grower Surveys, 2013

Estimated based on demand survey data (Vineland, 2013) and grower reports on yields

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$7,000.00 $6,000.00

Returns Above Variable Costs per Acre 6059 5118

$4,000.00

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In-Season Pricing Information

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$5,000.00 2734

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1566

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Grower interviews

Long Eggplant

$15/30lb box

$12/30lb box

Okra

$20/20lb box

$20-60/20lb box

Round Eggplant

$30/30lb box

$12/30lb box

$0.00

Source: Vineland Surveys, 2013 Source: University of Kentucky Extension Service, 2013

*NB: Preliminary data only. Data collected by Vineland is based on one year of collection and analysis only, and will need to be confirmed in subsequent years to ensure validity.* Revised 07/02/2014 harvest storage and handling are equally as important as Bernard Goyette, Vineland’s research scientist, post-harvest science, points out how these crops are sensitive to chilling.

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Vineland’s Ahmed Bilal (L) research associate, crop production and diversification, shows progress of the Asian eggplant trial plot to the Loblaw team of Shreenivas Shellikeri, Patrick Gilbert and Bikram Gupta.

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Canadians and South Asians whereas freshness is more important for those of Chinese descent.

But what defines fresh?

“Freshness may mean aroma or it may mean how crisply the okra tip breaks off,” explains Amy Bowen, Vineland’s research program leader for consumer insights. “The consumer’s use of the term ‘fresh’ may be better explained by other attributes.”

All of these findings are borne out in Greater Toronto Area grocery stores. Longo’s produce category manager, Bruno Bertucci, anticipates more growth in world crops based on in-store growth of 66 per cent between 2011 and 2013. That’s why Longo’s is committed to carry a certain num-

ber of SKUs in each store, based on the demographics surrounding each of their 27 store locations.

From a procurement perspective, he says growers should pay attention to proper and consistent seed selection, proper handling, storage and consistent pack sizes.

All of the bok choy family is popular with okra coming in at fifth spot for the most popular highvolume commodity for Longo’s target demographics. Most of the buying activity is at the Ontario Food Terminal, because Longo’s likes to consolidate multiple commodities on a single delivery truck.

The market for locally produced world crops is there, but it’s tempered by price. “We want

to support local, but it’s a cost equation,” says Bertucci.

“Competition is fierce. In the consumer’s eyes, local produce should cost less because there’s not the freight of imports.”

At Loblaw stores, vendor development manager Patrick Gilbert echoes a similar sentiment. “One of the key things is picking the right varieties. These consumers know their homeland varieties and it’s important to them. We’ve done numerous trials in our stores, and if it’s not the right variety, then it won’t work.”

With increasing demand, Gilbert says there’s a need to educate all consumers about how to use, prepare and eat these foods.

MARCH 2014 –– PAGE 7 THE GROWER

CROSS COUNTRY DIGEST

Maritime research seeks to boost bee populations and blueberry yields Syngenta’s Operation Pollinator program will be supporting important bee-population research in the Maritimes this coming summer. Dalhousie University researchers will plant bee-attractive forage plants and create bee nesting sites. Impacts of these habitat amendments on bee populations and blueberry pollination will be analyzed over two years. The third partner is the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

B.C. berry growers to improve cultivars The federal government is investing $2.8 million to help blueberry, raspberry and strawberry growers improve their product by developing pestand disease-resistant varieties and better production methods.

The federal contribution will have another $1 million added by industry, including the B.C. Blueberry Council, Raspberry Industry Development Council, B.C. Cranberry Marketing Commission and the B.C. Strawberry Growers Association.

The money will go to the Lower Mainland Horticulture Improvement Association (LMHIA) which is chaired by David Mutz.

"It means our world-renowned breeding program will be able to continue to produce top quality raspberry, strawberry and blueberry cultivars in the future which will be good for both farmers and consumers," Mutz said.

Sukh Kahlon, an Abbotsford grower who sits on both the Raspberry Industry Development Council and the BC Blueberry Council, said the industry needs to continually innovate.

"We need to engage in projects that will help growers and the industry remain on the cutting edge and be competitive on the global stage," Kahlon said.

The provincial ministry of agriculture, B.C. Institute of Technology and University of the Fraser Value will be involved in the program as well.

Berry exports have doubled over the last decade, rising to $211 million last year.

Source: FreshPlaza.com

“An increase in the demand for blueberries has resulted in the expansion of blueberry operations,” says Paul Hoekstra, stewardship manager with Syngenta Canada Inc. “Bee populations have not, however, increased in tandem. Bees and blueberries are an important combination and over the past two years declines in blueberry yields have caused concerns.”

Chris Cutler, associate professor in Dalhousie’s Faculty of

Agriculture, says there aren’t enough bees available to pollinate a healthy blueberry crop. “This research project hopes to address a couple of the factors that may be part of the problem – nesting habitat limitations and a lack of food resources,” he says.

Annual buckwheat, which is particularly attractive to bees, will be planted along the edge of blueberry fields explains Master of Science researcher Robyn McCallum. “We’re also examin-

ing the use of nesting blocks that can be used by certain cavity-nesting bees, and how nesting block design, placement, and management affect the number of bees in a field and, as a result, pollination rates,” she says.

“We think the research will demonstrate the benefits of these practical methods to boost native bee populations,” McCallum says.

“Increasing numbers of natural pollinators have been shown to

increase yield and quality in key agricultural crops," concludes Hoekstra. "Syngenta is pleased to support Robyn’s research and we look forward to seeing the results of this work.”

Source: Syngenta news release

PAGE 8 –– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

CROSS COUNTRY DIGEST

Heinz tomato growers receive $1.8 million ‘goodwill’ payment KAREN DAVIDSON Leamington, Ontario -- March – the month when growers gear up for planting – is marking an ending for 43 area tomato growers. They have just received $1.8 million in a goodwill payment from H. J. Heinz to cover last fall’s fertilizer and seedbed preparations for a 2014 crop that won’t be planted. The Heinz processing plant is scheduled to close June 27. What used to be a $50 million tomato processing crop will be reduced to about $35 million this year.

“Compensation was welcomed,” says Walter Brown, former chair of the tomato negotiating committee, Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers (OPVG). “It was good of Heinz to recognize the dollars invested and the suppliers of many years.”

In Brown’s case, that Heinz record spans 47 years. Along with his son-in-law, he will plant 200

The closure of the H.J. Heinz plant in Leamington on June 27 is expected to trim $15 million in receipts to growers. acres to corn and soybeans this spring, an option that will provide far less revenue. The final cheque is actually small solace for the

$250,000 in irrigation investments on his farm. There’s also a barn full of specialized tomato equipment with no home and no

museum value.

For some growers, options remain in processing contracts for peas, sweet corn or cucumbers, however those crops don’t demand the same growing expertise or potential for income.

Growers still remain bewildered by the Heinz decision knowing that they had Lake Erie water to irrigate, a key competitive strength against rivals in California.

Although Heinz says it’s going to source commodity paste from California, the company may find that its Ontario plant closure was penny wise, yet pound foolish.

According to the Fresno Bee (January 27, 2014), reservoirs in the San Joaquin valley are bonedry with the state snow-pack measured at only 13 per cent of average. The three-year drought is so dire that the federal government could seize water that valley farmers had saved and legally divert the resource to other purposes. This is precisely the area

where tomatoes are grown.

While Canadian growers keep a keen eye on California, there will still be tomatoes planted in Chatham-Kent and Essex county.

Other tomato processors include: Sun-Brite Foods Inc, Ruthven; ConAgra Foods; Dresden; Weil’s Food Processing Ltd., Wheatley; Thomas Canning Ltd., Maidstone; Countryside Canners Co Ltd., Stoney Point; Harvest-Pac Products Inc., Chatham.

While tomatoes top the revenue list for OPVG, Al Krueger, assistant manager, says that the association negotiates contracts for 13 crops. In 2013, for example, cucumbers tallied $11.4 million, green peas totalled more than $10 million, sweet corn was worth $8.4 million, green and wax beans grossed nearly $4 million. Carrots brought in more than $5 million.

B.C. Blueberry Council goes to Dubai Blueberries are already Canada's most exported fruit, but opportunities exist to send even more of the little blue antioxidant powerhouses overseas. Last month, the BC Blueberry Council went to Dubai for the first time to attend Gulfood, the world's largest food and beverage industry trade show. Spanning five days, February 23 - 27, Gulfood attracted nearly 80,000 trade-only buyers from around the world,

with a strong representation from the Middle East region, Europe and parts of Asia. The council exhibited as part of the AgriFood Canada pavilion.

"Increased blueberry plantings in B.C. means a bigger harvest each year, and so it's essential that we source new markets for our berries," said Debbie Etsell, the BC Blueberry Council's executive director. "In addition to our domestic marketing program, we

Photo courtesy of BC Blueberry Council/Tracey Kusiewicz head to Japan, China, the U.S. and Europe each year, and the high-quality of our fruit has given us a strong foothold in those markets. This is the first time that we've been to Gulfood, and we think this could be a fantastic opportunity to develop relationships with new customers that previously haven't had the chance to try B.C.'s blueberries."

While many people will automatically think of the fresh fruit when there's mention of blueberries, approximately half of each year's crop heads to processors, who freeze, dry, juice or purée the berries, making them available both locally and to international markets year-round. It's in these other formats that significant opportunity exists to ship B.C.'s naturally sweet blueberries into these markets, and the format often depends on the country's own culinary traditions. "We

“

We’re finding that frozen blueberries are popular in hot climates where they make a lot of frozen drinks and desser ts.” ~ Debbie Etsell know that dried blueberries are a popular offering in the Middle East as they consume a lot of dried fruits. And we're finding that frozen blueberries are popular in hot climates where they make a lot of frozen drinks and desserts," said Etsell.

The BC Blueberry Council works closely with government trade offices at both a provincial

and federal level, making the most of opportunities to take part in trade missions, delegations and shows such as Gulfood. Other international missions planned for 2014 include FoodEx in Japan, Fruit Logistica in Europe, and Fruit Logistica Asia in Hong Kong.

The British Columbia Blueberry Council represents more than 800 blueberry growers, located in some of Canada's most rich and fertile farmland.

Plantings of premium quality highbush blueberries top 11,300 hectares in British Columbia and produce upwards of 48 million kilograms of blueberries annually.

With more than $1 billion in sales in the past five years, Canada is the third largest national producer of sweet and juicy highbush blueberries in the world.

Source: BC Blueberry Council new release

MARCH 2014 –– PAGE 9 THE GROWER

PAGE 10 –– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

WHAT’S YOUR STORY?

On-farm expertise benefits national policy making KAREN DAVIDSON Tracy Shinners-Carnelley is like a lighthouse on the prairie. This Nova Scotia native has clearly found her land legs in Manitoba, an extensionist who helps growers navigate science.

Shinners-Carnelley is director of research and quality enhancement for Peak of the Market, a grower-owned, not-for-profit vegetable supplier in Manitoba.

She has the luxury of working closely with Peak growers in their fields, storage sheds and packing houses. From her home base in Carman, she travels north into vegetable territory and south into potato country. She’s well suited to the role having spent 10 years with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, first as plant pathologist then as potato pest management specialist.

One of the challenges, she says, is that pest management is much more knowledge-based than it used to be. While new chemistries are positive, they are reduced-risk chemistries that often require very specific timing of application to achieve the maximum benefit for the grower.

Compounding this is the challenge of managing insect and disease resistance.

Colorado potato beetle, for example, is becoming tolerant to neonicotinoids and growers have to think about alternative management strategies.

“We’re realizing that a new generation of crop scouts need training because they’re not familiar with the life stages of the insect – information that is critical as growers explore foliar insecticide strategies,” says Shinners-Carnelley. “It was a light bulb moment for us.”

Her in-depth knowledge of these on-farm issues made her a good choice to speak at the recent Manitoba Potato Days about the importance of Potato Virus Y in seed and commercial potato production. PVY is another evolving pest issue for potato producers in North America.

Recently, the Canadian Potato Council (CPC) identified this virus as a national priority for research.

With such a broad background in provincial and on-farm consulting, Shinners-Carnelley was appointed as prairie representative to the Canadian Horticultural Council’s Crop Protection Advisory Committee (CPAC) in 2007.

“It’s an interesting committee facing big issues with no commodity lines,” she says. “The challenge is to translate the farm-level issues to the policy issues of Health Canada and further encourage harmonization with the U.S.-based Environmental Protection Agency as much as possible.”

Canadian growers need to be as competitive as possible in the global marketplace. CPAC

focuses on ensuring that growers have access to the crop protection tools they need.

She has been tapped to contribute to the briefs on how linuron herbicide and mancozeb fungicide are used in the field and why they are important to production systems. The Pest Management Regulatory Agency may see the alternatives in a clear light on paper but regulators don’t necessarily understand the complexities of how these products are used regionally or with specific crop varieties.

On the mancozeb issue, she says the common thread is resistance management. “We need to maintain access to mancozeb to help manage pest resistance that can so quickly develop if the newer single-site chemistries are not used according to best practice,” she says.

