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Fall 2016/Automne 2016 Canada Post Mail Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 FreshThinking Idées fraîches THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL PUBLICATION OFFICIELLE DU CONSEIL CANADIEN DE L’HORTICULTURE How Technology is Being Incorporated to Help Growers Adapt

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL … · THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL PUBLICATION OFFICIELLE DU CONSEIL CANADIEN DE L’HORTICULTURE

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Page 1: THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL … · THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL PUBLICATION OFFICIELLE DU CONSEIL CANADIEN DE L’HORTICULTURE

Fall 2016/Automne 2016

Canada Post Mail Publications Agreement Number: 40609661

FreshThinkingIdéesfraîches

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL

PUBLICATION OFFICIELLE DU CONSEIL CANADIEN DE

L’HORTICULTURE

How Technology is Being Incorporated to Help Growers Adapt

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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL 5

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE DES MATIÈRES

FreshThinkingPublished For: Canadian Horticultural Council Le conseil canadien de l’horticulture 102 – 2200 Prince of Wales Drive Ottawa, ON K2E 6Z9 Tel: (613) 226-4880 • Fax: (613) 226-4497 Email: [email protected] Web: www.hortcouncil.ca

Published By: Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Publication Mail Agreement Number: 40609661 Return Undeliverable Addresses to: 309 Youville Street Winnipeg, MB R2H 2S9 Toll Free Phone: (866) 999-1299 Toll Free Fax: (866) 244-2544 www.matrixgroupinc.net

President & CEO Jack Andress

Operations Manager Shoshana Weinberg [email protected]

Publishers Peter Schulz, Jessica Potter

Editor-in-Chief Shannon Savory [email protected]

Senior Editor Alexandra Walld [email protected]

Finance/Administration Pat Andress, Nathan Redekop, Lloyd Weinberg [email protected]

Director of Circulation & Distribution Lloyd Weinberg [email protected]

Sales Manager Neil Gottfred

Sales Team Leader Colleen Bell

Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Account Executives Bonnie Petrovsky, Brian MacIntyre, Brittany Haw, Dakota Pinzon, Dan Brennan, David MacDonald, Donna Krickovic, Frank Kenyeres, Janet Sharpe, Jeff Cash, Jim Hamilton, Joanne Haley, John Lesiw, Kelly Rattray, Kevin Harris, Lucas Phelps, Matt Potts, Paul Kochuk, Renée Kent, Rick Kuzie, Rob Gibson, Roxanne LaForme, Stephanie Chisholm, Thomas Watson

Layout & Design Travis Bevan

Advertising Design James Robinson

©2016 Matrix Group Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Matrix Group Publishing Inc.

UP FRONT07 A Message from Keith Kuhl, President of the Canadian

Horticultural Council / Un message de Keith Kuhl, président du Conseil canadien de l’horticulture

11 A Message from Rebecca Lee, Executive Director of the Canadian Horticultural Council / Un message de Rebecca Lee, directrice générale du Conseil canadien de l’horticulture

FEATURES14 Making the Most of Data on the Farm / Tirer le maximum des

données recueillies à la ferme

22 How Technology is Being Incorporated to Help Growers Adapt

24 Compilation of the Celebration of Advances in Plant Science Technology and Innovation

27 Working Together to Make Potato Farming More Sustainable / Accroître la durabilité de la culture de la pomme de terre grâce à la collaboration

31 The Myths and Realities of Canada’s Temporary and Seasonal Foreign Worker Programs

NEWS30 Creating a Legacy

32 CHC Summer Tours Bring Together Learning and Passion / Les tournées estivales du CCH réunissent des gens passionnés qui aiment apprendre

34 Canadian Agri-Science Cluster for Horticulture 2 / Grappe agro-scientifique canadienne pour l’horticulture 2

36 CHC Supports Growers on PMRA Re-Evaluations

37 Save the Date for CHC’s Annual Meeting

37 Check out CHC’s New Website

38 BUYER’S GUIDE

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LA PUBLICATION OFFICIELLE DU CONSEIL CANADIEN DE L’HORTICULTURE 7

We have seen many changes at the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) since our last annual meeting. In early

August, we welcomed Dr. Rebecca Lee to CHC as our executive director. Rebecca started working part-time during August and full-time as of early September. One of the first tasks has been to fill the communication and policy, research and development positions. Rebecca has a strong background in horticulture and strategic planning, and she was previ-ously with the North American Plant Protection Organization.

I also want to welcome Julie Paillat to CHC. Julie has accepted the role of national coordinator for the greenhouse and vegetable sector, and she started work in September.

The past months have been a transition period for CHC. It has been my pleasure to work closely with CHC staff during this time. Thank you to CHC staff for your dedication to our industry. It has been a pleasure to see the team in action.

Some highlights from the past months include:• June 29: We had a farewell dinner for Anne Fowlie with CHC

partners. Thank you to Peak of the Market for hosting this event.• July 6: CHC summer Board of Directors meeting in Vancouver.• July 7: CHC summer tour in the BC Lower Mainland. Thank you

to BC caucus for hosting and to all of our sponsors and host farms on the tour. • Sponsors included BC Blueberries (Platinum), BC Greenhouse

Growers Association (Gold), BC Vegetable Marketing Commission (Gold), Farm Credit Canada (Gold) BC Fresh (Gold), Calais Farms Ltd. (Silver), Terralink (Silver), and BC Cranberry Marketing Commission (Bronze).

• Special thanks to Bill and Sandra Zylmans for hosting the din-ner. We appreciate your willingness to open your home to the group.

• Thank you to the farms who hosted us including: Sunnyside Greenhouses Ltd., Krause Berry Farms & Estate Winery, Heppell’s Potato Corp., Driediger Farms Ltd., and Westcoast Lawns/Envirosmart Organics Ltd.

• July 18: Meeting with staff to introduce Rebecca Lee to staff as the executive director of CHC.

• August 15 and 16: Orienting Rebecca on CHC files.• August 17: CHC hosted a tour with colleagues from the Pest

Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), the Pest Management Centre and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. We had a full bus-load of participants, and we visited three farms in the Sherrington area south of Montreal. During the visits, the farms demonstrated

Le Conseil canadien de l’horticul-ture (CCH) a connu de nombreux changements depuis sa dernière assemblée annuelle. Au début du

mois d’août, Rebecca Lee s’est jointe à l’équi-pe à titre de directrice générale. Elle a tra-

vaillé à temps partiel pendant le mois d’août et depuis septembre, elle est à temps plein. Parmi ses premières tâches, elle pourvoira les postes en communications et en développement de politique et recherche. Rebecca possède plusieurs années d’expérience en horti-culture et en planification stratégique, et elle occupait tout récem-ment un poste au sein de l’Organisation nord-américaine pour la protection des plantes.

Je profite également de l’occasion pour souhaiter la bienvenue à Julie Paillat. Julie accepté le poste de coordinatrice nationale pour le secteur des légumes de serre, et elle a commencé à travailler en septembre.

Le CCH a vécu une période de transition au cours des derniers mois. J’ai alors eu le plaisir de collaborer étroitement avec les membres du personnel du CCH. Je les remercie de leur dévouement envers notre industrie. Quel privilège de les voir à l’œuvre!

Voici quelques faits saillants des derniers mois :• 29 juin : Nous avons organisé un repas de départ en l’honneur

d’Anne Fowlie avec partenaires du CCH. Merci à l’hôte de l’activ-ité, Peak of the Market.

• 6 juillet : Rencontre estivale du conseil d’administration du CCH à Vancouver.

• 7 juillet : Tournée estivale du CCH dans le Lower Mainland, en Colombie-Britannique. Merci à l’équipe de la Colombie-Britannique, qui a organisé la tournée, ainsi qu’à tous nos com-manditaires et aux exploitations agricoles. • BC Blueberry Council (platine), BC Greenhouse Growers’

Association (or), BC Vegetable Marketing Commission (or), Financement agricole Canada (or), BCfresh (or), Calais Farms Ltd (argent), Terralink (argent) et BC Cranberry Marketing Commission (bronze) ont commandité la tournée.

• Un merci particulier à Bill et à Sandra Zylmans pour avoir offert le souper. Nous vous remercions d’avoir accepté de nous recevoir dans votre maison.

• Merci aux exploitations agricoles qui nous ont accueillis : Sunnyside Greenhouses Ltd., Krause Berry Farms & Estate Winery, Heppell’s Potato Corporation, Driediger Farms Ltd. et Westcoast Lawns/Envirosmart Organics Ltd.

• 18 juillet : Rencontre pour présenter Rebecca Lee, nouvelle direc-trice générale du CCH, au personnel.

A MESSAGE from Keith Kuhl

President of the Canadian

Horticultural Council

UN MESSAGEde Keith Kuhl

président du Conseil

canadien de l’horticulture

continued on page 9 suite à la page 9

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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL 9

• 15 et 16 août : Journées consacrées à la présentation des dossiers du CCH à Rebecca.

