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Ontario fruit and vegetable growers received some good news in early April as the provincial government released its budget, which included funding for a new self-directed risk management program for the edible horticultural sector.
The news was welcomed by many in the fruit and vegetable sector, including individual producers and officials with the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA).
“Risk management ensures our farms are stable and our agri-food industry can grow through unpredictable challenges,” said Sandra Vos, president of the Brant County branch of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). “This truly is support our farmers can count on.”
“We are extremely pleased that the . . . government has come through for our growers,” said Mark Wales, chair of the OFVGA’s safety nets committee. “Growers continue to struggle with low prices and rapidly escalating costs and this program will be a game changer for us.”
Now the push is on to have the risk management program supported by the federal government, a hard promise to get as the country’s main political parties are currently (as of the date of the writing of this editorial) on the campaign trail preparing for a May 2 federal election.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture is strongly urging its 37,000 family farm members to keep the needs of agriculture in mind when they vote – including federal support for the new risk management program.
“We fought hard to advocate for change at the provincial level and are proud to say that it worked,” said OFA president Bette Jean Crews. “Earlier this month, the Ontario government tabled their annual budget and announced full support for permanent risk management programs to safeguard our farmers
from these unmanageable risks. But that will only cover 40 per cent of the public cost for adequate programs, and without support at the federal level, the remaining burden is left for farmers. That is not acceptable. Agriculture is a federal and provincial responsibility – farmers are in, and the province is in; now it’s the federal government’s turn to act.
“The new federal government must pro vide the transfer needs to secure a program that will work for each province according to the needs of that province. Current Growing Forward programs simply do not deliver what is needed.”
It was a sentiment echoed by Grain Farmers of Ontario chair Don Kenny in a letter to Stephen Harper.
“In this election, farmers across our province have united under a common request being made to all candidates,” he stated. “Fifty thousand farm families across our province agree – a fully-funded risk management program is vital for market stability, competitiveness and innovation in the agricultural sector.”
Hopefully the candidates are listening. The months after the results of May 2 will show whether agriculture is on the mind of Canada’s new government, whoever it may be.
The next few months will also show how much of an effect the United States’ new U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act, passed earlier this year, will have on exports coming out of Canada and entering the U.S. According to Dr. David Acheson, managing director of food safety at Leavitt Partners, former associate commissioner of food with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a speaker at the recent OnTraceability 2011 conference, producers and processors in both Canada and the U.S. will be impacted by the new law and
New Brunswick potato break axed
A longstanding tradition will end in the fall of 2012 when students at Carleton North High School in New Brunswick no longer get the potato break.
District 14’s education council says it’s ending the practice of giving students at the school in Bristol two weeks off every fall to help with the harvest.
Superintendent Lisa Gallagher says that after two years of
need to be prepared.
“You can get in front of the regulations by using traceability to show you have done everything you can in the event of a recall,” he said. “Do what you can, that’s important.”
As part of the new U.S. legislation, all “importers must verify that foreign suppliers [such as Canadian producers] have adequate preventive controls in place to ensure safety and the FDA will be able to accredit qualified third party auditors to certify that foreign food facilities are complying with U.S. food safety standards.”
The FDA will also have mandatory recall authority for all food products.
All of this comes just as McGill University announces the formation of a new Chair in Food Safety, the first of its kind in Canada. Based in the agricultural and environmental sciences department, the Chair will lead the university’s newly established Food safety and Quality Program (FSQP), which will undertake collaborative research, offer undergraduate and graduate programs and provide independent expertise to the Canadian food industry in the area of global food safety.
“The reality is that food safety issues have been with us for decades,” said Dr. Chandra Madramootoo, dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “No one can foretell when the next outbreak may be, and our food comes from so many sources.”
The Chair is being funded through a donation from Ian and Jayne Munro. Ian is a graduate of McGill and is a food safety researcher with Cantox Health Sciences International in Mississauga, Ont.
The university hopes to fill the Chair vacancy this summer.
Just some food for thought. ❦
debate, the council is confident it is moving forward with the right plan.
Students will still be allowed to miss 12 days of school to work on the harvest, but they’ll have to let the school know in early September that they’ll be taking the time. School officials say that way, staff can help them catch up when they return to class.
By The Canadian Press
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Consumers’ perception of peach quality studied
By Hugh McElhone
Consumer perception of peach quality tends to be based on appearance, but there are many other factors to consider that producers should be aware of, says Dr. Ben Campbell with the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.
His research team recently undertook an in-depth statistical study of how consumers perceive the quality of the peach they buy in the market and what drives them to make their purchase.
The research was funded by the Niagara Peninsula Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (NPFVGA), and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Growing Forward program.
“This research is important because of increasing competition – someone wants your spot on the shelf,” Dr. Campbell says. “You need to be proactive and know what’s going on in the market so you can give consumers what they want. You’re not just competing with California peaches, you have to be better.”
One problem the researchers noted is that in face-to-face interviews, consumers tended to say what they thought the researchers wanted to hear.
“They’ll tell you that locally grown is very important to them, but when they go to the store, that might not be the only criteria,” Dr. Campbell says. “They want something that’s going to taste good, and they will not find that out until they get it home.
“When you go to the store, you’re not buying quality, you’re buying perceived quality. As farmers, you look at internal colour, size and other factors that you know make it a quality peach, but consumers don’t have that information when they go into the store,” he adds.
“Local implies fresh, flavour and quality. Local has this perception, and consumers are buying on perception.”
To perceive quality, consumers have to rely on factors in the environment to help them make their decision. Such factors include price, colour, size, external feel and packaging style. They also look at the region where it was grown, and whether or
A research team at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre recently undertook an in-depth statistical study of how consumers perceive the quality of the peach they buy in the market and what drives their purchase.
not it is organic. These are all factors that drive someone’s purchase.
To determine driving factors, the research team assembled different combinations of peach size, colour and packaging methods and asked consumers which combination they preferred. This national survey was conducted
over the Internet and received 891 completed surveys, a 60 per cent response rate. “If we’d done this by mail, we’d have hoped for 20 per cent,” Dr. Campbell explains.
People were asked to rate the combinations displayed on a scale of one to 100 to determine if they would purchase them. They
by Margaret
Photo
Land
were then asked a series of demographic and purchasing behaviour questions so that profiles could be built that related consumer characteristics to product preferences.
Respondents under the age of 18 were not included, nor were those who did not buy fruit of any kind. “Roughly 30 people did not buy fruit because someone else was buying it for them. These people were not included in the sample,” he said.
Sample questions specifically asked consumers if they bought peaches. If they answered no, they were asked why not.
“We found 24 per cent said the skin was too fuzzy,” says Dr. Campbell. “It should be noted that 70 per cent of those who found the skin too fuzzy were buying nectarines, a replacement fruit.”
Some found the fruit too expensive, or simply did not like the taste.
Of those who did buy peaches, researchers found that price was the most important factor across the country, accounting for about 18 per cent of the purchase decision. The second most important factor, at 15 per cent, was where it was produced.
“So really, the regional label has a value when it comes to consumer purchases,” says Dr. Campbell.
