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May 2013
Volume 69, No. 4
Editor
Margaret Land mland@annexweb.com 519-429-5190 • 888-599-2228 ext. 269
Advertising Manager
Sharon Kauk skauk@annexweb.com
519-429-5189 • 888-599-2228 ext. 242
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Mary Burnie mburnie@annexweb.com 519-429-5175 • 888-599-2228 ext. 234
Media Designer
Jaime Ratcliffe
Group Publisher
Diane Kleer dkleer@annexweb.com
President Mike Fredericks mfredericks@annexweb.com
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My introduction to tire recycling involved an old car tire tied with poly rope to the huge walnut tree in our front yard. While swinging on the tire was fantastic fun, my mother soon grew tired of picking plastic shards out of my hands. I also experienced my fair share of rope burns.
These days, old tires are used on the home farm to hold down the pool cover for the winter (even the big rear tractor tires), although I recall the odd patch of black smoke wafting from neighbourhood bush fires. And who could forget the Hagersville, Ont., tire fire of 1990; that particular black cloud lasted a very long time.
Tires are once again in the news within Ontario and many farmers are not pleased with the reason. As of April 1, 2013, the Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS) has changed its stewardship fee structure from a set fee to a system that covers the actual cost of recycling a tire based on its weight. This has meant steep increases attached to off-road tires, traditionally used in agriculture. While Ontario farmers typically have paid a fee of about $15.29 per tire purchased for use on the farm, in some cases that fee has now increased to hundreds of dollars.
According to the OTS, the changes in recycling fees apply only to tire manufacturers and importers.
“The recycling program that OTS manages is paid for by people who manufacture and supply Ontarians with tires,” said Michael Scott, CEO of Waste Diversion Ontario, which oversees the province’s re-
cycling programs. “It is the manufacturers who decide how their customers pay for these costs, by either including them in the tire price or adding them to the price and displaying this cost on the receipt.”
That’s all fine and dandy but in the end the farmers are going to be the ones stuck with the increased fee.
Burning rubber
Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party has been busy lobbying against the fee changes. PC agriculture critic Ernie Hardeman has launched a petition calling for a stop to the fee increase.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture also has launched a campaign against the tire fees, urging members to visit the organization’s call-to-action website – www.actnow. ofa.on.ca – to send a letter voicing their concerns to their local MPP.
“The drastic fee increases, which average 400 per cent over the mix of farm tires, came as a surprise to Ontario farmers and the OFA,” said Mark Wales, president of the association. The new fees put Ontario farmers at a competitive disadvantage to those in other provinces and the United States.”
Indeed they do. A quick visit to other provinces’ tire recycling websites shows much cheaper recycling or eco-fees for agriculture tires. In B.C., the recycling fee is $15 per tire; in Alberta, farm and agricultural tires are exempt; in Saskatchewan, tire recycling
Common Pneumatic Farm Equipment Tires
fees are $15 per tire (up to a maximum of eight tires on new machinery); in Manitoba, recycling fees range from $9 to $30 per tire, depending on the size; and in New Brunswick, agriculture tires are exempt from recycling fees. No information was available on agriculture tire recycling fees in Nova Scotia, P.E.I. or Newfoundland and Labrador.
A visit to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s tire recycling website found that most states charge around $1 per tire for recycling but there was no information on whether that applies to agriculture tires or not.
No one wants to see a return to the old days of black smoked fires, tire stockpiling or old tires thrown in the ditch. But how are farmers expected to operate competitively under this regulatory burden?
“The fundamental problem leading to the fee increase lies within the legislative restrictions under which OTS is required to work,” said Wales. “In the long term, the OFA will need to seek changes to the mandate that would allow for more flexibility in program administration and recycling options.”
The OFA’s recent meeting with OTS officials resulted in an understanding that each organization will work to identify short- and medium-term options for improvements to the program.
I wish them the best in their negotiations. It might be a tough road to travel. ❦
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Bob Wash is the right size wash unit for Victory Organic
By Jim Meyers
It’s called a Bob Wash, and no, it’s not a local car wash, but a machine for washing small amounts of leafy greens or vegetables. And the North American prototype unit is being used at Victory Organic Inc. in St. Catharines, Ont.
It’s the conceptualization of a simple question that was posed by Vivek Rajakumar, Victory’s 26-year-old entrepreneurial owner who is better known as Vik. He knew there were small machines like this in Europe, but they were designed to remove grit from field-grown crops, not greenhouse-grown salad greens. Besides, a service call is an ocean away, then there’s the cost of shipping any equipment, and as anyone who has ever taken a made-in-North-America electrical per-
sonal care item on a European vacation knows, they run on an entirely different electrical system over there.
So why not use a similar machine that’s made in North America? To that end he knocked on the door of Heinzen Mfg. Ltd. in California. It’s a recognized leader in the manufacture of food handling equipment and makes much larger machines used by Chiquita and Dole that can process up to 2,000 pounds an hour of leafy greens.
There he spoke to sales engineer Bob Johnson, whom the Bob Wash is named after, and the idea for a smaller machine for a smaller operation went from drafting board to finished machine in about 18 months. The prototype unit arrived
at Victory Organic in mid-May 2011 and now there are now some 25 Bob Wash machines in operation, mostly in the northeastern United States, to meet a growing regional demand from small organic growing operations.
“It sort of stuck and got away from us,” Bob Johnson said about the name of the machine that he designed and bears his name, but is really an “integrated short order wash system.”
Agri-Food innovation award
The problem-solving ingenuity of the two men caught the attention of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture. Last October, Victory Organic was one of three agricultural operations to receive a Leaders
Vivek Rajakumar dumps salad greens into chilled water to start the cleaning process.