• 17 août : Le CCH a organisé une tournée en compagnie de col-lègues de l’Agence de réglementation de la lutte antiparasitaire (ARLA), le Centre de la lutte antiparasitaire et d’Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada. Avec un autobus rempli de participants, nous avons visité trois exploitations agricoles de la région de Sherrington, au sud de Montréal. Au cours des visites, les exploit-ations ont montré comment elles tiraient parti des sciences, des technologies et de l’innovation pour appuyer leur production, y compris la sélection et l’application des produits de protection des cultures. • Merci à Jocelyn St-Denis, qui a organisé cette tournée. • Nous remercions également Les Serres Lefort, les Vergers

Écologiques Philion et VegPro International pour leur accueil. • Merci à l’Association des producteurs maraîchers du Québec et

à VegPro International, qui ont tenu le dîner.• 18 août : Rebecca et moi avons participé à la tournée estivale de

l’Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, dans la région d’Alliston. La tournée, qui comptait trois fermes de pommes de terre, a offert à Rebecca une occasion en or de rencontrer certains de nos membres. Merci au conseil de l’OFVGA pour l’invitation et l’accueil.

• 19 et 20 août : Rebecca et moi avons assisté à des rencontres de l’Association québécoise de la distribution de fruits et légumes à Montréal. Rebecca a pu y rencontrer de nombreux membres et partenaires de l’industrie. La confiance du public et l’acceptabilité sociale continuent de

gagner en importance. Au cours de la dernière année, j’ai participé à plusieurs rencontres pour me tenir informé des derniers développe-ments. Ces questions sont importantes, et je pense que nous devons nous mobiliser, mais aussi que notre industrie a une excellente histoire à raconter. Les fruits et les légumes que nous cultivons sont indispens-ables à une alimentation saine. Les programmes comme CanadaGAP continuent de garantir que la salubrité des aliments demeure une grande priorité de notre industrie. Les règlements établis par des organismes gouvernementaux, comme l’ARLA et l’Agence canadienne d’inspection des aliments, font en sorte que nos activités respectent les normes. Nous avons une importante histoire à raconter, nous devons la faire connaître, et mettre en valeur nos exploitations agricoles et notre industrie.

how science, technology and innovation are used in crop pro-duction including selection and application of crop protection products.• Thank you to Jocelyn St-Denis for your work in organizing this

tour. • Thank you to Les Serres Lefort, Philion Ecological Orchards

and VegPro International for opening your farms to the tour. • Thank you to the Quebec Produce Growers Association and

VegPro International for hosting the lunch.• August 18: Rebecca and I attended the Ontario Fruit and

Vegetable Growers’ Association summer tour in the Alliston area. The tour featured three potato farms. This provided an excellent opportunity to introduce Rebecca to some of our members. Thank you to the OFVGA Board for including and hosting us.

• August 19 & 20: Rebecca and I attended the Quebec Produce Marketing Association meetings in Montreal. This venue also allowed Rebecca to meet many members and industry partners.

Public Trust/Social License is a topic that continues to build momentum. I have attended a number of meetings over the past year to remain informed. I believe the topic is important, and I believe that we need to be engaged, but I also believe that our industry has the best story to tell. The fruit and vegetables that we produce provide the best nutrition. Programs such as CanadaGAP continue to provide assur-ance that Food Safety is a high priority for our industry. Regulation provided by government departments such as the PMRA and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency ensure that our operations meet and exceed standards. We have a story to tell, we need to get out and tell the story, and we need to showcase our farms and our industry.

Public Trust/Social License is a topic that continues to build momentum...I believe that we need to be engaged, but I also believe that our industry has the best story to tell.

continued from page 7 suite de la page 7

CALENDRIER

31 octobre au 3 novembre 2016 40e l’assemlbée annuelle du l’Organisation nord-américaine pour la protection des végétaux Montreal (Quebec)

4 au 13 novembre 2016 Foire royale d’hiver agricole Toronto (Ontario)

11 novembre 2016 Gala l’annuel du l’Association du Ontario Produce Marketing AssociationVaughn (Ontario)

21 au 23 novembre 2016 La récolte d’automne Ottawa (Ontario)

21 au 23 novembre 2016 50ème l’annuel conférence et salon des pommes de terre au l’Alberta Banff (Alberta)

8 décembre 2016 L’assemlbée générale annuelle du CanadaGAP Ottawa (Ontario)

10 au 11 janvier 2017 L’assemlbée générale annuelle du l’Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Lieu à determine

22 au 23 février 2017 Convention du fruits et vegetable au Ontario Niagara Falls (Ontario)

14 au 16 mars 2017 L’assemlbée générale annuelle du CCH Winnipeg (Manitoba)

CALENDAR

October 31 to November 3, 2016 40th Annual Meeting of the North American Plant Protection Organization Montreal, Quebec

November 4 to 13, 2016 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Toronto, Ontario

November 11, 2016 / Ontario Produce Marketing Association’s Annual GalaVaughn, Ontario

November 21 to 23, 2016 Fall Harvest Ottawa, Ontario

November 21 to 23, 201650th Annual Alberta Potato Conference and Trade ShowBanff, Alberta

December 8, 2016CanadaGAP Annual General Meeting Ottawa, Ontario

January 10 and 11, 2017Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Annual General Meeting Location to be determined

February 22 and 23, 2017Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention Niagara Falls, Ontario

March 14 to 16, 2017CHC Annual General MeetingWinnipeg, Manitoba

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LA PUBLICATION OFFICIELLE DU CONSEIL CANADIEN DE L’HORTICULTURE 11

UN MESSAGE de Rebecca Lee

directrice générale du Conseil canadien de

l’horiculture

A MESSAGE from Rebecca Lee Executive Director of the Canadian Horticultural Council

A s the new executive director of the Canadian Horticultural Council, it is my pleasure to introduce you to the Fall 2016 edition of Fresh

Thinking. Barely a few days into the position, I found myself heavily

immersed in field tours that provided me with wonderful oppor-tunities not only to update myself on the state of Canadian horti-culture, but even more importantly, to meet with our member organizations. From organically grown peppers and cucumbers, to a wide variety of lettuces for mixed salads, and a U-Pick orchard producing apples and pears and their own ice wine, CHC invited representatives of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency and the Pest Management Centre on a farm tour in the Montreal area to provide first-hand examples of safe pesticide application. It was evident from the discussions that growers are very much aware of best practices in applications and use pesticides well below the recommended maximum dosages. I was also most impressed by the multiple examples of precision technology being used, ensuring that resources are used efficiently and only when needed in produc-tion of crops.

Over in Ontario, in the Alliston area north of Toronto, we were treated to a tour of potato farms during the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association summer tour. These multi-gener-ational farms base their choice of varieties on the results of local research trials which draw on the genetics available across North

À titre de nouvelle directrice générale du Conseil canadien de l’horticulture, j’ai le plaisir de vous présenter le numéro d’automne 2016 d’Idées fraîches.

Quelques jours après mon arrivée, j’ai été plongée dans différentes tournées sur le terrain, lesquelles m’ont offert d’excellentes occasions d’actualiser mes connaissances sur l’horticulture canadienne, mais aussi, et surtout, de rencontrer nos organismes mem-bres. Le CCH a invité des représentants de l’Agence de réglementation de la lutte antiparasitaire et du Centre de la lutte antiparasitaire à une tournée d’exploitations agricoles dans la région de Montréal afin de montrer des exemples d’application sûre de pesticides. Poivrons et con-combres biologiques, grande variété de laitues pour créer des mescluns, vergers avec service d’autocueillette produisant pommes, poires et vin de glace : les visites étaient fort diversifiées. Grâce aux discussions, il est devenu évident que les producteurs sont très au fait des meilleures pratiques en matière d’application et qu’ils utilisent les pesticides bien en deçà des doses maximales recommandées. J’ai aussi été fort impressionnée par les nombreux exemples de technologies de précision utilisées pour vérifier que les ressources sont utilisées efficacement et seulement lorsqu’elles sont requises.

En Ontario, dans la région d’Alliston au nord de Toronto, nous avons visité des fermes de pommes de terre dans le cadre de la tournée estivale de l’Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. Ces fermes multigénérationnelles ont choisi leurs variétés selon les résultats d’essais locaux, dans le cadre desquels on a utilisé des variétés de pom-mes de terre d’Amérique du Nord et du Pérou. Il était rassurant de constater que nous avons des producteurs qui développent activement de nouvelles variétés par croisement.

With all the new

technology available in so

many other sectors, which

of those can we adapt

or integrate usefully to

horticulture?

Parmi toutes ces nouvelles

t e c h n o l o g i e s p r é s e n t e s d a n s

un grand nombre de secteurs,

lesquelles pouvons-nous adapter

et intégrer de façon efficace à

l’horticulture?

continued on page 13 suite à la page 13

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12 FRESH THINKING | FALL 2016

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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL 13

America and from Peru. It was reassuring to see that we have pro-ducers who are actively breeding new varieties.

Throughout the visits, the interest and possibilities for involving the next generation(s) in the business was manifest. Discussions during the Quebec Produce Marketing Association and its Next Generation Intern program also brought out these efforts to ensure not only the continuity of horticulture in Canada but also the environmentally friendly production practices using the best educa-tion and technology available.

And this leads me to some questions that have begun shaping in my mind. With all the new technology available in so many other sectors, which of those can we adapt or integrate usefully to horticul-ture? We know that climate change is one of the major topics for our federal government and internationally as well. Are we in a position to demonstrate our impact? As climate change is a priority for gov-ernments, it is likely that funding will be available for us to work on the issue. I look forward to meeting members and producers across Canada; it will be through conversations that I will gain the ability to represent you and your issues. What impacts are our businesses having on climate change and how is, or might, climate change affect our sector five, ten, 20 years down the road? What consider-ations need to be made now to ensure that Canadian horticulture is resilient or can make the necessary adaptations? What new synergies can we create to make the most of investments, both in your busi-nesses and at CHC?

