The Grower Newspaper March 2015 by The Grower

CELEBRATING 136 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION

MARCH 2015

VOLUME 65 NUMBER 03

Charting the flight of Canadian greenhouse investment to the U.S. Provincial regulations are stalling growth and jobs

Like strings of pristine pearls, these tomatoes on the vine promise premium prices here in Canada and in the U.S. Seventy per cent of Ontario’s greenhouse vegetable production is exported to the U.S. The dive in the value of the Canadian dollar should help business, although competition between Canadians in the U.S. is fierce. Here, Fabio Castelli, greenhouse operations, inspects the crop in a Mastronardi Produce facility in Kingsville, Ontario. Photos by Glenn Lowson.

INSIDE Why onion prices are at rock bottom Page 7 What’s new in potato production? Page B1-8

Focus: Crop protection

Page B9-20

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

KAREN DAVIDSON Geography matters. Or more to the point, policy and tax jurisdictions matter. While Ontario greenhouse vegetable growers expanded their domestic acreage by six per cent to 2553 acres in 2014, they made far larger investments in the United States. Statistics aren’t readily available of their total footprint in the U.S., but the plans of several leading growers are testament to the trend. Early this year, KingsvilleOntario-based Mastronardi Produce announced its plan to build a large-scale pepper facility in Coldwater, Michigan. When the new 41 acres of Pepperco USA are added to the current tomato greenhouses, its American presence will grow to 100 acres in total. These facilities have been built rapidly since 2012 with state-of-the art lighting, water and nutrient management.

Nature Fresh Farms based in Leamington, Ontario will make its mark in the U.S. with a 175acre greenhouse over seven years in Delta, Ohio. About 300 jobs will be created. “Contingent upon acceptable levels of incentives from the state of Ohio and other government authorities as well as utility rates agreeable to Nature Fresh, the company will be poised to ship its first case of vegetables in December 2015,” stated Peter Quiring, president, in a news release. “The greenhouse project will be completed in several phases over the next seven years with a total investment approaching $200 million by the year 2022.” Red Sun Farms, based in Kingsville, Ontario, opened 18 acres to local officials in a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Dublin, Virginia last November. It’s the first of three phases, with an emphasis on organic production.

Orangeline Farms is also considering an expansion in 2015 says Jordan Kniaziew, vicepresident sales and marketing. “It’s much easier to make decisions outside of Ontario,” says Kniaziew from Leamington, Ontario. “Our input costs – labour, hydro -- are higher than competitive jurisdictions.” Kniaziew has just come back from the world’s largest produce show, Fruit Logistica in Berlin, Germany. He’s convinced that Ontario’s greenhouse industry is on par or leading the Europeans. With nearly $1 billion in overall industry sales, he and other growers are frustrated that Ontario’s government is not engaged in building more infrastructure such as natural gas and hydro. The premier has challenged agriculture to create 120,000 new jobs by 2020, yet the business climate is not conducive for this growth. Money isn’t patient. It follows the path of least resistance to build market share.

Ontario growers aren’t alone in their migration south. British Columbia greenhouse grower Casey Houweling is building a 28-acre facility in Mona, Utah. This is in addition to his successful 125-acre facility in Camarillo, California. With 50 acres as home base in Delta, British Columbia, he has placed his bets on a sunnier economic climate south of the border. Despite its drought status, California is close to millions of consumers. Utah’s lure is access to waste heat and carbon dioxide from a nearby business. Linda Delli Santi, executive director of the B.C. Greenhouse Growers’ Association explains the exodus. “Our members are going to the U.S. because of the provincial government and its policies,” she says. “They can buy water in the U.S. cheaper than in British Columbia.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

PAGE 2 –– MARCH 2015 THE GROWER

NEWSMAKERS

AT PRESS TIME… OFVGA launches new website The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) has launched its new website. It is the final piece of the development of the organization’s new corporate identity, which began with the launch of a new logo and trade show materials last fall. “As a lobby organization, the OFVGA needs a website that is easy to use and accessible across all sorts of device platforms, as well as being compatible with all accessibility requirements,” says executive vice-president John Kelly. “Our new website does all that and more and we look forward to it being a cornerstone of all of our communications efforts.” The new hub for the organization’s outreach and lobbying activities, visible at www.ofvga.org, is mobile compatible and integrates social media, including the OFVGA’s Twitter account @OntFruitVeg. Other key features include electronic registration for events such as the annual general meeting and a separate, login-protected area where board members will be able to electronically access meeting materials and other board-specific documents. Visit www.ofvga.org.

Required advertising for seasonal jobs Farm employers who hire off-shore workers are strongly encouraged to review advertising requirements under new federal rules that came into effect last

summer. If any of the steps for the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) aren’t fulfilled in a timely manner, there will be delays in processing applications. The SAWP is a Canadians-first program says Sue Williams, general manager of Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services. (FARMS). It’s mandatory for farm employers to advertise on the federal Job Bank website (www.jobbank.gc.ca) to make sure that qualified Canadian residents can apply. Because this site is well-known internationally, many responses can also be expected from around the world. Williams advises setting up a separate email account to handle what could be hundreds of responses. In addition, proof of a secondary advertising posting is necessary. This could be a local newspaper, a church bulletin or Kijiji. Your recruitment advertising must be ongoing at the time of submitting your application for off-shore workers. What is not acceptable is word-of-mouth, walk-ins (people stopping by the farm looking for day work) or a sign on the farm or at side of the road. “We advise sending your application 12 to 14 weeks prior to your anticipated start date of workers,” says Williams. “Be aware that proof of advertising is needed 14 days before sending that application to prevent paperwork delays.” To avoid frustration, keep track of your account number and access number for the Job Bank. After 30 days, your advertisement will expire. This posting must be

renewed every 30 days to keep current. Otherwise, the paperwork will not be in place in case you need to transfer workers in mid-summer. About 17,000 off-shore workers are expected in Ontario in 2015. Williams reports that 12,000 applications have already been approved. For full details, go to www.farmsontario.ca or call 1-866-271-0862 for assistance. Outside Ontario, call the appropriate provincial organization.

Updated import requirements for root crops As of February 2, 2015, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) no longer requires an Import Permit for root crops intended for human consumption originating from areas outside the continental United States. The CFIA’s Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) and directive D-94-26 have been amended to reflect this change. Root crops for human consumption originating in the U.S. currently do not require an Import Permit and this change now removes this requirement for root crops coming from other parts of the world. Please be reminded, however, that the other phytosanitary import requirements for all imported root crops have not changed, i.e. material must be free from pests, soil and soil-related matter, and is subject to inspection upon arrival in Canada to verify that it meets Canada’s phytosanitary requirements.

The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention Innovation Award winner is the CF2000 Hol Spray System nominated by Provide Agro Corporation. The high-efficiency sprayer promises less drift, lower fuel consumption and more consistent coverage. The over-therow orchard sprayer is suited for high-density apple orchards. The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association new chair Jason Verkaik welcomed the naming of the management committee at the February 4 board meeting. Greenhouse cucumber grower Jan Vander Hout is vice-chair. Joining him are potato grower Mac James, berry grower Norm Charbonneau and tender fruit and asparagus grower John Thwaites. Condolences to the family of Art Kemp who passed away in his 100th year. He was past president of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association in 1964-1965. The OFVGA welcomes new communications specialist Katie Burt. She was formerly the communications specialist with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association. Fruit and vegetable grower Peter Martin Lindley, Ancaster, Ontario, has been selected for induction into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame. His long list of accomplishments include the presidency of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) in 1978, when he led a constitutional change to allow all segments of the industry to be members. He also urged the federal government to disallow “Canada” labeling on imports and to ensure country of origin was listed. Lindley was instrumental in pressing for a provincial enquiry into retail practices. The OFVGA and Ontario Agricultural College ’57 are proud nominees. The induction ceremony is to be held at Country Heritage Park, Milton, on June 14. The Holland Marsh Growers’ Association has elected its 2015 board of directors. Domenic Riga is the new chair. He is joined by new directors Tim Horlings and Herman Gasko. Jody Mott is interim executive director. A relaunched website is located at www.hollandmarshgold.com. The Ontario government has appointed members to its Agri-Food Growth Steering Committee. Co-chairs are Deb Stark, OMAFRA deputy minister and Amy Cronin, a hog producer. The group comprises Jim Brandle, CEO of Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Christian von Twickel, executive vice-president of Dr. Oetker, Norm Beal, executive director of Food and Beverage Ontario, Scott Graham, egg and pullet producer, Jamison Steeve, executive director of Martin Prosperity Institute and Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity. The group will support the premier’s challenge to double the agriculture industry’s jobs by 120,000 by 2020. The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF) is losing its CEO Sandra Banks. After three years at the helm, she is leaving to become vice-president, university relations for the University of Waterloo on April 6. Her legacy is a successful 2014 show that saw a three per cent increase in attendees to 322,000. John Core, a former RAWF director and former CEO of the Canadian Dairy Commission, becomes interim CEO, while a job search is held. Next fall’s 93rd show runs from November 6 – 15. Ontario’s Greenbelt Fund has recognized the contributions of Debbie Zimmerman, CEO of the Grape Growers of Ontario, with a lifetime achievement award. She was lauded for her 36 years of public service in municipal politics along with directorships at the Niagara Escarpment Commission and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. Her strong voice has advocated for a successful Greenbelt and increased the success of the Niagara grape and wine industry.

PROUD TO SUPPORT ONTARIO FARMERS

MARCH 2015 –– PAGE 3 THE GROWER

COVER STORY

Charting the flight of Canadian greenhouse investment to U.S. 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 And don’t forget we lost five to 10 years of growth when the B.C. government brought in its carbon tax. While we’re in the fourth year of receiving a carbon tax rebate, our growers aren’t relying on that policy. We have had little expansion since the carbon tax came in.” The numbers prove her point. From 1998 to 2007, prior to the carbon tax, yearly growth was 10 per cent. Those robust figures shrunk to annual growth of 2.53 per cent from 2009 – 2015. B.C.’s greenhouse industry now comprises 769 acres. The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) is in similar dialogue with the provincial government. “We have advised the province of our limitations to expand without affordable infrastructure,” says George Gilvesy, OGVG general manager. “We know it’s a very competitive economic environment and we see the impact of that competitiveness every day. Independent business people will go where it makes sense.” Those structural issues aside, OGVG is focusing on how to grow business with retailers and foodservice. For the first time this spring, radio advertisements will run in the Greater Toronto Area in Punjabi and Mandarin to encourage new Canadians to eat Ontario-grown tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. The OGVG’s learnings at a major food show in Monterey, California are confirming instincts on global fusion cuisine. Recipe development is much more flexible such that greenhouse vegetables can be combined with other ingredients and spices that appeal to various

Ontario

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Electricity rates

Leamington, ON

Not available

Coldwater, MI

Delta, OH

11.67 ¢/kWh

5.19¢/kWh

14.61-14.96 ¢/kWh

ethnicities. In addition to retail efforts, Nancy Hewitt, OGVG foodservice market specialist, is making inroads into a challenging sector of the food trade. A Foodservice Operator Resource Guide contains photos of different kinds of tomatoes as well as photo instructions on peeling, seeding and chopping tomatoes. Culinary tips are offered for cucumbers and peppers. With this resource in hand, Hewitt has then approached culinary schools to lead educational seminars. For a fun twist, she’s also organized Food Network TV-type culinary contests encouraging students to create their own recipes. “The restaurant industry has been used to Florida field tomatoes for 20 years, so to make changes, even to a locally-grown product, requires education,” says Hewitt. Her diligent work with foodservice is starting to pay dividends. Sales of English cucumbers to Ontario food-

service, for example, are up almost 19 per cent in the last year. This is ground-breaking work on home turf. But it’s providing the insights to demographic shifts, regional markets and foodservice needs in the much larger U.S. market. Gilvesy is acutely aware of global pressures. He cites the volatility of the Canadian dollar vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar, the growth of the Mexican industry and disruptions to trade patterns due to the Russian embargo on European produce. The new worry is that greenhouse bell peppers from the Netherlands could once again flow into Canada without a renewal of an injunction by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal. On October 16, 2015, the tribunal will determine if there’s a likelihood of injury. The greenhouse vegetable industry is global in every respect. The next frontier may well be the Asia-Pacific region. Gilvesy concludes with a compelling message: “To survive, we must retain best-in-class.”

INTERNATIONAL UNITED STATES

MEXICO

CHINA

GERMANY

CALIFORNIA

New York apple growers launch new variety

Guanajuato state leads in broccoli

Chinese ports open to all U.S. apples

New kohlrabi varieties unveiled

Tomato growers have banner year

About 40,000 hectares of broccoli are grown in Mexico, but most – 38,000 hectares -- are found in the central state of Guanajuato. Exports have grown from $149.6 million dollars in 2010 to $196.3 million in 2014. The secretary of agricultural and rural development, Javier Usabiaga Arroyo, says most exports go to the U.S., followed by Canada and Japan. Most of the broccoli, 70 to 80 per cent, is frozen while the rest arrives fresh to market. Arroyo anticipates doubledigit increases in exports of Mexican agricultural produce.

Chinese officials have announced that all U.S.-grown apples are now welcome. Experts anticipate that within two years, U.S. apple exports could reach five million bushels annually, with a value of $100 million per year. If that happens, the deal could increase exports by 10 per cent. In 2013, all apple exports were tallied at more than $1 billion. Until August 2012, only Red and Golden Delicious apples from the U.S. northwest had access. The Chinese closed access due to phytosanitary concerns.