Both the linuron and mancozeb files are now under PMRA review, with the period for public comment closed. Timing of a PMRA decision is not known.

In the meantime, ShinnersCarnelley continues her additional role as chair of the CPC research working group. The CPC developed a National Research and Innovation Strategy in 2012.

In the next decade, priorities will focus on variety evaluation and improved disease and pest management. While control of wireworm through management practices is still a major concern, the industry also wants to be

Tracy Shinners-Carnelley, director of research and quality enhancement for Peak of the Market in Manitoba, is a valuable resource to the Canadian Horticultural Council and Canadian Potato Council. proactive regarding new threats such as potato psyllid and zebra chip.

Thanks to ShinnersCarnelley’s Peak of the Market

field knowledge and her considerable committee work, the entire Canadian horticultural industry benefits.

CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL AGM

Welcome to Kelowna, B.C.

CropLife president, former MP Ted Menzies headlines at 2014 AGM Former Conservative Member of Parliament Ted Menzies, recently appointed as president of CropLife Canada, will be the headline speaker at CHC’s 2014 Annual General Meeting in Kelowna.

Mr. Menzies is the guest speaker during the banquet which is scheduled for the evening of March 5. First elected to represent the Alberta Constituency of Macleod in 2004, Menzies held several federal positions including Federal Minister of State for Finance and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance. Prior to entering federal politics Menzies was involved in several farm organizations, including the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, Grain Growers of Canada and Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association.

RCC Crop Protection Products Initiative An RCC Crop Protection Products Initiative webinar was presented on January 16, 2014 and provided an overview of the initiative, updates on progress to date and ongoing alignment work and laid out the way forward The initial 29-item RCC Action Plan was announced in December 2011 and is now entering its final months. PCO/OIRA received stakeholder submissions from 160 different organizations during recent Canada Gazette and Federal Register consultations, and the Canadian and U.S. governments are now committed to another phase of work based on all the input received. Both countries will develop the outline of a forward plan for regulatory cooperation by Spring 2014, building on progress-to-date and lessons learned.

MARCH 2014 –– PAGE 11 THE GROWER

CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL AGM

Growing a healthy organization All staff hands will be on deck to help prepare for the Canadian Horticultural Council’s 92nd Annual General Meeting March 4 – 6 in Kelowna, British Columbia.

Here’s a brief introduction to the Ottawa-based staff.

Anne Fowlie Executive Vice President

Amy Argentino Manager Projects and Programs

David Jones Manager Potato Industry Coordination

Since 1998, Anne has been at the helm of CHC overseeing multiple files. While Anne grew up bilingual in Quebec, she got her first taste of horticulture in Nova Scotia. She gained broad experience in the potato industry working for a grower cooperative and later as assistant executive director for the provincial potato association. One of her current goals is to see a positive outcome for a PACA-like trust in Canada through the Regulatory Cooperation Council.

Amy joined CHC in 2002. Since that time she has assumed roles of increased responsibility and is currently Manager, Projects and Programs. She is responsible for managing the Agri-Science Cluster for Horticulture, coordinates issues for the apple industry, and oversees planning the CHC’s annual general meeting.

Amy grew up on the shores of Lake Erie in Ridgeway, Ontario and moved to Ottawa in 1999 to pursue a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Ottawa.

Patti Proulx Financial Controller

AndrÊ Bourbonnière Manager Policy Analysis and Research

A Certified Management Accountant (CMA) with many years of experience in the notfor-profit sector, Patti joined CHC in 2004.

In addition to her parttime work with CHC her clients include CanAgPlus, BioTalent Canada, Canadian Supply Chain Food Safety Coalition and the Agricultural Institute of Canada. She also teaches accounting at Carleton University. Patti is married and the proud mom of three daughters.

AndrÊ’s professional experience has been earned in the areas of corporate risk management, insurance and financial services. His CHC responsibilities include the research and development of position and policy statements for standing committees and assigned commodity groups as well as the coordination of industry data collection and analysis for input to various government consultations.

He most recently served as Deputy Director of National Programs with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) with primary responsibility for the operations of the Green Municipal Fund (GMF).

David holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Crop Production and Management/ Physiology and a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) from the University of Guelph.

His previous work experience includes: Section Head Herbicide Section Product Sustainability and Coordination Division, PMRA; Regulatory Manager, Arysta LifeScience North America LLC and Field Research & Market Development Specialist BASF Canada Inc. (Eastern Canada). He joined the Canadian Potato Council / CHC in 2011 in a consulting capacity as Manager, Potato Industry Coordination. David’s technical and trade expertise brings strength to a number of files.

Mark Shainblum Manager, Commodity Coordination &Communications Mark is the most recent addition to the CHC team. Fluently bilingual and with a background in communications, public affairs, media relations, research, writing and editing, his responsibilities will include coordination for the blueberry and apple commodity groups.

His primary responsibility will be to assist in the development and execution of communications at all levels: member,

government, media and general public and to manage the CHC’s website. Previous work assignments have included Research Communications Officer and Digital Media Manager for the Jewish General Hospital Lady Davis Research Institute and as Media Relations Officer (Research) and Communications Officer (Faculty of Science) at McGill University.

Linda Vinokuroff Administrative Assistant Linda joined CHC in 2008 as a member of the food safety team.

Among other administrative duties she tracked in-kind contributions, arranged meeting logistics and responded to inquiries from program participants. In 2012 she transitioned to CHC as Administrative Assistant when CanAgPlus was established. She has more than 33 years of experience as a bilingual administrative assistant and has worked in various environments including medical, transportation, manufacturing, legal and real estate in QuĂŠbec and Ontario. In addition to general administrative responsibilities, Linda also coordinates the crop profiles initiatives and a number of elements related to the Annual General Meeting.

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PAGE 12 –– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION

Board briefs Following are highlights from the OFVGA board meeting held January 30, 2014. The purpose of this brief is to keep you up-todate on the issues that the OFVGA is working on, as well as projects and initiatives the organization is involved in.

Vice Chair and management committee members elected Jason Verkaik was re-elected Vice Chair of the OVFGA. Norm Charbonneau, Charles Stevens and Jan VanderHout join Verkaik and Board Chair Ray Duc on the OFVGA management committee.

OFVGA appoints external representatives OFVGA’s board members also selected their external representatives to serve on committees and organizations.

Farm & Food Care – Brian Gilroy

George Gilvesy

Crop protection

Labour Regional Representatives - Ken Forth, Tony Cervini, Hector Delanghe, Steve Versteegh, John Ardiel

Section chair Charles Stevens reported that a meeting is being organized with Health Canada to discuss full harmonization of the crop protection processes between Canada and the United States. The goal for complete harmonization is to have identical product labels on both sides of the border, which follows the definition of harmonization adopted by both OFVGA and CHC last year.

The annual National Minor Use Priority Setting meetings will take place in March in Ottawa. Growers are encouraged to attend the meeting as this is where important decisions concerning minor use priorities are made.

Additional information about participation is available from OFVGA. Release of the 2014 list of products approved for import under the Grower Requested Own use (GROU) program is anticipated in February. GROU allows farmers to apply for permits to import crop protection materials approved under the program into Canada for their own use. The list of approved products is updated annually.

Labour Issues Co-ordinating Committee – Ken Forth, Hector Delanghe Ontario Agri-Food Technologies – Harold Schooley Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council – Ray Duc, Mark Wales, Art Smith Ontario Federation of Agriculture – Ray Duc, Mac James, Brian Gilroy OMAF/MRA Research Advisory Network/ Theme Advisory Group, Plants – Harold Schooley

Agricultural Adaptation Council – Len Troup, Brenda Lammens

Royal Agricultural Winter Fair – Brian Gilroy

Canadian Horticultural Council - Adrian Huisman, Brian Gilroy

National Safety Nets Representative – Mark Wales

Canadian Federation of Agriculture – Ray Duc, Mark Wales, Ken Forth Canadian Produce Marketing Association – Ray Duc, Jason Verkaik, Art Smith FFV Tel – Art Smith Farm Safety Association – Norm Charbonneau, David Lambert

Canadian Horticultural Council Science Advisory Committee – Harold Schooley, Brian Gilroy Vineland Research and Innovation Centre Stakeholders Advisory Committee – Harold Schooley, Art Smith CanAgPlus - Stephanie Lariviere, Mary Shabatura Canadian Horticultural Council

FARMS – Tony Cervini, Naunihal Gil, Trevor Falk, Ken Porteous, John Ardiel, Tom Meidema, Ken Forth, Trevor Falk, Ken Porteous, Steve Versteegh Horticultural Value Chain Round Table – Brian Gilroy,

The annual general meeting of the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) will be held March 4 – 6, 2014 in Kelowna, BC. Ontario’s CHC representatives are Brian Gilroy and Adrian Huisman.

Minimum wage The Ontario government has announced that it is raising the provincial minimum wage to $11 an hour effective June 1. The wage rate had last been increased in 2010, when it was raised to $10.25. Moving forward, the government is also proposing that future minimum wage increases be tied to inflation. Ontario now

joins Nunavut with the highest minimum wage rate in Canada.

OFVGA had indicated it can support the concept of future increases based on the Consumer Price Index in its presentation to the minimum wage panel established by Premier Wynne to develop recommendations on future wage increases. However, OFVGA had also warned the government that increasing the minimum wage first before to moving to an inflation-based system would be catastrophic for the sector and that if the government were to do this, a separate minimum wage rate for agriculture needed to be created.

OFVGA continues to work on the issue.

CEO report In January, CEO Art Smith appeared before the provincial Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs to make a pre-budget consultation presentation. Smith’s presentation focused on minimum wage and the need for upgrades and investments into the province’s rural energy infrastructure in order to help the industry be more competitive and support growth.

Smith also reported discussions with the Ontario

Ministry of Agriculture and Food regarding the development of a stable funding mechanism for OFVGA are continuing. The OFVGA formed a committee last year in response to a resolution passed at the 2013 annual general meeting to look at developing a new funding mechanism that is fair and equitable to all producers who benefit from the OFVGA’s work.

CEO hiring committee At the organization’s AGM in January, CEO Art Smith announced that he will be retiring at the end of June. The Board established a hiring committee to lead the search for a new CEO; members include Ray Duc, Jason Verkaik, Don Taylor and Ken Forth.

Annual General Meeting The AGM was held January 13 and 14 in Niagara Falls. The new format which reduced the event from two and a half to two days was well received and will continue for 2015.

The next OFVGA board meeting will be held at the OFVGA office on March 20, 2014, starting at 10:00 a.m.

HVCRT needs your help The Energy and Environment Working Group (EEWG) of the HVCRT is hoping you will participate in the survey on the Environmental Performance of Canada’s Horticulture Value Chain.

All input received will provide valuable insight and influence the strategic direction of the HVCRT on related activities.

The entire survey will take no more than five to 10 minutes to complete. All answers will remain strictly confidential and be aggregated with other responses to maintain anonymity.

The online survey is open until Sunday, March 23, 2014 and the URL link is the following: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7PL5ZGS

MARCH 2014 –– PAGE 13 THE GROWER

Let’s talk about farm safety This March, the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) are encouraging producers to talk about farm safety as part of Canadian Agricultural Safety Week, which runs from March 9 to 15, 2014.

Canadian Agricultural Safety Week (CASW) is an annual public education campaign focusing on the importance of safe agriculture. In 2014 the theme is Let’s Talk About It!, and organizers want to inspire farmers to engage in conversations about safety through a combination of farmer testimonials, producer resources, and videos.

“This year we are showcasing stories of producers who have experienced injuries or who have made innovations for safety on their farm, and we’re putting these stories to video as part of our Let’s Talk About It! Video Series to help get the word out in a new way,” says Marcel Hacault, Executive Director of CASA. “We’ve also developed resources for farmers that will help them conduct safety meetings and explore topics like talking to your kids around safety or overcoming language and cultural barriers with seasonal workers,” he adds.

“The idea is to get people talking about farm safety as a first step towards a safer, more successful farm.”

“It’s human nature to think ‘it won't happen to me,’ but unfortunately it can, especially if we continue on with this approach. Taking preventative, proactive measures is one of the best things we can do for our farm and workers. We hope that through safety week and through hearing from other farmers about their experiences, we shed some light on the necessity of farm safety and practical ways to make it happen on the farm,” says CFA president Ron Bonnett.

Farm Credit Canada is a long-time and ongoing sponsor of CASW. “In our fast-paced industry, it’s important to take the time to think about the safety and well-being of the people who grow our food,” says Remi Lemoine, vice president and chief operating officer at FCC. “We’re committed to helping Canadian producers stay safe at work, and encourage thoughtful planning through written health and safety plans.”