Many thanks to the CHC staff for keeping all the programs on track and to the board of directors for their active and ongoing sup-port during this transition period. A special thanks to Keith Kuhl, president of CHC, for facilitating my attendance at all of these events and my integration and understanding of the CHC files.

Au fil des visites, l’intérêt de faire participer les prochaines généra-tions, et les possibilités à cet égard, sautaient aux yeux. Pendant les ren-contres de l’Association québécoise de la distribution de fruits et légumes et les discussions au sujet de son programme Cultivons la relève, il a été question des efforts qui visent à assurer la continuité en horticulture au Canada, mais aussi de l’adoption de pratiques de production écologiques qui s’appuient sur les meilleures connaissances et technologies.

Voilà qui m’amène à parler de certaines questions qui ont germé dans mon esprit. Parmi toutes ces nouvelles technologies présentes dans un grand nombre de secteurs, lesquelles pouvons-nous adapter et intégrer de façon efficace à l’horticulture? Il est évident que les changements clima-tiques sont un sujet chaud pour le gouvernement fédéral, mais aussi à l’échelle internationale. Sommes-nous en mesure de faire partie de la solu-tion? Comme les changements climatiques constituent une priorité pour le gouvernement, nous aurons probablement accès à des fonds pour nous attaquer à la question. Il me tarde de rencontrer les membres et produc-teurs de partout au Canada; c’est en discutant avec eux que je pourrai bien vous représenter et défendre vos intérêts. Quelle incidence nos entreprises ont-elles sur les changements climatiques? Comment ces changements influent-ils ou influeront-ils sur notre secteur dans cinq, dix ou vingt ans? Quels éléments devons-nous prendre en considération dès maintenant pour faire en sorte que l’horticulture canadienne soit suffisamment résili-ente ou qu’elle puisse s’adapter? Quelles nouvelles synergies pouvons-nous établir pour tirer pleinement parti des investissements, tant à l’échelle de nos entreprises qu’à celle du CCH?

Je tiens à remercier le personnel du CCH, qui a su maintenir les pro-grammes sur la bonne voie, et le conseil d’administration pour son soutien actif et continu au cours de cette période de transition. Un merci particuli-er à Keith Kuhl, président du CCH, qui a facilité ma participation à tous ces événements et de me familiariser avec les dossiers du CCH.

continued from page 11 suite de la page 11

Contact us / Contactez nous :Tel. / Téléphone : (613) 226-4880

E-mail / Courriel : [email protected]

Twitter : @CHC_CCH

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14 IDÉES FRAÎCHES | AUTOMNE 2016

It’s early Monday morning and Winkler, MB potato farmer Marlon Kuhl has a list of tasks he must accomplish for the day. After taking one last swig of coffee, he grabs his keys and heads out to the truck. Today, he plans to test his soil’s electrical conductivity (EC) using soil

EC sensors by Veris Technology. The sensors will measure how much electrical current the soil

can conduct, which is an effective way to map soil texture and set up management zones. Kuhl is looking forward to reading the results. While they won’t tell him why the problems exist, they will tell him where to focus his efforts.

They will help him to set up new soil sampling locations, in creat-ing variable rate seeding prescriptions and to better manage nutrient

Nous sommes lundi, au petit matin. Marlon Kuhl, producteur de pommes de terre de Winkler, au Manitoba, a toute une liste de tâches pour la journée. Il avale une dernière gorgée de café avant d’attraper ses clés et de se diriger vers son camion.

Aujourd’hui, il compte évaluer la conductivité électrique du sol à l’aide de capteurs produits par Veris Technologies. Cet équipement sert à mesurer l’intensité du courant électrique que le sol peut conduire, ce qui constitue une façon efficace de déterminer sa texture et de le diviser en zones de gestion. Kuhl est impatient de connaître les résultats. Bien que ceux-ci ne révéleront pas la cause du problème, ils lui permettront tout de même de savoir où concentrer ses efforts. Ils l’aideront à choisir de nouveaux lieux d’échantillonnage, à élaborer des prescriptions d’ensemencement à taux

Tirer le maximum des données

recueillies à la ferme

Making the Most of Data on the Farm

By Melanie Epp Par Melanie Epp

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LA PUBLICATION OFFICIELLE DU CONSEIL CANADIEN DE L’HORTICULTURE 15

variable et à mieux gérer l’épandage d’engrais. Il pourra ainsi améliorer son bilan économique tout en réduisant son empreinte environnementale.

Kuhl n’est pas le seul agriculteur à recueillir et à utiliser diverses données sur la ferme, mais il fait peut-être des rares à le faire aussi bien. Peu importe la tâche, il utilise une application, un logiciel ou un docu-ment Excel pour consigner de l’information qui lui servira plus tard. Il tient un registre du rendement des terres afin de déterminer quelles variétés et quels champs sont les plus productifs. Plus tard, il utilisera ces données pour modifier les prescriptions d’engrais dans les champs dont le rendement laisse à désirer. Selon lui, continuer à fertiliser de façon uni-forme serait inefficace et entraînerait même du gaspillage dans certains cas.

Souvent, Kuhl consulte des images satellites et aériennes pour confirm-er ce qu’il sait déjà. Cette approche s’avère particulièrement utile pour la

applications. And this, in turn, will help him to farm more sustainably, both economically and environmentally.

Kuhl isn’t the only farmer to gather and use data on the farm, but he might just be one of the few who does it well. Just about everything he does is stored for later use, whether it is through an application, in soft-ware or in an Excel document. Kuhl uses yield records to map out which fields and varieties are performing well and which ones aren’t. Later, he will use those maps to change fertilizer prescriptions in those fields that continuously perform poorly. To continue to fertilize at a uniform rate would be ineffective and in some cases wasteful, says Kuhl.

Often, Kuhl uses satellite and aerial imagery to “ground truth” what he already knows. It’s particularly helpful when it comes to drainage planning.

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16 FRESH THINKING | FALL 2016

“You’re going to see different changes or trends in your field, and you can make sure what you thought was right is what’s actually happening,” he says.

More often used as a buzzword, the definition of “sustainability” has grown to include social, economic and environmental concerns. Most can be measured by tracking data, too. Kuhl, for instance, tracks on-farm input costs to ensure that each acre is productive and that his methods are economically viable. After all, no farm owner can claim that his or her business is sustainable if it’s not making money.

Field vegetable and potato producers aren’t the only ones collecting and using data to better their businesses. Glen Snoek, marketing and economic policy analyst at Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, says that the horticultural sector is more engaged than any other sector. The sector has some sizable operations, each of which requires very precise management.

Two or three employees are necessary to manage each acre, so a 100-acre greenhouse operation means having to coordinate 200 individual employees, managing what they’re doing and the crops they’re harvesting.

“To manage an operation that size is a monumental task,” highlights Snoek.

But management is so fine-tuned that growers are able to tell retailers which row a given product was grown in and who picked it. Using a bar-code, which is placed at the end of each row, harvesters can scan in and out as they work.

Growers will also track insect population and disease using data they’ve collected. Waste is minimized by constantly evaluating

planification du drainage. « Vous allez constater divers changements ou différentes tendances sur vos terres, et vous pouvez vérifier si ce que vous pensiez est exact », explique Kuhl.

Très à la mode, le concept de « durabilité » s’étend maintenant aux questions d’ordre social, économique et environnemental. La plupart de ces aspects peuvent être mesurés grâce au suivi des données. Kuhl, par exemple, surveille le coût des intrants à la ferme pour s’assurer que chaque acre est productif et que ses méthodes sont économiquement viables. Après tout, aucun propriétaire de ferme ne peut prétendre que son entre-prise est durable si elle ne rapporte pas d’argent.

Les producteurs de légumes de plein champ et de pommes de terre ne sont pas les seuls à recueillir des données pour améliorer leurs activités. Glen Snoek, analyste en marketing et en politique économique au sein de l’organisme Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, mentionne que le secteur horticole arrive bon premier à ce chapitre. Ce secteur comprend de grandes exploitations qui doivent être dirigées de façon très rigoureuse.

Deux ou trois employés sont nécessaires pour gérer chaque acre. Ainsi, pour une exploitation de culture en serre de 100 acres, c’est 200 employés que vous devez coordonner, en gérant leurs tâches et les produits qu’ils récoltent.

« Diriger une exploitation de cette taille représente un travail colossal », souligne Snoek.

Mais l’opération est réglée avec tellement de précision que les produc-teurs sont en mesure de dire aux détaillants dans quel rang tel ou tel pro-duit a poussé, et même qui l’a cueilli. Chaque rang est en effet identifié par un code-barres que les cueilleurs balaient pour marquer leur progression.

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ventilation and recirculation systems that recapture unused nutrients. This lowers input costs and prevents harmful waste. Depending on where the grower sells, requirements will be different. Plus, there are also governmental requirements to consider. Increasingly, retailers put pressure on growers for more traceability to meet food safety standards and show environmental performance, says Snoek. These demands lead to information overload.

Often, equipment manufacturers supply the data collection sys-tems. “They charge a fortune to give growers access to that internal data,” says Snoek. “Some of the extensions to these systems are very expensive and so that’s a constraint we have. It’s one thing to buy the system, for example, for $200,000, but then to actually spend another $50,000 or $60,000 to buy the software add-on that allows you to tie it into other systems you already have, the costs are getting onerous after a while.”