Kohlrabi is popular in Germany but barely on the radar globally. The flesh of the kohlrabi bulb is juicy and crisp, with a mild, melon-like fragrance and a mild, sweet flavour. Traditionally kohlrabi is served boiled, but is equally delicious raw, retaining its fresh colour for a long time. As part of its “Taste-HealthConvenience” concept, Bejo Seeds has developed new varieties such as Konan F1 and the purple Kolibri F1. They made their European debut at Fruit Logistica 2015.

Source: FreshPlaza.com

Despite several years of drought, California’s growers produced a record 14 million tons of processing tomatoes last year. They expect to produce 15 million tons in 2015. Strong export markets for salsa, ketchup and pasta sauce are holding up prices of $83 per ton, making it worthwhile to steward what little irrigation water is available. Drought and economics have dictated changes in the crops grown. Farmers are fallowing annual crops such as corn and cotton so they can keep fruit and nut trees producing. Strong prices for tomatoes, however, are keeping this annual crop in the mix. California grows about a third of the world’s processing tomatoes.

The new cultivar, RubyFrost, is now available in northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. It’s described as having rich colour, crisp texture and a delicate balance between sweet and tart flavours.

Thanks to the breeding program at Cornell University, RubyFrost as well as the SnapDragon cultivar, will be rolled out in significant volumes in 2016. Rubyfrost will be positioned as a seasonal wintertime apple available for a limited window.

Source: FreshPlaza.com Source: FreshPlaza.com

Source: FreshPlaza.com

Palais des congrès de Montré éal April 15-17, 2015

convention.cpma.c ca

PAGE 4 –– MARCH 2015 THE GROWER

CROSS COUNTRY DIGEST QUEBEC

Veg Pro launches vegetable stir fries Lately, numerous awareness campaigns, driven by the Canada’s Food Guide recommendations, have been encouraging Canadians to add more fruits and vegetables to their diet. To help time-starved consumers achieve this goal, Veg Pro International, the vegetable producer behind the popular Fresh Attitude salads and baby lettuce blends, is launching its new line of fresh vegetable Stir Fries. All are microwaveable and ready-toeat in two minutes. The kits are processed all year round at Veg Pro International’s facility located in

Sherrington, Quebec. The family business has grown since 1952 to employ 750 workers. Veg Pro uses vegetables grown in its fields of Quebec and Florida, as well as ingredients from other trusted suppliers. These products can be found in the refrigerated produce section of key grocery chains in Ontario and Quebec, including Sobeys, Foodland, Urban, IGA, Metro and Super C. Available in single-size servings, these vegetable stir fries can easily be cooked in a microwave oven or in a wok for a quick nutritious meal or as a side dish to share.

Available in four Asian-inspired flavours, they will appeal to both young and old. Teriyaki, Sweet and Sour, Thai and General Tao recipes have been developed to offer a selection of creative and themed toppings. They blend perfectly with various mixtures of the freshest pre-cut vegetables. The highly innovative and nutritious aspects of Stir Fries have been recognized by industry professionals. Veg Pro International was declared Grand Winner of the prestigious Food Innovation Awards 2014 last November.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

First Nations partner with Kwantlen Polytechnic University The Tsawwassen First Nation Farm School will welcome its first crop of students this spring in a program that blends theory with practice on a 20-acre working farm at the Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN). A partnership between Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Institute for Sustainable Food Systems (ISFS) and TFN, the 10-month program will cover the science and business of farming plus perspectives on indigenous food systems. The actual farm will include market crops, small livestock and organic practices. Once fully in production, the farm will boast a traditional medicine garden and food forest, an orchard, an organic market garden and incubator plots for farm school students who have completed the first year of instruction and practicum. TFN demonstrated its commitment to securing a future for agriculture in Delta more than a year ago when it announced 25-year lease agreements with local farmers on 385 acres of farmland in Ladner.

The Tsawwassen First Nation Farm School is now accepting applications for its 2015 program, which starts in March. Students can expect to be integral parts of a working farm growing a variety of market crops and animals. The learning occurs on the farm with the guidance of skilled and knowledgeable agriculturists. The program offers classes in crop production, soil and water management, animal husbandry, small farm carpentry and welding, tractor and equipment maintenance, business planning and marketing and indigenous food systems. Successful students, after the first year of instruction, can access up to one half-acre of incubator farm land for up to three years to hone their crop production and farm business skills with mentoring and access to shared tools and resources. After three years, Farm School incubator farmers will be ready to independently farm.

Makayla Morgan enjoys an apple on the site of the new Tsawwassen First Nation Farm School.

IEGERS EED CO.

MARCH 2015 –– PAGE 5 THE GROWER

ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION

High-efficiency sprayer wins Innovation Award

“One of our goals is to bring advanced technology to Canadian growers to compete in the global environment. That technology must deliver efficiency, safety and quality.” ~ Sean Bartlett, Provide Agro crop protection, sprayers and mowers in You can adjust coverage to match the A hand wash station is on board. This KAREN DAVIDSON eastern Ontario. “That technology must canopy structure.” has become standard equipment on crop deliver efficiency, safety and quality.” “Where we may have used 700sprayers, but until now, has not been seen For the third year, the Ontario Fruit and Bartlett and members of the company 1000L/ha we are getting adequate coverage often in horticultural equipment. Vegetable Convention (OFVC) has held an have travelled to many world events to with 400-500L/ha,” says Bartlett. “The Bartlett points out that this is a dualInnovation Award competition for scout the latest technology. Ontario apple CF2000 only requires 45hp to run effecaxle sprayer. The flotation tires can be exhibitors to honour the most worthy inno- grower Marius Botden is credited with tively, much lower than the industry stanadjusted to reduce soil compaction. It is vation in horticulture. This year’s winner bringing this particular sprayer to their dard, with the capability to gear up, throttle also GPS-ready. is a high-efficiency sprayer, the HSS attention. Hol Spray Systems is a familydown to lower rpms.” “We’re getting ever closer to an CF2000. owned company that bought the rights to a Together, these features translate into autonomous vehicle,” says Bartlett. The Imported from Holland’s Hol Spray John Deere sprayer and modified it over less drift, lower fuel consumption, more system can be programmed to shut off Systems, Provide Agro is now carrying the six years. consistent coverage and increased operator application at the end of the row.” line for growers with high-density The advantage of this sprayer is its flex- safety. As orchards are often in areas close to orchards. ibility in high-density orchards. “You can Additional safety features include a urban centres, an advantage of this sprayer “One of our goals is to bring advanced basically push air to where you want it to clean wash tank which means that rinsing is that it can be operated with low horsetechnology to Canadian growers to combe and where the crop protection product the system does not require any worker to power and little noise. pete in the global environment,” says Sean needs to be,” says Bartlett. “It’s important go inside the tank. This limits applicator Depending on the options, the sprayer Bartlett, Provide Agro sales manager for not to be spraying 25 feet past the trees. contact with pesticides. retails in a range from $30,000 to $45,000.

PAGE 6 –– MARCH 2015 THE GROWER

FRUIT LOGISTICA

Growers scout new varieties, packaging and packing equipment KAREN DAVIDSON Every February, Berlin, Germany, becomes a mecca for the global produce industry. Fruit Logistica attracted a record crowd this year with 2,785 exhibitors and more than 60,000 visitors. Here’s a pulse check with three growers who travelled to the show. Tender fruit and asparagus grower John Thwaites went specifically to scout new packaging and packing equipment for his Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario farm. “We won’t be making purchasing decisions for another two or three years, but this is the start of the educational process,” he says. Dutch company Greefa, New Zealand company Compact and German company Strauss all have something to offer. The value of the Canadian dollar continues to play a significant role in timing of purchase decisions vis-à-vis the euro and the U.S. dollar. While plastic containers are getting cheaper, the dollar exchange is worsening, says Thwaites. Growers who buy containers from China must order now, while orders for American containers will be placed by April. The hope is that more expensive U.S. fruit and v egetables will provide a more competitive landscape for Canadian growers in the 2015 season. Fresh Advancements’ vice-president Anthony Pitoscia packed three days with meetings.

“You can literally travel the world here,” he says. Because he represents Bay Growers’ Co-operative Apple Packers, he was interested in the pavilions of apple growing countries such as New Zealand, South Africa, France, Germany and Italy. He now knows what to expect in terms of size of fruit, hail damage and variety mix from these key

growing regions. “I think the Honeycrisp trend is at its peak,” he says. “This variety is not as exotic as it used to be so we will be cautious moving forward with new plantings. There are eight million trees of Honeycrisp which have been planted in Washington State in recent years. However, there is interest in the new Royal

Honeycrisp variety.” Pitoscia also points out the changing demographics of the Greater Toronto Area. Asian consumers prefer a sweeter apple. Honeycrisp, which is closer to a Granny Smith apple, doesn’t have the flavour profile that they want. Greenhouse pepper grower Jordan Kniaziew attended the show for the first

time. “Europe has always been considered the leader in new varieties and innovative techniques, but I think we’re now on par or leading the world,” says the Leamington-Ontario vicepresident of sales and marketing for Orangeline Farms. “I’m impressed with how our Canadian industry has advanced.”

Fruit Logistica 2015 lauds its innovation winners

1. Company Aviv Flowers Packing House Ltd, Israel: Product “Aurora Seedless Papaya” – A small, seedless variety of papaya Website www.aviv-flower.co.il The Aurora papaya is a unique seedless variety with a rich and balanced taste without the papaya’s typical aftertaste. It has a delicate and pleasant aroma and firm flesh. The shelf life of this variety is said to be longer than that of all other existing papaya varieties. Even after the fruit has been cut open, it can be kept under normal conditions for an unusually long period of time. The variety was developed in Israel using natural selection and hybridization methods. Target markets are the EU, Switzerland and Canada. Fruit sizes vary between 200 g and 1 kg.

2. Company BelOrta, Belgium Product “Lemoncherry” – A yellow cherry tomato variety Website www.belorta.be The Lemoncherry is a new variety of yellow cherry tomato on the vine. Lemoncherry tomatoes are transparent yellow in colour, giving them a unique and very decorative appearance. Their taste is rich and sweet with a delicate touch of lemon. The tomatoes weigh 10-12 g, making them ideal for snacks and for foodservice. The vine contains 14-16 tomatoes with attractive green stalks and weighs approximately 175 g. BelOrta has developed a marketing concept to communicate the product’s special original taste and appearance for the retail market. They are sold in 1.5 and 3 kg cardboard or wooden crates to foodservice and wholesale customers. Small packages in trays are available for retail customers.

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3. Company Bakker Barendrecht (Member of the UNIVEG Group), The Netherlands Product “DIY fresh packs” – Packages of mixed fruits/vegetables with additional ingredients and recipes for specific dishes Website www.bakkerbarendrecht.nl DIY fresh packs help consumers prepare a meal, soup or side dish using fresh ingredients. They are available in several varieties: asparagus soup (in spring), gazpacho, exotic salsa and tomato salsa (in summer), and lasagna, couscous and curry madras (all year), and include a recipe with a step-by-step guide based on the “no waste” principle. All fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and couscous/lasagne sheets are provided in the right quantity to prepare a meal for four people.

MARCH 2015 –– PAGE 7 THE GROWER

TRADE

Onion prices barely cover cost of production

KAREN DAVIDSON Holland Marsh farmers are complaining that Washington State yellow onions are landing at the Ontario Food Terminal at record low prices. At $8 to $10 per 50-lb bag, this wholesale price barely covers the cost of production. One major processor was reported to be importing eight loads per week in January – that’s 42,000 pounds per load. Why? Many U.S.-based restaurant chains operating in Canada demand U.S.-grown onions. Even with local product readily available at competitive prices, their buyers are mandated to support American product. That’s small comfort to Ontario growers. “Every grower had a bumper crop of onions last year,” says Tom Miedema, chair of the Fresh Vegetable Growers of Ontario. In fact, there’s a worldwide glut of onions adds Ian MacKenzie, president of the Ontario Produce Marketing Association. The Russian embargo on Europe’s vegetables has disrupted traditional trade patterns. Europe’s onions are now flowing into the Caribbean, a traditional export destination for Canada. With export markets drying up, Ontario onion growers are now sitting on huge inventories in storage. That’s a worry for aggregators

such as Cohn Farms near Bradford, Ontario. “We’re flooded with onions and they’ll soon start sprouting with warmer weather,” says Keith Cohn. “We’re trying to move loads to eastern Canada as fast as we can.” Fortunately, he’s a supplier to Gordon Food Service, a major foodservice distributor in the province. “All of our cooking onions are a product of Ontario, packed in 10 lb and 50 lb bags,” says Peter Bozzer, Ontario food procurement, Gordon Food Service (GFS). “We have no intention of changing that, despite the fact we are feeling some market pressure with an influx of cheaper U.S. product. Our supply from the Holland Marsh typically lasts 90 per cent of the year.” Recently awarded a grant from the Greenbelt Foundation to promote locally produced products to Ontario foodservice. GFS will be creating a model to change the way food service distributors both purchase and market local food. “Our local team is dedicated to the identification, procurement, marketing and sales of all local products within the entire GFS Ontario portfolio. As a food service distributor, GFS can bridge the gap between the growers and consumers while providing a safe, traceable and consistent supply,” says Bozzer.