Of regional labels, they found that the eastern region, including Ontario, prefers the Ontario label, while the western region prefers the B.C. label.
“Consumers in central Canada, on the other hand, tended to put equal value on the B.C. and Ontario labels, and of course, no one wanted the imported label,” he says.
They then looked at ethnic heritage as a factor in peach purchases by asking consumers how they identified themselves culturally.
The total percentages were then broken down, and respondents with like preferences divided into six segments. This helped profile the consumer based on such factors as gender, demographics, socioeconomic status, and behavioural and purchasing tendencies.
Segment 1 – the price conscious –accounted for 15 per cent in this analysis.
“For this segment, price made up 42 per cent of the buying decision; this implies that price was more important than other factors,” explains Dr. Campbell.
These consumers were higher educated, shopped at discount stores, had lower income, had fewer children, and tended to be male. Culturally, they were Chinese/ Japanese, non-Western European, and not very knowledgeable about local produce.
Segment 2 – location matters – accounted for seven per cent. Of this group, the re-
gional label was responsible for 39 per cent of their purchase decision. These consumers tended to live in a production area, were very knowledgeable about local produce but less so about organic. They were less likely to shop at discount or mass merchandise stores.
Segment 3 – Ontario label and external feel – highlights elements that were important for 21 per cent of Ontario consumers. For 15 per cent of this group, the peach had to be firm and from Ontario before they would buy it. These consumers tend to spend a high percentage of their fruit budget on peaches and were more likely to shop at large chain stores. They tended to be married, and were not very knowledgeable about local or organic production.
Segment 4 – external feel – accounts for 11 per cent of consumers countrywide who preferred a firm peach. A full 36 per cent of the buying decision came from the external feel characteristics. Consumers within this segment tended to be female, and shop at both the large chain and discount stores. This group did not live in a production area, did not want an extremely juicy peach, and were not very knowledgeable about local or organic production.
“This group is comprised of the urban person who wants a peach similar to what they’ve had in the past, one that’s firm and not very juicy,” says Dr. Campbell.
Segment 5 – find their own – accounts for 20 per cent of the total. For this group, 28 per cent of the buying decision is based on package type with the preference being for loose fruit.
“They don’t like baskets, and want to look at the entire display and say ‘I want that one.’ They tend to be female, higher educated, high income, Western European, and do not shop at mass merchandise or warehouse clubs. They are knowledgeable of organic but less so on local production,” says Dr. Campbell.
Segment 6 – non-discriminating –accounts for 26 per cent of the total and tends to be made up of younger males for whom food does not matter as much. They are generally not Eastern Europeans, and shop at warehouse club stores. They are not very knowledgeable about local production.
Dr. Campbell notes there is a trend in the industry to move to plastic containers, and packaging type is important for 15 per cent of those surveyed.
“Some prefer the cardboard basket,” he says. “This may be because of tradition, or because they feel it is more environmentally friendly. We need to dig a little deeper to understand why.”
Consumer perception of peach quality, tends to be based on appearance, but there are many other factors that producers should be aware of, according to researchers with the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.
The plastic container with lid, however, is not popular among the external feel group who can no longer assemble their own basket. This style of container essentially alienates 20 per cent of the market.
Based on the results of their statistical survey, Dr. Campbell says, “we can tell you how people perceive quality and what they are looking for in the store. But when they get home, what do they really want, what are they expecting? There is actual quality that goes into this as well.”
He also found there is a better understanding of local and organic production regardless of region.
“People have strong views on organic,” he adds.
Of the export market, he says, “Sure, we now have a fairly good idea of the market here but do U.S. consumers feel the same way? Some segments, such as the price conscious, will likely be similar, but the other groups may be different across the board.”
Having looked at perceived quality in the store, Dr. Campbell and his team want to look at actual quality.
“Did the consumer get what they expected from their purchases when they got home?” he wonders.
Future research will also look at the data they have found important and further refine some group attributes.
“We need to find more specifics that we can delve into with more detail,” Dr. Campbell concludes. ❦
BCFGA presents grower awards
The B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association (BCFGA) presented its annual grower awards during its first ever B.C. Tree Fruit Horticultural Symposium, held in Kelowna, B.C., in mid-March.
The three award winners were announced by Jim Campbell, a tree fruit specialist B.C. Ministry of Agriculture.
The Soft Fruit Award was presented to Jake van Westen Jr. of Naramata, B.C. Jake Jr. is a second-generation grower with large plantings of Lapins, Sweetheart, Skeena and Sweetheart cherries (28 acres in total). He was raised and educated in the PentictonNaramata area, and also worked as a carpenter for a period of time following school. He joined his father Jake Sr. in the orchard in 2002. Together, they now operate 14 acres of apples, as well as wine grapes.
The Golden Apple Award was presented to Tom Ouchi of Vernon, B.C.
“Tom had just excellent looking Spartans and Ambrosia [last] year: just a standout crop,” said Campbell.
Tom is a third-generation grower in the Bella Vista area of Vernon. His farm started out as a vegetable farm in the 1920s and transitioned to apples in the late 1950s. He currently produces 18 acres of mostly Ambrosia, Galas and Spartans, with some Fuji, Macintosh, Golden and Aurora apples. Tom also grows some peaches and has two acres of vegetables for the pick-your-own part of his business. Tom has a bachelor of commerce degree and was involved in real estate appraising prior to taking over the family farm.
The Compact Orchard Award was presented to Tarsem Dhoot from Lake Country.
“The Compact Orchard Award is basically awarded based on blocks of trees,” explained Campbell. “In this case, Tarsem won hands down with his Ambrosia block. It was excellent quality, excellent grades and sizes.”
Tarsem was born and educated in India. He moved to Canada in 1981 after receiving his bachelor and master degrees in agriculture. He worked in orchards and leased orchards until 1992, when his family purchased their current orchard in Lake Country. The orchard operates 10.5 acres of Ambrosia, Gala, and Macintosh apples.
The BCFGA received more than 15 nominations for the 2010 awards, most coming from field service and industry consultants.
“All of the orchards have to be very well managed and operated,” explained Campbell, adding judging is done during an on-site farm visit in the fall and is based on analysis of fruit quality, fruit size, peracre yields and pack-outs. “It’s always a tough decision for us.”
He added that it usually takes an operation two to three years of nominations before they actually win an award and suggested producers encourage their field service technicians and crop consultants to continue nominating them.
“You just might win an award.” ❦
Tarsem Dhoot of Lake Country, B.C., receives the 2010 Compact Orchard Award from Lisa Garrett (top photo), and Tom Ouchi of Vernon, receives the 2010 Golden Apple Award during the B.C. Tree Fruit Horticultural Symposium, which was held in mid-March in Kelowna, and presented by the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association.
Photos by Steve Brown
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Sanitation key to eradicating bacterial ring-rot biofilms
By Myron Love
Bacterial ring rot is an important potato disease and one of the main reasons for rejection of seed potatoes from certification programs. Symptoms include wilting of leaves and stems along with yellowing and death of leaves.