There are systems in place to ease the administrative burden, though. Founded in 2004, Agrian has the goal of providing a single source, easy-to-use solution for retailers, crop advisors, growers and food processors. The platform, says Agrian CEO and founder Nishan Majarian, helps agri-business professionals to capture intelligence that results in improvement on farm and increased agronomic precisions.

The challenge, says Majarian, is that the majority of ag data sources are fragmented. Their goal is to integrate those sources. In the United States, where Agrian first launched, the company has created a label-checking database, the largest in the country, giving farmers access to quick, reliable information. Agrian incorporates field equipment data with mapping and input reports. Basic accounts are free, and the applications can be used anytime, anywhere.

Unlike some software providers, Agrian does not deal with data, nor do they own it. “We provide the software, but we don’t do anything with it,” says Majarian. “The data originator owns the data.”

Agrian has helped growers comply with new regulations, in some cases as quickly as the day they come into effect. For growers who work with different crops, it can be difficult to manage all of the different crop solu-tions not only for food safety compliance but also to meet retailer-specific requirements. Sometimes, the rules change with little warning but full compliance is expected immediately.

To assist growers, Agrian built a tool that helped them to better report their usage. It was ready for use the morning the rule came into effect.

À l’aide des données qu’ils recueillent, les producteurs peuvent égale-ment surveiller les populations d’insectes et les maladies. La quantité de résidus produits est limitée par l’évaluation constante des systèmes de ventilation et de recirculation qui captent les nutriments inutilisés. Le coût des intrants s’en trouve réduit, tout comme la production de déchets nocifs. En fonction de l’endroit où le producteur écoule sa marchandise, les exigences peuvent varier. Il faut aussi tenir compte des règles établies par les gouvernements. Les détaillants s’attendent de plus en plus à ce que les producteurs augmentent la traçabilité de leurs produits afin de répon-dre aux normes de salubrité des aliments et de protéger l’environnement, explique Snoek. Ces demandes entraînent un excès d’information.

Souvent, ce sont les fabricants d’équipement eux-mêmes qui fournis-sent les systèmes de collecte de données. « Les producteurs doivent leur verser une petite fortune pour accéder à leurs données internes, » explique Snoek. « Certaines extensions pour ces systèmes sont très coûteuses, ce qui nous pose problème. Payer, disons, 200 000 $ pour acheter un système, c’est une chose, mais de devoir débourser 50 ou 60 000 $ de plus pour se procurer le logiciel d’appoint qui vous permettra de relier ce système à ceux que vous avez déjà, c’en est une autre, ajoute-t-il. À la longue, ça devient extrêmement onéreux. »

Heureusement, il existe des moyens de réduire le fardeau administratif. Fondée en 2004, la société Agrian s’est donnée pour mission d’offrir une solution complète et conviviale aux détaillants, aux conseillers en culture, aux producteurs et aux transformateurs d’aliments. Selon le fondateur et chef de la direction d’Agrian, Nishan Majarian, la plateforme aide les pro-fessionnels de l’agroalimentaire à exploiter les données en vue d’améliorer les rendements à la ferme et à accroître la précision agronomique.

Le défi, poursuit-il, réside dans le fait que les sources de données sont en grande partie fragmentées. L’objectif de l’entreprise est donc d’intégrer ces multiples sources. Aux États-Unis, où elle a vu le jour, Agrian a mis sur pied la plus grande base de données de contrôle des étiquettes au pays, laquelle permet aux producteurs d’obtenir rapidement des renseignements fiables. Agrian combine les données provenant de l’équipement de terrain et celles de rapports de schématisation et de rapports sur les intrants. L’ouverture d’un compte de base est gratuite et les applications peuvent être utilisées à tout moment et en tout lieu.

Contrairement à d’autres fournisseurs de logiciels, Agrian ne gère pas elle-même les données et n’en est pas propriétaire. « Nous fournissons le système, mais ce n’est pas nous qui l’exploitons, » explique Majarian.

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MAKING THE MOST OF DATA

All growers collect data in some shape or form. Many, though, admit that they don’t use most of what they collect. Why is that? Many say they find the sheer amount of data overwhelming. Some don’t even know where to start.

This is where companies like Farm Credit Canada (FCC) come in. Not only does FCC offer data management tools, like Field Manager Pro, but it also produ-ces education videos to teach growers how

to better use the data they collect. Kevin Stewart, president of AgVision Media, is host of several of FCC’s videos.

“One could argue that our ever-improv-ing ability to measure and collect this infor-mation challenges our capacity to fully understand or draw value from the num-bers,” says Stewart.

Stewart suggests having a plan. Design simple trials that test old and new processes and use the data to make better decisions, he says.

“Instead of simply collecting the same information across the entire field year after

« Les données appartiennent à ceux qui les génèrent. »

Agrian aide les producteurs à se conformer aux nouveaux règlements, dans certains cas dès l’instant où ceux-ci entrent en vigueur. Pour les producteurs qui exploitent différentes cultures, il peut être ardu de gérer les solutions liées à chacune d’entre elles de façon à répon-dre aux normes de salubrité des aliments et aux exigences des détaillants. Les règles sont parfois modifiées presque sans préavis mais les parties visées sont néanmoins tenues de s’y conformer sur-le-champ.

Pour aider les producteurs, Agrian a conçu un outil qui leur permet de rendre plus facile-ment compte de leurs activités. Et celui-ci était fin prêt le matin même de l’entrée en vigueur d’un nouveau règlement.

PROFITER AU MAXIMUM DES DONNÉES

Tous les producteurs recueillent des données sous une forme ou une autre. Toutefois, bon nombre d’entre eux avouent ne pas utiliser la majeure partie de l’infor-mation recueillie. Pourquoi? De nombreux producteurs se disent dépassés par la quantité phénoménale de données. Certains ne savent même pas par où commencer.

C’est à ce moment que des entrepris-es comme Financement agricole Canada (FAC) entrent en scène. FAC offre non seulement des outils de gestion de données, comme Field Manager Pro, mais également des vidéos de formation qui enseignent aux producteurs comment exploiter les données. Kevin Stewart, président d’AgVision Media, anime plusieurs de ces vidéos.

« On pourrait dire que notre capacité à recueillir et à mesurer l’information croît plus vite que nos facultés à bien la comprendre et à en tirer profit », déclare-t-il.

Son conseil : adopter une approche méth-odique. Il suggère de mettre au point des essais simples pour comparer les anciennes et les nouvelles techniques, et de se baser sur les données pour prendre les bonnes décisions.

« Plutôt que de simplement recueillir la même information, année après année, sur toute la surface cultivée, demandez-vous quel fertilisant ou quel phytoprotecteur sus-cite chez-vous les plus grandes interrogations, » poursuit-il. « Si vous croyez appliquer un nutriment particulier en trop grande ou en

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year, consider which single fertility or crop protection product decision you are most uneasy about,” he says. “If you think you are applying too much or too little of a particular nutrient, design and conduct a field-scale trial and measure the results of two different rates.”

Stewart also suggests setting up “with” and “without” trials to test agronomic advice, like whether or not an additional fungicide treatment is worth the money. In doing so, you will have data to better support decisions the following year.

Finally, Stewart recommends analyzing datasets and records to measure the cost benefit of specific practices or products instead of measuring aggregate performance in the field.

“A simple on-off experiment or variety comparison provides yield data that puts a hard number on the experience and injects confidence into future decision-making,” he says.

Perhaps most important, though, is the advice offered by Marlon Kuhl.

“It’s a matter of trying to sift out what’s really, really useful,” he says. “We look at our goals. We look at systems that will help us achieve those goals. Not all technology is really practical.”

Stewart agrees. “Direct your data collection so that it tells you something that

you don’t know,” he recommends. “More importantly, the data should provide you with clarity and confidence to either do things differently or stay the course.”

trop petite quantité, faites un essai dans un champ, puis comparez les résultats de deux applications différentes. »

Stewart suggère également de procéder à des essais « avec » et « sans » pour mesurer l’efficacité de certaines recommandations, comme l’appli-cation d’un traitement antifongique supplémentaire. De cette façon, vous disposerez des données nécessaires pour prendre la meilleure décision l’année suivante.

Finalement, Stewart conseille d’analyser les ensembles de données et les registres pour évaluer les avantages économiques de certaines pratiques ou de divers produits, plutôt que de mesurer le rendement global d’un champ.

« Un simple essai avec et sans application ou une comparaison de variétés permet de chiffrer concrètement le rendement et de prendre avec confiance les décisions qui s’imposent à l’avenir », souligne-t-il.

Mais le conseil le plus important nous vient peut-être de Marlon Kuhl.« L’enjeu consiste à départager ce qui est réellement utile de ce qui

ne l’est pas, » déclare-t-il. « Nous cernons nos objectifs, puis nous nous demandons quels systèmes vont nous aider à les atteindre. Les outils technologiques n’ont pas tous la même valeur. »

Stewart est d’accord. « Orientez votre collecte de données de façon à apprendre de nouvelles

choses, » recommande-t-il. « Au bout du compte, les données doivent vous permettre de brosser un portrait précis de la situation et de décider avec confiance de modifier ou non vos méthodes. »

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22 IDÉES FRAÎCHES | AUTOMNE 2016

K aren Legault and her husband Tony own and operate Paradise Hill Farm outside the town of Nanton in southern Alberta. Their

operation includes a one-acre greenhouse in which they grow organic tomatoes and basil.

While the greenhouse does employ tech-nology common to the industry to maximize what they can produce in the prairie climate, Legault describes it as low-key relative to what larger operations must use.