U.S.-grown onions must be inspected coming into Canada The onion pilot initiated under the Beyond the Border (BtB) Action Plan explored the potential to remove the quality inspection requirement for U.S.-grown onions being imported into Canada. This pilot concluded on January 20, 2015. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) noted, “We have heard from Canadian industry that it is important to achieve reciprocity with the U.S. before CFIA removes the regulatory requirement for inspections of U.S-grown onions destined for Canada. While we continue to engage with the U.S. on reciprocity, the U.S. currently requires that Canadian onions moving to the U.S. be subject to inspection. Effective January 21, 2015, U.S.-grown onions imported into Canada will have the inspection/certification requirement reinstated for onions marketed fresh to consumers, or intended for bulk or further processing/repacking. American-grown onions will be required to have an inspection/certification in accordance with Canada’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Regulations. Source: Canadian Horticultural Council

PAGE 8 –– MARCH 2015 THE GROWER

ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION

Board briefs Following are highlights from the OFVGA board meeting held February 5, 2015. 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.

drawing insects into a trap, or driving them away from your crop, with sound. The challenge will be to tune it to the particular insect involved and develop all the accompanying field equipment (field prototype, traps, portable power, etc.)

This was the first meeting of the 2015 Board of Directors

Changing buying habits: Dr. Sunghwan Yi is an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Marketing and Consumer Studies at University of Guelph. He is putting together a research proposal to determine what changes can be made, and the impact of these changes on food choices in a university cafeteria. The aim here is to see if researchers can impact healthier eating choices by students with subtle menu changes (for example, offering vegetable side dishes as the default combo, or salad bars with bigger plates).

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FOR 2015 Management Committee for 2015 is: Jason Verkaik (Chair), Jan VanderHout (Vice Chair), Norm Charbonneau, Mac James, and John Thwaites. Research Priority setting process A resolution was passed at the AGM to arrange a meeting with concerned commodities, OFVGA, VRIC and OMAFRA with the intent to streamline the research priority setting process prior to the next round. The Research Section Chair has been working with the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (VRIC) and commodity organizations to have priorities of all groups addressed. The process needs to evolve to reflect concerns around addressing a limited number of problems with a limited amount of funding. New research programs were discussed: A new way to control insects: This technology involves acoustically affecting insect behaviour:

Glycemic Index Labelling in Canada: A group of academics from the Dept. of Nutritional Sciences, U of T and the Risk Factor Modification Centre, St. Michaels Hospital had discussions with Health Canada about the possibility to have glycemic index labelling for foods in Canada (as they do in Australia). For this to occur, Health Canada wanted an arms-length organization to take control of the labelling. The Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) is very interested in this as long as it fills their Public Education mandate and isn’t revenue negative for them. The project would run from

June 1, 2015 – Dec 31, 2016.

hope for a positive outcome.

Squash Bees: The University of Guelph has hired Dr. Nigel Raine to work on pollinator conservation. Raine arrived at U of G last spring as the inaugural holder of the Rebanks Family Chair in Pollinator Conservation, the first research chair of its kind in Canada. The endowed chair is funded by a $3-million gift from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation in the name of Wendy Rebanks, one of the foundation’s directors.

Global minor use summit. In September Craig Hunter and Jerry Baron, the Executive Director for IR-4 in the U.S will be co-chairing a session at the third Global minor use summit that will be held in Chicago September 20 22, 2015. The major topic is data sharing between countries to reduce the cost and harmonize registrations of crop protection materials. Over 50 different countries will be represented at the summit.

Crop protection

Safety nets

Neonicotinoids OFVGA’s Environmental Registry response on the Pollinator Health consultation has been submitted. A newspaper ad in major newspapers in southern Ontario on the use of neonicotinoids was published in February. The CHC annual meeting in Quebec City in March will have a speaker or panel that will address the neonicotinoid issue. Dr. Terry Daynard has a very good blog on neonicotinoids. Visit tdaynard.com

A survey will go out soon from CHC regarding questions around Federal Election, Growing Forward 2. The Great Lakes Water Stewardship program was announced -- $4 million per year for four years. This is being coordinated through the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association. The Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP) consultation ends February 13th. Associate Minister of Mitzy Hunter is the lead. The goal is for ORPP to start in 2017 with large employers first, and have everyone involved by 2019. This involves a 1.9 % Maximum contribution of $90,000, with no requirement to pay if employee makes less than $3,500. The OFVGA has made a submission on this file.

Re-evaluations Craig Hunter and Charles Stevens met with PMRA’s re-evaluation team to update them on new growing methods. They were using 35year old data for occupational exposure, which is the main issue on the re-evaluation of Linuron, Metiram, Captan, and Mancozeb. We were asked to get data and submit this for their review. It was a very positive meeting and

Canadian Horticultural Council Some vacant positions have now been filled at CHC. Communications – Trevor Eggleton and Executive Assistant to EVP – Diane Davidson. The oversight committee has recommended that CHC hire a lobbyist – they have decided to hire a

lobbyist on contract on an as-needed basis. CHC sold its building and have moved into its new building, debt free. Semi annual board meeting to be held in Ontario in July 8th and 9th, likely in Niagara. A farm tour will be part of this meeting. CHC AGM will be in Quebec City March 2015 and will be held in Ottawa March 2016. Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) like trust. Because there will be an election this fall, it is unlikely that this issue will be resolved anytime soon. CHC in cooperation with CPMA will continue to work on this issue. Blue box stewardship The provincial government made efforts to change the legislation in 2013 but this was never completed, so the legislation and processes developed in 2002 are in force at present. This won’t affect OFVGA members whose produce is sold with minimal or no Blue Box-eligible packaging, but it could affect greenhouse and tender fruit, among others where more consumer packaging is used. If 15,000 kg of Blue Boxeligible packaging material and $2M worth of products are sold in Ontario, the company responsible for the brand under which it is marketed to consumers is required to report and remit Blue Box fees to Stewardship Ontario. It is important to know who is the owner of the brand that is being packed, as it impacts who pays the fee. 157th Annual General Meeting The location and date for the 157th AGM is Niagara Falls, Ontario on January 12th and 13th, 2015.

COMING EVENTS 2015

Stokes Seeds Trial Evaluation Researching g the best for our customerss since 1881. W NE

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Asparagus Farmers of Ontario Grower Information Day, Belgian Hall, Delhi, ON

March 5

Ontario Potato Conference, Delta Hotel, Guelph, ON

March 10

Ontario Outstanding Young Farmers’ Competition Gala Banquet, The Sheraton, Ottawa, ON

Mar 10 – 12 93rd Canadian Horticultural Council Annual General Meeting, Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City, QC Mar 15 – 21 Farm Safety Week

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Mar 23 – 25 Minor Use Priority Setting Meeting, Gatineau, QC March 24

6th Annual Ontario Hazelnut Association Symposium, Best Western Hotel, Brantford, ON

March 28

Garlic Growers of Ontario Annual General Meeting, OMAFRA office, Woodstock, ON

Editor’s note: for more listings go to www.thegrower.org

MARCH 2015 –– PAGE 9 THE GROWER

PAGE 10 –– MARCH 2015 THE GROWER

Trust science? There should be no question

JASON VERKAIK CHAIR, OFVGA History is a great teacher. Unfortunately, ignoring its truths makes a poor student. Changing its truths creates a foolish student. When a student ignores the truth, the student becomes a blind follower. When a student changes the truth, the conditions are set to become a dangerous leader. When I recall my grandparents’ life journey, it’s of the

hardships they endured to immigrate to Canada. There were stories of war, going hungry, young children dying of disease. My oma had such respect for Canada and its freedom. She had such respect for her son-in-law, my father, for being a farmer. And she had great respect for the medical advances of her time and was always amazed at what doctors and science could do. Flash forward to 2015. There are two current news stories that would boggle the minds of my grandparents. What I find perplexing is how these two stories with fundamental similarities at their core are being reported differently. One is the handling of the neonic issue about unexplained bee mortality and the other is the vaccination debate brought on by recent outbreaks of measles. Most of the reporting on immunization is a positive trust in science and for the need to

vaccinate. However, journalists have a reverse approach in reporting crop protection in a complex ecosystem. Yes, plants do get disease and suffer from predatory insects that can destroy and wipe out food crops. Many of these crops need beneficial insects, especially bees which pollinate. So let’s applaud science for balancing the need to protect beneficial insects while thwarting the bad insects. Science is a field of continuous improvement, always adapting to new environmental conditions. Yet those same reporters who tell us to trust medical science in one story move on to the next story and tell us food science can’t be trusted. This is disingenuous. If journalists and their families had to live through a prolonged period of hunger, what would their perspective be on the food system? Would their understanding of crop protection science be sharpened?

Photo by Glenn Lowson We have a responsibility to protect our children and ourselves. Farmers have a responsibility to protect our food system. Science has a responsibility to deliver methods of protection for all living things, including bees, safely and effectively. Any one who says this is not in the minds of farmers and the agribusiness industry is either a blind follower or a

dangerous leader. I urge the government and consumers to listen to the farmers’ approach on the neonic issue. Reset. Wait to make a policy decision based on unbiased science. When policy is formed with a balanced perspective, continued self examination and without any outside agendas, we can move forward. Don’t ignore the great lessons from history.

Beware: policies have unintended consequences

JOHN KELLY EXECUTIVE VP, OFVGA Horticulture is part of a very diverse ecosystem that must be complementary to the environment, because at the end of the day, growers must have an excellent environment in which to produce their crops. In Ontario, our farmers have been stewards of the land for well over two centuries, producing new and high quality fruits and vegetables for the consuming public. In all of agriculture, because we have been so successful at producing food, only two per cent of the population is directly involved at the farm level. This says a lot for the quality of our growers, the technologies that they have at their disposal and the efficiency with which we produce product year after year. But the consumer should not

have the mindset that this is an easy thing to do, and that there will always be the ability to produce home-grown product. To produce fruits and vegetables in Ontario is costly -- more costly than it is for other jurisdictions such as California, Florida, Mexico, Chile, Peru, the Netherlands or even South Africa to have their product landed in Ontario. We rely on our ability to be at the forefront of new developments, technologies and value-added markets for us to remain competitive. Crop protection is required in Ontario and it is a complex issue. The recent neonicotinoid discussions that have taken place through the government of Ontario’s proposed regulations of seed treatments in corn and soybeans should be of concern to horticultural producers. This is part of an effort to improve the viability of pollinators in Ontario. The comment period for these initial discussions closed on January 25, 2014, and there was a plethora of submissions made to the government from many different positions on this issue. The government of Ontario has taken the position that there is a problem with pollinators in Ontario and that they are the ones to fix the problem through further regulation of the sector. It is certainly within their purview to

STAFF Publisher: Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Editor: Karen Davidson, 416-557-6413, kdavidson@ecomente.ca Production: Carlie Robertson, ext. 221, production@thegrower.org Advertising: Herb Sherwood, 519-380-0118, advertising@thegrower.org The Grower reserves the right to refuse any advertising. Any errors that are the direct result of The Grower will be compensated at our discretion with a correction notice in the next issue. No compensation will be given after the first running of the ad. Client signature is required before insertion. The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association is the sole owner of The Grower. All editorials and opinions expressed in The Grower are those of the newspaper’s editorial staff and/or contributor, and do not necessarily reflect the view of the association. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either whole or in part without the prior written consent of the publisher.

do so. It is not without consequence to the horticultural sector and is also not without consequence to the competitiveness of all Ontario agriculture. It would be useful for Ontario producers for these decisions to be made by including relevant Ontario-based information. This does not appear to be the case with this issue. Many horticultural producers rely on pollinators for the success of their business. Certainly beekeepers are a key source of pollinators and are dependent on the horticultural sector for a significant portion of their business. The relationship between suppliers of pollinators and growers is one of economic interdependence, but there is no doubt in the past few years that beekeepers are under increasing pressure to maintain an adequate supply of pollinators to growers. In discussion with several key users of pollinators, there is a general consensus that although there may be stresses on the pollinator supply, there has not been difficulty in acquiring pollinator services. This may not be the case for all producers however. There is an intimate business relationship between providers of pollinators and horticultural end users, and our growers have a vested interest in maintaining a healthy supply for

OFFICE 355 Elmira Road North, Unit 105 Guelph, Ontario N1K 1S5 CANADA Tel. 519-763-8728 • Fax 519-763-6604 The Grower is printed 12 times a year and sent to all members of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association who have paid $30.00 (plus G.S.T.) per year for the paper through their commodity group or container fees. Others may subscribe as follows by writing to the office:

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pollination. This is certainly identified in the National Bee Health Action Plan, which formed the Bee Health Roundtable. Federally, they have several objectives that are consistent with those of the provincial government. Among them, they want to mitigate the losses from pests, pathogens, pesticides and other causes and to have apiculture as a valued and recognized component of agriculture. Horticulture producers in Ontario already have this perspective. They also want to build trust and understanding amongst all stakeholders, by telling the “full” bee health story to the public and to convey Canadian actions on “all” aspects of the bee health issue. This is where we should be headed, along with the recommendations of the federal agency involved in this discussion: Health Canada, through the Pest Management Regulatory Agency. While the neonicotinoid issue remains front and center, the OFVGA and the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) remain strongly engaged with other aspects of crop protection for fruits and vegetables. Development of appropriate Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) across different jurisdictions, engagement of the Minor Use Program with Ontario

grower requirements in mind, supporting the expansion of the Grower Requested Own Use (GROU), working with our federal and NAFTA colleagues on appropriate regulatory scrutiny and joint reviews for various products, re-registration of active ingredients, trade irritants and support of real-world use of these products are all key mandates of the OFVGA and the CHC. At the research priority-setting meeting held jointly by the OFVGA and the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in November, 2014, crop protection was deemed to be a key issue for all sectors. As a result of this meeting, pest management became an overarching priority for the horticultural sector in Ontario, and was presented to the government of Ontario as one of the key strategic priorities. It is through the efforts of and partnership between the OFVGA and CHC, both at the provincial and federal level, that producers have a voice with industry, academia and the government. There are many complex challenges to keeping growers competitive, and the necessity for specific crop protection tools and technologies is essential for the profitability of the sector.

ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2015

OFVGA SECTION CHAIRS

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Crop Protection Research Property Labour Safety Nets CHC

Chair Vice-Chair Fruit Director Veg Director Director

Jason Verkaik, Bradford Jan Vander Hout, Waterdown Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin Mac James, Leamington John Thwaites, Niagara-on-the-Lake

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

Charles Stevens, Newcastle Kenny Forth, Lynden John Thwaites, Niagara-on-the-Lake Neil Reimer, Vienna Bill George Jr., Beamsville Jason Verkaik, Bradford Mac James, Leamington Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin Ken Van Torre, Burford Jan Vander Hout, Waterdown Don Taylor, Durham

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

MARCH 2015 –– PAGE 11 THE GROWER

PERSPECTIVE A tropical opportunity to pick your own and lend a hand

OWEN ROBERTS U OF GUELPH If you love talking about farming – and who doesn’t? -- meet Val Kempadoo. Kempadoo rose through the ranks as an organic farmer and later as a Caribbean-wide nursery owner. Now he’s a successful real estate developer, founder of a new and luxurious US$600million development in St. Kitts called Kittitian Hill, a 400-acre property at the northwest part of the island, away from the traditional tourist areas. But he’s still a farmer at heart. And he’s looking for advice from other farmers on how to make the organic farm at Kittitian Hill, called Belle Mont Farm, succeed. In fact, he’s prepared to offer discounts to guests, depending on

how much guidance they can provide. The amount of that discount is important – a typical guesthouse at Belle Mont Farm runs about $2,500 a night! Through a series of fortunate circumstances, I had the opportunity to experience Kittitian Hill in early February, and not surprisingly, it’s an amazing place. Kittitian Hill is located in the foothills of 3,800-ft. Mt. Liamuiga. Behind the property, a seemingly endless, dense rainforest engulfs the entire mountain. The development’s up front -- the farm, as well as 84 single-room guesthouses and seven multifamily units, a spa, restaurants and other facilities in various state of completion. These all blend below into a nine-hole golf course called Irie Fields, and abandoned sugar cane fields that will become another nine holes for the course mid-year, and further developed farmland. From your private guesthouse you can see uninterrupted views of the Caribbean Sea and the nearby islands of St. Eustatius, St. Barts, St. Martin and Saba. But despite the opulence of its guesthouses, main buildings with cut stone exteriors, designer interiors and coral walkways,

Kittitian Hill spa director Nickie Myers has plans for this homegrown flax, as well as the tomatoes and other greens that grow on Belle Mont Farm. Photos by Owen Roberts gritty, tiny Belle Mont Farm is held out as the key attraction there. It’s the apple of Kempadoo’s eye. He believes food and food production, regardless of the scale, opens doors for conversations and lessons about sustainability and social responsibility. This includes replacing imports with locally grown food and making jobs for Kittitians. It’s at the farm level that

Plans call for this two-acre terraced organic farm to expand threefold . . . which will require a lot of agricultural expertise. Kempadoo wants food production and nature to be in harmony, and hopes Belle Mont Farm inspires others to be like-minded. To him, that journey centers around guests having their own farm-to-table agricultural experience. They mosey through the two-acre terraced fruit and vegetable farm (plans call for it to triple in size over the next five years) and get guidance from staff to pick what’s in season from the dozens of fruit and vegetable varieties there. Belle Mont Farm’s fertile ground gives the facility’s chef

many possibilities. The rich volcanic topsoil is easily a metre deep in some places, perfect for fostering plant life of all kinds. The real challenge here is how to grow food organically, naturally or whatever you want to call it, without the modern pesticides that make wide-scale farming possible elsewhere. Insects and plant diseases flourish in this moist, humid weather, and linger in the soil. Think you can help? Check it out here: www.kittitianhill.com/ experience/our-farm/

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How to sustain our soils in 2015 and beyond

Photo by Glenn Lowson

BRUCE KELLY The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has declared 2015 the International Year of Soil, with a different theme each month. The theme for March is “Soils Support Agriculture.” The declaration by the UN is a good reminder that the sustainability of all society hinges on what we can grow in a thin inch or two of sand, clay and organic matter, together with some protozoa, bacteria and nematodes – all bound up with a bit of water to form soil. Vegetable producers are always concerned about the quality of their soil and for good reason. Maintaining good soil health and structure can be a challenge in modern vegetable production systems that are not situated on deep organic muck soils. Soil erosion by wind and water, organic loss, and the need to minimize nitrogen contamination are ongoing challenges in vegetable production, particularly on sloped fields. It is important for us as farmers to acknowledge that soil organic matter is a depreciating asset. Left unchecked, organic matter oxidizes over time and is consumed by soil organisms. Between the materials removed by our crops and the losses from oxidation and other natural forces, farmers and agronomic systems have to work hard to simply maintain the organic content of soil. In fact, soil scientists often take samples from field margins at the fence row for comparison with the physical and chemical properties of production soils mid-field. Across the border in New York, Cornell University is

working with vegetable producers to study soil health. Under a new two-year program, researchers will work with interested growers to increase or diversify their cover cropping and reduce tillage. For co-operating growers, soil sampling, soil testing, and interpretation through the Cornell Soil Health Assessment (CSHA) will be free. Researchers will also evaluate biomass production, weed growth, and crop response to determine how best to integrate cover crops into vegetable systems. Here in Ontario, the newly announced Great Lakes Agricultural Sustainability Initiative (GLASI) has provisions to offer a farm soil assessment, a free assessment of soil erosion potential related to local conditions and soil test outcomes. For more information on this new program available to Ontario farms that drain into Lake Huron, St. Clair or Lake Erie basins, contact an OSCIA representative or: GLASI@ontariosoilcrop.org Trying to characterize and compare the “health” of soils has always been a challenge for soil scientists. Laura Van Eerd from the University of Guelph Ridgetown is working with the OMAFRA Soils Team to determine how to use the Cornell Soil Health Assessment (or a Canadian-adapted one) to evaluate and compare the health of our soils, organic matter, physical properties and chemistry. You can check out her recent paper on using the Cornell Soil Assessment on Ontario soils by googling Van Eerd Ridgetown Long term effects of tillage systems. Having the ability to characterize and compare different soils in a measurable

way will improve our ability to measure changes over time and compare the outcomes of different management systems on soil health. We have all seen the damage caused by severe erosion, with the organic matter and fine soil particles gone from the up-slope areas, exposing infertile subsoil. Or the slow demise of land caused by the mismanagement of nutrients or years of high production that robbed the soil of organic matter and nutrients. And we all know of a piece of land somewhere near us that has been so mismanaged over the years that you wouldn’t rent it at any price. Corn, soy and wheat producers have been experimenting with cover crops for some time. Recently they have begun to explore the benefits of planting cover crops in late spring or early summer inter-row just as the crop canopy closes and crop height prevents equipment travel. A 2014 project funded through the Water Adaptation and Quality Management Initiative (WAMQI) that was completed by Ontario Pork has shown great promise in planting cover crops into corn and wheat in June in combination with a manure application pass through the field. This year, cover crops were successfully planted into the living crops. Not only did the cover crops have minimal impact on the wheat yield, some of the cover crop plots actually had a higher corn yield than the control plots with no cover crops. These fields will also benefit from an over-wintering crop that stores nutrients and prevents wind and water erosion over the winter. Soil scientists tell us that 60 per cent of nutrients leave the land with the spring melt, either dissolved in water or attached to soil particles. Yet we know that pasture fields have almost no nutrient run-off. Cover crops can help keep crop land and vegetable land sustainable for years to come by holding nutrients and maintaining soil structure, biology and organic matter. Vegetable production systems pose a number of management challenges. Intense crop rotations or a lack of rotation combined with

tillage to prevent weeds, make it difficult to build and maintain soil organic matter. Often our most productive vegetable soils suffer from low soil organic matter, which results in soil that has a poor ability to retain moisture and requires high fertilization practices to be productive. However, these vegetable systems do offer a few advantages. As Ann Verhallen, OMAFRA cover crop specialist, points out, these systems have shorter growing seasons and offer an opportunity to grow other plants that can address specific needs of the grower, including nitrogen production, nitrogen scavenging, weed suppression, organic matter, and soil structure support, or a cover to prevent wind and water erosion. Just as the no-till corn farmer has come to re-think what makes a pretty field, vegetable producers must carefully evaluate some of their systems. As the International Year of Soil continues, we will see a number of articles about soil and soil health. Let’s make a concerted effort to assess our own farming practices to make sure that we can continue to produce food sustainably.

Bruce Kelly is environmental program manager for Farm & Food Care.

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MARCH 2015 –– PAGE 13 THE GROWER

RETAIL NAVIGATOR

Get the most out of your face-to-face meetings With a limited amount of time, you will need to keep the small talk to a minimum. Stay on track

The most valuable time with your retail customers is the faceto-face time. You can share your plans, understand what they are trying to accomplish and most importantly read their reactions to your message. It is important to plan for these meetings and make the most of the time you have together. Category managers are busy. They see a lot of vendors so you need to stand out from the crowd. There are three keys to a successful meeting: 1. Plan properly 2. Budget your time 3. Stay on track Plan properly

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would be on LinkedIn or other social media sites. It is very helpful to know something about your audience. If you can get some insights, work these into the conversation. You must build a relationship with this person. If you can determine that you have something in common this will help in your discussions. It is important to determine who will attend from your company. Less is more, however if you have a person who is critical to the operation then you should include them. Keep in mind that the more people are there, the tougher it will be to stay focused on your key points. If you do include another person make sure they understand how important it is to stay focused. In the preparation for the meeting, determine how you want to present your samples. We all talk about how demos are a great way to sell to consumers. The same is true for category managers. You should practise the demo with other accompanying items such as crackers or cups. Budget your time You need to create a presentation that is designed to fit the allotted time you have with your customer. Your challenge will be to keep the discussion flowing and cover all of the important points you have identified. There are different methods you can use to keep yourself on time during the meeting. One option is to mark the time on the pages in your presentation. For example, if you should be completing page five within 10 minutes. Put a small 10 on the bottom of page five in your copy. Get right into the content. It can be tempting to make small talk and to get comfortable with the meeting.

The category manager will ask questions. Answer them honestly and if you do not have an answer then say you will have to get back promptly. Try to answer the questions as succinctly as possible. In your format there should be time for questions but if you dive into a long answer that generates more questions you could have a challenge getting to the end of the presentation. Focus on the key points to ensure that you deliver your message. List your key points on a separate piece of paper. As you go through the meeting check to ensure that you are covering your points. The order of these points should follow how they are included within your presentation. Do not bring your samples or any other materials out on the table until you are ready to discuss them. The focus will shift to what is on the table and not the content you want to deliver. The samples should come out when you are discussing the point of differentiation. This is your opportunity to focus on the unique properties of the item and the sample will reinforce your position. Do not assume the category manager will see the obvious. If your health claims are on your packaging show them off. Make sure you have enough samples for all of the attendees and leave some more behind with them. Not too many to be cumbersome but a few so they can share within their office. Your last impression should be a good one In any presentation you want to finish strong. Think about what you will say as the meeting wraps up. You can make a couple of notes on your last page. There will be some things that might get discussed in the meeting where you perceive the category manager to be excited about your offering. In your last minutes bring them back to these positives. They might have made a comment about the functionality of your packaging. You can subtly include it to get them thinking as you are leaving. Offer your samples for others in the office to enjoy. Take note of any issues that the category manager has asked about specifically. After a few days, follow up with a phone call or email to say, “Thanks for the meeting” and leave your number in case they have any questions. Don’t expect a reply, they are busy. If you do get a reply, great! The face to face time you get with your category managers is

PETER CHAPMAN very important. If you have any more tips about making the best use of the time with the category manager it would be great to hear about them. You can send them to me at pchapman@gpsbusienss.ca. Retail news Metro delivers strong results Last month, Metro delivered its Q1 2015 results, which was for the 12 weeks ending on Dec 20, 2014. Overall, the results were very positive. The company has achieved positive sales and improved margins in two very tough markets. Metro operates more than 600 stores in Quebec and Ontario. Total sales were up 5.2 per cent and same store sales were up 3.8 per cent. Note that Metro declared inflation to be at three per cent during the quarter. It is important to understand the sales growth and inflation. When retailers report inflation it is always interesting to see if there are differences because inflation is directly related to retail pricing. Generating sales growth from price increases is a very shortterm strategy, especially if your competition is not increasing prices. We will see higher retail prices with the significant drop in the Canadian dollar but this will not show up until the first quarter of 2015. Net earnings for the quarter were also strong with a 13.4 per cent increase. Metro announced a 3:1 stock split that will took effect the first week of February. The company also announced a 0.35 dividend. Overall the company should be very happy with these results. Peter Chapman is a retail consultant, professional speaker and the author of A la cart-A suppliers’ guide to retailers’ priorities. Peter is based in Halifax NS, where he is the principal at GPS Business Solutions. Peter works with producers and processors to help them navigate through the retail environment with the ultimate goal to get more of their items in the shopping cart. pchapman@gpsbusiness.ca.