Photos by Jim Meyers
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in Innovation Award from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture. The citation says the Bob Wash offers an affordable on-site answer to large commercial wash machines while at the same time providing the same degree of food safety. Additional funding came from the Food Safety and Traceabilty Initiative (FSTI) program of the agriculture ministry.
Like all good ideas, it’s a simple one. Thoroughly wash the leafy greens in water that’s properly chilled and treated with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria and prolong shelf life. High-pressure spray nozzles along the side of the trough act much like a Jacuzzi by churning the water that’s chilled to just above freezing. Move the product on a conveyor belt to a spin dryer, then package and ship it in a timely fashion.
Johnson said it’s essentially an agitation system that fully wets the leafy greens, which are pushed by a flume in a stainless steel trough to the conveyor belt.
“It’s simple in the sense that it’s all one
unit,” he said.
“It’s like a car, you can’t have one piece without the other,” Vik said.
An important piece is the cleated, food-grade polyethylene conveyer belt that’s designed to shake out and hold on to dirt and broken greens not removed in the wash.
Design changes have been made to the original machine, but they’re mostly alterations to process different agricultural crops. Vik hasn’t altered the design of his made-to-order Bob Wash but, like any farmer who has ever improved on factory built equipment with the help of a local machine shop, said, “Everything can be customized.”
Victory Organic is a seed-to-store-shelf greenhouse operation that processes some 300-400 pounds of tender leafy greens a week. That’s far less than the Bob Wash capacity of some 5,000 pounds a week working eight hour shifts, four days a week.
“We work intensively and get the work
done,” Vik said about the short work week enjoyed by his three employees.
The Victory salad
Victory Organic has three mixed salads and two stand-alone greens that are sold in organic food stores, and a few grocery stores and restaurants around Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe (the west end of Lake Ontario). Its Victory Salad mix has eight leafy greens – arugula, baby bok choy, kale, mustard, romaine, sorrel, Swiss chard and watercress.
Picked, processed and shipped immediately in clear plastic blister packs, the salad greens have a 12-day shelf life. Victory Organic used to sell unwashed salad greens from the greenhouse, but somewhere on the way to end users it has to be washed. Vik felt that might as well be at the source.
“We do a lot in a small space (870 square feet), which is as small as anyone gets,” he said about the need for a small washing unit.
He looked for two years in Europe for one that was small enough to fit his operation, and spent a year working with Heinzen to develop the Bob Wash. He was looking for something in his price range that could process as much as 1,000 pounds a day, not 1,000 to 2,000 pounds an hour.
Right now he’s expanding within his customer base and adding 12,000 square feet of greenhouse space – a 50 per cent increase – which is now under construction. That’s to meet the growing demand in the few stores where Victory salad mixes are sold and not to expand the number of sales outlets, Vik said.
Started in 2007, Victory Organic is named after the Victory Gardens of the Second World War, created when the government gave homeowners seeds to grow in their backyard gardens at a time when food was rationed. “It should have kept going,” Vik said about the rationale behind the Victory Gardens program as it applies to today’s movement to “grow food locally and distributing locally.”
The Rajakumar family, originally from Sri Lanka, came to Canada in 1996 when Vik was 10 years old via South America, where Vik was born. His father Raj has an adjoining business, Millenniumsoils Coir, that imports coconut fibre from Sri Lanka to make grow bags used by greenhouse vegetable growers. ❦
The salad greens come off the cleated food-grade conveyor belt into a basket that goes into a spin dryer.
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Apogee: a new plant bioregulator for cherries
By Dr. John A. Cline
Registration of a new growth retardant for use on sweet and tart cherries in Canada was approved for the 2013 growing season. Apogee will reduce vegetative shoot growth (Basak and Rademacher, 2000) and may be particularly beneficial to those planting at higher densities or beneath tree covers (Figure 1).
It is especially important to read the product label for the recommended use and precautions associated with Apogee. The label can be found online at the BASF Canada Inc. website (www.agsolutions.ca) or by searching the PMRA website.
Apogee contains 27.5 per cent (w/w) prohexadione-calcium, a gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor. Prohexidione-calcium reduces terminal growth by inhibiting the synthesis of growth-specific gibberellins, a group of plant hormones that are primarily responsible for regulation of terminal growth in cherry trees.
Once applied, Apogee requires about 14 days to slow growth. It degrades within the tree within a few weeks, so a repeat application may be necessary to extend growth control.
Patterns of terminal growth and fruit set characteristics differ among growing regions. Likewise, the response to Apogee may differ depending upon the where it is used. As a result some growing areas may use the high end of the label, while others find the low label rate is effective.
Consider using Apogee if short-term seasonal growth control is desired. Since tree vigour is also influenced by rootstock, cultivar, orchard system, soil type, climate, and soil moisture, these factors should be considered initially for long-term vigour control of sweet cherries. Some may question using plant bioregulators to reduce shoot extension growth given the availability of size-controlling rootstocks on the market. However,
observations that size-controlling rootstocks have led to poor tree anchorage, excessive fruit set, or poor fruit size – especially when self-fruitful cultivars are grown – have been made, particularly in suboptimal tree growth conditions. Mazzard and Mahaleb remain the most common (seedling) rootstocks in use in Ontario today for sweet and tart cherries, respectively and therefore Apogee® can play a role in the management of these orchards (Figure 2).
Research at the University of Guelph, Simcoe (Cline, unpublished data), and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland (Guak et al., 2005), as well as in the Pacific Northwest (Elfving and Lang, 2005; Elfving et al., 2003, Elfving et al., 2004) and Europe (Manriquez et al., 2005; Jacyna et al., 2012), has demonstrated that Apogee can reduce current season extension shoot growth of sweet cherry trees. Much of this research was
Figure 1: Six-year old ‘Terhanivee’ sweet cherries on Gisela 6 rootstock growing at the University of Guelph, Vineland. Trees are trained using a Vogel central leader system.