“You’d be hard-pressed to find people who hand-pick and hand-sticker,” she says of tomatoes. Paradise Hill Farm’s small scale allows it the luxury of hiring people to manu-ally harvest and package produce—one few other producers have.

One of the biggest problems the fruit and vegetable sectors across Canada have faced for

years is a shallow labour pool. The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association says that’s partly because producers operate under very tight budgets, with a profit margin aver-aging five per cent and labour costs typically accounting for 60 per cent of growers’ expenses.

It is also labour intensive, which means it’s difficult to pay more than minimum wage. “Many fruits and vegetables require significant manual labour to grow and har-vest, and although work is ongoing to try to reduce the amount of labour required, many horticultural crops cannot be grown and harvested using mechanized processes,” the association adds.

Of 30,000 on-farm jobs in Ontario alone, 75 per cent of them pay minimum wage.

Enticing people to work in settings that are usually far from urban centres, which

involve physically difficult labour and limited opportunities for advancement, is an uphill battle even when pay or other benefits such as meals and accommodation are available.

This scenario also makes it difficult for Canadian producers to compete with growers internationally, as labour can be significantly cheaper and more abundant in countries that grow the same things.

What commercial horticulture in Canada is increasingly benefiting from is advanced technology that can perform the same tasks, as well or better, as manual labour has trad-itionally done.

According to the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in Niagara, ON, the majority of commercial horticulturalists’ operations are only moderately automated, if at all. They cite the high initial cost of

How Technology is Being Incorporated to Help Growers AdaptBy Suzy Thompson

Left to right: Dr. Mohamed Kashkoush, Vineland’s research scientist, data mining and optimization; Vance Badawey, MP Niagara Centre (behind); Jim Bradley, MPP St. Catharines; Chris Mohr, Vineland’s mechanical engineer, robotics and automation; Chris Bittle, MPP St. Catharines; the Honourable Jeff Leal, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

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LA PUBLICATION OFFICIELLE DU CONSEIL CANADIEN DE L’HORTICULTURE 23

automation and dearth of suitable equipment in Canada; however, a great part of Vineland’s research is focused on changing that, creating appropriate and cost-effective automated sys-tems for Canadian producers.

Darren Ward, Vineland’s manager of busi-ness planning and commercialization, agrees labour and competition from international imports are key problems in the industry. He adds that because the work is especially seasonal in Canada due to our climate, every year presents a new struggle to find skilled and unskilled employees.

Ward explains that Vineland is unique in how it’s trying to help the industry, as “research done in other settings often, for example, at academic institutions where research is done for its own sake, Vineland research is undertaken with the end goal of being practical and useable.”

Currently, Vineland research covers 10 subject areas. Within its process control and automation engineering, researchers are work-ing to develop seven new technologies: an automated vegetable packing system, auto-mated gripper tools for handling produce, wireless irrigation sensing, automated plant-ing, automated potted plant packaging, an

automated disease detection system, and automated mushroom harvesting technology.

“Harvesting a mushroom doesn’t look too difficult,” admits Ward, but, “harvesting the correct mushroom is.” That’s one reason auto-mated harvesting for a crop like hot-house peppers or orchard-grown apples already exists, albeit neither have been around for long, but those technologies can’t be trans-ferred to just any crop. Every crop has pecu-liarities specific to it and a system that can recognize and gently harvest one may not be suitable for another.

Also, the engineering required to create such a system to operate as well or better than human hands may not result in a cost-effect-ive machine.

“Before Vineland undertakes any project, it has to pass the test of, ‘Is this practical? Is it cost-effective? Is it worth pursuing?’” says Ward. He says that modern robotics have become advanced and prolific enough that something as discerning as a mushroom-har-vesting robot passes that test.

Saskatoon berry farmer Rick Gelowitz of Solstice Berry Farm in central Alberta is one producer who insists the effort his family put into automating much of their operation

was worth it. Saskatoons are similar in many ways to blueberries. Gelowitz points out that in lower mainland BC, large blueberry oper-ations are heavily automated and capable of processing hundreds of thousands of pounds of soft fruit in short periods. However, in opt-ing to speed Saskatoon processing at Solstice, the Gelowitzs had to tweak the available tech-nology to work for a different berry.

Today, automation allows Solstice to pro-cess 5,000 lbs. of Saskatoons per hour, where-as when they were working exclusively with manual labour, they could get through only 500 lbs. in a day.

Saskatoons at the farm currently go through an automated cleaner that removes debris, a de-stemmer, a system that detects flaws by scanning for the right colour and firmness through a series of ultra-sensitive cameras and four lasers, and uses targeted air jets to send rejects off the line.

Despite an initial cost that gave the family pause, Gelowitz says automation quickly paid for itself.

“We’re more than happy with what we can do because the machine has enabled us to produce a much higher quality of fruit,” he says. “It was a godsend.”

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24 FRESH THINKING | FALL 2016

A s Canadians, we’re fortunate to have access to healthy, affordable food, thanks, in large part, to modern agriculture. Advances in

farming tools, practices, and technology have helped our farmers adapt to an ever-changing landscape.

Plant biotechnology is one example of technology in agriculture. Plant biotechnol-ogy encompasses a variety of modern plant breeding techniques which use science to develop crop improvements. One of these techniques is called genetic engineering, or GMOs. While most advances in this area have focused on field crops, we are starting to see biotechnology applied more often to fruits and vegetables.

Consider the possibilities plant biotech-nology holds for fruits and vegetables in Canada. Can you imagine apples immune to apple scab? Drought-tolerant peaches? Hardy tomatoes, able to defend themselves from blight? What would these improved plants mean for your farm?

In Hawaii, genetic engineering saved an entire industry. Papayas were in danger of extinction from papaya ringspot virus, a disease which ruined orchards. Researchers developed a virus-resistant variety that is

credited with successfully saving Hawaii’s papaya industry from devastation, ensuring papayas are available today.

The Arctic apple and the Innate potato are two new produce varieties that will soon hit Canadian shelves. These non-browning and bruise-resistant apples and potatoes have been approved for sale and consumption by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada. Food that doesn’t brown or bruise when cut or dropped will have a huge impact on the prepared food and restaurant industry, which should create a demand for farmers to grow these varieties.

Similar successes are being pursued for both oranges and bananas. The Cavendish banana is at risk from a fungal disease and orange groves are falling victim to citrus greening disease, which is transmitted by flies.

While pesticides have helped control the spread of the fungus, banana trees can only last a few seasons before they succumb to the disease. In order to maintain a supply of this popular fruit, a disease-resistant variety is required to stop the spread of the spores.

The biotechnology applications for fruits and vegetables are traits that benefit both the farmer and the consumer. This is substantially different from the traits introduced to field

crops that have been focused on benefits for farmers, which are hard for consumers to relate to.

Poor nutrition and malnourishment are problems around the world, from Canada to Cameroon. Biotechnology can help alleviate this challenge by boosting beneficial nutrients in food. Nutritionally-enhanced food can be a literal lifesaver in many developing countries, particularly where people do not have access to a varied diet.

Golden rice is the best-known example of a crop modified for higher vitamin content. The rice contains high levels of beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A by the body. Vitamin A deficiency is one of the leading caus-es of childhood blindness in Asia and Africa.

There are many kinds of produce that could be modified to prevent common ail-ments. For instance, tomatoes with higher levels of lycopene could help combat cardio-vascular disease. Spinach with more calcium could tackle osteoporosis, while higher levels of antioxidants in blueberries could help ward off cancer.

Of all of the modern plant breeding tech-niques, genetically modified crops receive the most public attention and are also one of the most extensively studied food crops

Compilation of the Celebration of Advances in Plant Science Technology and Innovation

By Ted Menzies

There are many kinds of produce that could be modified to prevent common ailments... Tomatoes with higher levels of

lycopene could help combat cardiovascular disease.

- Ted Menzies, Croplife Canada

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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL 25

available today. Many countries and inter-national scientific bodies have confirmed they are safe for people, the environment and livestock. These crops have been grown in North America for 20 years, and more than a trillion meals made with ingredients from genetically modified crops have been consumed around the world.

Innovation is key to advancing agricultur-al technology. Plant breeders and scientists are continually working to develop new ways to improve plants, with many possible benefits for fruits and vegetables in the future.

Plant biotechnology has the potential to bring benefits to all kinds of crops. Regardless of what you grow, there’s potential to protect your plants from disease or devastation from insects, improve its hardiness for transpor-tation or storage, or eliminate browning or bruising.

It is an exciting time for agricultural innovation and we look forward to seeing how biotechnology will support the horti-culture industry in adapting to the changing needs and wants of farmers and consumers across the country.

Of all of the modern plant breeding

techniques, genetically modified crops

receive the most public attention and are

also one of the most extensively studied

food crops available today.

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L ’initiative de durabilité des pommes de terre est née de la collaboration entre les acheteurs, les transformateurs et les producteurs des produits de la pomme de terre, dans le but d’accroître la durabilité de cette culture aux États-Unis et

au Canada. En 2015, plus de 250 producteurs au Canada et près de 300 producteurs aux États-Unis ont rempli un sondage sur leurs pratiques et les indicateurs de rendement. Cette année, une partie des fermes participantes sera auditée; au Canada, les inspections seront menées par le programme CanadaGAP et aux États-Unis, par l’Agricultural Marketing Service du département de l’Agricul-ture et les organismes d’inspection de chaque état.