PAGE 14 –– MARCH 2015 THE GROWER

PRODUCTION EFFICENCY

Time motion studies reveal savings with fewer steps Time study results

The seven deadly sins of waste are: transport, inventory, motion, overproduction, overprocessing and defects. Sound familiar? The 2015 harvest is just months away. With labour costing more than ever, prune some seconds off repetitive tasks. Photos by Denis Cahill.

KAREN DAVIDSON Waste not, want not. That simple proverb is at work today across horticulture. As two Ontario apple growers and one peach grower discovered last summer, time motion studies of harvest workers in their orchards revealed wide variances in efficiency. One apple harvester, on average, took 135.8 seconds to fill a bag from the ground, while another harvester took 218.5 seconds. At 0.4 cents per second, the pennies add up to dollars. In variation, there is opportunity. With Ontario minimum wages at $11 per hour, every second counts. “In many cases, orchard practices have

been conducted the same way for years without a thought to short-cuts that save labour and time,” says John Van de Vegte, project manager, robotics and automation at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. “These time trials are not about replacing workers with automation. It’s about collecting data to implement best practices. A decision made without data is just an opinion.” Borrowing from the auto industry and its concept of “lean” manufacturing, Van de Vegte approaches agriculture the same way. Ask yourself if every task is value-added or wasting resources. Different sectors and crops have different cost drivers. Apple growers, for

example, incur their biggest labour costs at harvest while greenhouse cucumber growers incur the biggest expense in thinning and winding. For each sector, breaking down the component parts of a job can reveal opportunities for improvement. Van de Vegte shared the results of his time motion trials at the recent annual general meeting of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. He followed individual workers in the orchard and clocked the duration of different process steps. In comparing the two apple orchards, Van de Vegte was struck by the differences in terms of configuration and spacing and how people were operating in each environment. While the workers were happy,

the time variations were significant. In some cases, there was too much congestion in dumping fruit into bins. Better bin placement could help. Perhaps there’s a more optimal number of harvesters per bin. He also observed opportunities to reduce walking time and moving time for ladders. These were the first time motion trials that Van de Vegte has conducted in Ontario. More data is required such as weight of apples rather than bags to be more accurate in measuring productivity and saleable product. But this initial data gives an inkling of where farmers can implement continuous improvement. “Let the data and observations drive you to make the changes that are effective in your own operation,” he advises.

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MARCH 2015 –– PAGE 15 THE GROWER

PAGE 16 –– MARCH 2015 THE GROWER

Some highlights of the 8th North American Strawberry Symposium PAM FISHER Like the Olympics, this Strawberry Symposium occurs once every 4 years, bringing researchers, ag business and growers together from across North America and the world. Organized by the North American Strawberry Growers Association and a team of volunteers, this year’s strawberry olympics were held in Ventura, California. The meeting included over 50 speakers, 30 posters and a field tour. Much has changed since I attended the 6th symposium, also in Ventura, 8 years ago. Here are some highlights. ASD = Anaerobic soil disinfestation. This is the new hot topic in California as growers search for alternatives to methyl bromide and other soil fumigants. Eight years ago, alternatives to methyl bromide were “other fumigants”. Now there is a very focussed effort on ASD and other alternatives as restrictions on all fumigants get tougher. Anaerobic soil disinfestation involves a series of steps: 1. Incorporate a carbon source, such as rice bran, or whatever is economical. 2. Cover with an impermeable tarp. 3. Irrigate under the tarp to soil saturation, then maintain at field capacity for 3 weeks. 4. Hope for sunshine. Soil temperatures under the tarp should reach an average of 20C at 6 inch depth, for at least a week. Done properly, ASD is helping to reduce plant disease from soil pathogens such as verticillium (Figure 1). Walmart sustainability initiative The Walmart foundation provided $3M in 2013-2015 for a national strawberry sustainability initiative, through a series of competitive grants administered by the University of Arkansas. Many research reports at the

NASS symposium were a result of this research funding. For example: • Sustainable off-season production of high quality hydroponic strawberry in desert southwest — Chieri Kubota, University of Arizona • Sustainable soil management practices for strawberries: evaluation of individual and integrated approaches — Michelle Schroeder-Moreno and Amanda McWhirt, North Carolina State University • Placement of additional drip lines to enhance soil fumigation and irrigation efficiency and minimize environmental impacts — Oleg Daugovish, University of California Cooperative Extension You can read more about these projects and download the report at http://strawberry.uark.edu/. There are videos and links to presentations on lots of great projects. California Cooperative Extension employs a well-connected group of knowledgeable pest management and horticulture specialists. Web pages for Ventura County, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz counties provide a wealth of information for growers, in English and Spanish (in your browser type “cecountyname.edu”). Cooperative extension agents post their presentations and meeting handouts on line. Ontario berry growers might be interested in Mark Bolda’s blog http://ucanr.edu/blogs/strawberries_caneberries/ , or the presentations from recent local berry meetings www.ucanr.edu/meetingpresentations, or Oleg Daugovish’s video on anaerobic soil disinfestation http://ceventura.ucanr.edu/Com_Ag/Strawberry National Clean Plant Network for Berries receives stable funding from the USDA to ensure that

clean, disease-free Generation 1 material is provided to plant propagators in the USA. Plant material and new selections can be tested for viruses and “cleaned up” using various methods at one of 3 centers before it is released to plant propagators. This funding is also used for research and improved diagnostics of berry plant virus and virus like diseases. Additionally, a national standard for strawberry certification is being developed for strawberries in the USA. The question is, will Canadian programs develop in synchrony with the American process? Water shortages: The drought conditions in southern California range from extreme to exceptional. After 6 years of drought, the Ventura River and many other lakes and rivers have gone dry, and the snow pack is a small fraction of normal in the Sierra and other mountain ranges. Growers are dealing with this shortage by drilling deeper wells, and salt water intrusion is becoming a problem. Desalinization, which is expensive and energy-intensive, seems to be the back-up plan if it doesn’t rain soon. Insects: It’s no surprise that mites are a huge problem in hot, dry California, both two spotted spider mite and a newer species, the Lewis mite. Resistance to miticides is a concern as some of the older products are showing les efficacy than in the past. Growers use both insecticides and bug vacuums for lygus bugs, a relative of the eastern tarnished plant bug. Bug vacs are known to be inefficient, capturing a small portion of the population with each pass, so growers use them twice a week! Researchers are working to improve the efficiency of these expensive machines. Farm Tour: The highlight of the tour was a visit with Will Terry,

Figure 1: Joji Muramoto and Oleg Daugovish explain ASD in an organic strawberry field. It is too early to know if ASD will control the macrophomina which causes plants to collapse in hot dry conditions.

Figure 2: Strawberry harvest in Oxnard, California. Harvest aids save labour costs by reducing the time workers spend walking to drop off their flats. They are best suited to the large flat fields around Oxnard. of Terry Berries. Will is a5th generation farmer in Oxnard, with a very large acreage of strawberries and leafy greens. There were 3-4 harvest aids in the field. These machines move along the field ahead of the workers, who simply deposit their flats onto a conveyer belt, reducing time walking back and forth in the field. These harvest aids are widely used especially in the Oxnard area. Although labour costs are sub-

stantially reduced, it takes approximately 5 years to pay off the initial investment of over $100,000 per machine (Figure 2). What keeps Will Terry awake at night? His three biggest concerns for the future of strawberry production are: alternatives to soil fumigants, water issues, and availability of labour. Pam Fisher is berry crop specialist for OMAFRA.

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MARCH 2015 –– PAGE 17 THE GROWER

BERRY FOCUS

Cold climate strawberry farming now available Now, breaking into commercial strawberry farming will be easier than ever with the help of this free interactive e-book from the University of Minnesota, Cold Climate Strawberry Farming. The e-book goes into detail on important topics such as choosing your market, innovative marketing techniques, comprehensive cultivar recommendations, insurance requirements and other essential business info, and of course best practices for growing strawberries. For those already

experienced with commercial strawberries, Cold Climate Strawberry Farming introduces a new, season-extending method of growing strawberries for cold climates using low tunnels and day-neutral cultivars. All content is based on years of research at the University of Minnesota and Minnesota Grown, and can be viewed online or downloaded for offline use to any iOS or Android mobile device. Now you can easily bring the information you need right to where you need it.

This project is funded by a grant from the Walmart Foundation and administered by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Center for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability. It was created by the Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota and is copyrighted under a Creative Commons License: BY-NC-ND 4.0

New products for berry crops in 2015 PAM FISHER A supplement to OMAFRA publication #360, Guide to Fruit Production, will be available beginning of March 2015. This supplement lists new products and new uses that have been registered for berry crop pests since the publication went to press last year.

New Products: Nealta (cyflumetofen), registration # 31284, BASF Canada. Registered for twospotted spider mite control on strawberry. Quilt (azoxystrobin + spinetoram), registration # 28328, Syngenta Inc. Registered on blueberry for mummyberry and anthracnose control. New uses and label expansions:

Actara 25 WG: now labelled on strawberry for larval stages of strawberry rot weevil and black vine weevil control. Intrepid 240 F: registered for control of oblique banded leafroller on raspberry. Nova Fungicide: registered for white pine blister rust on currant and gooseberry. Switch 62.5 WG: now labelled for botrytis grey mould on currant, gooseberry, elderberry and sea buckthorn as well as anthrac-

nose on elderberry. • You can look up the details on these new products and uses on the PMRA website at http://pr-rp.hc-sc.gc.ca/ls-re/index-eng.php (“PMRA label search”) • Or, check our website at http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops /pub360/p360toc.htm. Pam Fisher is berry crop specialist for OMAFRA.

New horticulture videos for berry growers Check out www.Ontario.ca/hortvideos You will find videos on a variety of topics for horticulture crops and several of interest to berry growers. Brown marmorated stink bug by Hannah Fraser shows some great shots of live BMSB to help identify this pest before it becomes a problem. Look under Pest Management videos. Under Production videos: Using propane cannons for bird control is explained on two video clips by OMAFRA engineer Hugh Fraser. He also has a video on using fans

for frost protection. Rebecca Short demonstrates both drip irrigation system maintenance and how to monitor for soil moisture, in five mini clips. Learn maintenance tips and tricks by watching Rebecca carry out the California standard irrigation system assessment in an Ontario orchard. Soil moisture monitoring is presented in the last three of Rebecca’s videos. Go to www.Ontario.ca\hortvideos and click on the playlist in the top corner of each icon to get a list of videos on that topic.

Planning now for 2016 Field preparation for berry crops should take place at least a

year in advance of planting. Use the 2015 growing season to

prepare for 2016. Use the fivefinger checklist when planning

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new berry fields. 1. Take soil samples and adjust soil nutrients and pH. 2. Add organic matter: aim for three per cent or higher. Add manure, and/or work in cover crops to improve organic matter. 3. Test soil for nematodes in June or early fall and make plans to control them if thresholds of 500 nematodes for kg/soil for strawberries and 1000 nematodes per kg of soil for raspberries are exceeded. (You might need more than a year to do this with cover crops and crop rotations)

4. Perennial weed control – know the problem weeds in the field. Perennials should be controlled before planting with crop rotation and/or a series of glyphosate applications and tillage. 5. Order plants early from a grower who grows to accredited guidelines to be sure you get the varieties you want. For more information: www.Ontario.ca\crops and follow the links to berries and information for new growers.

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PAGE 18 –– MARCH 2015 THE GROWER

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PAGE 22 –– MARCH 2015 THE GROWER

MINOR USE CRAIG’S COMMENTS

‘Tax’ time

CRAIG HUNTER OFVGA March is tax time and since it is just around the corner, money (or the lack of it!) is on the mind of most of us these days. Perhaps even more important is to know that our money is being well spent, and achieving the desired outcomes. It is into this timeframe that the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) of Health Canada has announced the outcomes of the public consultation on their cost recovery fee changes. While there may never be a good time to announce fee changes (increases), after 18 years with a set fee, the time was nigh for major upgrades to the fee structure. The PMRA has always had to rely on budgetary ‘help’ over and above ‘normal’ “A-Base” funding to meet its mandate and to meet the needs of its stakeholders. The base budget should have been sufficient to do this, but has been woefully inadequate since PMRA’s formation by amalgamation of groups working on pesticide registration/

regulation from within Agriculture Canada, Health Canada, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans, and Natural Resources Canada. No doubt the full complement of funds associated with their former work did not follow the staff to the new agency (an old ploy in government to keep needed funds back ‘home’). Over the past 18 years, PMRA has had to rely on special program funds from AAFC such as ‘Growing Forward 1 and G.F. 2,’ ‘Market Access,’ and others. It would appear that the clout of PMRA for budget within Health Canada is much less than some other groups who continue to access almost unlimited funds for lesser value programs (my opinion). Nonetheless, PMRA continues to have budgetary pressures that affect their ability to perform at a level that all their stakeholders might wish. Having said that, the PMRA has done a credible job given their budgetary limitations. Just in the past year they have faced the legislated requirement to conduct 23 “Special Reviews” on top of those they had initiated themselves -- all with no additional funding or staffing. The new cost recovery proposal follows all government mandatory requirements for such fee programs. They must live up to performance standards or the registrant is entitled to fee reductions on future work (as opposed to a fee refund). It is also based in large part on similar fees as set by the U.S. EPA for similar work done to register pesticides

there. Even though there are many substantial fee increases, there are actually some that have decreased. It is difficult to assail their proposals overall, but there are a few points that will make more of an impact on farmers than as stated. In the analysis, they suggest that the expected increase in annual fee costs might be absorbed in whole or in part by any or all of the registrants, retailers, or growers. That is patently nonsense as growers are the fount of all income derived from the other two groups! It goes on to suggest that if growers absorbed all the fee increase, it would only amount to a 0.1 per cent increase in pesticide costs to a grower! That is quite disingenuous, to say the least! A wheat grower in Manitoba may use $30 of herbicide per acre a year, and an apple grower in Quebec may use $2,000 of treatments per acre a year! The difference in impact for individual crops is obvious. None of that matters to most growers if the increase in funding is used for their benefit. Canadian growers have consistently stated they want increased activity in the international arenas that will facilitate greater market access, faster setting of international (CODEX) residue limits, easier global registrations, and overall better service standards. Growers certainly appreciate the public face that PMRA has had recently; they just want more of it -defending and explaining the registration and regulation/ enforcement processes to the

public. At first glance it looked like Minor Use (URMULE) was going to take a big hit because research permit fees increased substantially. However, in the fine print it was pointed out that with a five- hectare base for such fees; most if not all Minor Use trials will be exempt from that fee. The new label registration fee has gone up from $262 to about $1133 payable by the registrant. This is not onerous given the extra data protection that may ensue. The fees for Import MRLs have long been a bone of contention for growers. The U.S. fee was well over $50,000 while ours was $8,000 for three crops on a single active ingredient (AI). Simply put, a company could bypass registration here of a needed AI, but get market access to Canada at a pittance, for produce treated elsewhere. When the shoe is on the other foot, a Canadian registrant needing an import MRL for access to the U.S. market would need to pay a huge fee, and often this was refused by the U.S. registrant. (Who knows what internal pressure gets brought to bear on that company by U.S. growers who wanted to keep that Canadian competition out of ‘their’ market?) The net result was a one-way street in Import MRLs. (By the way, only a registrant can apply for an MRL). The newly proposed fees are still not the same but somewhat better than in the past. In Canada it will be $15,000 and in the U.S.