Photos by Dr. J. Cline
conducted using separate and combination sprays of prohexadione-calcium and Ethephon. While Ethephon is commonly used as a ripening agent to aid in mechanical harvesting of tart cherries, combination sprays for growth control with Apogee are not currently approved for use on the Canadian product label.
For sweet cherries, growers can expect a significant reduction in terminal shoot growth – ranging from 20 to 50 per cent in a given season (Figure 3) – by using Apogee at the proper timing and concentration. This should help reduce the time required to dormant prune as well as open up the tree canopy leading to improved spray coverage and reduced disease pressure. This may be very useful in 2013 as many cherries trees had few or no crops last year and had considerable vegetative growth. As limited research is available on the response of Montmorency tart cherries to Apogee, the recommendations in this article are limited to sweet cherries.
Time of application and rates
Terminal shoot growth in Ontario proceeds rapidly usually during the first six weeks of the season. Since two weeks are required for Apogee to slow growth effectively, it is essential to make the first application when terminal shoots are no longer than 2.5 to 5 cm. This typically coincides with late bloom, when sufficient leaf area has developed for prohexadione-calcium to be translocated into the leaf. Satisfaction from the use of Apogee will depend upon making the first application at this time, and no later. It reportedly has no detrimental effects on bees, so the first application can be made before bees are removed from the orchard.
The label recommends 45 g formulated product per 100 L of dilute spray (which equates to 125 ppm or 125 mg/L of active ingredient) and spraying dilute (up to 3,000 L/ ha). A repeat application should be made 14 to 21 days later – this is important. Sprays are limited to a maximum of two sprays per season and a total of 2.7 kg of formulated product/ha/season. Based on the 125 ppm rate and a tree-row volume (TRV) dilute rate of 2,000 L/ha, 1.8 kg of product per hectare (728 g/ acre) will be required.
Follow the steps in the product label to adjust rates for tree-row volume dilute applications. Apogee has been used effectively on apples when applied in water volumes less that TRV, provided thorough coverage is achieved. However, spraying of concentrated plant bioregulators beyond 1X TRV is not generally recommended.
Effects of Apogee on fruit set, fruit size and yield are inconsistent based on results reported in the literature.
Figure 2: Sweet cherries are inherently vigorously growing on seedling rootstocks. Judicious pruning and training are required to produce the large fruit the market requires.
Adjuvants and hard water
A spray adjuvant (Agral 90, LI-700) should be included to improve plant uptake of the prohexadione-calcium molecule. In addition, where a high calcium or magnesium water source (hard water) is used, it is important to include an equal amount of ammonium sulphate (AMS) fertilizer by weight with Apogee. A high-quality grade of AMS (i.e., greenhouse grade) is recommended to avoid plugging of nozzles. This is readily available from suppliers such as Vineland Growers and Plant Products for around $25 per 25 kg bag, representing inexpensive insurance to ensure product efficacy. If you do not know the hardness of your water and are on a municipal water system, the water supplier can tell you the hardness level of the water it delivers. If you have a private water supply, you can have the water tested for hardness for a fee. See the Ministry of the Environment website, under Resources at http://www. ene.gov.on.ca/environment/en/resources/ STDPROD_096104.html for a list of accredited labs and use the last column in the table to determine which labs are accredited for inorganic analysis.
Tank mixing
The Apogee label recommends that calcium sprays not be tank mixed with Apogee. This warning is especially appropriate for calcium chloride and other calcium-containing products. In the presence of calcium, Apogee may precipitate in the tank, clog nozzles and screens, and reduce tree response.
Other precautions
Effects of Apogee on fruit set, fruit size and yield are inconsistent based on results reported in the literature. Several studies have reported a resurgence in late-season growth in some situations when marked suppression of growth was achieved early in the season. Furthermore, some resurgence in growth the year following application has been observed. Therefore, fine-tuning of treatment timings and concentrations may need to be considered.
The suggested strategy for using Apogee on cherries in 2013:
• Consider using Apogee on the most vigorously growing cultivars first.
• Document all dates of application and measure shoot growth at the time of application (for your records)
• Compare your dormant pruning
Figure 3: Average extension (A) and leader (B) shoot growth over time as affected by different concentrations of prohexadione calcium (PC) sprays on V690628/ Gisela 6 sweet cherries. Error bars represent the standard error of the means. Arrows indicate dates of applications (15 May and 1 June).
costs with the cost of using Apogee. Anticipate approximately 40 per cent reduction in vegetative growth.
• Apply the first application early –no later than at petal fall.
• Don’t forget to add a surfactant and ammonium sulphate if you have or suspect hard water.
• A second spray of Apogee 14 to 21 days later is almost always required.
• Direct spray or adjust nozzles to apply more spray to the tops of trees.
• Be sure to leave several unsprayed trees for comparison purposes (and flag them).
• Consider measuring the length of approximately 100 randomly selected extension shoots per cultivar (from treated and untreated trees) on a seven- or 10-day basis until terminal bud set. This will reveal when trees start and stop growing. ❦
Dr. John Cline is an associate professor of pomology with the University of Guelph. He is based at the Horticultural Experiment Station in Simcoe, Ont.
Full references for this article can be found at www.fruitandveggie.com.
Chart courtesy of J. Cline, unpublished data
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Packaging advances help to extend fruit, vegetable shelf life
Packaging innovations can prolong produce shelf life and reduce waste, according to Dr. Charles Forney, a postharvest research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
“You are seeing a lot more rigid packaging, clamshells and lids,” he said. “Low-profile clamshells offer a big reduction in physical damage and crushing.”