As part of CASW, CASA and CFA are also working with Ag for Life and Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development to host Let’s Talk About It! launch activities in Olds, Alberta on March 11th, 2014. Activities include a luncheon with speeches from farm safety champions and testimonials from Alberta farmers

showcased in the Let’s Talk About It! Video Series, as well as a half-day training session on best practices in safety orientation for seasonal and migrant workers featuring presentations from Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development and CASA. “Agriculture in Alberta is not only a significant economic driver, it’s a way of life,” says David Sprague, CEO of Agriculture for Life. “Ag for Life

and its founders support the well-being of this industry by providing farm and rural safety programming to children, youth and adults in schools and in their communities. Encouraging our farm families and communities to talk about safety during Canadian Agricultural Safety Week is a great way to raise the awareness of keeping everyone safe and we’re honoured to be part of this national initiative.”

Tree Fruit & Fresh Grape Worker Health & Safety Manual and Online Module The Ontario Tender Fruit Producers Marketing Board has received $32,292.00 in OFIP funding for this project. The goal is to reduce risk and injuries within the Ontario tender fruit, apple and fresh grape industries. The project aims to provide grower members from these industries with relevant and practical health and safety information, templates and tools, integrated within the existing Fruit/ AppleTracker record management system to help them manage health and safety in their operations. The proposed solution recognizes the needs of producers to access the information and tools in ways that they already use to access information and manage their businesses.

PAGE 14 –– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

The price too great!

ART SMITH CEO, OFVGA It’s only 75 cents we are told, only six dollars a day . . . doesn’t sound like much does it?

When you do the math however it is a totally different story. If you hire 100 people, it’s $600 a day or $3000 plus a week . . . and well, you get the picture.

What makes this latest round of Ontario wage increases so difficult and serious is the disproportionate amount of minimum-wage earners we have in our sector. Quite frankly if minimum-wage earners

represented five to 10 per cent of our work force we would not be having this discussion.

There are several factors that set us apart from other employers.

The first is no mechanism to recover these additional expenses from the marketplace and the second, as mentioned above, is the disproportionate number of minimum-wage earners that we employ in our labour-intensive sector.

I can think of other sectors that also have a high number of minimum-wage earners but these businesses – such as coffee shops and retailers -- have the ability to claw these additional expenses back. Farmers do not!

I have written before about the problems of using minimumwage increases to fight poverty especially in a province as diverse as Ontario but it is exactly what the provincial government has chosen to do and to do so at your expense.

What I cannot understand is why the inevitable loss of jobs in a province looking to increase jobs was not and is not taken into

consideration.

It is the diversity of types of work, diversity of businesses and sectors and as well as the diversity of living expenses across the province that creates the problem.

We recognize inflation and the desire for everyone to have the ability to keep up with increased living expenses, unfortunately however not all businesses have that ability themselves. Forcing increased expenses that can not be recovered only leads to job losses.

Global trade has changed everything and governments at all levels need to start recognizing that reality.

Our friends to the south are also looking at raising the U.S. minimum-wage rate to $9.00 and they have recognized that increasing the minimum-wage rate to that level will help to alleviate poverty for up to 16 million people but will cost up to one million jobs; throwing many of those people into absolute poverty.

You help some but you create

a far worse situation for others.

The Minimum Wage Advisory Panel recommended that government follow a cost-of-production system when adjusting minimumwage rates and we have stated since day one, that we agree with that mechanism.

However the government chose to up the rate by 75 cents and then follow inflation. This was not what the advisory panel recommended. This was a pure political move and not founded on inflation or CPI. Government will argue that this was necessary as there had not been a minimum wage increase since 2010 and this was necessary to make up for the 7.5 per cent CPI since then. That in and of itself is a true statement but these types of statements/facts depend on the initial start time. If in fact we go back to 1995 and follow inflation we would be at $9.78 an hour in 2014 and if we started with 2004 which was the year of the first Liberal government increase we would be at $8.72 an hour.

I am not arguing against wage

increases but I am arguing that the mechanism must be so well defined as not to create job losses.

Different sectors of the economy have different realities.

Some can simply put their prices up, some can not, some have no say whatsoever in the prices they receive for their products.

Quite clearly a one-size-fits-all approach does not and can not work.

The impact on the fruit and vegetable sector will most likely be about $30 million dollars annually assuming no job loss and that figure represents an estimated 40 per cent of the sector’s total margins. Not only does that cause hardship for you the farmer, but also means less money to be reinvested in your business, less money to create the 120,000 new jobs that the government is asking us to create.

I want to know how that will be possible now.

Only 75 cents eh . . . hmm.

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

OH CANADA!

At the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention, several savvy exhibitors brought a TV screen for live feeds of the Olympics. Here, Vineland Growers’ Cooperative Ltd performed the ultimate service in channelling the Canadian men’s hockey game against Latvia. Photo by Denis Cahill.

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

Ray Duc, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Verkaik, Bradford Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin Jan Vander Hout, Waterdown Charles Stevens, Newcastle

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

Charles Stevens, Newcastle Mary Shabatura, Windham Centre John Thwaites, 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

MARCH 2014 –– PAGE 15 THE GROWER

PERSPECTIVE Crop protection benefits society as well as farmers, says report

OWEN ROBERTS UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH One of the biggest media draws in the world is actually an agriculture and food event, the biggest one in Europe, called Green Week. Staged every January and now in its 79th year, this edition drew a record 410,000 people (mostly consumers) over nine days, and more international participants than ever.

It’s a great opportunity for the ag sector to try moving the needle on public opinion. Opposition in Europe, led by Germany, to

biotechnology and other modern crop protection measures remains high.

And it shows, not just in anti-technology protests on the streets, but also in news coverage.

A report from a pro-crop protection group called Industrieverband Agrar notes that the ratio of bad to good news media reports on plant protection is about 40:1.

The report, distributed at Green Week to members of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists, called out the ag sector for concentrating its efforts on quantifying the economic and environmental impact of crop protection in isolation.

Sure, crop protection preserves and increases yields. In fact, it’s conservatively estimated yields would drop by one-third without meaningful crop protection, a contention that everyone should keep in mind as we drive towards feeding more people on the planet.

But, the report asks, what about the social benefits of crop protection in Germany? How

does it contribute to society’s goals?

Good point. One of the biggest knocks against biotechnology and crop protection is that its main beneficiaries have been farmers.

That’s not so bad if you’re a farmer.

However, the report says, targeted, properly conducted crop protection on farm is actually good for society, too.

That’s a wide-ranging statement. But the authors know would-be readers are pretty particular about the way farmers use crop protection products.

Germany is already on high alert, and has been for decades, about gene-altering technology. That makes its citizens wary of North American-style crop protection and GMOs. But as farmers here know, when used properly, crop protection does society good. The report’s authors agree.

They say first, by boosting yields, crop protection contributes

to a country’s overall economic prosperity, not just that of armers.

And in helping farmers fight bugs, weeds and disease, it permits more food to be grown on less land. “It helps save the globally scarce source of arable land or soil, through generating higher yields per unit of area,” says the report.

If little more land is needed to grow food, natural areas don’t have to be sacrificed for production, and biodiversity is preserved. This is a huge concern in Germany, where almost 82 million people are packed into a space about one-third the size of Ontario.

And finally, with more green spaces preserved and carbon sequestering maintained, less greenhouse gases end up being emitted into the atmosphere. That said, with climate change upon us and new pests emerging, crop protection helps hold the line while the plant world adapts.

All this certainly sounds like the position you’d expect pro-technology lobbyists to take.

And I’ve heard their detractors argue against most of the statements made.

So have the German people, at a ratio of 40:1.

But the industry must keep trying different ways, like this society-targeted report perhaps, to make people understand plants grown for food are vulnerable and need help.

You know the comebacks: bees are vulnerable too, and need help. So does wildlife.

And so do people, if products are unsafe.

Can the industry prove it’s not the public’s enemy? It must, be it in Germany, Canada or wherever.

Despite the skepticism, the media wants to hear industry’s story, beyond the catchy slogan and the perfect picture of the perfect field.

‘Own the shelf ‘ strategy in play with first-ofseason greenhouse peppers

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“We’re working hard to get to market with all of our peppers, and we believe we’re well ahead of the pack,” said Jordan Kniaziew, vicepresident of Orangeline Farms. “I suppose you could call it our ‘Own the Shelf’ strategy,” he adds.

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PAGE 16 –– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

Farm & Food Care to host Annual General Meeting and Conference April 15-16 In the afternoon of April 15, attendees to the conference will explore the topic, Sustainable food and farming. What does it really mean in Canada?

Sustainability has different meanings to different people.

Come and hear insights on what it means to the Canadian public and Ontario farmers and join the discussion to share your thoughts.

Alan Ker, chair of the Department of Food, Agriculture and Resource Economics at the University of Guelph and Ruth Salmon of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance will be featured on the afternoon's program as will a panel discussion on the topic "What does sustainability mean to Ontario's food chain?" Following a combined session, participants will be asked to pick one of two afternoon pro-

grams related to animal care and the environment.

In the evening of April 15, a communications workshop will feature the topic Talking Tough Topics: Answering questions about farming practices with confidence.

Biotechnology, pesticides, antibiotics and hormones are all issues that farmers deal with on a day to day basis - but they can be difficult to explain to a non-farming public. In a workshop setting, participants will be given tips and techniques related to answering questions and having confident conversations about topics like these. Joining the workshop will be Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's "Office for Science & Society.” Participants will then have the opportunity to work on answering practice ques-

tions related to their farming practices.

On April 16, Farm & Food Care’s annual meeting will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The morning keynote speaker will be Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill's Office for Science & Society on the topic "Science, Sense and Nonsense." The second feature speaker will be Ruth Salmon of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance on the topic "Farmed Seafood Sustainability Movement: A case study.”

The meeting will also include highlights of Farm & Food Care’s 2013 activities, presentation of the Farm & Food Care Champion Award, election of the 2014-2015 Board of Directors and more.

Registration for both the April 15 conference and workshop are free to all Ontario farmers. The

cost to other participants is $60 for the conference and $100 for the communications workshop.

Registration for the annual meeting is $80 in advance of March 31 and $100 after that date for all registrants. This year, the conference will be held at the Teatro

Conference and Event Centre, 121 Chisholm Drive, Milton, ON, L9T 4A6. To register, visit www.farmfoodcare.org

COMING EVENTS 2013 March 4

Airblast Sprayer 101 Workshop, Kemptville College, Kemptville, ON

March 4-6

Canadian Horticultural Council Annual General Meeting, The Grand Hotel, Kelowna, BC

March 6

Farm & Food Care Ontario Water Resource Symposium, Holiday Inn, Guelph, ON

March 6

Ontario Potato Conference, Delta Hotel, Guelph, ON

March 7

Airblast Sprayer 101 Workshop, King Edward Park Arena, Brighton, ON

March 7

Ontario Agri-Food Technologies Annual General Meeting, Cutten Fields, Guelph, ON

Mar 9 – 15 Canadian Agricultural Safety Week #CASW March 10

Airblast Sprayer 101 Workshop, Vineland OMAF/MRA Resource Station, Vineland, ON

March 15

Canadian Chestnut Council Grafting Session, Simcoe Research Station, Simcoe, ON 10:30 am – 3 pm.

RVSP d.galic@uoguelph.ca

Mar 18, 19 3rd Canadian Food Summit, “From Strategy to Action,” Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON

MEETINGS, TRADE & EQUIPMENT SHOW

MUCK Vegetab le Growe CONFER rs ENCE

March 24

Districts 3 & 4, Ontario Tender Fruit Producers’ Marketing Board Annual General Meeting, Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens, Kingsville,ON

Mar 24-26

Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmer Competition, Guelph, ON

March 25

5th Annual Hazelnut Symposium and Annual General Meeting, Ontario Hazelnut Association, Best Western Hotel, Brantford, ON

March 25

District 5, Ontario Tender Fruit Producers’ Marketing Board Annual General Meeting, Best Western Little River Inn, Simcoe, ON

March 25

Ontario Ginseng Growers’ Association Annual General Meeting, Delhi District Hungarian Hall, Delhi, ON

Mar 25 – 27 Canadian Biopesticides and Minor Use Pesticides Priority Setting Workshop, Hilton Lac-Leamy Hotel, Gatineau, QC March 26

9-10

BRADAPRIL 2014 FORD Contact: Matthew Sheppard, Bradford Co-operative Storage Limited PVKHSSDUG#EHOOQHW FD Ř

District 1 & 2, Ontario Tender Fruit Producers’ Marketing Board Annual General Meeting, Hernder Estate Winery, St. Catharines, ON

April 2 – 4 Canadian Produce Marketing Association Convention and Trade Show, Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, BC April 3

Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc. 24th Annual General Meeting, The Cutten Club, Guelph, ON

MARCH 2014 –– PAGE 17 THE GROWER

RETAIL NAVIGATOR

Costco has a strong business model

PETER CHAPMAN The warehouse club concept was started in California in 1975 when the Price brothers opened their first store. The concept grew across North America and in 1993 Price Club merged with Costco to form the dominant warehouse club operation. They do compete with BJ.’s Wholesale and Sam’s Club in the U.S. but they really have the Canadian market to themselves.