$68,000 for an AI that has already been reviewed for other crops. For unevaluated AIs it is much more: $125,000 here vs. $341,000 in the U.S. Progress but not parity. In another area, it would appear that the pesticide industry lobby was able to keep ‘Maintenance Fees’ down to unseemly low levels. The minimum only increased from $75 to $100 a year to keep a registration on the books. For large volume products, it is still only $3,600 (maximum) a year or four per cent of sales- whichever is less. (I wish income tax had such a sweet out!) I envisioned a substantial increase across the board so the highest volume products paid pro rata with no maximum. These funds could go a long way to fixing holes in the overall PMRA budget, and would be spread evenly across the marketplace with the most profitable market leaders paying their fair share. The current proposal is patently unfair to most products and users. Fees are just another form of taxation, but in this instance one that we can accept if the outcomes meet our needs. We will continue to monitor the effect these fees have on the PMRA being able to do their job. Likewise, we will continue to make supplication to Health Canada for better “A-Base” funding to take some of the uncertainty out of PMRA’s future. It is still hard to reconcile all that when filing one’s personal tax return, nonetheless!

Photo archive launched for herbicide symptomology Identifying non-target crop and ornamental plant damage from herbicides has become much easier. Kassim Al-Khatib, a weed science professor from University of California-Davis, has drawn from his archives and other researchers to launch an online photo repository. The images are catalogued to show damage that can occur from 81 herbicides in more than 14 specific herbicide modes of action, applied in field to demonstrate the symptoms or

when known herbicide spray has drifted onto the plant. Each image is characterized with the name of the plant, mode of action of the herbicide, and notes the specific symptoms of damage. Together these photos provide a comprehensive archive of damage to more than 120 different crops and ornamental plants by known herbicides, which users can easily compare with what they see in the field. Also included in the repository

is information about the modes of action of various herbicides and an index of example herbicide trade names and active ingredients. The repository can be found at http://herbicidesymptoms.ipm.uca nr.edu/ The website is very friendly. It can be searched by herbicide mode of action, chemistry, herbicide, crop/ornamentals or and symptoms.

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MARCH 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PAGE 23 THE GROWER

MINOR USE

Reflex herbicide to control weeds on potatoes JIM CHAPUT The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of an URMULE registration for Reflex herbicide for control of weeds on potatoes in eastern Canada. Reflex herbicide was already labeled for management of weeds on beans and cucumbers

in Canada. This minor use project was originally submitted by Ontario in 2012 as a result of minor use priorities established by growers and extension personnel in Canada. The following is provided as an abbreviated, general outline only. Users should consult the complete label before using Reflex herbicide.

Reflex herbicide can be used once per year at a rate of 1.0 L per hectare applied to potatoes after planting but before potato emergence. Do not cultivate for seven days after application and do not harvest potatoes within 70 days of application of Reflex herbicide. Do not apply Reflex herbicide to any field more often than once every two years. Reflex herbicide should be

used in an integrated weed management program and in rotation with other management strategies to adequately manage resistance. Do not contaminate aquatic habitats when spraying or when cleaning and rinsing spray equipment or containers. Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Reflex herbicide label carefully. For a copy of the new minor

use label contact your local crop specialist, regional supply outlet or visit the PMRA label site http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cpsspc/pest/registrant-titulaire/toolsoutils/label-etiq-eng.php Jim Chaput is minor use coordinator, OMAFRA, Guelph Editors note: See more registration news on B9.

Chateau herbicide WDG to control weeds on sweet potatoes Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Chateau herbicide label carefully.

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of an URMULE registration for Chateau herbicide for control of weeds on sweet potatoes in Canada. Chateau herbicide was already labeled for management of weeds on several fruit and vegetable crops and non-crop areas in Canada. This minor use project was originally submitted by Ontario in 2011 as a result of minor use priorities established by growers and extension personnel in Canada. Management of weeds on sweet potatoes has been a priority of producers. The following is provided as an abbreviated, general outline only. Users should consult the complete label before using Chateau herbicide. Chateau herbicide can be used for control of weeds applied as a single application prior to transplanting sweet potatoes at a rate of 105 grams per hectare. Do not use on any sweet potato variety other than Beauregard unless user has tested Chateau herbicide on other varieties and has found acceptable crop tolerance. Chateau herbicide should be used in an integrated weed management program and in rotation with other management strategies to adequately manage resistance. Chateau herbicide is toxic to aquatic organisms, small wild animals, beneficial insects and nontarget terrestrial plants. Do not contaminate aquatic habitats when spraying or when cleaning and rinsing spray equipment or containers.

For a copy of the new minor use label contact Melanie Filotas, OMAFRA, Simcoe

(519) 426-4434 or visit the PMRA label site

www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/ registrant-titulaire/tools-outils/ label-etiq-eng.php

PAGE 24 –– MARCH 2015 THE GROWER

MAKE TIME FOR WHAT REALLY MATTERS. CORAGEN CAN HELP. ®

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1. Studies from the University of Guelph, conducted by Dr. Cynthia Scott-Dupree and Angela Gradish, indicate that Coragen® is an excellent alternative product when bees are present if used in accordance with the label instructions. 2. Recommend spraying when bees are not actively foraging. As with all crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™ and Coragen® are trademarks or registered trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 E. I. du Pont Canada Company. All rights reserved.

THE GROWER

MARCH 2015

CELEBRATING 136 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION

SECTION B

FOCUS: POTATO PRODUCTION

Measure, analyze and adjust water resources

While most potato-growing regions of Ontario recorded bountiful rainfall last year, research continued on a new web app that will indicate the best timing for irrigation. One of the cooperators is Homer Vander Zaag. Here, his daughter Karen gives a tour of the blossoming crop near Alliston, Ontario. Photo by Glenn Lowson.

KAREN DAVIDSON Too little rain, too much rain, too little heat, too much heat. These are the proverbial complaints of farmers. As shrewd as farmers are about the weather, there’s more to be learned. Even in a rainy year, it’s possible to underestimate the water needs of a potato crop. That was shown last year in a project managed by Weather INnovations Consulting (WIN). “Plants are lazy,” says Ian Nichols, WIN president. “They drink from the upper levels of the soil profile first and then have to work harder to go to intermediate and lower levels when soils get drier.” A multi-level sensor helps illustrate what is happening. The accompanying chart shows a period when the 10 cm soil moisture sensor is flatlining. That means one of three things. There may be insufficient soil moisture which translates into yield loss. The crop has entered a

different physiological stage which doesn’t require as much water. Or cloudy days have inhibited photosynthesis and the crop isn’t working very hard. Nichols points out that each grower can learn to interpret these charts, combining the scientific data with home-farm knowledge. While this chart compresses time, the distinct descending staircase pattern of daily crop water use leads up to a period of potential moisture stress signified by the relatively horizontal slope starting around August 7. When this horizontal pattern appears during the growing season, it’s time to irrigate to prevent moisture stress. That said, farmers should not over-irrigate. If the soil becomes too saturated, the green line will spike. That indicates a waste of water and valuable nutrients such as nitrogen. With three seasons of tracking under his belt, Nichols has developed a potato-specific monitoring system using 11 weather monitoring locations. His team has determined that

potatoes use water up to a depth of 30 cm, therefore soil moisture charts available on ONpotatoes.ca only display data for the 10 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm levels. The website merges data from site-specific weather and environmental monitoring to

create an interactive, web-accessed system that can be customized for individual growers. Thanks to funding from Syngenta Canada and the Water Adaptation Management and Quality Initiative (WAMQI), refinements have been made.

For the 2015 season, plans are to enable potato growers to register an account and save their site-specific field locations and calculations for historical comparison.

PAGE B2 –– MARCH 2015 THE GROWER

FOCUS: POTATO PRODUCTION

Context and contacts are crucial for continuous improvement KAREN DAVIDSON What happens when you get away from home, leave the country, skip a time zone? Insight worms into your head. Call it inspiration. Or appreciation. Following the star can lead you home to your own country, your own county, your own dirt. That’s what 10 New Brunswick potato growers experienced in mid-January. They didn’t go to outer space like astronaut Chris Hadfield. Courtesy of McCain Foods’ tour guides, they traveled to Argentina along with five Maine growers. They were in a time capsule of sorts, talking passionately about potatoes. The trip was timely as the potato industry is facing global challenges. One of the travellers was Joe Brennan, a Johnville, New Brunswick potato grower. A year ago, he was contracted by Potatoes New Brunswick (PNB)

to chair an industry steering committee which is comprised of PNB, McCain Foods, the provincial department of agriculture and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Spurred by McCain Foods, the industry is looking to improve potato yields from the current 300 cwt/acre benchmark to 350 cwt/acre in the next three years. With his 35 years as a grower until his retirement in 2013, he certainly understands the context, but just as importantly, he has the contacts. “There is no magic solution or single thing to fix,” says Brennan. “It’s about more growers paying attention to the details.” With the closure of the McCain Foods French fry plant in Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island, the 175 or so New Brunswick growers are keenly aware of the need to be globally competitive. About half of them grow processing potatoes. The Saint John River valley has been home to three, four and even five

generations of potato growers with 50,000 acres under cultivation. However, there’s no history that can guarantee a straight road ahead. Brennan is now reporting on the first year of the journey to anyone who will listen. He spoke in Brandon at the recent Manitoba Potato Production Days. There are lessons not only for New Brunswick but for any commodity across the country. Brennan is the chair for four sub-committees. They comprise soil and water management, seed improvement, science and technology and economics. One of his first rounds was to visit both public and private agronomists, seeking consensus on what priorities to tackle first. Soil health emerged as one of the top concerns. “We have more clay soils here in the Saint John River Valley so drainage is important,” says Brennan. “But tight, two-year rotations with potatoes and small

grains are putting soil under pressure. Rotating into canola, corn or soybeans is not returning organic matter to the soil.” Brennan blames the disappearance of livestock farming. No need to feed forage to cattle? Then there’s no need to sow nitrogen-fixing clovers or alfalfa that would help soil tilth. Researchers such as Agriculture Canada’s Joseé

Owens and Bernie Ziebardt are now delving into what cover crops might be of most help in tight rotations. Their answers may help boost potato yields. Continuous improvement is more of a mindset about sharing information to lift the entire industry. “It’s more psychology than agronomy,” Brennan concludes.

improve penetration of water into the soil, for the potato crop to use. Or in late fall, would winter rye, winter canola or cool-adapted radishes germinate in low temperatures and provide that protective function by holding onto soil through the winter and spring? Seeding a cover crop after a longseason potato is a challenge, but some crops could be seeded at topkill, and survive the disturbance of harvest to create vegetative cover. The how-to of integrating these cover crops into rotation need work, but if successful, she believes there is little doubt they will be an important aspect of improving soil health over time. Soil amendments such as biochar also intrigue her. Biochar is charcoal carbon created by pyrolysis of biomass. Besides having the potential to sequester carbon,

biochar has many benefits. It’s very good at holding nutrients, holding water, modifying soil and improving soil structure, lessening compaction and boosting the microbial community in the soil. Partnering with New Brunswick’s forestry industry could be fruitful. Clearing forests to make way for lowbush blueberry production will create biomass. Instead of shipping those surplus materials to Prince Edward Island to make electricity, burning them or burying them, they could stay in-province and be converted to biochar to fertil-

ize potatoes. The agronomics aren’t as difficult as the economics, she acknowledges. If a farmer plans to grow potatoes one year in two, or with enough land, two years in five, then cash crops must finish the plan. Her mission is to show how these new ideas can pay for themselves. “We need to get beyond rotation sequences and think about how to integrate innovative, soilbuilding techniques into each crop as it grows,” she concludes.