Ring rot derives its name from a breakdown of the vascular ring within the tuber. This often appears as a creamy-yellow to light-brown discoloration. On the outer surface, severely diseased tubers may show slightly sunken, dry, cracked areas.
Ring rot is caused by the bacterium Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus . Ring-rot bacteria survive between seasons, mainly in infected seed tubers. They are also capable of surviving for up to five years in dried slime on surfaces of crates, bins, burlap sacks, or harvesting and grading machinery, even if exposed to temperatures
well below freezing.
In 2006, the National Bacterial Ring Rot Conference determined that finding more effective disinfectants for prevention of the disease should be a top priority. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) planned and funded a project to compare the effectiveness of sodium hypochlorite, quaternary ammonia and hydrogen peroxide against Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus (Cms) in its biofilm (aggregated cell) and planktonic (free cell) forms. Recently, Ron Howard, a participant in the study, was in Brandon to report the results to Manitoba potato growers attending Manitoba Production Days 2011.
Howard is a research and extension plant pathologist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development in Brooks, Alta., where the research was carried out. The project objectives, he says, were to compare the susceptibility of planktonic and biofilm forms of Cms to sodium hypochlorite (SH), quaternary ammonia (QA), and hydrogen peroxide (HP) using various concentrations and exposure times; to evaluate the efficacy of SH, QA and HP against artificial and natural biofilms of Cms on surfaces such as wood, metal, rubber, burlap, plastic and concrete using carrier methods; to identify disinfectants that are potentially effective against the
Ring rot derives its name from a breakdown of the vascular ring within the tuber. This often appears as a creamy-yellow to light-brown discoloration. On the outer surface, severely diseased tubers may show slightly sunken, dry, cracked areas.
Photo courtesy of William M. Brown Jr., Bugwood.org
bacterial ring-rot pathogen; to determine the relative effectiveness of various registered and unregistered disinfectants against Cms biofilms on hard surfaces typically found in or on potato storages, machinery and equipment; and to determine if the efficacy of disinfectants can be improved by the additional use of detergents, foaming agents, adjuvants and related products.
The researchers screened 10 commercial and experimental disinfectants against Cms biofilms and Cms planktonic cells using the minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) plate assay. They followed up by testing the efficacy of several disinfectants against artificial and transferred biofilms of Cms on 10 types of porous and nonporous surfaces using the biofilm eradication surface test (BEST) plate assay. (The MBEC and BEST plate assays were developed by Edmonton-based Innovotech Inc and were chosen as the main testing platforms because they facilitate accurate, high-throughput testing of biocides).
The final step was pilot evaluations of disinfectants against potato
pathogens and other microbial contaminants in commercial potato storages using a mobile sanitation unit
The study was carried out between 2008 and 2011.
Last season, Howard reports, the researchers visited 10 potato storages in Alberta and Saskatchewan and evaluated the 10 disinfectants used in the laboratory trials – along with OneStroke Environ and wet steam – using a mobile sanitation unit. The disinfectants were applied to concrete, galvanized steel, stainless steel, painted steel, galvanized tin, plastic, spray-on foam insulation and wood surfaces. The researchers measured surface bacterial and fungal populations before and after cleaning and after disinfection
The research findings, Howard notes, demonstrated that the disinfectants were less effective against the biofilm form of Cms than the plankton (free-cell) cultures, especially on porous surfaces such as wood, foam padding, and foam insulation versus those on plastic, metals and rubber. The effectiveness against biofilms improved with increasing disinfectant
concentration and exposure time.
Artificial biofilms on solid surfaces such as steel or plastic were easier to eradicate than biofilms on porous surfaces such as foam, rubber, wood and insulation.
Overall, Howard reports, the most effective disinfectants against Cms biofilms were bleach, SaniDate, Virkon and Hyperox
“The mobile sanitation unit proved to be a very useful tool for evaluating different cleaning systems, disinfectants and detergents in commercial storage settings,” he says. “The importance of reducing organic loads and breaking up biofilms before applying disinfectants was clearly demonstrated.”
The study was co-sponsored by provincial potato grower associations across the country, disinfectant and equipment companies, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Alberta Agriculture Funding Consortium, the Saskatchewan Agricultural Development Fund, Manitoba Agri-Food Research and Development Initiative and the Canadian Horticultural Council’s BRR Working Group. ❦
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Passion for heritage seeds drives farmer’s organic produce sales
By James Careless
For the past 19 years, Ken McMullen and his partner Joan have grown and sold organic plants and produce from their 50-acre Spring Arbour Farm in Walsingham, Ont.
The McMullens have also built up a local base of 100 families who regularly receive home deliveries from McMullen. For an annual $300 membership deposit, plus any additional costs, each family is e-mailed an order form bi-weekly. They can choose from an encyclopedic range of locally grown flowers, fruits, garden supplies (compost, seeds and transplants), herbs, mushrooms, preserves and vegetables.
“I get their orders back by e-mail, pick the items fresh and deliver them to an area covering the former City of Toronto and Norfolk County,” says McMullen. “From
May through November, my families get the freshest, healthiest local produce possible.”
The success of the McMullens’ organic food home delivery service earned them a 2008 Ontario Premier’s Award for AgriFood Innovation Excellence. The irony of this situation is that McMullen doesn’t raise organic crops in order to sell them directly to consumers – or to anyone else for that matter. In fact, the real reason he got into farming was to grow seeds; specifically heritage seeds that were in danger of extinction.
“When Canada began allowing companies to patent plants, I became worried
that thousands of varietal seeds would become extinct,” he explains. “The reason was simple: companies who owned plant patents now had no motivation to sell unpatented, less profitable seeds. That is precisely what has happened, especially since the big seed companies subsequently bought out the smaller seed companies and put their seeds out of production.”
As a management consultant, he had an insight into the thinking of the major seed companies, simply because they had been similar to his clients in the energy sector. This is why McMullen helped in
Spring Arbour Farm has 50 acres of land, with 10 acres under cultivation. Half of those acres are devoted to asparagus and the other half to an “extremely intensive” garden.
Submitted photo
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the formation of Canadian Organic Growers (COG) and became its president in the mid-1980s.
“One way COG responded to this extinction threat was to form the Heritage Seed program,” he explains. “Now known as Seeds of Diversity (www.seeds.ca), this program is supported by 1,200 volunteers who grow and distribute heritage seeds.”
McMullen’s next move was to encourage seed companies to keep including heritage seeds in their catalogues (and having a base of 1,200 volunteers requesting them helped this effort). His third tactic was to start raising heritage produce – tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, potatoes and many others on Spring Arbour Farm – and selling it directly, in order to fund the production of heritage seeds and provide his family with an income.
“Basically, my strategy is to grow the seeds and sell the byproducts to my families,” he explains. “Those byproducts include transplants, produce, flowers, preserves and compost from harvested plants.”
Spring Arbour’s operation
Spring Arbour Farm may have 50 acres, but only 10 of these are under cultivation. Half of these are devoted to asparagus; the other half to what McMullen describes as an “extremely intensive” garden.