It is incredible that Costco has expanded to 87 warehouses across Canada. This was supposed to be a very limited opportunity in Canada when Price Club first opened here. These huge, cold, low service warehouses filled to the rafters with big sizes were such a departure from the traditional food stores. Originally positioned as a place for small and medium size businesses to shop, they quickly evolved into a very popular destination with consumers.

Costco has a number of strengths: they have loyal customers, the unique sizes they sell convey value, low operating costs, and I think they are the best buyers in the food industry.

They offer a unique mix of items and they have built a repu-

tation with consumers where the perception is you have to buy it today because it might not be here tomorrow. This is created with the seasonal general merchandise, however, the consumer behaviour flows across all categories.

Costco is the second largest retailer in North America after Walmart. They generated worldwide sales of more than $102.8 billion in the 52 weeks ended September 1, 2013. They have 648 warehouses in eight countries and a very successful online business. Average unit sales of $160 million would indicate the average location does mmore than $3 million per week.

I remember when I was at Loblaw and we would try to figure out how to compete with Costco. One of the single biggest strengths of their business is how simple it is. Charge a membership fee, keep your costs low, offer unique sizes and deliver good service when you do interact with the member. It was very difficult to compete when the consumer embraced their concept of retail.

We couldn’t offer lower prices because their costs were lower and although we had nicer stores with more service, consumers found shopping at Costco like a treasure hunt for value. Costco generates approximately $556,000 in sales per employee whereas Loblaw would generate $236,000.

Costco received more than $2,2 billion in annual revenue from membership fees in their previous fiscal year. Imagine being a retailer and knowing that your annual net income was there before you ever sold one item!

Obviously they have to perform to keep members happy but the rest start with zero. Costco

Bad weather nicks sales

Financial results are now being reported for the critical holiday selling period, with the common complaint that bad weather hurt sales.

Even Walmart blamed negative sales in the U.S. on eight storms.

Ontario’s ice storm impacted the entire food distribution system prior to Christmas. If the average quarter has 91 days, then being closed or void of customers could cost just over one per cent of sales per day.

No doubt, customers come the day before or day after a storm, but stores never get it all back.

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.

operates their stores with margins to cover costs and the bottom line essentially comes from the membership fees. Interesting that very few Costco members ever add the cost of membership into each item or even each trip.

Renewal rates of over 86 per cent for members would say they are happy.

Sales and membership continue to grow at Costco, which indicates that consumers are happy with the offering and they will continue to support it.

Here are my top 10 considerations when developing relationships with Costco: 1. Selling to Costco requires working through their offices in Ottawa or Burnaby, BC.

2. You must be able to ship full pallet quantities for almost every item. These can be mixed with more than one SKU if the offering is related.

3. Sell thru is required or you will have a hard time getting back in.

4. The demo program is very popular and it can be the price of entry.

5. They have no ads, just a small in-store flyer. Your item must perform with the offering you have and the price it sells for. We do see items discounted but that is to move the stock and usually an indication the item might not be back.

6. Manufacturer-supported discounts are popular. Essentially these are electronic coupons that every member will get at the cash register.

7. Be prepared to have your other customers challenge your Costco costing. The other retailers all check the pricing carefully and it is easy for them to apply the Costco category margin to compare. Loblaw recently challenged a number of suppliers on this.

8. It is best to have a unique offering for Costco. This allows you to avoid the direct comparison by retailers and consumers.

9. You will be challenged by Costco to ensure your cost to them reflects any savings you generate selling in full pallet quantities.

You need to have products that are ready for sales right off the pallet with no work or minimal work required by Costco staff.

PAGE 18 –– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

FOCUS: POTATOES

Insecticide blends and crop rotation promise control of wireworm KAREN DAVIDSON Nearly 300 Prince Edward Island (PEI) potato growers attended an information day on wireworm in early February, concerned about a repeat of the $6 million in losses tallied last year.

“Ten years ago, we never expected that there would be no new solution for wireworm,” says Shauna Mellish, agri-environmental specialist, PEI department of agriculture and forestry. “The worry is that Thimet, an organophosphate and the most relied upon control, will be phased out in 2015.”

In a recently completed grower survey, almost half of the 155 respondents use Thimet for control. However, almost one-third are already using brown mustard/buckwheat in rotation.

Mellish unveiled a map of PEI showing the wide distribution of wireworm, including new areas of infestation in 2013.

None of this is surprising to wireworm expert Bob Vernon, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Agassiz, British Columbia, who has been studying the larvae of the click beetle for 20 years. The invasive Agriotes sputator species from Europe is the most prevalent on the island with favourable conditions to spread into more territory. Plenty of non-farmed grassy lands serve as breeding habitat, while cereals – a common rotational crop – are the meal of choice. Foliar insecticides that would kill the adult click beetle are not generally sprayed in cereals. And with organochlorines such as Lindane banned for use, there are few products to kill or suppress wireworm populations.

Organochlorines and

organophosphates have been banned for good reason, however reduced-risk pesticides aren’t as effective against wireworm.

That’s why populations – about 30 species in all -- are growing across Canada. As Vernon explains, the pest manifests itself in different ways according to species, habitat preferences, life history, susceptibility to insecticides and behavior in the soil. On the prairies, Selatosomus destructor has a life span of four to five years, and because of its size and feeding capacity, creates more havoc than the more diminutive and shorter-lived Hypnoidus bicolor, often present in the same fields. All of these variables affect wireworm research programs and efficacy trials, making management strategies more complex. Not only are potatoes affected, but carrots, onions and radishes which are rendered less valuable due to the larval tunneling into the root crops.

“Wireworms have a long life cycle, so lots of growers don’t appreciate there’s a problem until populations have built up,” says Ted Labun, Syngenta’s seed treatment specialist for western Canada. “In potatoes, damage isn’t observed until the daughter tubers are forming. With lateseason potato varieties, no damage might be evident until two weeks prior to harvest.”

Also speaking at the information day, Labun shared his perspective of what’s happening in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The impact of wireworm in vegetables is more in terms of quality not quantity.

“Deformities and tunneling in harvested crops are not attractive,” he says.

In collaborative surveys with AAFC’s Vernon in 2010 and

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Photo courtesy of Wim van Herk, AAFC, Agassiz 2011, Labun found that wireworm is more prevalent than previously thought in all prairie soil zones.

Three species, especially the S. destructor species, is living up to its name. It’s doing more damage due to its large size.

“Crop rotation is a soft tool than can also keep populations in check,” says Labun. Crops such as legumes appear to be less attractive to the click beetles laying eggs compared to cereal crops. However, more research needs to be done to determine how effective this rotation is.

Potato growers should also keep close tabs on field history and scout for larvae in the field so that potatoes aren’t planted into heavily infested fields. The aim is not to kill every wireworm but to suppress populations to a tolerable economic threshold.

With that backdrop, Vernon reviews control options. “If there is granular or liquid wireworm insecticide in the seed furrow or if the seed piece has been treated with insecticide, there’s a better chance of killing or managing wireworm in a well-fallowed field.”

However, he points out the limited arsenal of controls compared to U.S. potato growers who still have access to older products such as Thimet and Mocap, and newer actives such as fipronil and bifenthrin. Canadian potato growers are now pinning their hopes that fipronil and/or befenthrin may one day be registered to replace Thimet.

“

Deformities and tunneling in har vested crops are not attractive.” ~ Ted Labun What’s most encouraging is Vernon’s research on wheat with a blend of thiamethoxam (10 g AI/100 kg seed) and fipronil (1 g AI/100 kg seed) applied to seed, just as was done for wireworm control with the now de-registered Lindane. Field results demonstrate 95 per cent kill of resident wireworms in a field, with populations not recovering

to economically damaging levels for the next three years.

“This is proving even more effective than the formerly used Lindane,” says Vernon. With blend-treated wheat crops in three-year rotations with other crops, such a potato, wireworm populations would be virtually eliminated, thus reducing the need for more highly toxic insecticides like Thimet for preventive control. This approach requires only a few grams of “blend’ insecticides per hectare of wheat and other cereal crops (barley), which are very commonly grown in rotation with potatoes in major production areas across Canada, including PEI. If fipronil is not ultimately registered in Canada, alternative chemistries are always under evaluation at Agassiz, B.C., and a search for new treatments that kill wireworms to the same degree as fipronil is the research focus for the next five years. Once identified, these treatments can be used in the blended seed-treatment models developed by Vernon to control wireworms with minute amounts of insecticides.

MARCH 2014 –– PAGE 19 THE GROWER

FOCUS: POTATOES

Irregular spacing not as important as seed rate

Marketable tubers per plant for 3 different plant spacings for 4 varieties under optimal growing condition

Marketable yield for 3 different plant spacings for 4 varieties under optimal growing conditions

Marketable yield for 3 different spacings for 3 varieties under drought growing conditions.

PETER VANDER ZAAG Is uniform plant spacing important or is it just the seed rate? There is a strong push to plant at slower speeds, in order to get more uniform plant spacing in

commercial crops. How important is this?

In 2012, under drought conditions (dry land with little rain and no irrigation) and in 2013 under optimal growing conditions (rain plus irrigation) we grew three and four chipping varieties

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View of 16 inch and 8 inch spacings with tubers placed in the furrows

View of plant spacing experiment

respectively as main plots, at three different plant spacings of 12 inch uniform: 16 inch - 8 inch: as well as 20 inch and 4 inch spacing with the same total plant population in all three plant spacing sub-treatments, we used whole seed of a uniform size for all subplots. Both experiments were replicated four times.

The results were not what we expected. The two irregular spacings: 16 inch - 8 inch as well as 20 inch - 4 inch yielded statistically similar to the uniform 12 inch spacing for all varieties in both years. Differences between varieties and tuber number were significant. Yield difference between 2012 and 2013 was very

large.

The conclusion from this experiment suggests that irregular spacing is not a significant issue.

Seed rate would be a more important consideration and is variety dependent.

Peter Vander Zaag is owner Sunrise Potato Storage Ltd. Alliston, Ontario.

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PAGE 20 –– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

FOCUS: POTATOES

What’s new in potato products?

Thanks to Eugenia Banks, Ontario potato specialist, growers have a one-stop review of the latest products registered for the potato industry. These handouts will be available at the Ontario Potato Conference scheduled for March 6, Delta Hotel, Guelph Ontario.

RECENTLY REGISTERED POTATO INSECTICIDES & FUNGICIDES

VERIMARK

Colorado Potato beetle Potato flea beetle spring adults.

45 ml\100 Kg seed

New chemical family

VERIMARK

Colorado Potato beetle Potato flea beetle spring adults.

300- 400 mL\acre

12-hr re-entry interval

EXIREL

Colorado Potato Beetle

300 -400 mL\acre

Aphids

200 -600 mL\acre

New chemical family.

12-hr re-entry interval PHI: 7 days

Variegated Cutworm European Corn Borer

200 -300 mL\acre

Armyworms

200 mL\acre

Aphids

20-60 mL\acre

CLOSER !

12 hr re-entry-interval PHI: 7 days Mineral oils are aphid deterrents and reduce the spread of viruses vectored by aphids. Thorough coverage is essential.

Spray at one -week intervals as soon as aphids are detected.

SUPERIOR 70 OIL

Aphids

4 L\acre

VERTISAN

Rhizoctonia Suppression

0.7 L\acre

New chemical family 12-hr re-entry interval

VERTISAN

Early Blight Suppression

0.4 - 0.7 L\acre

!2-hr re-entry interval PHI: 7 days

Botrytis Gray Mold

0.5 - 0.6 L\acre

QUASH FUNGICIDE

Early Blight:

70 – 112 g\acre

12-hr re-entry interval for scouting.

PHI: 1 day

LUNA TRANQUILITY

Early Blight Brown Spot

243 mL\acre

White Mold Black Dot Suppression

320 mL\acre

Contains a fungicide of a new chemical family plus the a.i. of Scala 12-hr re-entry interval PHI: 7days

QUADRIS TOP

Early Blight Brown spot Suppression Black Dot Suppression

229 – 400 mL\acre

ZAMPRO

Late Blight

0.32 – 0.40 L\acre

CONFINE EXTRA

Late Blight Suppression Pink Rot Suppression

2 – 4 L\acre

Second instar, Colorado potato beetle

Contains the a.i. of Quadris and Inspire 12-hr re-entry interval PHI: 14 days Contains a fungicide of a new chemical family plus the a.i. of Acrobat.

PHI: 4 days 12-hr re-entry interval.

Use an adjuvant to improve control Phosphite: Contains salts of phosphorous acid DO NOT USE ON SEED POTATOES PHI: 1 day 12-hr re-entry interval

Green peach aphids CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Trade Name: OUTLOOK Pre-emergence

Rate ranges from 756- 963 mL\ha according to soil type, organic matter and target weeds.

Foxtail (green, yellow, giant) Crabgrass (smooth, large) Old witchgrass Barnyard grass Fall panicum Redroot pigweed Eastern black nightshade Nutsedge yellow

In cold and wet growing conditions OUTLOOK application may result in delayed emergence or early season stunting of potatoes.

If OUTLOOK has been applied to potatoes and crop failure occurs due to adverse weather or other reasons, replanting of potatoes is not recommended.