Fruit and vegetables emit water vapour, oxygen, carbon dioxide, volatile compounds and ethylene gas, which hastens the ripening of the produce in the package, explained Dr. Forney. In order to develop a successful package for produce, the fruit and vegetable industry should first consider the properties of the product and its target market, he said.
Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) can act as a selective barrier to volatile com-
pounds, thereby changing the atmosphere around the product to extend its shelf life, said Dr. Forney.
As the package is sealed, its oxygen content can be reduced, thus increasing the carbon dioxide around the product through respiration. High CO2 can reduce botrytis and inhibit ethylene biosynthesis, while slowing ripening and senescence, Dr. Forney said, adding that low oxygen in packaging also inhibits browning, ripening, senescence and ethylene synthesis. High humidity in the package can also reduce dehydration, wilting and shrivelling.
Dr. Forney stressed it is important to understand what produce can tolerate. Factors determining tolerance are the cultivar, gas concentrations around the produce, the duration of exposure to the gases in the packaging and the temperature of the package.
MAP packaging can present challenges, Dr. Forney said, noting the packer will have to determine what packaging to use, calculate the gas exchange rate within the package, as well as predict the respiration rates and the temperature fluctuations.
The gas transmission rate, Dr. Forney continued, can be affected by temperature and humidity and there is a lot of variability in product respiration rates due to cultivar differences and the surrounding environment.
As for package permeability, there is a diverse array of polymer films with differing transmission properties and variable gas transmission rates, although the films’ responses to temperature changes are limited, he said.
Micro-perforation of film will accommodate higher respiration of packaged fruits and vegetables. Micro-perforation can be mechanical, chemical or laser (which is preferred), Dr. Forney said, noting apple slices in micro-perforated packages have a fruitier, sweeter flavour than those in solid film.
He observed the more perishable the product is, the higher its respiration rate tends to be. Respiration also will increase with a jump in temperature of 10 C, which increases the respiration rate by two to four times. Processing and handling also can increase the rate,
By Dan Woolley
Packaging can add value through shelf-life extension, increased consumer convenience and brand recognition, according to Dr. Charles Forney, a postharvest research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
but respiration will decline as the storage length increases.
Due to variable respiration and temperature changes, equilibrium in the package’s atmosphere may not be achieved, said Dr. Forney. He added there is new European machinery for precision MAP to account for biological variability in the produce. Producers and packers can establish the desired atmospheric environment in a package by “flushing the package before you seal it.”
He added there is packaging available that also responds to temperature and atmosphere changes, carbon dioxide, oxygen and ethylene emissions.
Packaging can present a barrier to contamination, product tampering, and antibacterial sachets placed in the package can fight pathogens, Dr. Forney said.
Produce can also be cooled and microwaved in today’s packaging while bearing “intelligent labels” that provide quality assurance by indicating the produce quality in the package through changes in the colour of symbols on the labels. ❦
IT’S WHAT’S INSIDE THAT COUNTS
Unlike retrippers, corrugate is always new. It does not need to come from or return to washing stations in the USA . Corrugate is the food industry’s packaging of choice because you can focus on what matters – what’s in the box.
BRANDED, NEW AND TRUSTED.
Hard work, high temperatures and long hours during the harvest season can combine to cause worker fatigue and exhaustion, issues that need to be managed, according to Dave Powers, director of health, safety and the environment for the Oxford Frozen Food Group.
“If we don’t have people operating at their peak efficiency, everything else suffers,” he said.
Sleep deprivation is a big factor in major industrial accidents, said Powers, adding fatigue is also involved in one in six fatal road crashes.
The sleep requirements of different age groups vary, with teenagers needing at least 10 hours of sleep per night, the average adult between 25 and 55 requiring at least eight hours of shut-eye, while seniors over ago 65 need about six hours of sleep. According to Powers, 17 hours of sustained wakefulness leads to a level of impairment comparable to .05 percent alcohol intoxication. He adds that after 18 days of prolonged wakefulness, research has shown that a person can experience hallucinations, paranoia, blurred vision, slurred speech, plus memory and concentration lapses.
Powers emphasized that fatigue results in reduced alertness, with the sleep debt accumulating until paid off with adequate sleep, which becomes a challenge during the harvest season.
The human body operates on a 24-hour cycle of circadian rhythm, which controls bodily functions such as sleepiness, digestion, hormone production and body temperature, explained Powers. These rhythms make a person sleepy when it is dark.
Fatigue can result from disruptions to the body’s natural circadian rhythms due to the work schedule, the type of task, the work environment and non-work related issues, Powers said.
Sleep is best obtained in one block, although napping is beneficial, he said, adding there are four sleep stages of varying intensity. The most damaging effect of sleep deprivation occurs with inadequate sleep at Stage Three, which is when the body restores
Managing fatigue during harvest season
By Dan Woolley
Being fatigued at work makes a person a risk to both themselves and other workers. Sleep deprivation is a large factor in major industrial accidents and fatigue is also involved in one in six fatal road crashes.
energy, boost the immune system and repairs its tissues.
Stage Four – REM sleep, – helps the mind with memory and concentration, said Powers. Inadequate REM sleep can result in diminished concentration, a slower reaction time and trouble remembering.
“Being fatigued at work makes you a risk to yourself and other workers,” he said. “Get the sleep you need and set the bedroom up for sleeping.”
It should be as dark and quiet as possible, he explained. The bedroom temperature should be kept between 18 and 24 Celsius and any distractions should be moved to another room. An unfamiliar noise in the bedroom in the first and last hour of sleep has the greatest effect on the sleep cycle, said Powers.
