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2014 Volume 70, No. 3
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Recently, the Conference Board of Canada launched its vision for the future of the country’s food system – the Canadian Food Strategy.
The 61-page report was officially released during the Third Canadian Food Summit, held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in mid-March, and examined five key elements – industry prosperity, healthy food, food safety, household food security and environmental sustainability.
“The strategy’s broad scope is essential,” explained Michael Bloom, vice-president of industry and business strategy with the Conference Board of Canada. “It reflects the widely held view of Canadians that our food system encompasses more than the food industries. It also includes multiple economic, social, and environmental dimensions. This is a blueprint for change.”
The strategy sets out eight goals:
• The food sector is viable and prosperous
• The food sector is innovative, competitive and growing
• Up-to-date policies, laws, and regulations address food industry and household interests
• Canadians eat healthier and have balanced diets
• Canadians have low rates of dietrelated chronic diseases
• Canada is the world leader in food safety
• All Canadians have access to safe, nutritious and affordable food
• The food sector is an excellent environmental performer that increases food production sustainability
Rittenhouse celebrates 100 years
M.K. Rittenhouse & Sons Ltd. is marking its 100th anniversary in 2014 as a supplier to the agricultural and horticultural industries.
M.K. Rittenhouse & Sons was founded in 1914 by Moses K. Rittenhouse, who originally ran the business from his barn in Jordan Station, Ont.
“One hundred years as a family owned and operated company is an impressive milestone, and I feel privileged to be a part of that history,” says current company president,
A national food strategy
“Canadians want food that is safe, nutritious, available to everyone and produced in ways that are environmentally sustainable,” said Bloom. “We can achieve these goals and, at the same time, capitalize on abundant opportunities to export food to the rest of the world.”
It also contains more than 60 desired outcomes and provides 110 action strategies that can be used to achieve them.
The report represents four years of research and dialogue through the Conference Board of Canada’s Centre for Food in Canada. It was developed through a process involving 20 major research studies and consultation with experts, stakeholders and the public.
Michael McCain, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods, discussed the need for a “Canadian Food Strategy” during the Conference Board of Canada’s 2012 Food Summit.
“I want Canada to be part of the food solution – for Canadians and the world,” he said at the time. “I want Canadians feeding Canadians, and I want Canadians helping to solve global food shortages. That is what we have always done – feed the world. I think we can do it.”
So why did the Conference Board decide to tackle this project? According to the report, it was observed a shared national vision for food was lacking in Canada, especially one that promotes collaboration.
“The strategy focuses on how collectively, as well as individually, we can make substantial progress in addressing the wide range
Mark Rittenhouse, who joined the company in 1985. “My grandfather, father and uncles encouraged me to learn all aspects of the business while growing up across the street from the original factory.”
Rittenhouse has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Mark’s father, Glen, patented several equipment designs, and the company continues to build custom sprayers to this day. A 1990’s mail order catalogue developed into one of the industry’s largest shopping website, www.rittenhouse.ca, in 2000 and a greatly expanded customer base.
of challenges facing us and make the most of our plentiful opportunities in the food sector,” the report stated.
So now that it’s out in the public eye, what is next for the Canadian Food Strategy? The report itself even stresses that following the strategy is voluntary.
To encourage implementation and track progress, the Conference Board of Canada has announced three initiatives it intends to use to promote the strategy. These include:
• Establishing the Canadian Food Observatory, which will monitor progress in the food sector and measure the sector’s progress toward implementing the strategy.
• Producing an annual report card summarizing the progress made in the previous year
• Undertaking additional research on new and emerging issues within the food industry.
With this report, the Conference Board of Canada is urging all Canadians across all spectrums of society to become involved in making this country’s food system the envy of the world while also helping to educate and assist other countries. It’s a noble goal and it will be interesting to see if the strategy will achieve the broad engagement it requires from both the government, the private sector and the community as a whole.
To view the food strategy report, visit www.conferenceboard.ca/e-library. ❦
The company now ships product across North America on a daily basis as well as regular orders worldwide.
“Dedicated long-term employees and good supplier relationships have allowed us to offer knowledgeable customer service, which in turn has allowed us to enjoy a very loyal customer base,” says Rittenhouse.
Loyal customers are, after all, the most important reason a company can stay in business for a century.
M.K. Rittenhouse & Sons, Ltd. is based in St. Catharines, Ont., Canada. ❦
1973: First grey hair. Bad blight season. Coincidence?
More wrinkles. Blight to blame.
1982: First crow’s feet. Worried about blight.