“My goal is to raise as many different varieties of crops as I possibly can, so that I get as diverse a harvest of heritage seeds – typically compost-loving plants that were popular in 1890 or earlier – as I can,” he says. “This means that we are growing 300 different varieties of flowers, fruits and vegetables.”
As a result of all this diversity, Spring Arbour Farm’s customers never know what to expect when they place their orders. They will get tomatoes, but as for the variety?
“It’s a surprise,” McMullen says.
The McMullen farm is a year-round organic operation, even though the harvest season only runs from May to November.
“Early in February, I plant the year’s seeds into flats under grow lights, then move them to three-and-a-half-inch pots in our greenhouse,” he says. “Once spring has truly arrived, the seedlings sit outside for a week to harden, and then are planted in our fields. Some also go to clients, for planting in their own gardens. During the warm months, we harvest crops and flowers until the season ends, at which point I harvest the seeds. These are stored upstairs in our house, where I pack them
Any fruits and vegetables that are not sold during the growing season become preserves, which are sold from Spring Arbour during the off-season.
into moisture-sealed foil bags. Some I sell, some I keep and the rest I plant when the cycle begins again in February.”
It was McMullen’s work as a management consultant that put him in contact with major multinational companies. Their focus on plant patents and monocropping worried him; inspiring the heritage seed and organic food operation he runs today.
Here’s the second irony: “The skills these companies use to grow, manage and sell their seeds are the same ones I use at Spring Arbour Farm,” he says. “By this, I mean that I use the very same project-oriented business approach that they use, where discreet operations have to be self-supporting in order to survive. For instance, the money from selling transplants pays for the seeds and greenhouse costs, making the remaining twothirds of crops free. That’s how I ensure this farm stays financially viable, and how I can help to keep heritage seeds in existence.”
McMullen employs modern business tools, such as interlocking spreadsheets, so that he can forecast customer demand accurately. E-mail and the Internet are also central to his operation, both for ordering and promotion. Meanwhile, any unsold fruits and vegetables become preserves, which he sells during the off-season.
“During December, we make up gift baskets that sell well,” he notes. “It’s just another way of keeping the money coming in, so that we can stay in business.”
An option for farmers?
Despite its small size and low manpower, Spring Arbour Farm is a commercially successful operation. In other words, the McMullens are able to make a living and stay on the land while doing something they value.
“Ten years ago, the area in which I live had about 30 tobacco farms,” McMullen notes. “Today, there are only two farms still in operation here – me, and another farmer who has 3,000 acres of soybeans. I understand that he is having a tough time making ends meet, what with the cost of producing the crop and the meager price he gets paid for them. As for me? I’m not rich, but my farm is self-sustaining. And I am growing crops that truly matter.”
But can commercial farmers really make a living following McMullen’s example? If they remain buried in debt and committed to vast acreages, the answer is likely no. But if they sell off much of their land and get their debt down, the answer could be yes.
“There is a real need for this kind of small-scale organic farm,” he says. “Granted, it is important to have access to an urban area to sell to at a decent price, which I have. Meanwhile, the intensive farming we practise here has allowed us to pull out of our marginal land, which has been given back to forests and an irrigation pond. The land is healthier, we are happier, and we feel good about what we are doing. So yes, this kind of organic farming – which preserves plant diversity – can be a profitable option for traditional farmers.” ❦
Submitted photo
Online tool helps farmers select cover crops
Have you ever thought of having a cover crop on your field, but didn’t have the tools to figure out which crop would work best for your needs?
Michigan State University (MSU) Extension and the Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC) teamed up to release an online tool that assists farmers in deciding which cover crops will benefit their row crop rotation.
The MCCC Cover Crop Decision Tool is an initiative by the MCCC to consolidate cover crop information by state or province to help farmers make cover crop selections at the county level. A team of cover crop experts that includes university researchers, Extension educators, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) personnel, state departments of agriculture department personnel, crop advisors, seed suppliers and farmers develop information for each state or province.
A user selects his or her state or province and county. Users can also give information on their cash crops, including planting and harvest dates, field information such as the soil drainage class, artificial drainage or flooding, and desired cover crop benefits.
Designed to be user-friendly, dynamic interface allows users to immediately see how their input changes their cover crop options. A user can generate an information sheet
Michigan State University (MSU) Extension and the Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC) have teamed up to create an online tool that helps farmers decide which cover crops will benefit their crop rotation.
for a selected cover crop that provides additional information and references relevant to application within the state or province.
The current version of the tool has been completed for Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, while other states and provinces are
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Did you know?
The new version of the CanadaGAP manual (v5.1) has been released by CHC
presently developing their information. When completed, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ontario will be added to the web-based system.
Find the tool at http://mccc.msu.edu/ SelectorTool/2011CCSelectorTool.pdf. ❦
Safefood Consulting Can Help.
How we can help:
• Our consultants can help you implement the CanadaGAP manual and customize your record keeping
• All producers and packers must do a mock recall annually
New requirements include: OR
• All producers and packers must prepare for their third party audit by hiring a third party to conduct a Pre-Auditby completing the CHC OFFS self-assessment checklist
On-Farm Food Safety Package: $ 325 + HST
•
Guidance through the certification process
• Implementation of the CanadaGap manual and customization of record keeping
• Physical inspection of facilities
• Completed“to-do list”
• Assistance with your mandatory Mock Recall
Additional Services
• Employee HygieneTraining
•WaterTesting
•We can guide you through the mock recall process
•We can conduct your pre-audit
•We can guide you through the certification process and answer your questions
• Our consultants are available to help in the event of a crisis such as a recall
•We can help you with your water testing
Other Services:
• Help with development and implementation ofTraceability Systems
• Crisis Preparedness and Management for individual farms and industry associations
About Us:
• Over Six years working with the CanadaGAP Program
• Over 10 years working with on-farm food safety for fresh produce
• Experience with all fresh fruit and vegetable commodities
For More Information on how we can help you, please contact: Theresa Brickell: tbrickell@ebpros.com 519-821-9908 x 203
Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association (NSFGA) members recently received some expert advice on how to deal with two increasingly prevalent problems in Annapolis Valley orchards – European sawfly and powdery mildew
European sawfly
Erika Bent, who operates Agricultural Pest Monitoring, told attendees of the recent NSFGA annual meeting the European sawfly was only an occasional problem in Nova Scotia until 2005 and 2006. By the 2008 harvest, fruit injury level ranged from zero to six per cent. Six per cent is “quite high” for one insect, said Bent.
Sawfly larvae overwinter in the soil, pupate in the spring and emerge as adult flies just before the apple trees bloom to lay their eggs in apple buds and blossoms, Bent explained, adding it takes eight to 10 days for the sawfly’s eggs to hatch. Within four weeks, they are fully grown larvae feeding on the fruitlets.
Growers can reduce sawfly damage by applying insecticide when the larvae are moving from fruitlet to fruitlet, said Bent, who during trapping research in 2007 began capturing adult sawflies about May 22 and spotted their first eggs by June 5. She recommends spraying for sawfly at the time apple blooms are opening.