“The sleep cycle can even be disrupted from the light of a digital clock. Make sure you will not be distracted.”
Bedtime routine should be kept as regular as possible.
“Be careful what you eat or drink before bed,” said Powers, adding a person should drink plenty of fluids – as much as two-liters daily – although coffee, tea and alcohol will increase thirst and alcohol can disrupt sleep.
“Don’t toss and turn waiting to fall asleep.”
If a shift time is going to change, workers should adjust their bedtime gradually, said Powers. He also recommends that after a worker wakes up, he or she spends five to 10 minutes waiting for their sleep inertia to pass.
If fatigue strikes during normal awake hours, naps of more than 10 minutes can improve alertness and mood and its value doesn’t depend on the time of day it is taken, he said.
“Eat right, maintain blood sugar levels, and eat low-fat, high protein food, which can help you sleep better and feel more rested.”
Sometimes getting to sleep can be a big problem, especially when a person has a lot of issues to think and worry about.
“Exercise can help you sleep better and feel more rested,” Powers said. “It relieves stress and boosts health and the immune system.”
If exercise doesn’t help, a visit to the doctor might be required.
“Sleeping pills can help; but don’t selfmedicate,” Powers warned, adding that cold and flu medications can either put someone to sleep or keep them from sleeping.
“Use them with care when working.” ❦
Website promotes Canada’s Produce Place
Canada’s Produce Place is a website designed to provide up-to-date information to the retail, wholesale and foodservice industry on the availability of locally grown fruits and vegetables.
The information supplied on the pages by participating industry partners enables buyers to access information on the availability of local produce at the click of a mouse. Contact information is immediately available so the buyer can connect quickly to the seller of the product.
If you have comments about the site, found at www.canadasproduceplace.ca, or suggestions for improvement, please do not hesitate to contact them. Please forward them to Ian MacKenzie at ian@ theopma.ca or 416-259-7827, ext. 231.
Two B.C. farm operations win NAFDMA awards
Two on-farm markets in British Columbia were among several operations receiving honours at the North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association’s (NAFDMA) 2013 Celebrate Excellence Contest. Lepp Farm Market of Abbotsford, B.C., won for Best Web Site and Cranberry Meadows Country Market from Pitt Meadows, B.C., won for Best Idea Video. Member farms and businesses submitted items to be selected as the best in each of six different categories. Prior to the convention, the full membership voted to determine the top three in each category. New this year, the preliminary round winners were presented during the Hungry for Ideas Breakfast held the first day of the NAFDMA annual conference, creating an interactive learning experience. Each entry was presented, and then attendees voted on the best using electronic voting keypads.
The Celebrate Excellence contest categories change over time to include timely trends in general marketing as well as farm direct marketing and agri-tourism events on the farm. The Celebrate Excellence Program is based on three NAFDMA objectives to stimulate learning, celebrate excellence and advance best practices. All entries are available for members of the association to view throughout the year
as examples they can emulate to improve their own marketing endeavours.
CFVTX becomes biennial event
Officials with Canada’s Fruit & Veg Tech X-Change recently announced the summer trade show is shifting to a biennial event. The next edition will be held in 2014.
“We are extremely proud of the size and scope of the CFVTX project to date, and the meaningful relationships we have built along the way,” stated Donna Powell, chief financial officer with the event. “We are optimistic about the future and with your help, we will continue to incrementally improve the project for all.”
Anyone with questions about the new format and timing of the show is asked to contact Team CFVTX at jordon@roievents.ca or 226-381-0282, ext 1.
Ontario serves up local food bill
The Ontario government is re-introducing legislation that, if passed, would help
make more local food available in markets, schools, cafeterias, grocery stores and restaurants throughout the province. The Local Food Act aims to:
• increase local food awareness, access and sales by setting local food goals and targets in consultation with stakeholders
• enable government to work with public sector organizations toward these goals and share information on their progress and results
• proclaim a “Celebrate Ontario Local Food Week” that would begin the Monday before Thanksgiving
• require the government to produce a local food report on its activities to support local food.
The proposed legislation is part of a broader local food strategy that encourages the growth and development of markets for foods grown and made in Ontario, and provides funding for innovative and collaborative local food projects.
Promoting local food is part of the Ontario government’s plan to strengthen the agrifood industry, build stronger communities and create jobs that will grow the economy.
GGO wants to capture half of Ontario market by 2020
In setting a realistic new target for growth of 50 per cent market share by 2020, the Grape Growers of Ontario used their Annual Media Day to say that it doesn’t matter if the glass is half-full or half-empty –as long as the wine in it is made in Ontario. “We think it is important that we set and achieve a goal to have half of the wine purchased in Ontario be Ontario wine,” said Bill George, chair of the Grape Growers of Ontario (GGO). “Ontario produces so many great and award-winning wines, there is no reason 62 per cent of wine sales in the province should still be imported from other countries.”
Current VQA wine sales, which include 100 per cent Ontario grapes, account for 9.5 per
cent of all wine sold in Ontario. When these sales are combined with the International Canadian Blends (ICB), which include at least 25 per cent Ontario grapes, Ontario wines make up just 38.3 per cent market share. Ontario’s grape growers are calling on their industry partners, the LCBO, and the provincial government, to set a firm target to capture 50 per cent of the Ontario wine market by 2020 and then to back that goal up with a real plan to achieve its success.
“We are local growers, so it’s only natural that local growth be our priority,” said George.
Last year, Ontario grape growers produced a record harvest of 66,014 tonnes.
Growers continue to build momentum with exceptional grape quality.