1983. More grey hair. Bad blight season again.
1987. High stick to the mouth. Blight eliminated in rst round.
2014. Focus on quality and pro t. Blight in for a rough one.
Top Ontario artichokes
Award-winning DeFilippis family challenges itself with new crops
By Treena Hein
Those of us who have had the privilege of trying market-fresh Ontario artichokes likely have Dominic DeFilippis to thank.
“I grew up eating artichokes on special occasions,” says DeFilippis, owner of Top Tomato Foods. “My mom would boil them whole and set us up with butter warmers. We’d pull each leaf off, dip it in melted butter and scrape the flesh off with our teeth. The best part came last – once you cut away the fuzzy choke and got to savour the tender heart.”
In 2005, DeFilippis was inspired to see if he could grow them himself, and he tested a half-acre plot on his family’s farm
in Markham, Ont.
“That did well, and then we grew the operation to five acres, but it was not a success,” he remembers.
After carefully reviewing growing practices, the specific needs of the plant, and how best to manage the Canadian climate, DeFilippis and his family attempted to grow them again – and eventually had great success.
“It’s a treat to have a homegrown version of something we can usually only get as an import from California,” he says.
It was not a quick process to be able to raise artichokes successfully in Ontario. It actually took most of a decade of trial
and error to refine the entire process. DeFilippis and his staff now start by seeding the artichokes in the greenhouse in late February or early March. Five weeks after germination, they are moved outdoors to harden off. The near-zero temperatures, which mimic a short Mediterranean winter, trigger the process of vernalization and trick the plants into dormancy. The last step is to plant the artichokes out in the field where they proceed to flower. Top Tomato Foods now dedicates 20 acres to artichokes, creating several additional jobs each year. DeFilippis says that as demand increases, they may expand their acreage in future.
The main focus at Top Tomato Farms has been on three main crops – cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower – but the operation continues to experiment with new crops. Contributed photo
“The biggest challenge is the vernalization,” he notes. “Weather conditions are so variable in Ontario and that has a direct impact on this plant. A lot of what we do to grow these artichokes is trial and error and experience, and we have to make tweaks each year based on the weather.”
“The artichoke plant likes water but requires well-drained land. It does not like wet feet,” he adds.
Artichokes are the immature flower bud of a thistle plant that’s native to the Mediterranean and now cultivated in Italy, Spain, France, U.S. (California) and Canada. Artichokes grow on a plant (that can be perennial or annual) that’s between two to five feet high, and a single plant will produce anywhere from 12 to 36 artichokes. The base of the leaves and the heart of the bud (but not always the fuzzy choke) are edible prior to flowering. Top Tomato Foods starts its artichoke harvest during the first week of August.
Family farm history
Top Tomato Foods is a family-owned and operated company whose history spans back
50 years. In 1963, the farm started with 20 acres, with the harvest being primarily distributed to small independent stores and the Ontario Food Terminal. Their acreage and business grew over the years, and today, Dominic and his sons, Vito and Antony, supply large Canadian retailers in addition to continuing to supply small stores – and they still sell produce at the very same Terminal stall they always have.
“The main focus has always been on three main crops of cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, but we continue to challenge ourselves with new crops,” says DeFilippis. “We are now growing coloured cauliflower and zucchini flowers.”
When asked to gauge the interest in exotic/ethnic veggies and fruit in Ontario, DeFilippis relates a story. “We grow what we have named an ‘Italian cucumber,’ a cucumber that we have grown for close to 50 years that is very well-known in a little town in Italy,” he says. “Over the last five years, we’ve had a number of people from different cultures visit our market and be surprised by this cucumber that they have never seen here, but was something they
ate frequently in their home country. The name that people might have for this vegetable might be different, but the passion and excitement to find this item here in Ontario is always the same. People are amazed. The ‘Italian cucumber’ has become such a popular item in our market that we sell out quickly.
“Food is often a link to our culture, and being in such a multi-cultural country, many people get comfort in finding vegetables that remind them of their home country and childhood. In addition, food often helps connect different cultures to one another, creating a new common ground for different relationships to flourish from. So it is very nice to be a part of that.”
The company currently has more than 50 employees. Some of have been with Top Tomato for almost 20 years and many for more than five, which DeFilippis is proud of.
“We constantly review our employee programs, training and assigned work to ensure that they are happy and are motivated,” he says. “We implement feedback and reviews to ensure that we are aware of challenges and can make changes accordingly.”
Top Tomato began implementing a food traceability program more than 10 years ago – a robust database of year-toyear crop plans, treatments and harvest. They track every seed planted in the greenhouse, date of transplant field location, growing treatments and harvest details, as well as final destination and date. DeFilippis says this information allows the company to not only be prepared for a traceability incident, but to monitor its crops, investigate challenges and gather information for improvements.