24-hr re-entry interval

233-350 mL\ha

Burndown of crop and weeds

Needs an adjuvant e.g. Agral 90 or Ag.Surf

Trade Name AIM

If a second burndown application is needed use 233 – 305 mL\ha

MARCH 2014 –– PAGE 21 THE GROWER

FOCUS: POTATOES

What’s new in potato varieties?

What’s new in potato products?

RECENTLY REGISTERED POST-HARVEST PRODUCTS

Suppression of Silver Scurf

32.5 mL per tonne Final spray solution of Stadium and water should deliver an application rate of 2 L per tonne of potatoes

Contains the active ingredients of Quadris, Maxim & Inspire

Suppression of: Late Blight Pink Rot Silver Scurf

Dilute at 1:5.13 ratio with water.

Apply 2 L of this solution as a spray to 1,000 kg of potatoes prior to storage

Phosphite: Contains salts of phosphorous acid.

APPLICATION PRIOR TO STORING POTATOES Dilute 190 mL of Rampart in 1L of water. Apply 2L of this solution as a spray to 1,000 kg of harvested tubers.

Phosphite: Contains salts of phosphorous acid.

KAREN DAVIDSON STADIUM

Fifteen new potato varieties were unveiled by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) researchers last month in simultaneous events in Fredericton and Lethbridge. Through the Accelerated Release Program, the Potato Research Centre offers growers the opportunity to evaluate these frontrunner cultivars in their own fields.

“It’s an exciting time for the fresh market,” says Benoit Bizimungu, AAFC potato breeder. “Red-skinned types with white flesh or yellow flesh are now being developed.”

More emphasis is placed on sustainability these days, so look for future potato varieties that are disease- and pest-resistant. By using genetic markers, researchers are speeding up the process of identifying the genes for these agronomic traits. By 2020, Bizimungu anticipates varieties that are resistant to late blight and have longer storability times. Researchers, aware of the need for consumer traits, are also working on cultivars with improved levels of antioxidants and slowly digestible starch.

CONFINE EXTRA

RAMPART

Fusarium Dry Rot

Late Blight Pink Rot

NOT FOR SEED POTATOES

NOT FOR SEED POTATOES

In general, application of phosphites to seed potatoes is not recommended due to lack of sufficient data to support this use

APPLICATION TO STORED POTATOES Dilute 190 mL of Rampart in 1L of water. Inject 2 L of this solution per 1.000 Kg of stored potatoes into water used For storage humidification.

SMARTBLOCK

Sprout control in storage

Maximun 530 mL per tonne per storage season

New active ingredient Effective after sprouting has started.

It burns the sprouts.

Always read the label before applying a pesticide

Ivan Noonan (L) and Ray Keenan, Prince Edward Island potato industry representatives review the 15 selections for 2014.

Photos courtesy AAFC.

For growers in such disparate regions of the country, some cultivars may work better than others. In Alberta, for example, 80 per cent of the industry is devoted to processing. That’s why growers there are interested in two chipping varieties and one suited for French-fry production.

“Among the strong features of AR2014-02 chip selection are high-yield, uniform tubers, very low tuber defects and a high specific gravity that means less oil absorption and crispier chips,” says Bizimungu. (Specific gravity refers to solids content). The low incidence of tuber defects makes this cultivar better than Atlantic, now considered the standard in North America.

Another chipping variety, AR2014-03, exels in cold, 7° C storage.

What’s notable is that a marketable colour appears after reconditioning the potato at a higher temperature. This is an important trait since desirable colour must be maintained as potatoes are shipped to processors throughout the year.

Bizimungu also points out the benefits of AR2014-01, a French-fry specific variety. This new cultivar outyielded the Shepody cultivar, a popular variety in southern Alberta. He says it has more consistent specific gravity and offers a mealy texture that’s suited to manufacturing French fries.

How the Accelerated Release Program works Each February, selections are offered for non-exclusive field testing. These early favourites are typically at year six of a testing and selection program that normally takes 12 years. For $100 per selection, growers receive a limited quantity of breeder’s selection seed and non-exclusive rights to conduct their own field performance and quality evaluation trials for two years.

Following grower testing, the Potato Research Centre invites companies to submit cash bids to procure a further three years of exclusive testing. At the end of this cycle or sooner at the request of the company, a six-year, renewable license to commercialize a selection may be negotiated.

All growers are encouraged to participate in this program for first-hand experience with new genetics.

PAGE 22–– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

BITS AND BITES

Label expansion approved for Revus fungicide for new crops and new diseases JIM CHAPUT, OMAF/MRA, PROVINCIAL MINOR USE COORDINATOR The Pest Management Regulatory Agency recently announced the approval of a minor use label expansion registration for Revus Fungicide for control of a number of important diseases on basil, ginseng and edible podded beans.

Revus Fungicide was already approved in Canada on Brassica vegetables, several bulb vegetables, several leafy vegetables, cucurbit vegetables, fruiting vegetables, potatoes, grapes and hops.

These minor use projects were

co-sponsored by the Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Pest Management Centre (AAFCPMC) and the U.S. IR-4 program between 2008 and 2009 in response to minor use priorities identified by producers and extension personnel.

The following table provides a general, abbreviated outline of the new disease registrations on the Canadian label for Revus Fungicide. For detailed instructions consult the full Revus Fungicide label.

Revus Fungicide should be used in an integrated disease management program and in rotation with other management strategies.

Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Revus

New Crop(s) addition

Disease(s) addition

Rate (mL per ha)

Application Instructions

Basil (field and greenhouse)

Downy mildew 583

Apply prior to disease development and continue on a 7 day interval. Apply in a spray volume of 95 – 280 L per ha. Maximum of 4 applications per year with a 1 day pre-harvest interval.

Ginseng

Phytophthora blight and root rot

583

Apply prior to disease development and continue on a 7 day interval. Apply in a spray volume of 470 – 1,400 L per ha. Maximum of 4 applications per year with a 3 day pre-harvest interval.

600

Apply prior to disease development and continue on a 7 - 10 day interval. Apply in a minimum spray volume of 100 L per ha for ground application. Maximum of 4 applications per year with a 1 day pre-harvest interval.

Edible podded Phytophthora beans (snap beans, blight wax beans, runner beans, etc.)

Fungicide label.

For copies of the new label for basil contact Melanie Filotas, OMAF/MRA, Simcoe (519) 426-

4434, for ginseng contact Sean Westerveld, OMAF/MRA, Simcoe (519) 426-4323, for beans contact Elaine Roddy,

OMAF/MRA, Ridgetown (519) 674-1616 or visit www.syngentafarm.ca

More flexibility for fruit labeling solutions LABELPAC Inc. is a new fruit labeling solutions provider in the produce labeling industry serving fruit and vegetable growers with flexible options for both machines and labels.

“We design and develop fruit labeling machines and manufac-

ture our own labels for singulated fruit, packaged produce, flow pack and clamshell labeling including PTI compliance solutions,” says Sam Sleiman, new sole owner and president of Labelpac, based in Tecumseh, Ontario and Michigan, U.S.

“The advantage is that our clients have options and flexibility when it comes to machine and label requirements,” says Sleiman. “We offer them flexibility to accommodate their custom labeling requirements.

With 15 years’ experience in

the fruit labeling industry and a combined 30 years’ experience with the LABELPAC team, Sleiman advises on the most cost effective solutions from hand labeling to high-speed labeling.

“All our fruit labels are compostable and eco-friendly yet can stand up to the rigours of the produce environment,” says Sleiman. “Our labelers are designed and built for reliability and affordability.”

For more information, call 586-933-3006 or go to www.labelpac.com.

Source: Labelpac news release

CPMA preview With mountains as a symbolic backdrop, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association is holding its annual convention and trade show in Vancouver from April 2 to 4. Attracting more than 3000 participants from all segments of the produce supply chain, the event provides a unique forum for industry leaders to enhance their business opportunities.

Don’t miss keynote speaker Spencer West on the topic “Redefine possible: Lessons for tackling mountains in the corporate world.”

Spencer West invites corporate audiences to experience the transformation that can occur when we “redefine possible.” With his trademark humour and humility, Spencer spins a spellbinding story of the challenges he faced after losing his legs from the pelvis down at age five, and the journey of discovery that lead him to accomplish a list of feats, including building schools in poverty-stricken villages in Kenya and India, and walking 186 miles from Edmonton to Calgary, in Alberta, Canada to ultimately summit Mount Kilimanjaro using his hands and wheelchair.

Spencer is the author of the best-selling book Standing Tall: My Journey, and star of the documentary Redefine Possible: The Story of Spencer West, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2012.

Also mark your CPMA schedule for a retail panel discussion and launch of CPMA’s new Consumer Marketing Program. The panel will be moderated by Reggie Griffin, former senior vice-president at Kroeger in the U.S. Panelists will focus on Canada’s vibrant retail landscape and highlight in-store programs aimed at helping Canadians make healthier food choices. Canada’s five leading retail chains will share their philosophy and stories on their “fresh identity” and how they are supporting Canadians in their quest for better dietary choices.

This session will provide relevant information to all delegates, including a group of Vancouver area retail produce managers who will be joining the luncheon. CPMA will be launching a new consumer outreach program: Half your plate.

For more details on the convention and trade show, visit www.convention.cpma.ca.

MARCH 2014 –– PAGE 23 THE GROWER

PAGE 24 –– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

Organic options for Spotted Wing Drosophila management PAM FISHER, BERRY CROP SPECIALIST Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) is an invasive, direct pest of berry crops and other softskinned fruit. In just a few years this pest has permeated all of the major fruit growing regions in the U.S, British Columbia, and Eastern Canada.

Spotted wing drosophila is a serious problem because it lays eggs in fruit as the fruit is ripening. SWD eggs, larvae, and pupae are present in the fruit at harvest.

Fruit loses its integrity and breaks down early. The pest has multiple generations a year and populations build up very quickly. Lateseason fruit, such as fall-bearing raspberries, blueberries and dayneutral strawberries, are almost sure to be infested with SWD unless growers actively manage this pest.

Control of SWD is a challenge for organic as well as conventional growers.

Organic insecticides: Insecticides are an important part of a SWD management program; weekly applications can provide SWD control while fruit is ripe and ripening.

We anticipate an emergency use registration for the insecticide ENTRUST SC on berry and stone fruit crops for SWD control in 2014. Entrust (spinosad) is very effective for SWD and is acceptable in most organic programs.

However, there will be limitations on the number of applications per season, which means you might not have enough applications to protect crops with a long harvest period. Also, Entrust (insecticide group 5) should not be used repeatedly because resistance management is a concern. It is important to alternate insecticides from different groups. In California, SWD has already developed resistance to the organic insecticide Pyganic, when this insecticide was used repeatedly.

Watch for updates on emergency use registrations of organic products for SWD control at www.ontario.ca/spottedwing.

Insecticides alone will not provide adequate SWD control, and

researchers are actively searching for more sustainable options.

Many other management practices must be incorporated into a SWD program.

Harvest schedules: The most important management strategy for SWD is to harvest frequently and thoroughly. Ideally all ripe fruit should be harvested every day or two. On pick-your-own farms, where harvest is seldom thorough, growers should send workers in after the customers, to clean up the field. By adjusting harvest schedules to accommodate thorough and frequent harvest, growers have found good SWD control in raspberries, and day-neutral strawberries.

However, this is not a very practical option for blueberries or blackberries which are picked once or twice a week.

Removing over-ripe or damaged fruit: Removing unmarketable fruit from the field can reduce the build-up of SWD, but the cost benefits of this expensive management practice are not really clear. However, in organic settings, where insecticide options are limited, removing unmarketable fruit can pay off (Figure 1). This waste fruit should be buried daily at least 30 cm deep, or held in sealed containers for a few days. Don’t leave it in exposed piles to compost.

Post- harvest cooling: Cooling to 1.6˚C (35˚F) degrees immediately after harvest will slow the development of SWD in harvested fruit. If fruit is held for three days at this temperature, many eggs and small larvae will die.

However, once SWD has laid eggs in fruit, shelf life is compromised because the surface of the fruit has been damaged. Postharvest cooling should be used together with immediate marketing of fruit.

Crop management: SWD populations are favoured by moderate temperatures and high humidity. Growers can influence SWD populations by making sure crops are pruned to facilitate airflow, reduced humidity around the crop canopy, and ease of

harvest. Prune brambles and install trellis systems (Figure 2).

Blueberries should be pruned to open up the canopy. June-bearing strawberries should be renovated as soon as possible after harvest.

Runners should be clipped on day-neutral strawberries to reduce crop debris on the beds.

Figure 1: Removing over-ripe and unmarketable fruit from the field can help reduce SWD populations

Ground cover management: Dropped fruit can be a source of SWD flies. Factors which favour dessication of fruit, such as short grass, dry cultivated soil, or landscape fabric, could help to reduce SWD emergence from fallen fruit.

Landscape fabric as a ground cover can also make it possible to rake dropped fruit from the ground and dispose of it. Use of trickle irrigation, instead of overhead sprinklers, can help maintain a dry environment in the crop alleys and reduce humidity around the planting.