L’initiative vise à cibler et à promouvoir l’amélioration con-tinue à la ferme, notamment en ce qui concerne la qualité de l’air et de l’eau, la conservation de l’énergie et de l’eau, le recyclage et la réduction du gaspillage, la santé du sol, ainsi que la sécurité des travailleurs. Les participants font équipe dans l’élab-oration d’un programme unique et complet visant la durabilité

T he Potato Sustainability Initiative (PSI) is a collaboration of potato product buyers, processors and growers to improve sustainability in potato production in the U.S. and Canada. The initiative includes a survey of practices and performance

metrics completed by more than 250 growers in Canada, and almost 300 growers in the US in 2015. This year, a portion of the participat-ing farms will be audited in partnership with CanadaGAP in Canada and in the U.S. with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Marketing Service and state inspection agencies.

The Initiative is designed to identify and encourage continuous improvement at the farm level, including air and water quality, energy and water conservation, recycling and waste reduction, soil health and worker safety. Participants are working together as a team to build a single, comprehensive sustainability program for potato production in North America. The goal is to work to meet the needs of multiple buyers and reduce the potential for multiple sustainability programs and duplication of effort and costs all along the supply chain.

Working Together to Make Potato Farming More SustainableAccroître la durabilité de la culture de la pomme de terre grâce à la collaboration

Par Vernon Campbell

L’initiative portant sur la durabilité de la culture de la pomme de terre s’associe au programme CanadaGAPMD

Potato Sustainability Initiative Partners with CanadaGAP®

By Vernon Campbell

continued on page 28 suite à la page 28

Participants (of the Potato Sustainability Initiative) are working together as a team to build a single, comprehensive sustainability program for potato production in North America.

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28 FRESH THINKING | FALL 2016

Collaborators include potato processors Basic American Foods, Cavendish Farms, Kraft Heinz, Lamb-Weston, McCain Foods and JR Simplot. Processor and grower representatives participate on a governing council along with leaders from the Canadian Horticultural Council and National Potato Council in the U.S., and representatives from potato product buyers McDonald’s and Sysco. The IPM Institute of North America, an independent non-profit organization, helps manage the program.

Annual results from the survey are reported on the National Potato Council website, www.nationalpotatocouncil.org/psi.

This year, the initiative is implementing audits on random-ly selected participating farms. Objectives include verifying grower responses to the survey, and identifying opportunities to improve survey questions that may be challenging for growers to interpret and answer accurately. Sustainability audits will be paid for by the processor partners.

The CanadaGAP® Program is supporting the audit process by advising on audit process and criteria for verification and by working with food safety certification bodies to recruit auditors for training. Where possible, audits will take place on the same day as food safety audits, reducing time constraints for growers.

“CanadaGAP’s recognition in the marketplace and experi-ence in arranging farm audits has helped ensure confidence in sustainability audits.”

For more detail about the initiative, please visit www.hort-council.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Potato-Sustainability-Initiative-cns-48-2-281.pdf.

de la production de la pomme de terre en Amérique du Nord. L’objectif consiste à répondre aux besoins de plusieurs acheteurs et à éviter la multiplication des programmes de durabilité, ainsi que la redondance des efforts et des frais tout au long de la chaîne d’approvisionnement.

On compte parmi les collaborateurs les transformateurs de pommes de terre Basic American Foods, les Fermes Cavendish, Kraft Heinz, Lamb-Weston, McCain Foods et J.R. Simplot. Les représentants des transformateurs et des producteurs siègent à un conseil de gouvernance aux côtés des dirigeants du Conseil canadien de l’horticulture, du National Potato Council des

Lorsque possible, les audits

auront lieu le même jour que les

audits sur la salubrité des aliments,

afin de limiter les contraintes de

temps pour les producteurs.

continued from page 27 suite de la page 27

suite à la page 29

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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL 29

États-Unis, de même que des représent-ants de McDonald’s et Sysco, acheteurs de produits de la pomme de terre. L’IPM Institute of North America, un organisme indépendant sans but lucratif, aide à la ges-tion du programme.

Les résultats annuels du sondage sont diffusés sur le site Web du National Potato Council au www.nationalpotatocouncil.org/psi (en anglais).

Des audits aléatoires parmi les exploit-ations participantes auront lieu pour la première fois cette année. On vise à exa-miner le degré de réponse des producteurs au sondage, ainsi qu’à cibler des occasions d’amélioration des questions qui pour-raient comporter des problèmes d’inter-prétation ou de clarté. Les transformateurs assumeront les coûts relatifs aux audits sur la durabilité.

Le programme CanadaGAP soutient le processus d’audit en offrant des conseils sur le processus et sur les critères de vérifi-cation, de même qu’en collaborant avec les organismes de certification de la salubrité des aliments au recrutement des auditeurs à des fins de formation. Lorsque possible, les audits auront lieu le même jour que les audits sur la salubrité des aliments, afin de limiter les contraintes de temps pour les producteurs.

« La r épu t a t i on du p rog r amme CanadaGAP sur le marché, ainsi que l’expérience dans l’organisation d’audits d’exploitations agricoles ont contribué à inspirer la confiance dans les audits de la durabilité. »

Pour obtenir de plus amples ren-seignements au sujet de l’initiative, con-sultez www.hortcouncil.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Potato-Sustainability-Initiative-cns-48-2-281.pdf (en anglais).

suite de la page 28 For more information about CanadaGAP, go to www.hortcouncil.ca/programs/canadagap

Pour plus d’informations sur CanadaGAP, visitez www.hortcouncil.ca/programs/canadagap

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30 IDÉES FRAÎCHES | AUTOMNE 2016

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LA PUBLICATION OFFICIELLE DU CONSEIL CANADIEN DE L’HORTICULTURE 31

A ccess to reliable labour is essential for growers to be able to bring their produce to market. Seeing produce on the shelves of a grocery store doesn’t show the work that goes into getting it there, nor do consumers see the produce

that goes to waste when there is insufficient labour. Despite efforts to hire Canadian workers, many growers have annual challenges finding the sufficient labour and often have to look for workers overseas.

The good news is that there are programs such as the Temporary Foreign Worker Program Agriculture Stream and the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program that hire those eager to come to Canada to earn money for their families back home. Despite the success of the programs, both for Canadian growers and foreign workers, some myths and misconceptions exist about them.

MYTH: WORKERS ARE BEING DENIED HEALTH CARE

Reality: In every province, workers are provided with the same public health care that every Canadian enjoys through their provincial health care system.

MYTH: WORKERS ARE KEPT IN SUB-STANDARD HOUSING

Reality: In every province, housing is inspected and must meet or exceed provincial guidelines or the employer will not receive workers.

MYTH: WORKERS ARE SUBJECT TO ABUSE WITH NO OPPORTUNITY FOR COMPLAINT

Reality: The federal government maintains an integrity office that is accessible to every worker, employer and the general public. Reports can be made anonymously via the tip line and will result in investiga-tions. If an employer is found to be guilty of abuse of workers, he or she can be fined, imprisoned or excluded from hiring foreign workers.

MYTH: EMPLOYEES ARE DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE (EI) BENEFITS

Reality: An employee may receive EI benefits while they are living in Canada. Under the previous government, a change was made which no longer allowed EI benefits to be paid to a worker once they had returned to their own country.

MYTH: TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS ARE TAKING JOBS FROM CANADIANS

Reality: Employers are required to conduct recruitment efforts to hire Canadians and permanent residents before offering a job to a temporary foreign worker. Employers must advertise the position for a minimum of 14 days. Often, these positions go un-filled by Canadians, causing employers to seek alternatives overseas.

MYTH: FOREIGN WORKERS ARE USED BY FARMERS AS A CHEAP SOURCE OF LABOUR

Reality: Foreign workers receive the same wage as a Canadian would for doing the same work.

To see more myths and realities of these programs, go to www. hortcouncil.ca/our-work/labour.

By the Canadian Horticultural Council

The Myths and Realities of Canada’s Temporary and Seasonal Foreign Worker Programs

Foreign workers receive the

same wage as a Canadian for

doing the same work.

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32 FRESH THINKING | FALL 2016

C anada’s horticulture sector is passionate about growing and learning. Because of this, CHC hosts two sum-mer tours to bring together members, partners and politicians to learn about and discuss issues and best

practices.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ SUMMER TOURThe board of directors’ Summer Tour was held this year in

BC’s Lower Mainland on July 7 and toured a variety of operations to give participants a sense of what is happening in horticulture around Vancouver.

The tour’s first stop was Sunnyside Greenhouses, where owners, Jos and Bram Moerman and Ray VanMarrewyk of Westcoast Produce, showed participants Sunnyside’s process for growing and packaging sweet bell peppers. Next, the tour visited Heppell’s Potato Corporation, which has become the home of Hardbite Potato Chips. Heppell’s CEO Pete Schouten introduced participants to the plant, which is being built on the Heppell’s farm and will produce a variety of chips including potato, beet and carrot.

L es acteurs du secteur canadien de l’horticulture sont des pas-sionnés d’agriculture, qui cherchent constamment à enrichir leurs connaissances. C’est pourquoi le CCH organise deux tournées estivales, qui rassemblent ses membres, ses partenaires

et les politiciens afin de découvrir et discuter des enjeux et des pratiques exemplaires dans le secteur.

