NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2025
2025 GROWER INSPECTIONSMINISTRY OF LABOUR / WSPS
The WSPS/MOL session for February 27th is put on pause due to the election. We will reach out to members as soon as possible on next steps and if the inspections will be happening this season.
NOTICE OF AGMS
The Notices of AGMs are included in this newsletter on page 2 and 3. Please be reminded to RSVP to sarah@ontariotenderfruit.ca as soon as possible.
TEMPORARY HELP AGENCIES
Reminder of Licencing Requirements and Obligations of Employers who hire Temp Agencies
A reminder that if you use a Temporary Help Agency, they must be licenced. You can check the status of companies at the following link: https://www.ontario.ca/page/licensingtemporary-help-agencies-and-recruiters
As an employer of temporary help agencies, there are certain requirements for record keeping, following Employment Standards/ Occupational Health and Safety/Workplace Safety and Insurance.
Link for additional details https://www. ontario.ca/page/temporary-help-agenciesand-recruiters-information-agri-foodbusinesses#section-4
WSPS WEBINAR- FEB 24TH AND APRIL 29TH
Are you a busy farmer or agricultural business
owner juggling multiple responsibilities? Do you find it challenging to understand and implement workplace health and safety requirements while keeping your operation profitable? If so, our upcoming webinar, “Managing Safety Without a Safety Department,” is for you!
Tips You’ll Learn:
• Risk Management: Learn how to spot and reduce hazards in your daily operations.
• Safety Protocols: Discover effective safety measures tailored to your farm’s unique needs, including risk assessments and controls.
• Compliance Tracking: Stay on top of industry regulations and standards effortlessly and find resources for workplace postings and record-keeping.
• Resource Management: Optimize your resources to maintain a safe working environment, with support from WSPS
Don’t miss this chance to boost your safety knowledge and protect your team! Register now to take the first step towards a safer, more productive farm.
Link to sign up can be found HERE.
2025 GREEN BOOK NOW AVAILABLE
Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) must be posted in the workplace, where employees can read it.
The 2025 Edition of the Pocket Ontario OH&S Act & Regulations (Consolidated Edition) reflects all legislative amendments announced up to 2025.
2025 NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS OF TENDER FRUIT GROWERS
Pre-registration is required. Please Email: sarah@ontariotenderfruit.ca and indicate which meeting you are attending.
Districts 3 & 4 – Essex, Kent and Lambton – Tuesday March 25,2024
Time: 12pm(lunch)– 3pm (in-person at Colasanti’s Tropical Garden) Agenda:
• Minutes March 26, 2023
• Presentation of 2024 financials
• Announcement of Auditors for next fiscal
• Chairman’s Report
• Secretary’s Report
• Cedar Springs Report – John Zandstra
• Life Cycle Analysis Project Updates- Larissa Osborne
• Elections to Grower Committee
• Election of Directors
• Other Business
District 5 – Haldimand-Norfolk- Wednesday March 26,2025
Time: 9:00am – via zoom (zoom link will be sent to registered attendees) Business Section Agenda:
• Minutes March 27, 2024
• Presentation of 2024 financials
• Announcement of Auditors for next fiscal
• Chairman’s Report
• Secretary’s Report
• Elections to Grower Committee
• Election of Directors
• Other Business
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF ALL PRODUCERS AND Districts 1 & 2 Grower Committee Elections– Niagara- Thursday March 27,2025
Time and Place: 9:30am to approx. 1:30pm– In person at Hilton Garden Inn 500 York Road NOTL
Agenda:
9:30am: WSPS/MOL- To be confirmed 10:30am Life Cycle Analysis Research Project Updates- Larissa Osborne
11:00am Business Section:
• Presentation of 2024 financials
• Announcement of auditors for next fiscal
• Minutes March 28, 2024
• Chairman’s Report
• Secretary’s Report
• Elections to Grower Committee, set first meeting
12:15pm: Buffet Lunch
AGENDA OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Time: 10:00 am
Date: Tuesday March 4, 2025
Place: GRAPE & TENDER FRUIT (ONTARIO) LIMITED – Board Office
1634 South Service Road, St. Catharines, Ontario L2R 6P9
AGENDA:
▪ Auditors’ Report
▪ Minutes – Feb 29, 2024
▪ Business arising from the minutes
▪ Chairman’s Report
▪ Secretary’s Report
▪ Electoral Districts
▪ Elections – 2025 Fresh Grape Growers’ Committee
▪ Any other business
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND SKILLS PROGRAM
The Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP) will contribute approximately $13.5 million to projects that employ youth and youth facing barriers. Each project will be eligible to receive up to $14,000 in matching funds to employ one (1) employee. Agriculture and AgriFood Canada is one of several Government of Canada departments participating in the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.