Management of wild hosts: SWD has many wild hosts (i.e. mulberries, honeysuckle, brambles, pokeweed, dogwood, buckthorn, pin cherry) that are common in Ontario landscapes.

These wild hosts are important habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects. It is not practical or desirable to remove all wild hosts around your farm fields. However wild blackberries and wild raspberries should be removed where possible, or mowed below the fruiting zone each spring.

Biological control: SWD has few natural enemies. Wasps parasitizing SWD have been identified in Ontario and elsewhere in North America, but biological controls are not providing economic control at this time. Most parasites of drosophila do not seem to be adapted to find this new invasive species, and parasitism rates are low, one to two per cent.

Research is underway in areas of Asia where the pest is well established to identify predators and/or parasites. Other researchers are studying the efficacy of biopesticides, with little success so far.

Exclusion: Exclusion of SWD from the crop canopy has been

Figure 2: Crop management can affect SWD damage. Although total yields might be higher in the planting in middle photo, SWD will be easier to manage in the field on the bottom photo, where trellising is used to facilitate harvest. Landscape fabric as a ground cover can help dessicate fallen fruit. tried on a small scale for blueberries, and could also be used in high tunnels. The netting used to exclude SWD is commercially available, has a very fine mesh, and is heavier than bird netting. It must be installed over a structure that is sturdy enough to hold the extra weight. The bottom edge of the netting must be trenched in at ground level, or installed to prevent any gaps between the ground and the net.

In addition, doors must be kept closed, something difficult to do when pickers are moving in and out. Negative side effects from reduced light and ventilation can be caused by the netting.

Research is continuing on this option for SWD control.

For more information: For current and extensive information on Spotted Wing Drosophila, please see our website at www.Ontario.ca\spottedwing.

Growers can also listen to a recorded webinar by Dr. H. Burrak at North Carolina State University and Dr. V. Walton of Oregon State University, “Biologically Based Organic Management Strategies for Spotted Wing Drosophila.” Some of the information in this presentation was used in the writing of this article. http://www.extension.org/pages/70121/biologically-based-organic-managementstrategies-for-spotted-wingdrosophila

WWW.THEGROWER.ORG

MARCH 2014 –– PAGE 25 THE GROWER

BERRY FOCUS

Two practices to improve on-farm water use efficiency REBECCA SHORTT, OMAF/MRA WATER QUANTITY ENGINEER Are you considering improving your on-farm water use efficiency? Do you know what practices are eligible for cost-share funding under the Growing Forward 2 (GF2) Implementation Funding Assistance program for producers?

The following paragraphs outline my top two recommended practices for improving water efficiency – and they are both eligible for GF2 funding.

Importance of Monitoring Water Use with a Meter Knowing how much water you use is the first step to increasing farm water use efficiency. Installing a water meter- is a beneficial step for any farm practice which uses water.

A water meter provides an instantaneous reading of the flow of water for the application (e.g. irrigation system) and helps to diagnose if the system is operating as designed.

• Higher than usual flow? Check the system for leaks, worn nozzles and malfunctioning valves.

• Lower than usual flow? Check the system for plugging, malfunctioning valves and pump station performance.

Monitoring the water flow from an application over a period of time, and tracking the total flow reading will help to assess the on-going water use from each application and will help you to evaluate new practices or equipment.

• Assesses the impact of new management practices on the basis of their water usage.

• Allows for an optimization of water use by comparing the water use and associated costs of different practices.

Under scenarios of climate change and where water supplies are stressed, a water monitoring program is the first tool needed to identify water-efficient opportunities.

References: - Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Plan (EFP), Worksheet #13, question 1: “Knowledge of water use and supply system”. Using a meter and logging the data from the meter is rated as a “Best” practice.

- Technical Bulletin, Ministry of Environment, Permit To Take Water Program, Monitoring and Reporting of Water Takings: Continuous metering at the point of water taking is the normally accepted, most accurate, and easy-to-use method of monitoring the volume of water taken daily.

In addition to the meter itself, wireless transmission of the meter readings, loggers and software to graph the output are all useful tools to assist you in making good use of the data collected in a timely manner.

Importance of Monitoring Soil Moisture with an Instrument Monitoring soil moisture is the key to getting the right amount of water to crops at the right time. The use of soil moisture monitoring equipment will benefit decisionmaking on all irrigated farms.

Monitoring soil moisture and taking action to use the information provided in irrigation decisions will help growers manage soil moisture. Choosing the right times and the right amounts to irrigate can lead to: • Higher yields • Better product quality

• Improved plant vigour • Reduction in disease • More effective use of water (water efficiency) • Reduced irrigation costs Soil moisture instrument demonstrations have occurred in southern Ontario and cooperating farms reported the following outcomes: • “My understanding of soil moisture monitoring has improved. I now know the field capacity, wilting point and my optimum irrigation trigger points.”

• “Soil moisture monitoring helps me determine when irrigation is beneficial.”

• “Now I know what is going on in the soil profile; before I was guessing.”

• “The soil moisture instruments taught me the best timing and quantities to apply; you can see the trends in the graphs to see if you’ve applied enough or too much.”

• “From the soil moisture instruments I learned that I was not applying enough water.”

References: - Environmental Farm Plan (EFP), Worksheet #13, question 7 “Irrigation Scheduling.” Using a soil moisture gauge is rated as a “Best” practice.

- Monitoring Soil Moisture to Improve Irrigation Decisions. OMAF Fact Sheet www.omafra.gov.on.ca/ english/engineer/irrigation.htm - Best Management Practices: Irrigation Management.

2004. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. p. 29-37 In addition to the soil moisture instruments themselves, wireless transmission of the moisture readings, loggers and software to graph the output are all useful tools to assist you in making good decisions based on the data collected.

“Pack ‘N Cool” provides farmers with mobile refrigeration PAM FISHER, OMAF AND MRA (Adapted from the Plants for Human Health Institute website) Here is something I saw at the North American Strawberry Growers Association annual meeting last December. Dr. Penny Perkins Veazie and other researchers at N.C. State University have developed a new mobile cooling unit for farmers. The five-by-eight-feet refrigerated trailer – called the “Pack ‘N Cool” – is designed to keep fruits and vegetables at ideal tempera-

tures during transport to and from farmers’ markets and satellite stands or as they’re harvested in farm fields. It provides farmers with a mobile, cost-efficient alternative to commercial cooling units.

The Pack ‘N Cool unit combines the mobility of a cargo trailer with the refrigeration capabilities of a commercial cooler.

The model unit cost around $3,400 to construct, including a new cargo trailer priced at $1,500 (a pre-owned trailer can reduce costs). Construction guidelines, step-bystep photos and a sample budget are available on the Plants for Human Health

Institute website.

The Pack ‘N Cool utilizes CoolBot temperature technology to maximize the output of a basic window air conditioner unit. The CoolBot adapter interfaces with the AC unit, which typically bottoms out at 60° F, to generate temperatures as low as the ‘30s in the trailer. It’s simple and energy-efficient. An electrical extension cord (110V) or a generator powers the unit.

For more information , see http://plantsforhumanhealth.ncsu.edu/2012/08/20/packn-cool/

Sprayer workshops for berry growers

Airblast 101 is a four-hour classroombased course designed to provide participants with practical tools to apply

Quality Seed

pesticides, plant growth modifiers and foliar nutrients. Developed by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food in association with Croplife Canada, this course was created to introduce a new operator to spraying, or to refresh a seasoned veteran.

At the core of the course is the Participant’s Handbook. It is designed to provide a solid grounding in the basics of airblast sprayer operation, as well as introduce advanced techniques. The result

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is that the participant is empowered to make changes to the spray program, significantly improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the application and reduce unnecessary environmental impact.

Two workshops will be offered for berry growers in 2014, by the highly entertaining and informative Jason Deveau, application technology specialist with OMAF and MRA. A standard course will be delivered with a focus on berry crops, but all are welcome to participate.

Although the course content was developed for airblast sprayers, Jason will address information for boom sprayers used in strawberries. Lunch is included. Cost is $25 per person and includes lunch and the participant’s handbook. Space is limited.

Mar. 7, 2014: 8:30-1:00 p.m. Brighton, Ontario Mar. 10, 2014: 8:30 to 1:00 p.m.

Vineland, Ontario To register, see http://sprayers101.ca/ upcomingcourses/

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Jim Robinson (ON/MB) 905-715-8595

Rob Hovius (ON/PEI/NB) 519-580-3231

Paul Banks (ON/NS) 905-688-4300

Leah Erickson (BC/AB) 604-957-2359

Marc André Laberge (QC) 514-984-4589

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PAGE 26 –– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

MINOR USE CRAIG’S COMMENTS

P.C.P. Act Provision whipsaws PMRA

CRAIG HUNTER OFVGA The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is under fire these days, and while I may have some bones to pick with them, my sympathies are all with them for what they are facing. While that may be a surprise to both them, and many growers, please let me explain in more detail.

Back in the day when the Pest Control Products Act was being completely rewritten, growers tried to get many changes made to the versions that were created solely by government staffers.

Amongst the changes asked for were small details with huge implications. One of these was “…the minister SHALL initiate a special review of a pesticide…”

There are three scenarios where this applies and removes any opportunity for ministerial discretion to apply. One is when a provincial or another federal department provides evidence of the possibility of environmental or health effects of a pesticide that warrants a special review.

Another is when the minister has such information available to him (her) that would warrant such a review. The third scenario however is disturbing, in as much as it forces a minister of the Canadian government to initiate a special review if ANY OECD country bans the use of ANY pesticide for either health or environmental reasons! We asked at the time for that to be softened to “may initiate” a special review.

That change never happened.

Fast forward to 2013.

One single country of the Organization of Economic

Cooperation and Development (OECD), Norway, decided to ban the use of 23 different pesticides.

(Actually there were 29 but upon investigation, not all uses were banned for four of them, while two others had never been registered here.) Every one of those 23 remaining has been recently fully reviewed under the provisions for mandatory re-evaluation every fifteen years provided for under the PCP Act. Not surprisingly, the PMRA felt that since these recent reviews had been done, there was no ‘need’ to initiate a special review. That is, until a nongovernmental organization (NGO) group sued the minister and Health Canada for not following, to the word, the PCP Act provisions.

The PMRA is now forced to create 23 ‘special review’ teams just because a foreign country did something? Just to complete the loop on the inanity of the situation, Norway still imports virtually all its food and mainly from other EU countries like Spain, France and Italy, but NONE of them has acted to ban these pesticides! All the residues, all the worker and public and environmental issues (if they even really exist) remain in play.

Norway gets to eat its (political) cake while facilely acting out a fantasy experiment. It was Norway and some other Scandinavian countries that widely pronounced the banning of several pesticides back in the eighties, and nineties, yet all the while kept them available for forestry use, which just happens to be virtually all their use pattern there anyway as compared to the paltry uses of their small (relatively) agricultural production.

Now Canada gets hoisted on a petard of its own making by having to conduct a redundant review for 23 pesticides because Norway decides to ban them.

What is wrong with this picture?

All the while this goes on the PMRA could/should be dealing with matters far more valuable to Canadians’ health and environment. The senior staff must be pulling out their hair over this.

It was Norway and some other Scandinavian countries that widely pronounced the banning of several pesticides back in the eighties, and nineties, yet all the while kept them available for forestry use, which just happens to be virtually all their use pattern there anyway as compared to the paltry uses of their small (relatively) agricultural production.

The rest of the staff will once again be stressed beyond what is acceptable- all because one word could not/would not be changed!

Now we could go from the ridiculous to the sublime on this.

What if the quid pro quo (after all, fair is fair!) was to be applied? That would create the untenable position that if any OECD country was to REGISTER a pesticide, the minster would be required to do so here.

On the basis that any OECD country had determined a product was SAFE for its health and the environment, Canada could just accept that decision. Maybe it should even say MUST accept that decision! I do not think anyone would totally agree with that process, for the very same reason we shouldn’t have our hands tied as they are at present.

There are some peculiar regulatory approaches out there that Canadians might not want to accept in toto.

Back at PMRA it is anything but business as usual. The ‘normal’ work is piling up, and companies are complaining aloud about delays that may mean the loss of 2014 sales for some new products/uses. In addition, the last few remaining re-evaluations have yet to be completed, and some of them are for key products/uses for this industry.

We cannot tolerate further delays, nor any decisions made for expedience rather than from a fulsome

evaluation and with our input.

The same staff will be tasked beyond their limits as a result of “The 23.”

The PMRA has just recently gone through its full share of budget cuts, staffing cuts, and realignment of work. Now that they are down to parchment-like skin stretched over bare bones, they are expected, somehow, to carry out this extra chore. Growers have a long list (see my first paragraph) of bones to pick as well. It is even less likely now that we will see further actions to ‘fix’ the CODEX international MRL setting process to bring it up to the standard required for timely decisions. We are very unlikely to see much time spent on fixing the flaws in the Data Protection Policy and as a result the generic pesticide entries into Canada will ebb from a trickle to just a seepage. We are unlikely to see the final barriers to true (our version) of pesticide harmonization get listed and dealt with, and as a result Canadian growers will continue to pay more, get less, and be forced to compete even in our home marketplace with U.S. and other foreign producers who are not burdened with uniquely Canadian legislation.