LA TOURNÉE ESTIVALE DU CONSEIL D’ADMINISTRATION

Cette année, la tournée estivale du conseil d’administration s’est déroulée le 7 juillet, dans le Lower Mainland en Colombie-Britannique. Elle a donné lieu à une visite de diverses exploitations, ce qui a permis aux participants de voir de plus près les activités du secteur horticole aux environs de Vancouver.

La tournée s’est d’abord arrêtée à Sunnyside Greenhouses, où les propriétaires, Jos et Bram Moerman ainsi que Ray VanMarrewyk de Westcoast Produce, ont montré aux participants le procédé de culture et d’emballage des poivrons employé à Sunnyside Greenhouses. Les participants de la tournée se sont ensuite rendus à Heppell’s Potato Corporation, nouveau lieu de fabrication des croustilles Hardbite.

CHC Summer Tours Bring Together Learning and Passion

Les tournées estivales du CCH réunissent des gens passionnés qui

aiment apprendre

MP Joe Peschisolido, Rhonda Driediger, Keith Kuhl and Bar Hayre. / Deputé Joe Peschisolido, Rhonda Driediger, Keith Kuhl et Bar Hayre.

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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL 33

Pete Schouten, chef de la direction d’Heppell’s, a offert aux partici-pants une visite de l’usine, qui est en construction sur les terres de l’entreprise et qui produira un éventail de croustilles, notamment faites de pommes de terre, de betteraves et de carottes.

Le dîner a eu lieu dans les installations de Krause Berry Farms. Alf et Sandee Krause en ont profité pour présenter aux convives l’his-toire de leur entreprise, passée de la vente de fruits à l’arrière d’un camion dans les années 1970 à une exploitation d’agrotourisme phare dans l’industrie aujourd’hui. Après le repas, les participants ont pu découvrir à Driediger Farms comment les bleuets passent directement de la ferme au congélateur. Ils ont ensuite visité Westcoast lawn/Envirosmart Organics, où le propriétaire, Daryl Goodwin, leur a expliqué en quoi l’entreprise répond à un besoin essentiel et bien sou-vent négligé dans le secteur en transformant les résidus alimentaires en compost. La journée s’est achevée dans la magnifique maison de Bill Zylmans, où les participants ont eu droit à un barbecue organisé par Bill ainsi que sa femme et d’autres membres de sa famille.

Nous souhaitons remercier chaleureusement toutes les personnes qui nous ont accueillis pendant la journée, de même que les com-manditaires de la tournée : le BC Blueberry Council, BCfresh, la BC Vegetable Marketing Commission, la BC Greenhouse Growers’ Association, Financement agricole Canada, Calais Farms, TerraLink Horticulture et la BC Cranberry Marketing Commission.

LA RÉUNION DE MI-ÉTÉ SUR LA POMME DU CCHLa réunion de mi-été sur la pomme du CCH s’est déroulée les 26

et 27 juillet 2016 à Moncton, au Nouveau-Brunswick. L’événement était organisé par les Producteurs de pommes du Nouveau-Brunswick. La réunion et la tournée des vergers ont attiré de nombreux pomicul-teurs et représentants de l’industrie des quatre coins du pays.

Pendant la séance de travail, il a été question de la situation et des tendances du marché, des priorités et des stratégies liées à la recherche et à l’innovation ainsi que de la possibilité d’un programme national de plantation et de replantation de pommiers. Durant la soirée, le groupe a profité d’un souper-croisière au homard.

Le 27 juillet, la tournée des vergers s’est notamment arrêtée à Master Packaging, au Verger Belliveau Orchard et à La Fleur du Pommier.

Le groupe de travail sur la pomme du CCH tient à remercier les organisateurs et les commanditaires de l’événement : le Verger Belliveau Orchard, Master Packaging, Financement agricole Canada, les Producteurs de pommes du Nouveau-Brunswick, Summerland Varieties, La Fleur du Pommier et A&L Laboratories.

Lunch was held at Krause Berry Farm and was hosted by Alf and Sandee Krause, who gave us a history lesson on their rise from selling fruit out of the back of a truck in the 1970s to the beacon of agri-tourism it is today. After lunch, participants were shown how blueberries go straight from farm to frozen at Driediger Farms, then visited Westcoast lawn / Envirosmart Organics, where owner Daryl Goodwin showed how they fill a vital and often overlooked need in the sector by turning food waste into soil. The day finished off at Bill Zylmans’ beautiful home, where participants were treated to a barbecue dinner by Bill, his wife and his family.

A very big thank you goes to all those who hosted us through-out the day, as well as to the tour sponsors: BC Blueberry Council, BCfresh, BC Vegetable Marketing Commission, BC Greenhouse Growers’ Association, Farm Credit Canada, Calais Farms, TerraLink Horticulture and the BC Cranberry Marketing Commission.

THE CHC MID-SUMMER APPLE MEETINGThe CHC Mid-Summer Apple Meeting was held on July 26

and 27, 2016 in Moncton, NB. The event was hosted by the Apple Growers of New Brunswick. The industry meeting and orchard tour were well attended by apple growers and industry representa-tives from across the country.

The working session included discussions on market situations and trends, research and innovation strategies and priorities, and the National Apple Planting and Replant Program Opportunity. In the evening, the group enjoyed a lobster dinner cruise.

The July 27 orchard tour included stops at Master Packaging, Verger Belliveau Orchard, and La Fleur du Pommier.

The CHC Apple Working Group would like to recognize and thank the hosts and the sponsors: Verger Belliveau Orchard, Master Packaging, Farm Credit Canada, the Apple Growers of New Brunswick, Summerland Varieties, La Fleur du Pommier and A&L Laboratories.

Canada’s horticulture sector is passionate about growing and learning.

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34 IDÉES FRAÎCHES | AUTOMNE 2016

H alfway through the third year of Cluster 2, work is going well. We are seeing great progress and immediate impact on a number of Cluster 2 projects, including:• The PVY Project: 2015 seed crop—93 per cent of

lots with less than three per cent infection, compared to eight to 15 per cent infection five years ago.

• Detection and Monitoring of Potato Psyllid: Detection is at very low levels.

• Wireworm: Commercial traps for adults and an integrated pest management system are being developed.

OPPORTUNITIES Future development of tools• Success stories booklet highlighting how growers have directly par-

ticipated and benefited from Cluster 2 research and its results.• Increased presence online including a more robust Cluster 2 infor-

mation page on CHC’s website (more frequent updates, links to industry publications, etc.).

Planning for Cluster 3• Knowledge broker, a communication officer with sole respons-

ibility of working with researchers and growers, helping with the “knowledge translation.”

• Research projects to include knowledge transfer as an activity.

PLANNING FOR CLUSTER 3: ACTIVITIES AND TIMELINES

CHC has begun the process of planning for Cluster 3, including research and innovation strategy development and priority setting for

À mi-chemin de la troisième année de la Grappe 2, les travaux vont bon train. Nous constatons une évolution remarquable et un impact immédiat sur un certain nom-bre de projets de la Grappe 2, y compris :

• Le projet sur le virus Y de la pomme de terre : Semences de 2015—93 pour cent des lots avec moins que trois pour cent d’infection comparativement à huit à 15 pour cent d’infection il y a cinq ans.

• Détection et surveillance du psylle de la pomme de terre : De très faibles niveaux ont été détectés.

• Ver fil-de-fer (taupin) : Des pièges commerciaux pour les spéci-mens adultes et un système de lutte intégrée sont en cours d’élaboration.

POSSIBILITÉS À EXPLOITER Conception de nouveaux outils• Livret des histoires de réussite portant sur la participation directe

des producteurs et les avantages que leur ont apportés la recherche de la Grappe 2 et ses résultats.

• Présence accrue en ligne, incluant une page d’information plus exhaustive au sujet de la Grappe 2 sur le site Web du CCH (mises à jour plus fréquentes, liens vers des publications de l’industrie, etc.).

Planification de la Grappe 3• Courtier du savoir, un agent de communication responsable de tra-

vailler avec les chercheurs et les producteurs dans le but de faciliter l’application des connaissances.

• Projets de recherche comprenant l’application des connaissances comme activité.

Canadian Agri-Science Cluster for Horticulture 2

Grappe agro-scientifique canadienne pour l’horticulture 2

ACTIVITY TIMELINES

Commodity group strategy document development and priority setting: ongoing discussions

Tree Fruit

Summer & Fall 2016Small FruitPotatoGreenhouseVegetable

Finalize strategies and priority lists Fall & Winter 2016Call for expressions of interest January 2017Deadline for expressions March 1, 2017Commodity group review of expressions March 2017Call for proposals March 2017Deadlines for proposals April 15, 2017Commodity group review of proposals End of April 2017Final decision on projects to be included in Cluster 3 application May 2017Project leads finalize details (summaries, budgets, work plans, etc.) Spring & Summer 2017Cluster 3 application completed October 1, 2017

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LA PUBLICATION OFFICIELLE DU CONSEIL CANADIEN DE L’HORTICULTURE 35

PLANIFICATION DE LA GRAPPE 3 : ACTIVITÉS ET CALENDRIER

Le CCH a entrepris le processus de planification de la Grappe 3, y compris l’élaboration des stratégies de recherche et d’innovation et l’établissement des priorités pour les groupes de cultures. Nous préparons actuellement une demande de subvention complète pour la Grappe 3 afin qu’elle soit soumise à Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada d’ici l’hiver 2017.