Control is difficult, Bent admits, as growers cannot spray for the adult sawfly during bloom. Instead, she suggests spraying as close as possible to the bloom to reduce the adult insects, then spraying again after the bloom to stop the larvae from moving between the developing fruit.
Currently, there are two insecticides registered for sawfly in Canada, Bent explained, and one of them – Guthion – is being phased out, leaving Assail as the only control for sawfly.
Quebec and Ontario are introducing
Battling European sawfly and powdery mildew
By Dan Woolley
a predatory parasite for European sawfly, but it is not a stand-alone control, she said.
Powdery mildew
Bill Craig, a tree fruit specialist with Agra Point, describes powdery mildew as a secondary disease of apples, “although now it is more prevalent.”
Powdery mildew in its primary cycle overwinters in the apple buds, Craig said. The disease’s secondary cycle occurs when it infects the tree’s foliage and causes russeting on apples.
“[During the 2010 season] I really saw some heavy fruit russeting,” he said.
Conditions favouring powdery mildew infection are typicallly warm days and cool, moist nights, with a relative humidity greater than 90 per cent as the leaves are growing. Temperatures range usually between 10 and 25 C, with the optimum being between 19 and 25 C, Craig said, adding that temperatures between 24 and 28 C will kill the infected buds and the powdery mildew fungus.
Craig noted powdery mildew is the only fungal disease that can infect without wet conditions from rain or dew. The disease also likes warm, dry weather. Last May, Nova Scotia had 16 days in the optimal range for mildew,
An example of powdery mildew damage to the fruit of an apple.
he said, adding that the average mean temperature was 12.3 C compared to the usual monthly average of 10 C.
Apple tree leaves are vulnerable to infection after emergence, Craig said, and the infection will continue as long as shoot growth continues.
There are numerous apple cultivars susceptible to mildew and some cultivars, like Honey Crisp, may have even increased susceptibility to the disease.
Craig recommends a fungicide program to reduce the spore load from primary infection and prevent secondary and fruit infection. He suggests growers get their first application on by the first week of May from the tight cluster, spraying again in five-toseven-day intervals until petal fall, then continue with covering sprays until terminal bud set.
Fungicide options for powdery mildew include a Nustar and Nova mix, Flint, Sovran, Pristine, Kumulus, microscopic sulphur, Senator plus Captan, and Serenade Max, said Craig, who added that growers rotate the different mildew prevention products to avoid resistance problems. ❦
An example of European sawfly damage to an apple.
Photo by Eric R. Day, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org
Grapevine propagators named 2011
Outstanding Young Farmers
When you do something, you do it to the best of your ability, and whatever is done in the present, will have an effect on the future.” Those words sum up the philosophy of Wes and Briar Wiens, the 2011 Ontario Outstanding Young Farmers.
The Wienses, of Gemmrich W. Nursery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, received their award at a banquet held in Ajax on March 11. They will represent Ontario at the national OYF event to be held later this year in Brandon, Man.
Nominated by the Grape Growers of Ontario, Wes Wiens was born and raised on a grape and tender fruit farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake and learned two important lessons early on in life – that agricultural success is built on innovation and adaptation, and that agricultural survival is attained through commitment and stamina. He feels that “both of these life lessons have helped me become one of Canada’s leading grapevine propagators.”
As one of Canada’s leading propagators, Gemmrich W. Nurseries (www. gwnvines.com), named after Wes’s mentor and former partner, Martin Gemmrich, a third-generation propagator of grape vines, has been able to benefit from steady market share gains. Within the last five years, the nursery’s production has almost doubled to respond to customer demand.
Commitment to quality supersedes all other aspects of management practices at Wes and Briar’s nursery. They add value to the operation by providing services such as producing potted vines, doing custom grafting and brokering for imported vines. They are also affiliated directly with another family operation that provides custom planting, trellising and harvesting services, making them a one-stop operation. In the future they would like to add vineyard GPS mapping, soil sampling, viticultural consulting, missing vine counting and over-grafting to
The Wienses find that keeping up with new developments in the industry is challenging, as there is no educational institution that deals specifically with viticulture propagation. Because of this, they and their management team have travelled to more established wine regions around the world in order to learn more about their practices and technological advancements. Wes has also made it a priority to focus on the farm’s own research and development program, but conducts joint research projects with various educational institutions, including the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Brock University and Niagara College.
Wes has also been a director for the Grape Growers of Ontario, a member of the Canadian Grapevine Certification Network and a member of the American Society of Enology and Viticulture. The whole family, including their four children, Kaityn (8), Berlin (6), Rowan (4) and Addisyn (1) are heavily involved with their Community Church, and with regional minor hockey and baseball teams.
The Wienses were chosen from a group of six farmers, including Paul and Kelly Brooks (Brooks Farms, Uxbridge), Ed and Julie Danen, (Danzel Holsteins, Shakespeare), Ian and Vicki Mayberry (Mayberry Hill Farms, Ingersoll), Jason Verkaik (Carron Farms, Bradford) and John and Maxine Zekveld (Zekveld’s Garden Market, Wyoming). Market garden farmers John and Maxine Zekveld from Wyoming received runner-up recognition.
Winners of the award are chosen based on career progress; environmental and safety practices; crop and livestock production history; financial and management practices; and contributions to society. The judges, Jim Glenn (OOYF winner in 1986), Terry Daynard (retired from Ontario Corn Producers’ Association and the University of Guelph), and Marlene Werry (Durham Region economic development officer) chose the Wienses in part because of their industry-leading innovations and commitment to their product quality and customer service.
“Spending time with such imaginative and successful young farmers
reminds us all that farming is a rewarding occupation and we need to keep that in mind more as we deal with our daily challenges,” said Eadie Steele, co-chair of the 2011 event. “The Ontario finalists showed the diversity of Ontario agriculture too, representing the dairy, horticultural, wine, goat, cropping and agri-tourism sectors.”
Celebrating 31 years of identifying great agricultural successes, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers’ program is an annual competition to recognize farmers that exemplify excellence in their profession and promote the tremendous contribution of agriculture. Open to participants 18 to 39 years of age, making the majority of income from on-farm sources, participants are selected from seven regions across Canada, with two national winners chosen each year.
Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2011 will be chosen at the national event in Brandon, Man., to be held from Nov. 14 to 20, 2011.
For information on all of the finalists, visit the Ontario OYF website at www.oyfontario.ca. ❦
PORTUGAL
Better Control.
• Trusted insecticide protection for broad-spectrum control on numerous crops.
• Labeled for use on several fruits and vegetables, including strawberries, apples, pears, cole crops, corn, lettuce and tomatoes.
• Control against tough pests such as leafminers, codling moth, leafhoppers and oriental fruit moth.
• Contains cypermethrin, the same active ingredient that was found in Cymbush® insecticide.
Elise suitable for people with mild apple allergy
Apples of the variety Elise can be consumed safely by most people with a mild apple allergy.
This is the outcome of research performed by Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre) and the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG) in the framework of the European ISAFRUIT project.
In taste and storability Elise complements Santana, previously the only apple variety marketed as low-allergenic, being suitable for most individuals with a mild apple allergy. The combination of Santana and Elise in a supply chain of growers, traders and retailers could make low-allergenic apples available from October to June.