The DeFilippis family horticulture business is more than just a living. It represents a generational connection.
“Farming is a family tradition that my father started, and being able to continue to farm with my children is a very special gift for me,” he says. “Also, being able to grow a large variety of healthy fruits and vegetables for Ontario families to enjoy brings me great pride. Winning the Premiers Award for our artichoke production is a confirmation that the work we do in our fields, day in and day, out is valued and recognized, and it gives us that motivation that you need sometimes. I love to learn, push the limits and do what people say could not be done.” ❦
Dominic DeFilippis of Top Tomato Farms, located near Markham, Ont., was inspired to try growing artichokes in 2005. Contributed photo
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Promising grape rootstocks
Grape
project is examining the development of rootstocks to extend vinifera grape production in south central Ontario
By Dr. Alireza Rahemi
Ontario’s South Coast Wineries and Growers Association (OSCWGA), recently initiated a project to identify grape rootstocks resistant to Phylloxera and tolerant of severe winters, in an effort to improve the industry’s capacity in south central Ontario.
The project was undertaken at the University of Guelph’s Simcoe Research Station.
Phylloxera (Daktulosphaeria vitifoliae Fitch.), an endemic pest in eastern North America, is a small insect, similar to an aphid, that can feed on grapevine leaves and roots. Phylloxera feeding on roots can kill grapevines. A few Vitis riparia have been used as rootstock in Europe and North America. The rootstock is highly resistant to Phylloxera, and it has been used to improve winter survival. Also, it is native to southern Ontario and tolerates local weather and soil conditions. The development of rootstocks resistant to Phylloxera, while mitigating winter hardiness to scions, will help grape growers produce good quality grapes. The primary goal is to expand the industry in the sandy soils and severe winters in the south central region of Ontario.
The project has two goals: intermediate and long term. They include:
1) testing known rootstocks, derived from V. riparia, with representative vinifera scion cultivars presently grown in the south central region of Ontario, and
2) obtaining and selecting suitable V. riparia clones from southern Ontario that are able to balance plant vigor to sandy soils and be able to impart winter acclimation and adaptability in the scion cultivar.
Four scions – two for white wine (Chardonnay, Riesling) and two for red wine (Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc) – were selected by Ontario’s South Coast Wineries and Growers Association. They were grafted onto four rootstocks, Gloire de’Montpellier (V. riparia), Couderc 161-49 (V. riparia × V. berlandier), Couderc 3309 (V. riparia Tomenteuse × V. rupestris Martin), and MGT 101-14 (V. riparia × V. rupestris). The selected potted vines were planted in six sites at intervals northwards in Ontario [Burning Kiln Winery (Turkey Point), Villa Nova Winery (Villa Nova), Bonnieheath Winery (Waterford), Golden Leaf Estate Winery (Langton), and Blueberry Hills Winery (St. Williams), and the sixth at the Simcoe Research Station of the University of Guelph] between June 6 and 18, 2013.
About 905 wild grape genotypes were collected from throughout southern Ontario (Norfolk, Brant, Oxford, Middlesex and Elgin, Kent, Haldimand, Prince Edward, Hastings, Frontenac and Grey counties). These were planted in three replicates at the Simcoe Research Station of the University of Guelph on May 17, 2013. We also planted 46 accessions from the Vineland collection and research vineyards (from France, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Quebec, Minnesota, Manitoba, North Dakota, Montana,
Ontario’s South Coast Wineries and Growers Association recently initiated a project to identify grape rootstocks resistant to Phylloxera and tolerant of severe winters. Contributed photo
Illinois, Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Iowa). Most samples are V. riparia , but we also have some accessions from V. labrusca , V. aestivalis and V. rupestris
The next step will be to evaluate the fruit quality and plant growth and survival rate of the clones and wild germplasm and to select the desired one for further investigation. The selected cultivars can be recommended to growers in this area. A grape cultivar needs to be grafted on the selected germplasm to study the behavior of the grafted plant and its fruit quality. The promising rootstocks will then be introduced to growers in this area. Investment in this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP). In Ontario, the program is delivered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council.
Dr. Alireza Rahemi is a research associate with the department of plant agriculture at the University of Guelph. ❦
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Bringing the world to your farm
Cultivation of specialty ethnic veggies becoming more common on Ontario farms
By Treena Hein
The road to success with any new and complex venture requires many things, including in-depth research, focussed care and a ton of passion. World vegetable cultivation is no exception.