The intake period is now open. Submit your application on or before February 24, 2025.
Important changes to the program start in 2025
• Changes to past employee eligibility
• New employment requirements for employer
• Updates to eligibility of certain barrier-related costs
• Learn more about eligibility
Complete your application form visit: https://agriculture. canada.ca/en/programs/youth-employment-and-skills/ step-5-complete-application-apply
PMRA DELAYS NEW TANK MIX POLICY
PMRA announced the implementation timeline for the updated tank mix labelling policy has been delayed until December 20, 2025.
The previous policy remains in effect for now: tank mixing is permitted unless it is specifically prohibited on the label. The agency has stated the large volume of applications PMRA is currently processing is the reason for the delay.
The tank mix policy can be found HERE
KEN FORTH INDUCTED INTO THE ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL HALL OF FAME
We are pleased to announce that Ken Forth has been inducted into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame.
The ceremony will take place Sunday June 8th, 2025, in Elora. To order tickets and to see additional details on Ken and the other inductees please visit https://www. oahf.on.ca/
PMRA RE-EVALUATION DECISIONIMMEDIATE DISCONTINUATION OF LAMBDACYHALOTHRIN ON PEACHES AND APPLES
As a result of a recent update to the re-evaluation decision of lambda-cyhalothrin by PMRA, several uses were cancelled due to human health concerns, particularly to vulnerable populations such as infants, seniors, children, and pregnant women. Effective February 3, 2025, products containing lambda-cyhalothrin (Labamba, Matador, Silencer, Zivata) may no longer be used on peaches or apples. All uses on other tender fruit are retained.
For further information, see the link below: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/ consumer-product-safety/reports-publications/ pesticides-pest-management/fact-sheets-otherresources/information-note-changes-registered-useslambda-cyhalothrin.html
New labels can be found HERE.
AGRICORP SEEKING REGIONAL SPECIALIST
Agricorp is looking for a Regional Specialist in or nearby to Essex or Kent county in the Southwest region of Ontario with crop specialties that include grapes, tender fruit and specialty crops to provide senior technical expertise and consultation to Agricorp clients and staff.
This opportunity will appeal to those interested in representing Agricorp locally, while also providing sector and commodity expertise provincially to the Regional Services team in the Program Delivery division.
To review the job posting and/or apply, please go to www.agricorp.com and select Careers. Click on Current Opportunities, select Regional Specialist (Southwestern Region)
UPCOMING AGRIWEBINARS ON AGRISTABILITY AND AGRIINVEST
Program Changes under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership - 2 Live Sessions!
• Session 1: AgriStability - Wednesday, March 12 @ 11
a.m. Central / 12 p.m. Eastern
• Session 2: AgriInvest - Wednesday, March 19 @ 11
a.m. Central / 12 p.m. Eastern
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) invites you to join us for two free webinars focused on the AgriStability and AgriInvest programs!
Whether you can make one or both, these sessions will provide valuable insights on the AgriStability and AgriInvest programs, important changes coming for the 2025 program year, and how you may benefit from participating.
Note: Information presented during the webinars is applicable in provinces where the programs are delivered by AAFC.
Session 1: Overview of AgriStability and Program Changes
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 12 at 11 a.m. Central / 12 p.m. Eastern
Topics to be covered include:
• AgriStability overview
• program deadlines
• tax-aligned reference margins
• coverage notices
• My AAFC Account online service
Session 2: Overview of AgriInvest and Program Changes
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 19 at 11 a.m. Central / 12 p.m. Eastern.
Topics to be covered include:
• AgriInvest overview
• Agri-environmental Risk Assessment (AERA)
• My AAFC Account online service
You will have the opportunity to submit questions to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) officials in advance and during the live webinar.
Don’t miss out! Register for one or both webinars here: https://fmc-gac.com/aafc-scap-agriwebinar/