Two to four per cent of northwestern European citizens suffer from apple allergy. These allergies are caused by proteins in the apple that, while harmless in themselves, can lead to itchiness and irritation to the mouth, lips, tongue, throat, nose and eyes. People allergic to apple are often allergic to other types of fruit as well, thus limiting fruit intake and a well-balanced diet.
In the Netherlands, Santana has been marketed since 2006 as suitable for most individuals with a mild apple allergy. Santana apples are harvested, stored, transported and packaged in a controlled manner in order to ensure consumers trust their identity. Packaging includes an information leaflet giving test instructions in the case of first consumption. Approximately 50 to 75 per cent of individuals with mild apple allergies can consume Santana without unpleasant allergic reactions.
Unfortunately, Santana apples are only available from October until mid-January, as they are not suitable for long storage, and although the flavour of Santana is valued by most, people allergic to apple still have only one taste to choose from.
This choice can now be broadened with the variety Elise. Elise is a sweet and firm apple that, according to the experts, has a full aroma. In addition, Elise apples keep well and, as a result, Dutch-grown apples of this variety are sold until June. Consequently, a good supply chain approach could ensure availability of lowallergenic apples from October to June.
This year, availability of Elise will still be limited, as Elise, being a relatively new variety, is grown on limited acreage.
Although the apples of Elise are easily recognizable by their full bright-red blush, for people allergic to apple, it is important to consume fruit only from controlled chains to prevent them consuming the wrong type.
It has not yet been clarified whether all apple-allergics who can consume Santana can automatically also safely consume Elise. It is therefore important to use caution when first consuming Elise, thus requiring an instruction leaflet like that for Santana.
Research results regarding the Elise apple variety are published in the scientific magazine, Allergy, available at http:// onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.13989995.2010.02499.x/pdf. ❦
Two examples of Elise.
Introducing the OnTrace Verified Network
OnTrace Agri-Food Traceability (OnTrace) recently announced it is launching the OnTrace Verified Network, a new inter-party traceability service that will enable source verification of food from farm to point of purchase.
The OnTrace Verified Network is a service owned and operated by OnTrace. Although there is a logo associated with it, it is not another brand; it is a live business network backed up by a secure online service that enables partners to work together and seamlessly share key information or verify food product claims.
With the OnTrace Verified Network, producers, processors, distributors, truckers, retailers and other partners can become members and access the service online – there is no software to purchase.
Benefits include:
• The OnTrace Verified Network can be utilized to help reduce business risk and streamline access to critical information in the event of a recall.
• The service works for businesses of all sizes and is of particular value to businesses that may not be able to afford specialized electronic data exchange software.
• Members will have the capability to verify brand claims using the data they exchange and permit their partners to access.
• The degree of data transparency is determined by the owners of the information, if the data owner chooses, the
information can be used to support marketing claims and verify the source of a product.
• The OnTrace Verified Network will enable business partners to link the information they have concerning shipments and movement of products, thereby increasing their capability to improve materials management.
• The service will simplify communications between one part of the food chain and another. OnTrace envisions that consumers and farmers will eventually be able to connect easily with each other through the network. Producers can then readily access direct feedback from consumers, and consumers will be able to see more information about what they eat.
• Consumers will also come to appreciate the OnTrace Verified symbol to help them easily identify locally sourced products. The inter-party traceability system will be the engine under the hood of the OnTrace Verified Network. To make the network function most effectively, OnTrace is seeking participants. Businesses interested in an early glimpse of the online service can become members now and explore the OnTrace Verified Network by visiting www.ontrace.ca and following the link to the OnTrace Verified Network sign-up page. Becoming a member now and using the available tools is free of charge.
The OnTrace Verified network goes live in June 2011. ❦
Vineland unveils master plan for new campus
The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre recently unveiled its master plan for a world-class research facility in Niagara Region, Ont.
The new 25,000 square-foot centre will include state-of-the-art research laboratories, a business convergence centre and impressive meeting and conference facilities that will support sustainable and leading edge food and flower innovations in Canada.
“In 2007 the provincial and federal governments saw real value in what industry was proposing at Vineland: a new research and innovation mandate for Canadian horticulture that would make us leaders, not laggards, on the world stage,” said Donald Ziraldo, Vineland chairman. “Today we have the team of researchers and the industry and government partners to make it happen. The timing is right to make the world-class facility Jack Diamond and his colleagues at Diamond + Schmitt Architects designed into a reality.”
With a focus on fruits, vegetables, wine, flowers and plants, Vineland science is already delivering on nutritionally enhanced varieties of produce, locally grown ethnic cultivars, production practices that conserve water usage and highway tree plantings that significantly reduce greenhouse gas pollution. Vineland’s research is particularly relevant as world food shortages and price increases are changing global food economies.
“At Vineland, we offer the horticulture industry a responsive and efficient environment to conduct research, and a place to align business and science interests such as commercialization and technology scouting,” said Jim Brandle, CEO of the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. “If we truly expect to raise the bar for Canadian horticulture, we need the tools and the resources to compete with the best in the world.”
2010 a unique year for Nova Scotia apples
Last year was a unique year for Annapolis Valley orchards.
Dr. Charles Embree, an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) tree fruit
research scientist, notes that last year was well above the 10-year average in accumulated degree days in the early spring, with superior and earlier bud development, ahead of the previous nine years.
By last April, the early heat had encouraged cell division in the bud, he recalls. Even with a cold snap around April 10, it didn’t kill the whole bud, “just a few cells here and there.”
Cell mortality, however, caused scarring on the surface of ripe apples later, says Dr. Embree, noting there was no depression under the surface scarring to indicate a resumption of cell growth following the freeze.
He also observed that Gravenstein was the variety affected the worst, with McIntosh less so. Cortland also presented a sparse crop and Yellow Transparent had a very poor crop.
These are early apples with early bud development, he says, adding that Honeycrisp had some, but not much, crop damage; it is not as susceptible to spring bud damage, as it develops more slowly.
“We may never see this again,” says Dr. Embree. “So don’t go out instituting management practices we may never need again.”
The key, Dr. Embree tells growers, is how much accumulated heat has been stored before a frost and how much cell division has occurred when the freeze comes.
Apple grower Andy Parker believes the effect of the frost depends on what the relative humidity is when it occurs. He experienced no problem with his block of Idared in 2010 despite a frost in the second week of April.
By Dan Woolley
Ontariofresh now open for registration
A new online marketplace is now available for registration to help everyone involved in local food grow their business. Whether a farmer, producer, chef, caterer, buyer or foodservice distributor, Ontariofresh.ca will provide new opportunities to source local food quickly and easily.
The site will provide buyers with the opportunity to find new local food sources
that are right for their business. While, farmers will be able to make new business connections with buyers who are interested in the products they raise and/or grow.
“Ontariofresh.ca will provide new economic opportunities and benefits for our agribusiness community,” said Burkhard Mausberg, president of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation. “Now is the time to make changes to help more Ontario food reach our public institutions and beyond.”