“The only way our industry will maintain its momentum and continue to be a strong economic driver is for Ontario wines to replace French, Californian, Australian, Chilean and Italian wines in the shopping carts of Ontario consumers,” said Debbie Zimmerman, CEO of the GGO. “Ontario grape growers
Are your soil fumigAnts fAcing extinction?
are committed to working with our partners to make that a reality.”
OFFMA presents awards during 40th anniversary gala
The Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association (OFFMA) recognized some of its champions at an Awards Gala held in Niagara Falls in conjunction with the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention.
Champions were recognized in four categories: Leadership, Food Innovation, Outstanding Farm Marketer and the Ambassador Award.
Joy and Earl Stanley from Stanley’s Olde Maple Farm were recognized with the Leadership Award. The Stanleys have given so much of themselves since they joined OFFMA a decade ago. They have personally visited several members across the province, hosted hospitality suites for many events, encouraged on-farm marketers to join OFFMA and put many miles on their vehicles to participate in the annual potlucks.
Geissberger Farmhouse Cider is the winner of the inaugural Food Innovation Award. The apples are pressed in a mobile cider mill that can be moved from farm to farm. The final product is presented in a vacuum-sealed bag in a box system without preservatives that requires no refrigeration and boasts a terrific shelf life. It is a win-win-win for the grower, the processor and the consumer.
Brooks Farms was presented the Outstanding Farm Marketer Award for all the great products and activities Paul and Kelly Brooks offer on their farm near Mount Albert. The serendipitous combination of Paul’s agricultural background and Kelly’s graphic design skills has created a brand second to none. Brooks Farms offers everything from a Maple Sugar Festival to Pumpkin PYO fields and a barnyard playland.
Mairlyn Smith, cookbook author and local food promoter, was thrilled to accept the Ontario Farm Fresh Ambassador Award. Mairlyn is a regular on both Cityline and Breakfast Television Her gift to the direct farm marketing industry is that she never misses an opportunity to promote buying directly from a farmer. Humour is her secret weapon; she can make people laugh while she is teaching them to eat well and to make good decisions about their food.
New Products
Case IH Farmall U
IH has released two new utility tractors to meet professional livestock producers’ demand for rugged, yet comfortable and easyto-operate equipment. Heavy-duty Farmall U tractors deliver power and performance, with the Farmall 105U having 91 PTO HP and the Farmall 115U having 98 PTO HP.
Running on updated clean-diesel technology, the new Farmall U models use Tier 4A-compliant Case IH FPT four-cylinder 3.4-litre turbocharged and intercooled engines. For a more efficient combustion process, fuel is delivered with electronic highpressure common-rail fuel injection. This system provides efficiency, extended engine life, and improved cold-engine starting.
Glow plugs warm the engine prior to a cold-weather start, eliminating the need to use ether for more reliable starting in freezing temperatures.
Designed with operator productivity in mind, the models are propelled with 12-speed forward, 12-speed reverse transmissions. The two Farmall U units incorporate an electrohydraulic power shuttle wetclutch transmission. If applications demand it, the transmission can be upgraded to 20x20 with creeper or 24x24 with hi-lo.
The newly-designed Farmall cab includes user-friendly controls and features. Reworked internal control ergonomics provide best-in-class productivity and minimize operator fatigue:
• easy-to-read instrument cluster that tilts with the steering column
• integrated position for loader joystick
• remote valves in a more accessible position
Visibility to the loader and other attachments is standard with the high-visibility roof panel. The standard instructor seat comfortably allows two adults to be in the cab together. The driver’s seat can be upgraded to air suspension with a 15-degree swivel to
make repetitive tasks less monotonous. Owners can choose between factoryinstalled value or premium type Case IH loaders.
The standard 17.2 gpm hydraulic pump (optional 22.2 gpm) and the load-sensing close-centre rear remotes keep the tractor working in all situations. Electronic draft control with a standard rear-hitch fender switch plus a standard rear PTO fender switch will add convenience to any job.
www.caseih.com
Altacor insecticide label extended to strawberries
Canadian strawberry growers have a new tool to fight common pests with the recent extension adding strawberries to the label of DuPont Altacor insecticide. Now approved for use on strawberries for oblique-banded leafroller, three-lined leafroller, climbing cutworm and Japanese beetle (suppression), the addition will allow more growers to benefit from the toxicological profile Altacor offers, making it a choice for integrated pest management (IPM) programs. Altacor contains active ingredient, Rynaxypyr, from a whole new group of chemistry (Group 28), with no cross-resistance to other chemistries. For more information about Altacor insecticide or any other DuPont product, contact your local crop protection retailer or DuPont representative, call 1-800-667-3925, or visit the website www.altacor.dupont.ca.
New Holland T4 Series
New Holland has introduced its next generation of utility tractors, the T4 Series. This tractor produces between 84 and 106 horsepower using a four-cylinder engine with Common Rail technology and a cooled exhaust gas recirculation system to meet Tier 4A compliance.
T4 models are fitted with a 207-cubic-inch (3.4-litre), Common Rail F5C engine. These engines benefit from Cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (CEGR) technology for Tier 4A compliance.
F5C engines deliver between 84 and 106 engine horsepower. Productivity in demanding conditions is enhanced with a 35-per-cent torque rise. Sustained maximum power is available from 1900 to 2300 rpm
to deliver flexibility in the majority of tasks. New Holland offers different hydraulic options. The 19.8 gpm (75 l/min) features a dedicated 12.5 gpm (47.5 l/min) implement pump for hydraulic applications and a 7.3 gpm (27.5 l/min) steering pump. Farmers who carry out more demanding hydraulic applications can opt for a large pump combination, which has a combined total flow of 25.9 gpm (121 l/min). With this larger system, the implement pump now provides operators with a 16.9 gpm (63.9 l/min) of flow for uniform performance. Furthermore, the 9.0 gpm (37.0 l/min) steering and services pump ensures easy and responsive steering.