Soil: back to life basics “The multiple roles of soils often go unnoticed. Soils don’t have a voice, and few people speak out for them. They are our silent ally in food production.” ~ José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General 2015 is the United Nation’s International Year of Soils. For his part, José Graziano da Silva, the director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization, is giving voice to a concern of many farmers. Soils are becoming impoverished. They need a rest. They need to rejuvenate. That’s the same mantra of

Joseé Owen, potato agronomy researcher with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. “The soils in our potato belt have really been eroded in the last 50 years,” she says. “Potato production is hard on soil with tilling, hilling and harvesting to the point we have only about two per cent organic matter in the soil. The Russet Burbank, our longstanding processing variety, is a long-season potato which is being grown in a short-season climate.” Based at the Potato Research Centre, she is setting up a number of trials for 2015. Cool-germinating crops such as winter rye might fill that need. She wants to look at other crops as well, such as buckwheat which germinates and provides ground cover quickly. These cover crops could protect soil from the heavy rains typical of the region, but could also

Fresh potato company expands EarthFresh, a Canadian produce company specializing in fresh potatoes, has moved to a larger space in Burlington, Ontario. “After more than 50 years at our old location on Browns Line in Toronto, it was time to move,” says president Tom Hughes. “We are a market leader with the largest stock of exclusive potato varieties in North America. We have complete involvement in all aspects of the potato industry – from seed breeding, seed production, packing and distribution.” Burlington was chosen for its proximity – 15 kilometers – to the farm in Millgrove, Ontario. The city is also close to all major

highways, customers, as well as skilled labour markets. The new office and production facility is approximately 60,000 square feet, making it nearly three times larger than EarthFresh’s previous space. Customized packing lines will improve efficiencies by 250 per cent. The new lines will increase capacity by nearly four times previous capacity. In addition, Earth Fresh has a strong partnership with Halton Food for Thought, a non-profit association that supplies fresh fruits and vegetable to schools for their snack programs in the Halton area.

On January 16th, EarthFresh held a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially finalize the transition into a new packing facility at 1095 Clay Avenue, Burlington Ontario.

MARCH 2015 –– PAGE B3 THE GROWER

PAGE B4 –– MARCH 2015 THE GROWER

FOCUS: POTATO PRODUCTION

Silver scurf requires multi-pronged strategy for suppression

KAREN DAVIDSON Silver scurf, a common scourge of potatoes across Canada, comes by its name honestly. Metallic, silvery patches signal that the fungal pathogen Helminthosporium solani is present. If there’s any good news, it’s that researchers have a better understanding of what works to suppress this disease. “Don’t use foliar fungicides. Post-harvest application of phosphorous acid provides silver scurf suppression,” advises Tracy Shinners-Carnelley, director of research and quality enhancement for Peak of the Market. She spoke at the recent Manitoba Potato Days in Brandon. Silver scurf can be managed effectively by taking an approach through the entire growing cycle. Disease control starts with planting relatively disease-free seed that has treatment against silver scurf. Annual storage cleaning and disinfecting are recommended. Confine is the only post-harvest product that’s labelled for suppression. These recommendations make sense when studying the entry points for the fungus during the growing season. (See above) As Shinners-Carnelley explains, if infection is severe, lesions can thicken and crack, leading to moisture loss and shriveling of tubers. Infected seed tubers are the main source of inoculum. Spores from an infected seed piece then move through soil, by rain or irrigation water, or grow down the stolon to infect daughter tubers. Seed-

borne infection is possible if the rotation is very short, but spores typically don’t survive longer than two years in the soil. When infected tubers are put into storage, lesions sporulate, producing inoculum for secondary infection. This is particularly true when relative humidity is greater than 90 per cent and temperatures are greater than 38°F. Spores can also be present in soil brought into storage, as well as in infested concrete and wood in the bin. Symptoms are circular or irregular, tan to silvery lesions with a definite margin. They can vary in size from small lesions to patches that cover most of the tuber, rendering the potato unmarketable. “Where possible, manage storage conditions to reduce disease development,” says Shinners-Carnelley. “Cooler temperatures, lower humidity and adequate ventilation can help reduce disease development.” The objective of a recent trial (where?) was to see if post-harvest application of Confine and Phostrol would result in a change in the skin colour of yellow and red-skinned potato varieties. The trial looked at Dark Red Norland, Lady Christi, Sangre and Satina. The application of postharvest treatment did not result in staining, flecking or a change in skin colour. Lady Christi tubers, for example, had significantly lower silver scurf ratings compared to the untreated control. This result was maintained seven days after being washed. Photos courtesy of Tracy ShinnersCarnelley.

FARM SAFETY WEEK MARCH 15-21

Tractor and machinery training funded across Canada The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), in partnership with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) says that more than $100,000 has been awarded to help enhance tractor and machinery training across Canada. The FCC Ag Safety Fund has provided charitable and non-profit organizations the financial support to deliver community-based farm safety training programs since 2010. In this, the fifth year of the FCC Ag Safety Fund, the training efforts have narrowed to focus on tractor and machinery training. “Community-based training is effective and important in creating safer farming practices,” says Marcel Hacault, CASA executive director. “The community-based focus of the FCC Ag Safety Fund addresses farmers’ needs at the grassroots level, creating more buy-in and ownership for safer behaviour,” he says. The recipients of the 2015-2016 FCC Ag Safety Fund include: Quebec 4-H L’union des producterus agricoles (UPA) Farm Safety Nova Scotia,

PEI Federation of Agriculture University of Manitoba Wild Blueberry Nova Scotia The Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture New Brunswick Young Farmers Forum Inc. Farm and Ranch Safety & Health Association (FARSHA), Manitoba 4-H Council Canadian Farmers with Disabilities Registry. These 11 organizations will receive FCC Ag Safety Fund support in seven provinces. For a full list and description of projects funded in 2015–2016, visit: www.casa-acsa.ca/fcc-ag-safety-fund.

Confine 1x

MARCH 2015 –– PAGE B5 THE GROWER

PAGE B6 –– MARCH 2015 THE GROWER

FOCUS: POTATO PRODUCTION

The 50 things to remember from field selection to harvest EUGENIA BANKS The potato is one of the more complex crops to grow, and potatoes require intensive management to ensure success. Mother Nature plays the biggest role in determining what pests appear; in wet years, diseases like late blight, white mold, Botrytis grey mold and pink rot are major problems. By contrast, insect populations develop faster in dry years. Readiness is everything, and readiness is helped by implementing management practices that reduce the incidence of pests. What follows is a list for growers of the 50 things they should not forget from field selection to harvest. Field selection 1. Practise crop rotation. This is one of the best management practies to reduce several important diseases and insects. 2. Drainage, soil texture, soil compaction and soil organic matter all have a significant impact on pest development. Varieties very susceptible to late blight should be planted in the lightesttextured field because sandy soils do not remain saturated for long periods after heavy rainfall. Soil compaction reduces soil drainage and favours nematode infestation. Identify compacted soil areas by checking root growth and soil texture in a three-foot deep trench. Look for excessive clod formation, slow water infiltration, distorted root and tuber growth and premature crop death. These are all signs of shallow rooting. 3. If soil organic matter is low, incorporate cover crops and/or manure. Cattle manure from large operations is usually free of scab because the cows are not fed cull potatoes. In Ontario, soils high in organic matter rarely have problems with common scab.

4. Check for nematodes, wireworms and white grubs before planting. These pests can cause serious economic losses. Take soil samples for nematode counts, and use baits to trap wireworms. White grubs are usually easy to see when plowing the soil in the spring. 5. Take soil samples to be analyzed for Verticillium before planting. If Verticillium levels in a field are medium to high, do not plant early or susceptible varieties like Superior, Pike or GoldRush. 6. If the field is infested with common scab, grow only resistant varieties.

11. Calibrate the seed cutter. Sharpen knives and sanitize cutting equipment at least once a day and/or when changing seed lots to avoid spreading diseases like dry rot, blackleg and soft rot.

7. If you are renting land, be aware of previous crops and problem weeds. Some herbicides persist in the soil for several years and damage potatoes.

12. Warm seed tubers to 50-55°F before cutting. This reduces bruising when handling, promotes rapid healing of cut surfaces and initiates sprouts before planting.

8. Conduct complete soil tests. Nutrient deficiencies can encourage diseases and limit yield. Soil tests will also allow you to save money by applying the right rate of the fertilizers needed.

13. Set aside samples of suspicious tubers. Contact your potato specialist if you are uncertain of the cause.

Field preparation 9. Aim for soil of good tilth without drying out the soil or producing soil clods. Tillage should produce enough loose soil to allow the planter shoe to penetrate to the desired depth and to provide the hiller discs with enough loose soil to construct a proper hill over the seed. Tillage that dries out the soil surface reduces plant vigour. Also, sufficient tillage is required to properly incorporate pre-emergence herbicides Seed quality and handling 10. Plant healthy seed. Always check seed upon arrival. You have only 48 hrs to contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) if you detect seed problems.

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14. Apply the fungicide/ insecticide seed treatment you know will be cost effective. 15. If possible, use B-size seed for early planting. Whole seed tolerates cool, wet conditions better than cut seed and is more resistant to soft rot. 16. Destroy slivers and any tuber waste left after cutting. Planting 17. Make sure the planter is in good condition. 18. Try to schedule planting to coincide with favourable soil and weather conditions. Ideally seed and soil should be the same temperature at planting. Do not plant cold seed in warm soil. It will sweat, and this creates favourable conditions for soft rot. 19. Apply in-furrow insecticides and/or fungicides depending on anticipated problems. 20. Check the depth and spacing of seed pieces at the beginning of planting and throughout planting. Skips and clumped seed pieces reduce yields. Doubles reduce average tuber size. Plants adjacent to skips don’t fully compensate for their missing neighbour.

• Ornamental and Food Crop Protecction

21. Apply herbicide treatments immediately before ground crack. Better weed control is achieved with adequate water volume. Rainfall or irrigation should activate the herbicides, otherwise there will be poor weed control.

• Water Treatment

Vegetative growth to harvest

• Cleaning and Sanitizing n

22. Maintain and calibrate all potato equipment: tractors, hillers,

pivots, sprayers, diggers, etc. 23. Destroy all cull piles before crop emergence. Cull piles are often sources of late blight spores that are spread by wind to healthy fields. Late blight is a community problem. Do your bit to reduce the risk of late blight in your area. 24. Destroy volunteers in grain fields. They are often a source of late blight spores. 25. Scout for hairy nightshade (Solanum sarrachoides) in borders and hedgerows. This weed is closely related to potatoes, and is susceptible to both early and late blight. Populations of hairy nightshade have been increasing in Ontario over the past four years, and diseased weeds could start an epidemic of late blight. 26. Scout potato fields regularly, at least once a week. Scouting can be done by growers or by a trained person who has an eye for details. Scouting provides timely information on plant growth, insect numbers, disease development, weed status and other problems such as air pollution, lightning damage or poor spray coverage. 27. Identify field problems accurately. If in doubt, check the Potato Field Guide or contact the potato specialist. 28. Place flags in problem areas e.g. Colorado potato beetle, early blight hot spots. This will allow you to check the efficacy of the crop protection materials applied and detect early signs of pesticide resistance. 29. Apply the post-emergence herbicide rimsulfuron when pigweeds and lamb’s quarters are small. Do not allow weeds to get ahead of the game. 30. Conduct petiole testing. This test indicates the nutritional status of the crop and allows you to make early adjustments in the fertility program. It is common to do the first petiole sampling about 30 days after emergence. Keep in mind that: • Most deficiencies of minor nutrients can be corrected during the season with chelated sprays. • Applications of P and K are more effective banded at planting or preplant broadcast.

31. Be aware of weather conditions in your area. Wet weather favours late blight, white mold, Botrytis grey mold, blackleg, pink rot. Warm, dry weather causes crop stress favouring early blight, early dying, black dot, and brown spot. Insects also develop rapidly in warm weather. 32. Start your fungicide applications early, before row closure. Fungicide application intervals for early blight and late blight are based on potential for disease development due to weather conditions, crop age and/or late blight outbreaks in the field or the region. 33. Manage pesticide resistance. Have in place a cost-effective fungicide and insecticide program that will delay the development of resistance in pests. • Always use label rates. • Rotate pesticides. Don’t spray pesticides back-to-back if they are from the same family. • Tank mix fungicides as indicated on the labels. 34. Be proactive, use all the strategies available to prevent or delay the development of late blight: • Scout your fields at least twice a week. Always check risky areas such as low spots. • Destroy cull piles, volunteers and hairy nightshades. • Start your fungicide program early, before rows close. • Spray intervals according to crop growth and weather conditions. Shorten intervals (four to five days) if wet weather prevails and late blight has been detected in your area. • If late blight is found in your field, spot kill or disc late blight infected areas of fields. • Include in your spray program specific late blight fungicides. • Irrigate during the day to avoid prolonged periods of wet foliage during the night. • Prevent soil cracking that allows late blight spores to reach the tubers. Use a roller after topkilling to seal soil cracks. • Apply a copper fungicide after topkilling to kill spores that may remain viable on green vine tissue.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

MARCH 2015 –– PAGE B7 THE GROWER

FOCUS: POTATO PRODUCTION

The 50 things to remember from field selection to harvest 35. Adjust sprayer boom height as crop grows. Water-sensitive spray cards can be used to test the coverage of leaf and stem surfaces. 36. Clean all equipment when moving between fields to prevent weed and disease spread. This is extremely important when going from scabby or late blight infected fields to healthy fields. 37. Manage irrigation –if available– to provide adequate soil moisture for continuous root development. Available soil moisture in the top 12 inches of soil should not be below the following ranges: • 75%-85% at the vegetative growth stage • 80%-90% at tuber initiation • 80%-90% at tuber bulking • 70%-75% at maturation

tubers dug on hot, humid days. 46. Adjust equipment to minimize bruising. Have drops no more than six inches. Keep chains full. Conduct bruise evaluation (e.g. “superspud” or dyes). Bruises predispose tubers to Fusarium and soft rot. 47. Avoid digging at temperatures below 45°F for potatoes going into storage. 48. Note disease problems from any fields or as bins are loaded. Keep lots with any signs of dis-

ease separated from healthy lots. Do not store suspicious lots or market them as soon as possible. Store those suspicious loads close to the door for rapid movement. 49. Maintain proper storage conditions to promote wound healing during the curing period: • 95-99% relative humidity • Tuber pulp temperature should be maintained at 55-60°F if tubers are healthy and at 50°F if some decay is present • Air movement at high rate is essential to remove field heat, stabilize pile temperature, reduce

CO2 build-up and provide oxygen for wound healing. 50. Last but not least: evaluate and identify successful practices, incorporate them into next year's crop. Attend Ontario potato meetings, and meetings in other jurisdictions when possible. You will find these meetings informative and will give you the chance to exchange ideas with other growers, researchers and crop consultants. Eugenia Banks is OMAFRA potato specialist.