Information collected on the website will help to populate it with four profile types: farmers, buyers, distributors and friends/supporters. Via a short survey profiles will be built that address questions such as, location, availability, seasonality, traceability and more. The business focus of the site will make connections between buyers and producers, building a community that celebrates Ontario food.
Throughout the spring and summer, information will be collected and profiles built to prepare for the full Ontariofresh.ca launch in September.
Pre-registration is available online now at Ontariofresh.ca or by calling 1-888249-9399 or 647-426-8420.
Canadian growers in for an early spring treat
In agriculture, spring is about tending to soils and readying beds for seeds that promise late summer harvests. But some growers are getting ready to harvest a new treat this spring.
Not lettuce or sharp young radishes but plummy berries, soft and ripe, possessing a colour as dark and rich as indigo.
University of Saskatchewan researcher Dr. Bob Bors has been bog hopping, tree skirting and rock climbing through Canada’s boreal forest and has discovered some treasures, namely Indigo Gem and
Dr. Bob has developed a productive edible berry crops from Canada’s native Lonicera caerulea or Blue Honeysuckle. Indigo Gem and Indigo Treat are the most recent releases from the Saskatchewan program and are now available from some of Canada’s plant and nursery suppliers.
These berry plants are true Canadians, they thrive following a bone chilling winter and don’t waste any time making use of our blink of spring and summer.
For more information or sources of plants, contact www.phytocultures.com.
OFVGA applauds Ontario budget announcement
Ontario’s fruit and vegetable growers are applauding the announcement of a new self-directed risk management program for the edible horticulture sector in the recent provincial budget.
Farmers have been lobbying for bankable, predictable and stable risk management programming for the last several years as the fruit and vegetable sector has been suffering through a prolonged economic downturn.
“We are extremely pleased that the Ontario government has come through for our growers and recognized the need in horticulture for stable a bankable and predictable risk management program,” says Mark Wales, chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) safety nets committee. “Growers continue to struggle with low prices and rapidly escalating costs and this program will be a game changer for us.”
OFVGA worked collaboratively with fellow members of the Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition (OASC) on securing a long-term, permanent risk management solution for farmers. The OFVGA safety nets committee had developed a self-directed risk management-style program proposal for edible horticulture, which is based on financial contributions by both growers and government. To date, the federal government has not committed to supporting the newly announced risk management initiatives.
“We appreciate the willingness of Agriculture Minister Carol Mitchell to work with our OASC partners and with OFVGA to develop solutions that will work for each sector,” says Wales. “Now
it’s time for the federal government to also come to the table to support these programs so they’ll provide optimum results for farmers.”
Federal government invests in potato research
Canadian potato growers will benefit from a federal government investment into research that will help them control parasites.
It was recently announced that the Centre de recherche Les Buissons inc. will receive up to $700,000 to develop an integrated parasite management strategy to combat potato cyst nematodes.
The funding announced will go towards studying the biological traits of the parasites in order to reduce the population below detectable levels. Researchers will be looking in particular at PCN virulence and resistance when exposed to different varieties of potatoes. The project will also study alternative, biological controls and develop best practices to limit the risk of contamination, such as using resistant potato varieties in rotation.
The research project is a part of the $159 million investment in the Growing Canadian Agri-Innovations Program.
New Products
Toro Aqua-Clear Fiberglass Sand Filters
Toro has recently launched the newest addition to its filter product line: the AquaClear™ Fiberglass Sand Filter. Making its debut at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, Calif., this new sand media filter gained attention at the show as it meets the needs of growers with small- to medium-sized fields. The Aqua-Clear Fiberglass Sand Filter is a one-piece, fibreglass filter designed specifically for drip irrigation systems operating up to 75 psi and 300 gpm. The corrosion and UV-resistant filter can be installed as a single, dual, or multitank system.
The Aqua-Clear Sand Media Filter is lightweight and requires no heavy equipment for setup and is incredibly easy to maintain.
The Aqua-Clear Fiberglass Sand Filter is available in 40, 60, 100, and 140 gpm tanks, with different valve accessory options. www.toromicroirrigation.com
Syngenta has new apple fungicide registration
Syngenta recently announced that Inspire™ fungicide has received registration from the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) for use on pome fruit, grapes and a number of other horticultural crops. Inspire controls apple scab –including strobilurin-resistant strains –and other damaging apple diseases.
Inspire is a Group 3 (triazole) fungicide with the active ingredient difenoconazole. It delivers both preventive and curative effects, also displaying rapid uptake and excellent translaminar activity. In this way, Inspire protects top and bottom
leaf surfaces. Once absorbed, Inspire stays localized and provides residual protection against disease.
“Inspire will be an extremely valuable tool in an apple grower’s integrated pest management program, serving as rotational partner to strobilurin fungicides and as a means of resistance management,” explains Tara McCaughey, technical crop manager for Syngenta Canada.
In addition to pome fruit and grapes, Inspire is also registered for the control of diseases on brassica leafy vegetables, bulb vegetables, cucurbit vegetables, fruiting vegetables, select tuberous and corm vegetables and sugar beets. Across all these fruits and vegetables, Inspire is cropsafe and rain-fast after drying.
New product for Rhizoctonia control for potato growers
HeadsUp® seed treatment has received Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) registration for use as a seed treatment for potatoes.
HeadsUp is registered as a Reduced Risk Biofungide by PMRA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and certified by Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) and National Organic Program (NOP) for use on organic farms. Biologically based, the product is manufactured from phytochemicals naturally occurring in plants.
Developed by researchers at Michigan State University, Idaho and the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, the treatment has shown promise for reduction of Rhizoctonia, and other fungal disease in potato crops. According to the company, HeadsUp can maintain fungal disease protection systemically for a full season with just one seed treatment or single foliar application. The product when laboratory tested for fungicidal activity showed no effect, yet in plants the sustained systemic reduction of disease could be seen.
The seed treatment’s mode of action signals a plant to start production of defence biochemicals before the actual disease
attack occurs, says researchers. When the pathogen does attack the plant, the plant is primed and ready to respond to stop the pathogen before disease damage is done.
www.sar-headsup.com
New half-rate Bumper registration approved
Makhteshim Agan of North America, Inc. (MANA) recently announced a new registration for Bumper® fungicide. Bumper can now be used at half rate as a preventive measure.
Bumper offers the efficiency and convenience of more acres per jug. One 4.8-litre jug of Bumper covers 40 acres at full rate and 80 acres at the new preventive half rate.
Bumper can be used in a variety of crops to treat or prevent leaf diseases, including rusts, scalds, net and spot blotches, tan spots, blackleg, Septoria spots and blotches, frogeye, blights and many other diseases.
Bumper’s active ingredient is part of the triazole family of fungicides. The triazole family exhibits lower potential of resistance, and research shows that propiconazole specifically can promote higher yields in many crops.
Ask about Bumper’s new registration at your local MANA dealer.
New sorter for fresh berries
BEST has developed a brand new machine that is the perfect answer to the needs of the berry processors for the fresh and IQF market.