Up to two rear remotes and two mid-mount hydraulic remote valves can be installed at the factory. An additional third rear remote can be installed by any New Holland dealer. The T4 Series is available with a choice of PTO speed options. Owners can choose mechanical or electrohydraulic engagement and the entry-level 540 and 540/1,000 rpm shafts. All PTO speeds are selected from the comfort of the cab or operator platform for efficient engagement.
The T4 Series offers extensive transmission choices, meaning producers can tailor the tractor to suit their individual needs. Choose from a 2WD, ROPS, mechanical shuttle version for basic PTO horsepower all the way up to a 4WD, cab, electrohydraulic shuttle model for deluxe comfort and all-weather versatility. On ROPS models, operators will benefit from the same operating environment and ergonomic layout as cab models. Both cab and ROPS models are available with two mechanical transmission options: the 12x12 Synchro Command shuttle and 20x12 Synchro Command shuttle with a creeper. The left-hand column-mounted shuttle enables operators to change directions without having to remove their hand from the steering wheel.
All models can also be equipped with electrohydraulic, column-mounted power
shuttle versions of the 12x12 and 20x20 creeper transmissions. The electrohydraulic, column-mounted power shuttle offers clutchless fingertip shuttling. The VisionView cab, which is also available on the T5 Series, was designed with operators in mind. Using virtual reality techniques, T4 Series tractors provide ergonomics as a standard feature. All controls are close at hand for operators of all shapes and sizes. The most frequently used controls – including the throttle, PTO, and hydraulic remote levers – have been placed to the right of the operator on the CommandArc console to reduce fatigue and increase operator precision. www.agriculture.newholland.com
Kasumin bactericide registered in Canada
Arysta LifeScience North America recently received registration for Kasumin bactericide for use on pome fruit and fruiting vegetable markets in Canada.
Kasumin provides control of fire blight in apples and pears as well as suppression of bacterial spot and bacterial stem canker in tomato and pepper crops. Kasugamycin, the active ingredient in Kasumin, features
a unique mode of action different from other bactericides, making it an effective resistance-management tool. Specifically in apples and pears, Kasumin provides effective control of fire blight, including streptomycin resistant strains.
“Arysta LifeScience is excited to bring Kasumin into the pome fruit market to help manage fire blight,” said Mark McLear, marketing and key accounts manager with Arysta LifeScience. “With a new mode of action to control fire blight, Kasumin provides growers a great new tool to manage this destructive disease.
Kasumin also is registered for use in greenhouses on fruiting vegetable crops.
Toro BlueLine PC Dripline emitter flow rate
Toro recently announced a new emitter flow rate for its BlueLine dripline, which now includes a 0.26 gallons per hour (GPH) pressure-compensating (PC) emitter.
The 0.26 GPH pressure-compensating emitter is the latest flow rate to complement Toro’s other BlueLine PC flow rates of 0.42, 0.53, and 1.00 GPH.
BlueLine pressure-compensating emitters provide greater resistance to plugging, dura-
bility, and flow accuracy. BlueLine PC dripline can be used on permanent crops utilizing any installation technique: above ground, below ground, or hanging on a wire. Additional BlueLine PC product features include:
• accurate flow rates from 10-60 PSI
• all emitter flow rates available in three hose dimensions: 16 mm, 18 mm and 20 mm
• self-flushing diaphragm flushes during operation and shutdown, improving clogging resistance and providing longer life to the system
• Toro’s Blue Stripe of quality helps easily identify emitter location during installation and operation
“The new 0.26 GPH low flow rate gives growers the option to have longer runs on permanent crops and enables the use of smaller pipe or existing submains, without
sacrificing performance,” says Mara McCartney, product manager for Toro’s Micro-Irrigation Business. “Even with closer emitter spacing, growers can still have long rows, further improving field performance. Toro’s new flow rate gives growers more options for their irrigation designs.”
For more information about BlueLine PC Dripline, visit www.toro.com. Visit DripTips. Toro.com for the latest news and helpful tips for successful drip irrigation.
Closer registered for pome, stone fruits
Pome and stone fruit growers in Canada now have access to Closer, a new insecticide for the control of aphids and San Jose scale.
Canada’s regulatory authorities have approved Closer for use in all pome and stone fruit crops. Closer will control numerous aphid species including apple aphid, spirea aphid, rosy apple aphid and woolly apple aphid.
The active ingredient in Closer is Sulfoxaflor, an insecticidal molecule developed from a new class of insecticides called sulfoximines.
Effective at low use rates, Closer is very fast acting and provides extended residual
control. Closer provides systemic and translaminar activity, ensuring control of hidden pests in the plant canopy and on the undersides of leaves. A rotational partner with other chemistries, Closer is effective on insect populations resistant to other insecticide classes such as neonicotinoids, organophosphates and pyrethroids.
“Closer provides super-fast knockdown of insect pests and is a welcome addition to pome and stone fruit pest management programs,” says Jerry Olechowski, marketing manager with Dow AgroSciences, maker of the insecticide. “Closer exhibits complex and unique interactions with important receptors in the insect’s central nervous system different from those observed with neonicotinoids.
Case Construction Alpha Series skid steer
Case Construction Equipment recently announced its new line of skid steer loaders with upgrades to four products in its Alpha Series line.