Oh Canada- what a mess we have made here!

I guess I should offer a solution! “The minster shall conduct a special review.” Okay! Open a special review and then file the

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latest re-evaluation report.

Suggest that there is nothing new or significant in the reasons why Norway (or any other OECD nation) banned a pesticide. Close the file. Further public consultation should not be required as it has already recently happened during the re-evaluation process.

Move on to the next one. Et cetera!

Maybe it could all be done in a morning! While some might howl about it, the rest of us should howl even louder about the legislative requirement that binds a minister’s hands due to any foreign government decision!

Folks, we just have to move along and deal with the issues important to Canadians! Can anyone envision having our hands tied if any other Health Legislation was committed to a special review on the basis of another country’s legislation? The first thing that needs to be done is to change that wording in the PCP Act. That Act just happens to be up for mandatory public review right now! While we deplore the opening of the Act for anything else, this fiasco should never happen again.

My condolences go out to PMRA staff and management while they are forced to deal with this (to me) frivolous waste of time and resources. Even when we agree to disagree on much else, I am firmly on your side on this one.

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MARCH 2014 –– PAGE 27 THE GROWER

PAGE 28 –– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

THE GROWER

CELEBRATING 134 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION

MARCH 2014

SECTION B

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Pesticide training protects workers, protects food

Crop protection training is a requirement for workers at Magalas Produce, Waterford, Ontario which grows strawberries, zucchini, sweet corn, cantaloupe and tomatoes. On this July morning, employee Shane Thompson was spraying canteloupes. Photo by Glenn Lowson.

INSIDE BMSB on the move

Page 3

Salt water test for Spotted Wing Drosophila

Page 4

Marketplace

Page 8

KAREN DAVIDSON Like many farm partners, Cheryl Magalas is a multi-tasker. But when it comes to crop protection, she has a laser focus on safety. As a supplier of everything from strawberries to zucchini to the major grocery chains, the company follows CanadaGAP protocols.

She holds the certificate for pesticide application for Magalas Produce, Waterford, Ontario. What’s also been helpful is the Ontario Pesticide Education Program (OPEP) that certifies her to teach farmer assistants.

Niagara on the Lake, ON

Phone: (905) 468-5016

“The training manuals are excellent,” she says. The resources help her train her own staff on the farm. It’s a refresher on how to handle chemicals safely and which protective gear to wear.

The train-the-trainer course is half a day says Susan Kelner, program coordinator, OPEP. Assistants can’t choose or buy pesticides. They must operate under the supervision of certified farmers who direct what product, the rate and which crop. Part of the training includes first aid and how to respond to an accident.

Fax: (905) 468-5676 e-mail: info@vineyardmachines.com

Those who train are farmers themselves.

Joe Lindley, for example, is well-known to greenhouse operators in the Niagara peninsula.

“We instill that great care must be taken with crop protection products,” says Lindley.

“Farmers like these courses because there’s credibility in another farmer giving the course.

Everyone knows the practical situations in the field or greenhouse.”

The Ontario Pesticide Education Program is in full swing during March and April. For times and locations, go to www.opep.ca.

www. vineyardmachines.com

PAGE B2 –– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Update on Nova Scotia strawberry virus

Strawberry aphid strived to produce disease-free stock in a high-inoculum environment. The rapidity and severity of the virus disease emergence made extension planning difficult and exposed many unknowns that needed to be answered before the industry could recover and move forward.

How widespread is the complex? When and how long is the high-risk flight period of the primary vector – the strawberry aphid? What are the most effective virus management strategies and how should the industry best move forward?

JOHN LEWIS Last year was a tough year for Nova Scotia’s strawberry industry. An outbreak of two aphid-vectored viruses (in 2012) resulted in 200 acres of fruiting fields being proactively removed in early spring and many more infected acres being removed immediately after harvest. Less than half a normal crop was produced and the four nurseries producing inspected plants operated under an unprecedented level of uncertainty as they

Are there emergency use or minor use needs to combat the problem? How do we ensure that the inspected nursery stock being produced in the province is disease free? Huge questions indeed but ‘necessity is the mother of invention’ and out of necessity much was accomplished in 2013 and there is hope as the

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The first course of business was to inform growers about the disease, its cause, and available tools to manage it. This was facilitated by a series of ‘virus management’ workshops in early April as the new season approached. Concurrently, funding was obtained to conduct strawberry aphid monitoring on 23 farms and nurseries across the province as well as to assess the distribution of the two viruses on farms across the province. By early June it was known that the two viruses were not isolated in one or two hotspots but distributed from one end of the province to the other. In fact, both viruses were found on 65 per cent of farms tested and 29 per cent more tested positive for at least one of the two viruses. Certainly this was the first concrete proof that the entire industry was facing a major crisis and not just a few large farms.

Interestingly, research into the archives of the Kentville Research Station revealed that in an exhaustive aphid monitoring survey of several farms in the Annapolis Valley from 1961 – 1965, the strawberry aphid, though present, was an extremely minor colonizer of strawberries at that time (Stultz, 1968). The monitoring work conducted in 2013 quickly revealed that (not surprisingly) this was no longer the case and strawberry aphids are now a major colonizer of strawberries.

Moreover, the flight period was found to begin in early June and, unlike in other areas that report a short intense flight, Nova Scotia’s was more sedate and extended an agonizing eight weeks.

There was a tremendous level of consultation with virus and aphid experts during this time and ultimately a ‘recovery strategy’ was prepared by Dr. Robert Martin (USDA Corvallis) in consultation with local research, extension, government, and industry leaders.The strategy outlined the way forward and, among other things, provided the foundation for the ‘Canada-Nova

Scotia Strawberry Assistance Initiative’ that was announced as the year closed. This program provides replant assistance to growers who removed acreage to the viruses in 2013 as well as an incentive for the removal of additional acreage prior to May 15th 2014. Inoculum reduction is a key requirement for recovery and this program will be very helpful in this regard.

The recovery strategy outlined three major requirements for recovery – vector control, removal of infected fields, and ensuring that growers replant with disease-free stock. The latter requirement is a difficult one with no known nursery plant producers selling ‘virus-tested’ stock at the G4 or certified plant level. With this in mind, a testing protocol was developed in consultation with Dr. Martin that ensured G4 ‘blue tag’ stock produced in Nova Scotia was virus-tested and provided assurance of an extremely low risk of virus infection. All stock was tested under this new protocol and blue tag stock is available to growers for the coming season.

The final major initiative of 2013 was a virus survey of all newly planted fields in September so as to provide an indicator of what we might expect for losses to the viruses in 2014, as well as to provide a benchmark for comparison in future surveys.

Twenty-six percent of all samples tested positive for strawberry mild yellow edge virus, the more common of the two viruses, and 16 per cent tested positive for strawberry mottle virus, the second of the two viruses causing problems across the province.

These results suggest we still have work to do before we return to normal but we are confident that we are moving in the right direction and that the industry has the resilience to overcome this difficult challenge. Stay tuned!

John Lewis is Horticulturist, Perennia.

MARCH 2014 –– PAGE B3 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is on the move KAREN DAVIDSON No visa was granted, yet this East Asian pest has become firmly entrenched on Canadian soil. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) also has an unrefined palate, sustained by more than 170 North American plant hosts that range from fruits and vegetables to landscape trees and shrubs.

“2014 will be an important year,” says Hannah Fraser, entomology program lead, horticulture for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF). “We anticipate finding more areas in the province with established populations, based in part on confirmed homeowner reports and our ongoing survey.”

In August 2012, an established population was documented in Hamilton but since then there have been confirmed homeowner finds in Burlington, Cedar Springs, Milton, Newboro, Toronto, Vaughan and Windsor.

Last fall, new captures were confirmed in Niagara-on-theLake, London and Kincardine.

Paris, Niagara Falls, Fort Erie and Stoney Creek were added to the

Nymph

Adult

The two white bands on each antenna are key distinguishing features on BMSB adults and late instar nymphs. Photos by Hannah Fraser. rapidly expanding list as recently as January. Many of the finds have come from homeowners.

“BMSB adults like to move indoors in the fall,” says Fraser.

There are several insecticides registered for either control or suppression of BMSB in Canada (Lannate, Malathion, Clutch and Actara), with others in the registration system. Thresholds for BMSB have not been established in the U.S. where growers have been grappling with the pest for several years now. But as each

feeding probe causes injury, there is very little tolerance in horticultural crops. Managing BMSB will require a combination of insecticides, biological controls, attractand-kill strategies, physical barriers and other novel approaches that are still in development.

Surveys are ongoing in agricultural areas and other sites that are at high risk for introduction.

In 2013, BMSB was monitored using visual surveys at more than 260 sites across Ontario and this number will increase in 2014.

Adults, nymphs and eggs were found on a wide variety of landscape hosts including buckthorn, ash, Catalpa sp., choke cherry, crab apple, dogwood, American cranberry bush, honeysuckle, lilac, American basswood, Manitoba maple or box elder, mulberry, rose, tree of heaven, walnut and wild grape.

“Buckthorn appears to be an excellent season-long host for this pest,” says Fraser. “If you are scouting your farm, make sure to check for BMSB on buckthorn near crop borders.”

BMSB is a tree-loving species that typically builds up on landscape plants or woodlots before moving into crops. It is a highly mobile pest, and adults will move between hosts during the growing season. Some crops, such as peaches, are at risk early and through harvest, while others, such as vegetable crops, are typically attacked when fruiting structures begin to develop.

Although BMSB has not been found in a crop, it has been captured in pheromone traps set up on farms near Burlington and Cedar Springs, indicating populations are most likely present nearby. The number of pyramid-shaped pheromone traps that are being evaluated as monitoring tools will be increased this year as they may be useful for early detection. With the occurrence of both overwintered and new-gen-

eration adults in the field by mid-July, Fraser says there may be potential for a partial second generation of BMSB in southwestern Ontario.

“Based on other areas, it isn’t likely but we need to study this carefully next summer,” she says.

A better understanding of the phenology, occurrence and spread of the pest in Ontario is needed to develop an IPM strategy for economically important crops.

Research is also underway to determine if native natural enemies are attacking BMSB. Besides OMAF and MRA, the research and survey team includes Cynthia Scott-Dupree, University of Guelph and Tara Gariepy, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Fortunately, Fraser is plugged into a North American working group which meets twice a year to compare notes. She chairs the Canadian Technical Working Group on BMSB which was established in 2012. It’s an initiative led by the Canadian Horticultural Council and the Pest Management Centre.

“This is a big, showy insect that may show up in your crop or in your house,” says Fraser.

“Look for it and don’t be shy about submitting specimens for identification.”

For more information on how to distinguish BMSB from lookalikes, www.ontario.ca/stinkbug.

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PAGE B4 –– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Salt water test to detect SWD larvae in fruit PAM FISHER AND HANNAH FRASER, OMAF AND MRA When it comes to monitoring for Spotted Wing Drosophila, (SWD), early detection is important. Traps for SWD, baited with apple cider vinegar or yeast bait are useful, especially when trap catches from several locations in a region are combined. However, in 2013 we found SWD larvae in fruit at approximately the same time we found the first SWD in traps. This means that on-farm trapping is not sensitive enough to detect the earliest SWD infestations on the farm. Until better baits, traps and thresholds for SWD are developed, growers need a second tool for monitoring this invasive pest. Fruit sampling at harvest is recommended to detect early infestations, and to determine the effectiveness of your SWD control program.

Figure 2: Small larvae floating out of fruit submerged in salt water

Figure 1: Materials needed for salt water test Larvae from infested fruit will float out if fruit is placed in salt water. Dissolve one part salt in 16 parts water (1/4 cup salt in four cups water). Place a sample of sound, marketable fruit (approx. 100 ripe, healthy-looking fruit) in a shallow dish or tray.

Pour salt water over the fruit until fruit is completely covered. Mash fruit lightly with a potato masher.

In 10- 15 minutes, larvae will float to the surface of the

solution. To detect very small larvae you will need a hand lens and good lighting. Look for small, white larvae, tapered at both ends, and one to four mm in length. It is impossible to distinguish SWD from other drosophila larvae at this stage; however only SWD attack sound marketable fruit. If you are using ripe, not overripe, fruit in the tests, emerging larvae are probably SWD.

Salt water fruit immersion provides a quick test to determine if SWD is present in fruit, although numbers observed may underestimate the level of infestation. Success with this technique could be improved if fruit is

collected and held at room temperature for one to two days before immersion in salt water.

This will provide time for eggs to hatch and larvae to grow to a size that is easier to see in the salt water solution.

Spotted Wing Drosophila research PAM FISHER, OMAF AND MRA Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) is a new pest and there are a lot of questions about how this insect will behave in Ontario fruit crops. Fortunately there is a great deal of research underway across North America which will help us learn how to monitor SWD and how to manage it economically. OMAF and MRA specialists are working with colleagues in Canada and the U.S. to collaborate on projects and share information.