The new sorter, called Primus Gemini, combines all of the latest optical BEST components, implemented in a new and improved mechanical setup.
Conventionally, fresh blueberries needed to be sorted on two separate machines, one for taking out the discoloured products and the other for soft berry detection. Because of this double sorting step, the berry was dropped down the sorters twice, resulting in a higher risk of bruising. Another disadvantage was the fact that
often one machine was used for both detection steps, resulting in a higher false reject load and the machine not being able to handle all defects. When this happened, the incoming product was machine picked and thus had a higher number of defects.
The new Primus Gemini sorter allows blueberry farmers to first sort berries on colour, reject the off-spec products and inspect the blueberries again while removing the structural defects using laser technology. Both sorting steps are integrated in one single sorter. This allows the processors to limit the risk of damaging and separate both reject streams.
Because the sorter’s intelligence makes sure that defects are inspected separately, the sorting process is more accurate and precise, limiting the false reject, for an optimal yield.
The sorter has kept the advantages of gentle handling of the berries of its predecessor. The belt is thin and round, which ensures gentle product handling for the fruit. The Primus can be equipped with a different number of belts, to suit different varieties.
The new machine also features a simple graphical user interface (GUI), so operators can easily increase or decrease sensitivities on red, green or soft, and even take frame grabs for optimal sorting results.
Also, other types of fruit can be sorted on this new Primus Gemini, such as cherries, cranberries and IQF raspberries.
www.bestsorting.com
AgNition Inc. to deliver advanced mobile technologies
With farmers across Canada and the U.S. embracing mobile technologies and devices, a new Guelph, Ont., company –AgNition Inc. – will design, build and deliver mobile-enabled tools for farmers.
“Many farmers are already using BlackBerry devices and iPhones to stay productive when busy and on the move,” says AgNition president Rob Hannam, adding that smartphone uptake in agriculture is predicted to surpass 40 per cent in North America by the end of 2011. “We see great potential for mobile-enabled apps and systems to make these devices even more productive for producers and agri-business professionals. It’s our goal to build a suite of mobile products that meet the specific needs of agriculture and deliver real value to the user.”
AgNition Inc. is not about custombuilding apps for other companies. Primary producers and agri-professionals
are the target audience. With the high cost of building, maintaining and upgrading apps for multiple mobile platforms (BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, Windows), AgNition sees a need and an opportunity to build products that will be relevant and valuable across Canada.
App development will not be limited to smartphones. Tablet devices such as the iPad and Playbook will become increasingly popular. The larger screen and increased computing power of wireless tablets will provide farmers with enhanced functionality. AgNition is also positioned to offer QR Code tools that have enormous potential to support both producers and consumers.
www.agnition.ca
Challenger and Massey Ferguson high-horsepower tractors deliver efficiency Professional producers purchasing interim Tier 4-compliant Massey Ferguson® 8600 Series and Challenger® MT600D Series high-horsepower row crop tractors will experience greater efficiency and lower operating costs beyond those delivered by Tier 3compliant machines, thanks to engineering advancements featured in these 2011 models.
Producers also will have access to increased horsepower as Massey Ferguson introduces the series’ fifth model, the new MF8690 featuring 290 PTO horsepower. The popular Challenger MT600D Series also will be expanded to five models with the introduction of the MT685D at 290 PTO horsepower.
For Massey Ferguson, 2011 model numbers will not change. However, the Challenger Series designations will become MT600D. Each series will continue to offer machines with PTO horsepower ratings of 205, 225, 250 and 275.
Three engineering enhancements combine to provide the improvements in fuel efficiency and utilization of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) used in the SCR system to meet NOx emission compliance standards. First, pressure within the common-rail fuel injection system was increased nearly 50 percent to more thoroughly atomize fuel, improving diesel use and lowering overall
fuel usage. Addition of a pivoting cooling system also helps improve fuel efficiency by capturing, cooling and directing unburned fuel back into the fuel system.
Finally a new DEF injection system featuring a NOx sensor measures the exhaust before it enters the diesel exhaust catalyst. The system then injects the most appropriate rate of DEF needed to match the engine load and best oxidize the emissions being produced to reach the interim-Tier 4 95 percent NOx reduction requirement. This real-time injection process varies the DEF rate, averaging about five percent DEF to diesel, but lowers the overall DEF use as compared to the previous system.
Hydrocarbon particulate matter emission requirements are met through the use of a maintenance-free diesel oxidation catalyst, designed to be in service for the lifetime of the machine. The only operatorrequired activity is addition of DEF to the resized tank. These 2011 models feature a 167-gallon diesel tank and a 16-gallon DEF tank for a 2:1 diesel to DEF refill ratio as well as less frequent refueling to keep the machines in the field and working longer.
www.masseyferguson.com www.challenger-ag.com
SALE: Sweet potato slips; Irish potato planter (2 row); Sweet potato harvester (1 row); 20 bushel bins (a number of them). Contact: 519-443-5847
Phosphorous acid touted as important tool in managing potato diseases
By Myron Love
Researchers Rick Peters from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Charlottetown office, Jeff Miller of the University of Idaho, and Gefu Wang-Pruski with the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, are touting phosphorous acid as an important tool in controlling potato diseases, such as late blight and pink rot.
The three researchers recently shared their findings at the 2011 Manitoba Potato Production Days, held in Brandon, Man.
Phosphorous acid is not in actuality an acid, Miller noted. Rather, it is a neutral blend of phosphorous acid salts that converts to phosphite ions in the plant. The product also goes by the names Phosphite or Phosphonate and is the active ingredient in Confine, Phostrol and Rampart.
Rick Peters added that phosphorous acid does not work well with seed. While it is effective in controlling disease, the product has a negative impact on emergence, vigour and yield.
“In 2010, we noticed delayed emergence, reduced vigour and yields in plants grown from tubers harvested from plants that received five foliar applications of PA (label rate) in the field the previous year,” he reported.
Nor does phosphorous acid have any preventive effect when used as an infurrow treatment, he added.
“It is effective though for foliar late blight and pink rot control when combined with a protectant,” he said. “[It] is superb for managing tuber rot at harvest and into storage some control of other foliar diseases.”
Wang-Pruski reported that her team’s research suggests that, to be most effective, foliar application should be started as early as four weeks after planting, with phosphorous acid being applied at five litres per 1,000 litres of water per hectare.
“Applications should be at least five times every two weeks,” she said, adding
that phosphorous acid is one of the few options for late blight control.
As a post-harvest treatment, phosphorous acid is superb for killing spores on tuber surfaces, said Peters.
“In our trials, chemical treatments applied one hour after inoculation almost completely suppress disease,” he said. “It is important to note though that control was achieved before any infection occurred. Phosphorous acid won’t suppress disease if tubers are already infected. Therefore, treatment must be applied as soon after harvest as possible.”
Miller agreed that the treatment protects healthy tubers but is not a curative. The use rate should be 12.8 fluid ounces (0.38 litres) per ton of tubers, he said, adding that the product is safe on tubers when following instructions on the label. ❦
Symptoms of late blight on potato foliage.
Photo by Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
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