MARCH 2024
BIOSECURITY ENHANCEMENT
The Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative supports the resiliency of the agriculture and food sector by addressing biosecurity risks and enhancing emergency preparedness. It provides funding opportunities to key agriculture industry businesses, including Primary Producers, Processors, and Service Providers. This initiative is in high demand and is close to 50% subscribed.
Plant health project categories to support related activities across the full agri-food value chain include:
Schedule 3: assessment, planning, education and training (plant health)
For: Primary Producers, Processors, or Service Providers.
Cost-share is 50% with a project cap of $5,000. Purpose is to build farm-specific knowledge and expertise in support of plant health (for example, conducting pest risk assessments, developing biosecurity procedures and integrated pest management plans, and participating in plant health training).
Schedule 4: sprayer upgrades for integrated pest management
For: Primary Producers or Service Providers. Cost-share is 50% with a project cap of $5,000. Purpose is to install sprayer upgrades on pesticide application equipment to improve plant health, minimize worker exposure and environmental impact.
Schedule 5: preventing introduction and spread of pests through isolation, sanitation and controlling workflow
For: Primary Producers or Service Providers. Cost-share is 35% with a project cap of $50,000.
Purpose is to reduce biosecurity risks into, out of and within high-risk areas of operations, in a measurable and proven way, with regards to workflow, sanitation or the ability to isolate material.
Schedule 6: innovative pest monitoring and management tools and equipment
For: Primary Producers or Service Providers. Cost-share is 35% with a project cap of $50,000.
Purpose is to adopt demonstrated and innovative integrated pest management practices and incorporate tools and equipment for monitoring, management, and treatment into plant health risk management plans. This will enable primary producers or service providers to prevent, identify, and limit the introduction and spread of pests.
Schedule 7: technologies and processes to reduce plant pest contamination and risk
For: Processors.
Cost-share is 35% with a project cap of $100,000.
Purpose is for processors (including those who conduct primary processing activities, such as washing and packing) to identify and limit the introduction and spread of plant pests. Eligible activities will decrease contamination risks to their business and the sector as a whole.
Apply at: https://www.ontario.ca/document/ biosecurity-enhancement-initiativeguidelines
Thanks to Our Sponsors
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND SKILLS PROGRAM
The Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP) will contribute approximately $13.5 million to projects that employ youth and youth facing barriers. Each project will be eligible to receive up to $14,000 in matching funds to employ one (1) employee. Agriculture and AgriFood Canada is one of several Government of Canada departments participating in the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy
The intake period is open and applications will be accepted until March 25, 2024 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time.
2024 EMPLOYER RESOURCES
We are pleased to provide resources to growers to help with your employee wellness program. Resources provided by Niagara Public Health and Quest as well as the latest Know Your Rights information and posters from Service Canada are now available on our website at the following link: https://ontariotenderfruit.ca/ growers/index. Sign in with your grower number and then click Industry tab / Worker Wellness.
This information is in addition to our existing Health and Safety Program Guidance including SOPS on over 85 orchard tasks.
If there are additional resources you think would be beneficial to add please reach out.
HEALTH & SAFETY EXCELLENCE PROGRAM
The Health and Safety Excellence program helps make your workplace safer, while earning rebates on your WSIB premiums.
Through the program, you can:
• Reduce the risk of injuries and illnesses, and lessen the impact on your business when they do occur
• Improve your business’s reputation by showing your commitment to health and safety
• Boost employee confidence, morale and productivity
If you’re a smaller business (1-99 full-time employees), you can earn double the rebates on your annual WSIB premiums, plus $1,000 toward your health and safety plan, this year. Learn more at: https://www.wsib.ca/en/ healthandsafety
F.A.R.M.S. BOARD OF DIRECTORS FORTH, KEN (President) Canadian Horticultural Council
SHUH, ROBERT Apples Apiary
NEVEN, JAMES Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers
GIFFORD, BETTY-ANNE Nurseries Ginseng Sod
CHARBONNEAU, NORM Fresh Vegetables
TREGUNNO, PHILIP Tender Fruit
VERGEER, ANDY Tobacco
CANAG BOARD OF DIRECTORS
TREGUNNO, PHILIP President
GIFFORD, BETTY-ANNE Vice Chair
NEVEN, JAMES Treasurer
GIFFORD, BETTY-ANNE Secretary
CHARBONNEAU, NORM Director
NPF & VGA AWARD OF MERIT
The NPF&VGA is pleased to announce that Mary Jane Combe, retired Market Analyst and Special Projects Consultant with Grape Growers of Ontario, is the 2023 Award of Merit recipient.
An event will be held on Wednesday, May 15th at Honsberger Estate Winery in Jordan to honour Mary Jane. Tickets are limited, so please RSVP by May 5th using the following link to secure your spot: https:// form.jotform.com/npfvga/award-of-merit-registration
SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE
The intake to apply for the Dave Lambert Agricultural Scholarship is now open!
NPF & VGA offers a $1,500 scholarship annually to students currently enrolled in or applying to postsecondary agriculture courses. Please note that students must be from the Niagara Region to be eligible. The intake is open until May 31st.
Further details and an application form can be found at npfvga.org/scholarship.
IN MEMORIAM
Fred Meyers 1954 to 2024
Fred was a dedicated director and grower committee member for Tender Fruit and the Fresh Grape Growers for many years as well as the Tender Fruit director to the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. Even during his suffering, Fred always had a smile, and truly amazed us with his strength to continue on.
In meetings, his thoughtful advice always gave us pause and it was his signature to motion our adjournment once the work was complete. We will hold his laugh in our hearts, and memories dear.
REMINDER: TENDER FRUIT GROWERS AGMS
2024 NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETINGS OF TENDER FRUIT GROWERS
Pre-registration is required. Please Email: sarah@ontariotenderfruit.ca (or click below) and indicate which meeting you are attending. A copy of the Financial Statements will be mailed to each grower member in March.
Pre-registration is required. Please Email: sarah@ontariotenderfruit.ca and indicate which meeting you are attending. A copy of the Financial Statements will be mailed to each grower member in March
Districts 3 & 4 – Essex, Kent and Lambton – Tuesday March 26,2024
Time: 12pm(lunch)– 3pm (in-person at Colasanti’s Tropical Garden)
Agenda:
• Minutes March 21, 2023
• Presentation of 2023 financials
• Tender Process - auditors
• Chairman’s Report
• Secretary’s Report
• Cedar Springs Report – John Zandstra
• Tender Fruit Draft Cost of Production
• Elections to Grower Committee
• Election of Directors
• Other Business
District 5 – Haldimand-Norfolk- Wednesday March 27,2024
Time: 9:00am – via zoom (zoom link will be sent to registered attendees)
Business Section Agenda:
• Minutes March 22, 2023
• Presentation of 2023 financials
• Tender Process- auditors
• Chairman’s Report
• Secretary’s Report
• Elections to Grower Committee
• Election of Directors
• Other Business
Districts 1 & 2 – Niagara- Thursday March 28,2024
Time and Place: 9:30am to approx. 1:30pm– In person at Hilton Garden Inn 500 York Road NOTL
Agenda:
9:30am: Crop Protection Materials and Minor Use Updates
10:15am Tender Fruit Draft Cost of Production
11:00am
Business Section:
• Presentation of 2023 financials
• Tender Process- auditors for next 5 year cycle 2024 to 2028
• Minutes March 23, 2023
• Chairman’s Report
• Secretary’s Report
• Elections to Grower Committee, set first meeting
12:15pm: Buffet Lunch
Free
No
No appointment is needed!
Phone
Seasonal
April
June
July
August
September