The market for world crops cannot be denied. A FarmStart report entitled Growing International: Exploring The Demand For Culturally Appropriate Foods - Preferences For Ethno-Cultural Vegetables In The Greater Toronto Area states that in Toronto alone, Asian, Chinese and African/Caribbean consumers spend about $720 million each year on these foods. The report – written by University of Guelph researcher Dr. Glen Filson and his colleagues – pegs monthly Ontario sales of imported world veggies at about $62 million.
CIBC Institutional Equity research has found that Asian grocers in Canada are expanding their market reach enormously, with more than 90 stores presently in the Greater Toronto Area and probably 200 nationally. These stores are attracting more and more non-Asian customers – who are trying out more vegetables they’ve never consumed before – and CIBC says their total national food sales are comparable to those of Wal-Mart. It’s clear that locally-grown world crops are potentially a very big business.
Lots of new research is being done to support farmers who are thinking of taking the plunge. In September 2013, the Ontario government announced a $30 million Local Food Fund to assist in pro-
moting Ontario-grown food, including the development and commercialization of world crops. Some of this funding may go towards studies at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in Vineland Station, Ontario, where research into world veggies goes back to 2010.
“We are working with several commercial growers this year, with an aim of providing more and better support to farmers who want to embark on this journey,” says Dr. Michael Brownbridge, Vineland’s research director of horticultural production systems. “There is plenty of room for growth. The potential is fabulous for the crops we’re working on and several others.
“I would love things to be able to move faster for the growers,” he adds. “We want to get as much information, especially on the economics, out to growers as soon as possible so that they can decide whether to grow or not to grow, and have confidence in their decisions. In this aspect, we are working with economists at the Ontario
OMAF field specialists are working directly with faculty from various academic institutions and with growers on-farm to develop production and pest management information for a variety of specialty fruit, vegetable and grain crops, including amaranth. Photo courtesy of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Rural Affairs
Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF). The financial information is obviously important on the ground, and also for financial institutions such as Farm Credit Canada to provide credit, insurance and so on.”
Brownbridge and research scientist John Zandstra (University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus) will be running trials at both locations this year, with new varieties of eggplant and okra not grown currently in Ontario.
“We are looking to capture the genetics that produce good yields, good quality, disease and pest resistance in this climate, and that meet market requirements in terms of shape, colour, size and so on,” Brownbridge explains. Vineland is also working to connect players along the value chain in an effort to build closer relationships between world veggie growers and the retail sector.
OMAF field specialists are also working directly with faculty from various academic institutions and with growers on-farm to develop production and pest management information for a variety of specialty fruit, vegetable and grain crops, partly through Local Food Fund support. The vegetable crops being examined include leafy greens (vegetable amaranth/Calalloo, cultivated purslane), cucurbits (fuzzy melon, bitter melon, canary melon), fruiting vegetables (eggplants, hot peppers), and pea and bean crops, such as edamame.
“We also develop resources for growers and industry, such as field days/demonstration days/workshops and written resources,” says OMAF New Crop Development Specialist Evan Elford. “Melanie Filotas (OMAF Integrated Pest Management Specialist for Specialty Crops) works on developing pest-management priorities for specialty crops with growers and the industry. [She also] works with Jim Chaput, our Minor Use Coordinator, to submit applications for new product registrations.”
Elford says it’s important to note that research into some ethnic vegetables started decades ago. He adds that growers across the province who are cultivating specialty vegetables “have played an important role in developing production information and creating new markets.”
One of these growers is Jason Persall of Persall Fine Foods Co. (Pristine Gourmet brand) in Waterford, Ont. About six years ago, he decided to grow edamame soybeans to continue expansion of their farm’s product line.
“Edamame is on trend with many of our customers,” Persall says. “As we are not new to food processing or marketing specialty foods, the challenge of adding edamame to our list was not really a hurdle for us. We have a great team and a great chain of partners in distribution. I have always loved producing food and doing something slightly different than the status quo.”
However, the road to growing ethnic veggies can be challenging. It took Dominic DeFilippis at Top Tomato Foods in Markham, Ont., most of a decade of trial and error to raise artichokes successfully in Ontario. At Carron Farms in Bradford Ont., they have had success growing East Indian red carrot (starting about a decade ago with trying different varieties and learning how to manage the crop), but tomatillos have been too labour-intensive and delicate to be profitable. While production of some varieties of Asian eggplant can be a challenge in the cooler agricultural climate of the Bradford Marsh, Brownbridge says they have proven to be a profitable alternative for several farmers in the Simcoe area and others. Not all crops grow well however, and Maca (a Peruvian root vegetable) and chia seeds have not been successful so far.