38. Monitor nitrogen leaching. Water in excess of the holding capacity of the soil -caused by heavy rainfall or excessive irrigation- will leach N from the root zone leading to N deficiency compromising crop health. Keep in mind that most late maturing potato varieties take up N efficiently within 70 days after emergence. Supplemental N applications to correct leaching losses should be done before that time. 39. Reduce incidence of pink rot and leak by applications of Ridomil Gold, the only fungicide registered in Ontario to control these tuber diseases. 40. Rogue virus infected plants from fields (especially for seed potato growers). 41. Destroy weeds around your fields. They are host to potato viruses that are vectored by aphids to your healthy fields. 42. Manage problem weeds with rotational crops. Spot spray persistent perennial weeds. 43. Watch for weeds that are not common or are new to the field, consider adopting a zero threshold for these weeds and physically remove them in order to prevent seed production. Make weed maps and keep them updated to make treatment decisions next season. Harvest

POWERFUL, FLEXIBLE DISEASE MANAGEMENT. DuPont™ Fontelis fungicide helps build the flexible, broad spectrum disease management program you need to protect your high-value fruit and vegetable crops. With its group 7 formulation you’ll get residual, preventative and post-infection control over key diseases including apple scab, powdery mildew, botrytis and many other important diseases. ®

44. Allow at least 14 days from top killing to harvest to dig a crop with proper skin set. Immature tubers with thin skin are easily attacked by soft rot bacteria, specially if dug under hot and humid conditions. 45. Do not leave a truckload of harvested potatoes exposed to the sun for long periods of time. Pythium leak develops quickly on

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Questions? Ask your retailer, call 1-800-667-3925 or visit fontelis.dupont.ca As with all crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™ and Fontelis® are trademarks or registered trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 E. I. du Pont Canada Company. All rights reserved.

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PAGE B8 –– MARCH 2015 THE GROWER

FOCUS: POTATO PRODUCTION

Managing potato diseases with biopesticides EUGENIA BANKS At the recent 2015 PotatoExpo, Dr. Amanda Gevens, a plant pathologist from the University of Wisconsin, gave a talk on Managing Diseases with Biopesticides in Potato Production. Her presentation attracted a lot of attention because it was practical. She emphasized that knowledge of the mode of action of the product and the biology of the pest are critical for effective biopesticide use. What follows is a summary of Dr. Gevens’ presentation. Biopesticides are derived from natural animal, plant, bacteria, and mineral sources. There are three categories: Microbial pesticides contain microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses or protozoa as active ingredients and are often highly specific. For example, the fungus Coniothyrium minitans (labelled as Contans) is registered in Canada to suppress the fungi S. sclerotiorum and S. minor in fields where vegetables that appear on the label will be planted. Plant-incorporated-protectants

(PIPs) are compounds that plants produce to protect themselves against pests. In this case, genetic material from other species is added to the plant. The best example is Bt technologies which add a gene from a bacterium to plants to protect them from insect pests. Biochemical pesticides are naturally occurring substances such as plant extracts, fatty acids, or pheromones that have low toxicity to humans but are highly toxic to plant pests. The fungicide Regalia contains extracts from a weed and Phostrol (Mono- and di-basic salts of phosphorous acid) are examples of biochemical pesticides. Advantages of biopesticides: • Often have shorter re-entry intervals (REI) and pre-harvest intervals (PHI). • Typically less toxic than conventional pesticides. • Many biopesticides are biodegradable and pose little risk to surface and ground water. • Biopesticides generally have low volatile organic chemical (VOC) content and reduce air pollution. • Generally affect only the target

pests. • Often are effective in small quantities and decompose quickly resulting in reduced persistence and residues. • May be used as a component of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program to minimize reliance on conventional pesticides and to manage resistance. Limitations of biopesticides: • Should be used preventively and not curatively as they typically have shorter duration of efficacy and residual activity than conventional pesticides. • Storage and shelf life of products may be more specific and/or shorter duration than conventional pesticides. • Data on the efficacy of biopesticides is limited. • Trialing of biopesticides often requires special considerations. Researchers cannot always add biopesticides into conventional pesticide trials due to differences in: • timing • product placement • frequency of application • tank-mix partners Registration of biopesticides • In the US, the Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) requires less data to register a biopesticide than to register a conventional crop protection product. • Biopesticides are typically registered in <1 year; conventional pesticides usually take at least three years. • EPA requires that registrants submit data on pesticide composition, toxicity, degradation, and other characteristics to ensure safety to humans and the environment. This is consistent with the registration of chemical pesticides. Why pay attention to biopesticides? Worldwide, demand for biopesticides is on the rise for the following reasons: • Public awareness of environmental and agricultural issues • Improved quality and performance of modern biopesticides • Push to reduce conventional pesticide usage in agriculture to enhance sustainability. Constraints in using biopesticides There is still a lot of uncertainty around biopesticides that constrains their use: • their effectiveness in managing

disease or insect pests • the return on investment • the timing and method of application • the availability and storage of product What is needed for further adoption of biopesticides? • Continued and expanded research (replicated trials repeated across years) to better understand mode of action and optimal performance conditions of biopesticides. • Focus on performance factors including coverage, timing, frequency, and rate of application • Proper controls in field trials to permit comparisons to other treatments • Disease pressure should be ‘just right’ – enough disease to differentiate treatments, but not too much disease to overwhelm the plants • Adjuvants or tank-mixes may enhance efficacy of biopesticides. Eugenia Banks is OMAFRA potato specialist.

The old and the new blackleg pathogens EUGENIA BANKS Blackleg is a soft rot potato disease of worldwide distribution caused by the bacterium Pectobacterium atrosepticum (formerly classified in the Genus Erwinia). Blackleg is more likely to occur in wet, cool seasons. In Europe, Dickeya spp such as Dickeya dianthicola (formerly Erwinia chrysanthemi) and Dickeya solani also cause blackleg of potatoes. These two Dickeya spp have caused serious economic losses in some European countries. Dickeya spp

are more aggressive than the Pectobacterium blackleg pathogen. They cause more disease at lower inoculum levels, destroy the vascular tissue more rapidly and can survive in water courses for at least three years. Thus, irrigation water may be a source of bacterial infection. Dickeya soft rots are more common in warm conditions (when temperatures exceed 25ºC). The host range of the Pectobacterium atrosepticum pathogen is restricted to potatoes. By contrast Dickeya spp also attack tomatoes, carrots, corn,

PATHOGEN

SYMPTOMS

Pectobacterium atrosepticum

• Stunted plants that look stiff and stand erect (especially early in the season) • Wilted foliage, leaves rolled upward. • Inky black, slimy stem rot with fishy smell. • Sunken, circular, black. rotted lesions on tubers extending from the stem end into the pith. • Rotting tuber tissue appears cream-coloured, but darkens with time. In an advanced stage, the infected tissue turns greyish black, mushy and smelly.

Dickeya dianthicola Dickeya solani

• Wilted plants often taking on a bluish appearance. • Stems may have an external brownish discolouration or they may remain green above ground. Frequently, the rotting is visible in the upper parts of the stem while the stem base is necrotic from the pith • Pith tissue is macerated. Stems become hollow as the pith dries out. • Infected plants rarely give off foul odour. • Tuber rot symptoms are similar to those caused by Pectobacterium but the fishy smell does not always develop.

tobacco and a few ornamentals. Usually, blackleg lesions caused by the Pectobacterium pathogen give off a fishy smell. The smell is caused by secondary bacteria that invade affected tissues. However Dickeya spp infections are not smelly because Dickeya spp are more aggressive and outcompete other microbes in the potato environment. Pectobacterium atrosepticum and Dickeya spp produce slightly different blackleg symptoms, but the symptoms often overlap. A laboratory test must be conducted for the correct identification of the pathogen causing blackleg. Dickeya dianthicola and Dickeya solani spread easily in

latently infected seed tubers. In latent infections, tubers appear healthy but carry the bacterium. Blackleg will develop when conditions are right. In other host plants such as tomatoes, the bacteria may be moved long distances, and especially across borders, on vegetative material. European management practices to reduce blackleg incidence There are no seed treatments to control seed-borne infections • Avoid poorly drained soils and over-irrigation • Use healthy seed, tested for Dickeya spp. • Pay attention to storage

conditions for seed before planting • Grade out suspicious seed tubers • Prevent de-sprouting of the seed during planting • Disinfect cutting equipment between seed lots • Scout your fields regularly during the growing season • Rogue blackleg infected plants and daughter tubers. • Do not harvest during rainy weather Eugenia Banks is OMAFRA potato specialist.

MARCH 2015 –– PAGE B9 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CROP PROTECTION

Purespray Green Spray Oil 13E label expanded JIM CHAPUT The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of several URMULE registrations for Purespray Green Spray Oil 13E for management of several important pests of apples, greenhouse vegetables, berries, field-grown fruiting vegetables and cucurbit vegetables, tree nuts and hops in Canada. Purespray Green Spray Oil 13E was already labeled for management of a number of pests on several crops in Canada. These minor use projects were submitted by British Columbia and Ontario as a result of minor use priorities established by growers and extension personnel in Canada. Management of these pests on these crops has been a priority of both organic and conventional producers. The following is provided as an abbreviated, general outline only. Users should consult the complete label before using this product. Purespray Green Spray Oil

13E can be used to control, suppress or deter several additional pests on the following crops as outlined in the chart. Purespray Green Spray Oil 13E should be used in an integrated pest management program and in rotation with other management strategies to adequately manage resistance. Purespray Green Spray Oil 13E is toxic to aquatic organisms. Do not contaminate aquatic habitats when spraying or when cleaning and rinsing spray equipment or containers. Purespray Green Spray Oil 13E can be used in organic production systems, however producers are advised to consult with their organic certifying body. Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Purespray Green Spray Oil 13E label carefully. For a copy of the new minor use label contact your local crop specialist, regional supply outlet or visit the PMRA label site www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/ pest/registrant-titulaire/ tools-outils/label-etiq-eng.php

Pristine helps apple growers control diseases BASF Canada Inc. has been granted a new label expansion for Pristine fungicide for control of bitter rot and black rot in the pome fruit group. Previously registered for control of scab, powdery mildew, flyspeck, sooty blotch and brooks spot in pome as well as a number of other key diseases in fruit and vegetable crops, Pristine uses both Group 7 and Group 11 active ingredients to provide broad-spectrum disease control. Pristine also provides growers with the benefits of AgCelence which may increase growth efficiency and tolerance to minor \environmental stress. For more information about Pristine fungicide, visit www.AgSolutions.ca or contact your retailer.

Switch controls diseases on additional crops The Pest Management Regulatory Agency recently announced the approval of an URMULE registration for Switch 62.5 WG fungicide for control/suppression of labeled diseases on all crops in the bulb vegetable crop group and on crops in subgroup 5B, leafy Brassicas in Canada. Switch 62.5 WG fungicide was already labeled for management of several diseases on a variety of fruits and vegetables in Canada. This minor use project for bulb vegetables was submitted by Ontario in 2011 and the project for leafy Brassicas was submitted by Quebec Horticultural Council (CQH) in 2013 as a result of minor use priorities established by growers and extension personnel in Canada. Users should consult the complete label before using Switch fungicide. Switch fungicide should be used in an integrated pest management program and in rotation with other management strategies to adequately manage resistance. Switch fungicide is toxic to aquatic organisms. Do not contaminate aquatic habitats when spraying or when cleaning and rinsing spray equipment or containers. Fludioxonil is persistent and may carry-over, therefore it is recommended that fludioxonil not be used in areas treated with this product during the previous season. For a copy of the new minor use label contact your local crop specialist, regional supply outlet or visit the PMRA label site www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/registrant-titulaire/tools-outils/ label-etiq-eng.php

New Pest(s) and Crop(s)

Rate (L/ha)

Control of rosy apple aphid on APPLES

10 L (summer spray); 10-20 L (post-harvest spray)

Suppression of powdery mildew and spider mites on FIELD-GROWN FRUITING VEGETABLES

Maximum Application apps per Interval (days) season 8 summer, 2 dormant

not specified