Here in Ontario, there are several projects in progress. It is important that stakeholders be connected to these projects to help keep these projects relevant to the needs of Ontario fruit growers.

Enhanced monitoring and management of spotted wing

drosophila, an invasive pest of soft skinned fruit in Ontario Project team: Rebecca Hallett, Rose Buitenhuis, Tara Gariepy, Hannah Fraser, Justin Renkema Source of funding : OMAFRA/U of G Research Program 2011/2012 (Production Systems Plants: Plant Protection) Objective: 1. To develop better traps, an improved attractant and molecular identification tools to monitor spotted wing drosophila (SWD).

2. To learn more about the population dynamics in Ontario, including which crops and wild hosts support SWD. 3. To develop a novel push-pull management strategy using plant volatiles to repel and attract SWD. 4. To assess endemic parasitoids and predators that may attack SWD.

Findings so far: Traps with large entry areas and large surface areas for attractant volatilization improved captures of SWD. Yeast-sugar-water lures improved captures compared to apple cider vinegar, but synthetic blends of fruit volatiles did not improve captures. Field edges appear to be important overwintering habitat and certain wild host species support SWD populations, but specific movement patterns from field edges to crop interiors were not always evident.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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MARCH 2014 –– PAGE B5 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Spotted Wing Drosophila research in Ontario In the laboratory, several plant essential oils were highly repellent to SWD flies and reduced egg-laying in ripe fruit. On a small scale in the field, oils also reduced egg-laying in fruit. We are currently exploring technologies to more effectively disperse repellents throughout the crop and test their efficacy in combination with attract-and-kill systems. The genetic structure of SWD in Ontario is being determined using molecular barcoding; these results are being used to assess a predatory beetle species and will be used to study endemic parasitoids for biological control.

Life history and seasonal movements of the spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, in a multi-crop setting Project team: Dr. Rose Buitenhuis, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre; Hannah Fraser, OMAF & MRA Source of funding: Niagara Peninsula Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association

of SWD to allow spatial and temporal forecasting.

Findings so far: Temperature curves have been generated for SWD. Current work is focussed on identifying upper and lower developmental critical points. A newly initiated overwintering experiment will investigate how SWD overwinters in Ontario climates and how this depends on diapause induction, developmental stage and ecotype. The forecasting model is now almost complete and should be submitted for publication in late February 2014.

A population demography study of SWD by our group is currently in press in the Journal of Economic Entomology (details to follow).

Monitoring and management of spotted wing drosophila in Ontario 2013 Project Team: Pam Fisher, Anne Horst, Denise Beaton, Hannah Fraser, Leslie Huffman, Margaret Appleby, Melanie Filotas Source of funding: Ontario Berry Growers Association, Ontario Highbush Blueberry Growers Association. This project was funded in part through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincialterritorial initiative. The Agricultural Adaptation Council assists in the delivery of Growing Forward 2 in Ontario.

Objective: To monitor for spotted wing drosophila using traps and fruit monitoring and to provide growers with accurate, cur-

rent information on SWD control.

Findings to date: Spotted wing drosophila was trapped across Ontario in both 2012 and 2013, as far north as New Liskeard and in all major fruit growing regions in Ontario. First trap captures of SWD were coincident with late strawberry –early raspberry harvest in most regions. When trap captures were pooled by region, populations showed similar patterns in each region, but were highest in southwestern and southcentral Ontario. Infested fruit was detected slightly earlier than the first trap captures. From mid-July to mid-September, infested fruit was common.

Growers can monitor for SWD using traps for adult flies, howev-

er on-farm trap captures are not a good indicator of early SWD populations. Weekly salt water fruit immersion is more effective than on-farm trapping to detect early infestations and to evaluate the success of SWD control programs. Actual infestation rates can be underestimated with salt water immersion tests, however it seems to be a good predictor of presence or absence.

Research on SWD in recent years has supported the development of much information to inform growers on how to recognize and manage this pest.

Where to get more information: www.ontario.ca\spottedwing

Objective: 1. Study spotted wing drosophila (SWD) life history and seasonal movement between overwintering sites, alternative hosts and crops in Niagara.

2. Provide industry with knowledge on local SWD occurrence, biology and behaviour which is essential to predict outbreaks and to develop more effective control methods.

Findings so far: SWD persists in the landscape well into the cold season. No SWD were recovered late winter to spring. Although it is suspected that SWD overwinters in Niagara, this could not be confirmed. In 2013, the first SWD in Niagara was found July 4th. Early detection of SWD at the beginning of the season can be accomplished by trapping or by fruit collections. For traps, ACV bait is recommended because of its ease of use and similar performance compared to the yeast + sugar bait. No clear patterns of movement between wild hosts and crops were observed.

Temperature-dependent development and overwintering in the spotted wing drosophila Project team: Jonathan Newman, Gerry Ryan, Lisa Emiljanowicz, Aaron Langille Source of funding : OMAFRA/U of G Research Program Objective: 1. To investigate how life history parameters (e.g. stage-specific development time, reproductive output, mortality and lifespan) are likely to fluctuate with temperature 2. To investigate the ecology of overwintering in SWD and 3. To create a population model

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PAGE B6 –– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Developments in the control of onion maggot and thrips on onions MARY RUTH McDONALD Onion maggot (Delia antgua) and onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) are the most damaging insect pests of onions in Ontario, and many other regions of the world.

Growers spend a lot of time and effort to protect their crops from these pests.

The feeding of onion maggot larvae can kill 70 to 100 per cent of onion seedlings in the spring, and further generations of maggots damage onions later in the season. Onion thrips attack the leaves of onion plants and many other crops. Thrips are tiny insects that feed by rasping the surface of leaves. The populations build up quickly in hot, dry weather. The feeding of large numbers of thrips can cause the leaves to lose the green pigments and turn silver. This results in small onions and low yields.

Onions with heavy thrips damage do not have enough green leaves to absorb sprout inhibitor, so cannot be put into long term storage.

Trials have been conducted at the Muck Crops Research Station to find the most effective and environmentally friendly methods to control these insect pests.

There have been several new insecticides developed lately and most are reduced risk materials, meaning that they are relatively environmentally friendly.

Research on onion maggot control has focused on insecticide seed treatments. These can be very effective at low rates. They are easy to handle and there are no worries about product rate or placement. They always end up with the seed. One product, Entrust (80% spinosad), is approved as an organic material in the United States. The field trial in 2010 had very high onion maggot damage. Over 73 per cent of the onions in the untreated check were killed by maggots.

Onion maggot damage on seedling onions

Onion maggot damage on onions

One of the best treatments was Entrust plus Cruiser (spinosad plus thiamethoxam) with three per cent maggot damage. This is the combination of insecticides in the FarMore FI 500 seed treatment. Another excellent treatment was Sepresto (clothianidin 56.25% + imidacloprid 18.75%), also with three per cent damage.

Sepresto is also a commercial formulation. The standard seed treatment Governor (cyromazine 75%), and Avicta 400 (abermectin 37%) were also very effective, with seven and eight per cent damage. The organic product, Entrust alone had 18 per cent maggot damage, still much less than the check. Recent work has compared pyrethroid in-furrow treatments with the seed treatments and a spinosad bait.

Onion thrips can be extremely difficult to control when temperatures are warm and there is little rain. Thrips reproduce rapidly at warm temperatures, while heavy rains sometimes wash the thrips off leaves. We have been testing a spray program developed by Dr. Brian Nault in New York State and it is working well in our trials in the Holland Marsh. The

For the most up-to-date results on control of thrips, onion maggot, and Stemphylium leaf blight on onions and issues such as nematodes and weed control in carrots, plan on attending the Annual Muck Vegetable Growers Conference in Bradford, on April 9 and 10. The conference features two days of local and invited

program starts with two sprays of Movento (spirotetramat) followed by two sprays of Delegate (spinetoram) Both are now registered in Canada. This combination was highly effective. For instance, in August of 2011, this combination resulted in five thrips per plant, as compared to 169 thrips per plant on the untreated check.

speakers and a large trade show.

There is no registration fee, thanks to the generosity of the sponsors. For more information, check the Muck Station web site: www.uoguelph.ca/muckcrop.

Mary Ruth McDonald is professor and associate chair, Plant Science, University of Guelph.

MARCH 2014 –– PAGE B7 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Makhteshim Agan to re-brand global business as “ADAMA” Makhteshim Agan Industries, a world leader in crop protection solutions, will be transitioning to a new global brand, “ADAMA”, beginning in April 2014. The process

will be conducted on a global basis with staggered country-by-country launches.

The full transition to the new brand is expected to be completed within eighteen months. Makhteshim Agan Canada Ltd. (MANA Canada) will transition to the new brand in fall 2014.

The name, ADAMA, comes from the Hebrew word for “earth” and reflects the

company’s farmer-centric focus and its commitment to advancing agriculture in its markets around the world.

“The MANA Canada team is very excited to make the transition to ADAMA,” said Andrew Mann, MANA Canada CEO. “It allows us to take greater advantage of our global reach while maintaining our commitment to local

growers and retailers, continuing to provide the choice and simplicity the Canadian agricultural marketplace has come to expect from us.”

Source: MANA Canada news release

Changes to how biopesticides are prioritized A major change of process will be undertaken at the 2014 national minor use priority-setting

meeting to be held in Gatineau, Quebec says Jim Chaput, Ontario’s minor use coordinator.

There will no longer be a separate day for prioritization of biopesticide priorities for

Canadian producers, but instead biopesticide priorities will be discussed at the beginning of each

of the discipline days: entomology, pathology and weed science.

AAFC-PMC will now only support the development of new biopesticide active ingredients or expansion of biopesticides to new use site categories only.

Registrants will have the opportunity to present new biopesticide solutions to the group each day and based upon an assessment of national crop-pest priorities, registrant support and applicability to a variety of crop-pest situations, several new biopesticide projects will be chosen.

In addition at this year’s national minor use meetings, a separate day for a special, international working group derived from the Rome 2012 Global Minor Use Summit will be meeting to discuss a global minor use priority-setting process that can benefit all countries and help identify critical global pest management issues. Ontario has been directly involved in developing a template for this process and will be working with federal and international partners to chart a path forward.

The Minor Use Pesticides Priority Setting Workshop is set for March 25 to 27 in Gatineau, Quebec.

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PAGE B8 –– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

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Sale includes 6 tractors -Case IH 140 Maxxum mech. front drive, 8910 Magnum mech. front drive, 5250 Maxxum, 5240 mech. front drive, 5230 Magnum, Int. 5088; tillage includes Salford 570 -18’ cult., Case IH 496 hydr. fold 22’ disc, Kongskilde 5 bar 2600- 23’5” cult, Case IH Ecolo-till 2500 – 5 tooth subsoiler, RJ 24’ crowfoot packer, etc; Kearney Classic 8 row pull type planter w/new seed disc openers; new 2013 Hardie Ranger 550 sprayer w/60’ boom, etc; 45’ pull type ATV sprayer; Hiniker pull type 18’ chopper; Eagle Pro Sleeper truck, must be seen to be appreciated; two Bauer Rain Star E31 irrigation reels w/220’ booms & 1500’ hose; high capacity irrigation pump; some irrigation pipe; two Black Welder tomato harvesters, 2 sets trains, 11 tomato wagons, plant trailers, other tomato equip; etc.

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MARCH 2014 –– PAGE B9 THE GROWER

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PAGE B10 –– MARCH 2014 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

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MARCH 2014 –– PAGE B11 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

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

ONTARIO FARM FOR SALE 99 acres of Very productive land North of wind turbine free Leamington. 1700 sq. ft. home with many structural and cosmetic renovations.

Municipal water and good well and natural gas. 5 year old 48 x 80 pole barn with 20 x 48 livestock lean to, grain storage. Bring your tractor and your animals and your desire to live on a quiet country road. The possibilities are endless.

Call 519-322-8065 or farmerdave@3dgathome.com

Kennco style sled bedder, $1250 obo. Decloet High clearance sprayer, late model, set up for sweet corn $4500 obo. Jacobs greenhouse walkway $4 /ft.Call 519-768-1590.

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

CLASSIFIED WANTED: Dilts Wetzel potato seed cutter and 3 PT hitch sprayer. Call 519-846-9915 Transplanter,one row " Lannen " 3pth c/w 150 gal. water tank.

Stored inside,excellent condition $4000, 905-531-9819 1830 John Deere tractor w/ forklift. Asking $4,000. Call 905-304-1406

Potato Equipment, complete line of planting,harvesting, washing/ packing equipment suitable for growing 10-100 acres. Used last season,package deal @ $40,000.

Call for detailed listing of all equipment. 905-531-9819 Turbo-Mist orchard sprayer for sale. Turbo Steer, 400 gal., 30” fan. Excellent condition. Always stored inside. Call 905-765-2027

REFRIGERATION

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

Custom Built Designs • Domestic and International Markets

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