While cultivation success is obviously a must, the market also has to be there for a particular product.
“I would encourage growers to look at the changing demographics in their area (if they are changing) and also do some visits to markets and stores they wouldn’t normally visit to get a better understanding of what is entering the marketplace,” says Elford. “Growers have to consider who they are marketing to and if growing a specialty crop fits with their operation. Just because we can grow these crops doesn’t mean there is a market for them.” ❦
Some ‘ethnic’ veggies being grown in Ontario
• artichoke
• okra
• yard long beans
• Asian long eggplant
• Indian round eggplant
• amaranth
• Indian red carrot
• tomatillos
• edamame soybeans
Mousemelon is a vine grown for its edible fruit. Fruit are about the size of grapes and taste like cucumbers with a tinge of sourness. It is also called Mexican sour gherkin, cucamelon, Mexican miniature watermelon and Mexican sour cucumber. Photo courtesy of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Rural Affairs
Tillage radishes as a cover crop
A myriad of significant benefits being realized by horticulture crop growers in Ontario
By Treena Hein
Like many of his American counterparts – and an increasing number of Ontario farmers – Larry Richards is sold on tillage radishes as a cover crop.
“I would recommend them to anyone for improving the soil,” says the president of the Chatham-Kent Organic Epicentre in Dresden, Ont., where he grows field crops and garlic. “I grew them two and three years ago and again this year, and they are an excellent cover crop.”
Some of the benefits of tillage radishes are shared with many other cover crops, but some are distinctly their own. They are usually planted in August, growing to a potential depth of three feet and several inches across at the top until it’s -10 C for three or four days in a row. Tillage radishes are effective at controlling winter annual
weeds and capturing nitrogen. When they decompose quickly in the spring, the radishes release many nutrients (especially nitrogen) into the upper portion of the soil, which is then available to the next crop. The holes left by the decomposed radishes provide water infiltration and soil aeration benefits. The decomposition also obviously increases soil organic matter, boosting yield to the following crop over the short term – and in the long-term with repeated use. They can grow knee-high or more before they perish, holding the snow so it’s a more gradual melt in the late winter.
In fields where Richards has grown them, he has had “absolutely no weeds.” He uses a seeding rate of four pounds per acre (tillage radishes are grown from a small round seed that’s described as easy to broadcast).
“I can’t get over how fast they decompose in the spring,” he says.
Indeed, the quick decomposition could be a problem in ground that’s prone to erosion, so experts recommend planting them in a mixture of cover crops. The rotting can also produce a strong odour over several days, or even weeks as the warm spring weather comes and goes, so you may want to have a proactive chat with your neighbours about it.
James Herrle of Herrle Farms near St. Agatha, Ont., started using tillage radishes about five years ago as a cover crop for his crops – sweet corn, strawberries, peas, beans, pumpkins and a few others.
“I grow lots of different cover crops, and wanted to see what rashes would do in terms of capturing and scavenging
An example of tillage radish used in a vineyard for soil improvement. Photo courtesy of Anne Verhallen, Soil Management Specialist (Horticultural Crops), Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Ministry of Rural Affairs
nutrients,” he says. “It’s hard to tell exactly how much of that is going on, but I’ve definitely seen benefits in the crop that follows. For example in the spring of 2013, we had two fields of sweet corn side by side, one that had had radishes on it and one that didn’t, and you could easily tell the difference. The radish field looked really good, with stronger yields and darker healthier-looking plants.”
Herle has found that radishes do better on drained soil or sandy soil, with a seeding rate of six pounds per acre more than adequate. He sees pockets in the spring from two to four inches in diameter after decomposition.
“I will continue to grow them,” he says. “They’re not the be-all or end-all, but the right fit on good soil. We are trying to pull nitrogen in, so we’re looking at other cover crops. I use oats, rye, red clover and peas and have mixed radishes with rye, but it might be better to get a pre-mix.”
Anne Verhallen is seeing a lot of growers using tillage radishes.
“Down in Harrow, they are grown with tomatoes and other crops after wheat,” says the soil management (horticultural crops) specialist at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Ministry of Rural Affairs. “The vineyard owners are also using them.”
Verhallen says radishes have been used in Ontario as far back as the late 1980s, although they were not the exact variety now being grown.
“They have a place,” she notes, “but you have to think about what you’d like to get out of them. It’s worth giving them a try, but with care.”
On the pro side, Verhallen confirms that tillage radishes are heavy nitrogen scavengers and excellent at weed control, but are also very competitive if you’re growing them with something else.