Leading the way is the Case SR175 and SV185 medium-frame skid steers, which meet Tier 4 status with new engine technology and a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) solution. The SR130 and new SR160 compact frame skid steers also meet Tier 4 Final status using cooled exhaust gas recirculation (CEGR) with diesel particulate filter (DPF). Additionally, the large frame SR220 and SV250 skid steers move to Tier 4 Interim with CEGR and DPF technology.
rated operating capacities by 100 lb. – to 1,850 lb. (839 kg) for the SR175 and 1,950 lb. (885 kg) for the SV185 – with optional counterweights.
The SR130 skid steer features a 2.2-liter ISM engine and moves from 46 to 49 gross hp. It also receives a 9.6 percent torque boost while maintaining its same dimensions.
The SR160 is an evolution of the SR150 skid steer and delivers seven percent more rated operating capacity and 17 percent more horsepower than the SR150. It has a 10 percent larger engine than the SR150 and a turbocharger to deliver 60 gross horsepower and a whopping 28 percent torque increase — a full 10 percent more than the existing version of the next size larger skid steer. Furthermore, the SR160 has 27 percent more breakout force over the SR150, making this compact frame skid steer an excellent entry-level machine for landscaping, construction and rental.
The SR175 and SV185 are designed for radial-path lift and vertical-path lifting, respectively. The SR175 boasts a 21 percent higher peak torque rise at 1800 rpm compared to the previous model, and goes from 60 to 67 gross hp, a 12 percent increase. While the SV185 remains at 60 gross hp, it has seven percent more torque than the previous version. Users also have the flexibility to increase the machines’
The larger SR220 and SV250 skid steers, which now move into Tier 4 Interim status, retain their 82 gross hp engine but receive a 14.2 percent increase in torque which makes them more powerful than the Tier 3 version of the larger 90 hp Case skid steer models. Customers are able to maximize their productivity with a smaller size class machine.
All six models now include a new electronic engine control that helps to maximize performance and ensure reliability. In addition, CAN-messaging capabilities will allow the customer to monitor and store diagnostic data points, some of which include hydraulic oil temperature, fuel rail pressure and even fuel tank level. Expanded control options are available on the SR130, SR160, SR175 and SV185, including factory-fit foot controls for the loader functions.
All six models build on the strengths of the Case Alpha Series — retaining the wide cab for operator comfort. Users still can take advantage of switchable control patterns available on all the models with optional electro-hydraulic (EH) controls. In addition, flow rates for auxiliary hydraulics on the SR175, SV185, SR220 and SV250 have been increased to allow operators to run attachments more productively.
www.casece.com
Cabbage maggot a problem in rutabaga production
By Dan Woolley
Rutabaga production in the Maritime provinces is taking a hit thanks to cabbage maggot.
Dr. Peggy Dixon, an entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based in St. John’s, N.L., is involved in research projects currently underway to control the pest. Control options include row covering, exclusion fencing or planting pest-resistant rutabaga, she said, adding that row covers used in conjunction with applications of Pyrinex (chlorpyrifos), the only pesticide registered for brassica crops.
The adult cabbage, which looks like a house fly, lays its eggs in the soil at the base of plants. The resulting cabbage maggot, once it hatches, feeds on the plant roots, attacking rutabaga, radishes, turnips, and in the early growing season, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower.
“You have to control the pest through all the growing season,” said Dr. Dixon, noting it tends to be a problem in transplants and young seedlings, which die, wilt, or become stunted.
Currently, AAFC has row cover trials underway at AAFC Buctouche, N.B., and AAFC St. John’s, N.L. Pest-resistant rutabaga trials are being held in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. Dr. Dixon
said AAFC’s research partners are Perennia in Nova Scotia and the P.E.I. Department of Agriculture.
In the U.K. there are no pesticides registered for use on rutabaga, so row covers – known as Wondermesh – are used. They are also available in Canada as Protek Net, said Dr. Dixon. The European-developed polyethylene row cover is reusable, lasts about eight to 10 years and transmits light and water to the crop. Dr. Dixon said equipment is available to both apply and remove the covers. They can be cut to order, the rolls varying in size from two to 25 metres wide and 50 to 250 metres long. The covers can be anchored by pegs or sandbags filled with crushed stone.
“For a really large row covering, you can forget sandbags or pegs,” Dr. Dixon said. “Simply plough along the edge of the row covering over the edge with soil.”
Good weed control is essential before applying the covering, according to Dr. Dixon, who added that AAFC conducted a trial using the pre-emergent herbicide, Lantrel, in 2012. The efficacy of Lantrel sprayed through mesh covering depends on the stage of weed growth, species of weed and spray pressure, she said, adding the economic analysis of these trials is yet to come.
On the P.E.I. trial site, researchers did not have to use Lantrel, as the weed pressure was very low, said Dr. Dixon.
In B.C., researchers are examining pesticide-impregnated eco-fencing, which is supported in 30-foot sections with rebar. When the flies are ready to lay their eggs, they fly low, hit the fence and are trapped in the fence’s overhang. Fenced plots can be up to four hectares in size and are gated. In Newfoundland, severe winds can stretch the fencing material, causing it to droop and sag. It is also difficult to drive in stakes for the fence in stony ground.
Dr. Dixon said the eco-fence is effective at keeping out flies – it has been shown to reduce insect egg numbers by up to 80 per cent – but it is less effective when cabbage maggot populations are high.
Field testing is also underway on four new cultivar lines of rutabagas developed at the University of Guelph. The cultivars are being compared to the existing industry standard, Laurentian.
There was no cabbage maggot damage when the cultivars were treated with chlorpyrifos in New Brunswick, noted Dr. Dixon, although there may be emerging resistance issues with the pesticide. In B.C., heavy rains washed the pesticide off. ❦
Field testing is underway on four new cultivar lines of rutabagas developed at the University of Guelph. The cultivars are being compared to the existing industry standard, Laurentian.
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