“They are heavy nitrogen feeders as well, and so if you’re following an earlyharvested crop like peas where there is still some nitrogen, or you’re adding some nitrogen through manure, you will get massive radishes,” she observes. “A one-year return should not be aimed for in terms of boosted yield for the crop that follows, as some of the N released by the radishes goes to feeding the soil.”
Verhallen also notes that multiple-year studies at Ridgetown, also involving the Woodstock area and fields in Michigan, have shown that nitrogen release by radishes can come too early to benefit the next crop.
“If it’s a rotation that includes other brassicas, I’d probably avoid them as they attract the same pests,” she adds. “A cover
crop should diversify your rotation.”
Verhallen says mixtures of radish and rye seems to work well (radish leaves dis appear to nothing as the spring progresses, so oat and rye will protect the soil a bit better in the freeze-thaw and rainstorms of that season). She recommends cover crop mixtures for a variety of reasons – not the least of which because different plants in the mixture do well or poorer in different areas of the fields.
“Mixtures are a good opportunity, and there are a lot of commercial mixtures available now,” she notes.
In terms of the ability of tillage radishes to break up compaction, Verhallen says she’s seen enough fields to say that you can’t compare the way a radish can do this with the way a more stable root like alfalfa can, for example.
“You can’t expect a radish to break through a moderate or severe compacted layer, especially in a dry year,” she asserts. “In this case, you will often see the radish root turn sideways. But the taproot can go sideways and then down if it can find a way down [through that layer] within a short distance.”
Tillage radishes “won’t do everything for you,” Verhallen notes, but do provide improved water infiltration, and improved soil aggregation and soil organism activ ity around the root in the rhyzosphere and around the taproot.
“It’s definitely feeding the soil, giving off enough root exudate to make the soil community quite happy,” she says.
Additional information links include:
• http://www .practicalfarmers. org/assets/files/horticulture/onfarm/2010_Tillage_Radish_report. pdf
For more on production, visit www.fruitandveggie.com
Soil mounded by the tillage radish’s root growth, which provides an opportunity for lots of soil life activity, including earthworms. Photo courtesy of Anne Verhallen, Soil Management Specialist (Horticultural Crops), Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Ministry of Rural Affairs
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B.C. berry growers share lessons from worst SWD year ever
By Tamara Leigh
Spotted Winged Drosophila (SWD) has been present in British Columbia fields and orchards since 2010. Despite a joint effort from government and industry researchers in B.C. and throughout the Pacific Northwest, the 2013 growing season was the worst year for SWD infestation on record.
At the Horticulture Short Course, held during the Pacific Agriculture Show in Abbotsford, B.C., a grower, packer and crop consultant came together to share what they learned about managing this persistent pest and protecting B.C. berry crops and markets.
“Spotted Winged Drosophila is a very fancy name for a nasty insect that has become a palpable thorn in our back,” says grower, Sukh Kahlon. “It has complicated the harvesting process which was complex to begin with. [2013] was a difficult year, but was that the worst, or is it going to get worse? The best thing we can do is manage SWD to mitigate it rather than eradicate it.”
Building from his own experience, Kahlon encourages other growers to keep informed, have a control program in place that
includes a spraying schedule and cultural practices, and to have the resources in place to execute your program.
“One of the things we should look at is regional information and know what’s happening in the Pacific Northwest,” says Kahlon. “The fact that Oregon is a week to 10 days ahead gives us an insight into the future. Last year we got the news that Oregon was finding larva in their earliest raspberry harvest. That was a red flag for us and I think we should use that to our advantage.”
A number of different reports are available for growers online, making it easier to know what is happening with SWD in specific areas. The B.C. Ministry of Agriculture provides weekly reports on their website, and many growers subscribe to the Peerbolt report.
As in years past, maintaining regular spray intervals, and rotating chemicals used in pest control are important factors in keeping SWD numbers down while managing for pesticide resistance. Current field trials have demonstrated that growers should spray every seven to eight days.
Female (left) and male (right) spotted wing drosophila on a raspberry. Photo by Hannah Burrack, North Carolina Cooperative Extension
“Work with your neighbours,” says Kalon. “There’s a lot you can learn and you can coordinate your program. With all of the chemicals that we are using, we risk overusing them. It will be to our advantage to rotate through the chemicals and use different chemistry as much as we can.”
According to Chuck Mouritzen with Southwest Consulting, infield monitoring on your farm with traps is not an effective way to coordinate spray schedule. He recommends growers take their lead from regional trapping program results.
“You’ll get an idea of trend results with the populations so you’ll have a good idea what you are going to face and can get the control measures in place,” he says.
Once fruit starts to mature, Mouritzen recommends growers do salt extraction testing to get an accurate measure of larval infestations, and to help make sure the spray program is working. If levels are high, it’s important to adjust the program. Growers also need to be prepared to start picking as soon as fruit starts ripening.
“Last season we got early heat and the early fruit wasn’t treated because it wasn’t being picked so we really missed it,” Mouritzen explains. “Prepare yourself for early pick season, or at least for early ripening before you start picking.” Effective pruning is another tool to help growers reduce infestations. The goal is to concentrate the ripening period and eliminate canes that are not going to produce marketable fruit.
“Pruning is a simple way to reduce the pressure and concentrate the quality fruit,” says Mouritzen. “It is more of a problem with the newer growers. There are a lot of newer people in the business, and to get them pruning properly is
really important.”
Ultimately, the take-home message from the 2013 season is simple – everyone has to work together to control this pest or the entire sector is under threat.
“By not having control of this pest you are really risking your own fruit as well as your neighbours fruit. The key for packers and growers is understanding the threat posed to our industry from this pest,” says Mouritzen.
Steve Phillips of Berry Hill Foods in Abbotsford, B.C., agrees. He points to close communication between growers and packers as one of the keys to success identified by, particularly when it comes to managing pesticide sprays and residues.
“We have to spray so much more now, and pesticide residue testing is really accurate,” says Phillips. “If the pesticide residue is too high in a load, it’s a total recall. It’s also important to work with packers to make sure that pesticides used in fields are registered in the countries that they are selling to.”
Picking times are as important as spray intervals when managing SWD. The days of letting ripe fruit hang and gain weight is over, says Phillips. Despite the high SWD in 2013, he came out of the experience confident that growers have the tools and motivation to keep the pest under control.
“With proper use of pesticides, communications and relationships with packers, SWD is very manageable,” he says. “If you have SWD, you are going to get downgraded and that’s less money in your pocket.” ❦
SylGro stimulates essential plant systems and magnifies your yield potential.
A male Spotted Wing Drosophila fly. Note the dark spots near the tips of the wings. Photo by M. Francisco
The weather has traditionally always been a troublesome and challenging aspect in farming. It was a couple of years ago that the particular weather challenges – the heat and drought of 2012 – became a turning point at J&S Judge Farms in Norfolk County, Ont. It was at that point they decided to go ahead with removing much of the influence of weather over the harvest on their farm.
Field corn crop failure was a sad and stressful reality that year and owner Robert Judge and farm manager Todd Boughner didn’t want to see it happening again – ever. That year, they installed their farmcreated subsurface drip irrigation system on 75 acres of their LaSalette farm (a purchased farm near their home farm). It’s a state-of-the-art wireless system that is now in the early stages of commercialization – and an economically-feasible approach worth looking at for field crop, tobacco, orchard and vegetable operations in Ontario and beyond. The creation of the system has also gained Judge Farms a Premier’s Award in agricultural innovation.
What happened in 2012 was a tipping point of sorts, a culmination that built on research and development that had already been going on for two years – spurred on by the sandy soil type of the farm, concern over future weather patterns and a desire for better and more stable economic returns.
“We are on what is called the Sand Plain of Norfolk County,” explains Boughner. “Normal yield per acre for corn is around 150 bushels, but on this land, we’ve been settling for 100 bushels per acre. That is not economically sustainable.”
Their quest to do better started four years ago with testing drought-resistant corn varieties, and a variety of projects completed alone and in partnership with various companies, researchers and suppliers. Over time, the focus came to rest on creating a system that optimizes water resources, economics and labour.
In addition to growing field crops (soybean and corn are the focus), Judge Farms
J&S Judge Farms
Irrigation is the key to a sustainable future for this award-winning Ontario farm business
By Treena Hein
The idea for the subsurface irrigation concept started with the installation of a simple lawn watering system at the home farm. Robert Judge and Todd Boughner planned a field irrigation pattern, sourced components, and began designing and building the equipment. Contributed photo
also produce pork and poultry. J&S Judge Farms also has eight year-round and two seasonal employees on the home farm, who are all highly valued for their expertise and experience.
The subsurface irrigation concept all started with the installation of a simple lawn watering system at the home farm.
“It made us think about the possibilities,” says Boughner. “We started having discussions with local irrigation suppliers about subsurface systems for crops, but there was no data or experience with these types of systems anywhere near Canada –just in the southern U.S. where the heat is so strong. The only thing here was surface drip irrigation.”
Robert and Todd realized that if they wanted to proceed, they would have to
blaze the trail. They planned a field irrigation pattern, sourced components, and began designing and building the equipment.
“It took time to determine an optimum irrigation schedule, and to create a wireless monitoring system to regulate water flow,” Boughner says. “We had input from local suppliers and Netafilm of Florida. Blake Farm Equipment in Simcoe who had previous interest and experience helped in applicator design and system developments.”
They would also require a farm pond, which they created but then needed a permit to draw from.
“The small water usage requirements with sub-surface irrigation made it easier to obtain the water-taking permit in comparison to conventional technologies,”
There’s nothing to see here. Nothing at all, except your healthy vineyard. That’s because Alion ® is hard at work. This pre-emergent broad spectrum herbicide stops weeds before they start, so you won’t see them all season long. Apply it once for complete residual protection against both broadleaf and grassy weeds including glyphosate-, triazine- and ALS-resistant weeds. When it comes to weed control in your vineyard, there’s simply nothing better.
New Products
Janny MT module
The Janny MT module is designed to store fresh produce in a controlled atmosphere. This patented technology uses the respiration of the product to create a low oxygen environment (between two and four per cent) in the container. Thanks to the membrane inside the lid, the module will release the CO2 and will allow the O2 to get inside to maintain a low level of oxygen. It has to be used after cooling the product and maintained into a cold room. Usually, the module doubles your cold room time of preservation. This module is made to store a large range of fruit, vegetable, mushrooms and flowers. It may be used several times a year on different crops. The modules are stackable to nine heights. Their duration is over 10 years. These products are sold in Canada directly by Janny MT subsidiary, Janny MTCA. www.jannymt.com
Outlook herbicide brings new tool for potato grower
BASF Canada Inc. (BASF) has received regulatory approval for Outlook, a new
herbicide that will help potato growers address two significant challenges to their production.
As the amount and timing of rainfall becomes more variable, Outlook will provide consistent control of nightshade, pigweed and annual grasses, even under drier conditions. As a Group 15 herbicide, Outlook also controls both triazine and Group 2 resistant biotypes whose populations continue to increase across the country.
“Based on our extensive field-scale Canadian research program and several years of commercial use in the U.S., we see Outlook as an excellent new tool that will help growers address both inconsistent rainfall and the growing problem of herbicide resistance,” says Bruce Irons, a technical specialist for horticultural products with BASF Canada.
Outlook contains the active ingredient Dimethenamid-P, which inhibits weed root and shoot growth, controlling susceptible weeds before they emerge from the soil. Outlook is applied after potatoes are planted but before they emerge from the soil.
Revus now registered on basil and ginseng
The Pest Management Regulatory Agency recently announced the approval of a minor use label expansion registration for Revus fungicide for control of downy mildew of basil and phytophthora blight and root rot of ginseng.
Revus fungicide was already approved in Canada on Brassica vegetables, several bulb vegetables, several leafy vegetables,
cucurbit vegetables, fruiting vegetables, potatoes, grapes and hops.
The following is a general, abbreviated outline of the new disease registrations on the Canadian label for Revus fungicide. For detailed instructions consult the full Revus fungicide label.
Basil (field and greenhouse)
For control of downy mildew, apply as a foliar spray 583 ml/ha beginning prior to disease development and continue on a seven day interval in appropriate rotations. Do not apply Revus sequentially – always rotate with other registered products from different fungicide groups. Apply in a spray volume of 95 to 280 L per ha. Maximum of four applications per year with a one-day pre-harvest interval.
Ginseng
For control of Phytophthora blight and root rot, apply as a foliar spray and/or drench at 583 ml/ha beginning prior to disease development and continue on a seven day interval in appropriate rotations. Drench applications are required to control root rot. Do not apply Revus sequentially – always rotate with other registered products from different fungicide groups. Apply in a spray volume of 470 to 1,400 L per ha. Maximum of four applications per year with a three-day pre-harvest interval.
Sylvite releases SylGro for hort, specialty crops
Sylvite Agri-Services recently launched SylGro, a new plant health product available for use on a broad range of horticulture and specialty crops.
According to the company, the formulations found in SylGro help stimulate a plant’s metabolism to maximize yield potential by using resources – like fertilizer, moisture and sunlight – more efficiently.
“We are thrilled to be introducing SylGro Technology to our grower and producer partners across Southwestern Ontario,” said Steve McQueen, retail sales manager for Sylvite Agri- Services. “SylGro is a very exciting product and we anticipate that it will be the standard for progressive growers and producers aiming to maximize on-farm returns without the need to invest in additional equipment or land.”