Pour de plus amples renseignements sur la Grappe agro-scientifique pour l’horticulture 2, y compris les résumés des activités et les mises à jour semestrielles, veuillez visiter le site Web du CCH au www.hort-council.ca/fr/projets-et-programmes/grappe-agro-scientifique-cana-dienne-pour-lhorticulture-2/ ou communiquer avec Amy Argentino au (613) 226-4880, poste 208, ou à l’adresse [email protected].

commodity groups. We are working toward a complete application for Cluster 3 to be ready for submission to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada by winter 2017.

For more information on the Canadian Agri-Science Cluster for Horticulture 2, including activity summaries and semi-annual updates, please visit the CHC website: http://www.hortcouncil.ca/programs/cluster/ or contact Amy Argentino at (613) 226-4880, ext. 208 or [email protected].

ACTIVITÉ CALENDRIER

Établissement des priorités et élaboration des documents relatifs aux stratégies des groupes de cultures : discussions en cours

Fruits de verger

Été-automne 2016Petits fruitsPomme de terreProduits de serreCulture maraîchère

Finaliser les stratégies et les listes de priorités Automne-hiver 2016Appel de déclarations d’intérêt Janvier 2017Échéance des déclarations d’intérêt 1 mars 2017Examen des déclarations des groupes de cultures Mars 2017Appel de projets Mars 2017Échéances pour les propositions 15 avril 2017Examen des propositions des groupes de cultures Fin avril 2017Décision finale concernant les projets à inclure dans la demande de subvention pour la Grappe 3 Mai 2017Derniers détails réglés par les chefs de projet (résumés, budgets, plans de travail, etc.) Printemps-été 2017Demande de subvention pour la Grappe 3 complétée 1 octobre 2017

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36 FRESH THINKING | FALL 2016

T he CHC Crop Protection Advisory Committee (CPAC) responds to consultations on Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) Proposed

Re-evaluation Decisions that impact crop protec-tion in the fruit and vegetable sectors in Canada. Consultation responses typically include the importance of the active ingredient (AI) to pest management in horticulture, role in resistance

management and information on use of the AI in contemporary horticultural production.

For Proposed Re-evaluation Decisions that severely impact horticulture, grower surveys are conducted for each impacted sector (e.g. field vegetable, pome fruit, tender fruit, ber-ries, greenhouse). Survey questions are targeted to gain information on grower use of an AI, including typical and maximum application

rates applied, number of applications per sea-son, importance to resistance management, type and number of post-application activities conducted (e.g. monitoring, hand-weeding, pruning, rogueing, hand harvesting) and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for post-application activities.

The objective of the grower surveys is to pro-vide quantitative data on AI use that the PMRA

By the Canadian Horticultural Council

CHC Supports Growers on PMRA Re-Evaluations

Active Ingredient

LinuronGroup 7

MancozebGroup-M

MetiramGroup-M

CarbarylGroup-1A

FerbamGroup-M

ZiramGroup-M

ThiramGroup-M

ChlorothalonilGroup-M

IprodioneGroup-2

CaptanGroup-M

Trade Name LOROX Herbicide

DITHANEFungicide

POLYRAMFungicide

SEVINInsecticide

FERBAM Fungicide

ZIRAM Fungicide

THIRAM Fungicide

BRAVO Fungicide

ROVRAL Fungicide

CAPTANFungicide

Consultation Status

September 24, 2012Response SubmittedPending FinalDecision

September 27, 2013 Response SubmittedPending FinalDecision

September 18, 2014Response SubmittedPending FinalDecision

Final DecisionIssued March 31, 2016

May 27, 2016Response SubmittedPending FinalDecision

May 27, 2016Response SubmittedPending FinalDecision

May 27, 2016Response SubmittedPending FinalDecision

June 10, 2016Response SubmittedPending FinalDecision

July 15, 2016ResponseSubmittedPending FinalDecision

July 30, 2016ResponseSubmittedPending FinalDecision

Proposed Decision(*final decision)

Cancel all uses Cancel all uses Cancel all uses Some uses cancelled*

Cancel all uses Cancel all uses Cancel all uses Cancel certain uses and limitations on remaining uses

Cancel all uses Cancel certain uses and limitations on remaining uses

Horticultural FoodUses Proposed to be Cancelled

(*final decision)

AsparagusCarrotsCarawayCeleryCorianderDillParsnipPotatoApplePeachPearPlumCherrySaskatoonSweet Corn

Potato (Foliar and seed)TomatoOnionCeleryCarrotCabbageCauliflowerPumpkinSquashMelonWatermelonCucumberApplePearGrape

PotatoTomatoAsparagusCarrotCeleryAppleGrape

*Broccoli*Brussels Sprouts*Cabbage*Cauliflower*Pepper*Snap bean** *Sweet Corn*Apple (insect)*Pear*Apricots*Peaches*Cherry*Plum*Grapes**hand-harvest

GH CucumberGH TomatoGH LettuceApplePearApricotCherryPeachPlum BlackberryBoysenberryDewberryRaspberry BlueberryCranberryCurrantGrape

TomatoCucumber, MelonSquash Pumpkin, Apple (BC only)Peach (BC only)Apricot (BC only)

CelerySweet Potato ApplePeachPlum StrawberrySeed Treatment (Beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, pepper, radish, spinach, turnip, eggplant, tomato, onion, snap bean, peas, squash, pumpkin, watermelon, cucumber, cantaloupe, and onion)

BroccoliBrussels Sprouts Cabbage CauliflowerCorn (Sweet) CeleryOnion (Dry and green)Cherry (Sweet and sour)PeachNectarine Blueberry (High and low) Cranberry

Cabbage (Stored)Cauliflower, Garlic (Pre-plant dip)LettuceOnionSnap BeanLeekPotato (Seed piece treatment)GH CucumberGH LettuceGH Tomato ApricotCherryPeachPlumRaspberry Strawberry GrapeGinsengSeed Treatment (Carrot)

GH uses (Except soil)ApplePearCherryPlumPeachNectarine ApricotGrapePumpkinSquashTomato Strawberry Loganberry Blueberry Blackberry RaspberryOn-Farm Bean Seed Treatment

RESPONSES TO PMRA PROPOSED RE-EVALUATION DECISIONS IMPACTING HORTICULTURE (20SEP2016)Also: Response to Regulatory Proposal PRO2016-02: Management of the Pesticide Re-evaluation Process submitted May 31, 2016 (Stakeholder input).

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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL 37

L’ASSEMLBÉE GÉNÉRALE ANNUELLE DU CCH

CHC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

www.hortcouncil.ca

CHC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

L’ASSEMLBÉE GÉNÉRALE ANNUELLE DU CCH

MARCH 14 - 16 MARS

CHC’s new website is

a whole bunch better

More information about CHC

and Canadian horticulture.

www.hortcouncil.ca

More updates to give you what

you need to know now.

Easier to navigate to find what

you need faster.

can use to refine risk assessments that are based on worst possible case scenarios. These scenarios (10-12 applications per season, maximum label use rates, high frequency of post-entry activities) resulted in proposed decisions to discontinue certain products. Grower surveys commonly reported two to six applications per season and application rates much lower than maximum label rates. By integrating actual grower use infor-mation in revised risk assessments, the goal is to reach final decisions that protect human health and environment and allow continued use of products with revised labels that are agronomical-ly feasible for growers.

The CHC CPAC responded to six Proposed Re-evaluation Decision consultations over the summer of 2016 in addition to three prior sub-missions dating back to 2012. At present, all of the consultations are pending a final re-evalu-ation decision by PMRA. Of particular con-cern is the PMRA proposal to discontinue or severely limit the use of multi-site, mode-of-action fungicides (Group-M) that have effect-ively managed diseases, in some cases for 50 to 60 years, without the development of pathogen resistance in fruit and vegetable crops. These proposed decisions to collectively to discontinue Group-M fungicides would leave essentially no

tools to manage pathogen resistance in horticul-tural crops.

CPAC also responded to a PMRA consul-tation on re-evaluation process (PRO2016-02) and the key message conveyed to the PMRA was for early engagement of growers in the re-evalu-ation process so that contemporary grower use information can be provided prior to conducting the risk assessment. This is in contrast to the current process, in which grower use information is requested after the risk assessment has been completed and resulting unfavourable proposed re-evaluation decisions to discontinue use have been published.

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38 IDÉES FRAÎCHES | AUTOMNE 2016

AG CHEM MANUFACTURERGowan Canada .......................................................................38

ASSOCIATIONCanadian Association of Farm Advisors ........................30

CROP PROTECTIONE.I. DuPont .............................................................................. IFCFMC .........................................................................................OBCGreen Safe Solutions, LLC ....................................... 8, 20, 21

EQUIPMENTRocky Mountain Equipment................................................4

FARM BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTOntario Soil & Crop Improvement Association...........19

FARM EQUIPMENTMechanical Transplanter Co. .............................................25

FARM REAL ESTATEJust Farms .................................................................................31

FARMERS CO-OPBradford Co-Operative ........................................................38

FINANCING SERVICESBMO ............................................................................................16Farm Credit Canada ......................................................... 3, 39

FRESH POTATOESEdmonton Potato Growers Ltd. ........................................26

FROST PROTECTIONShur Farms Frost Protection ..............................................29

GREENHOUSESVRE Greenhouse Systems ...................................................29

GREENHOUSES AND SUPPLIESPrins Greenhouses ................................................................35

GROWER / PACKER / SHIPPERGwillimdale Farms Ltd. ........................................................12

HAIL, INSECT AND BIRD NETTING SYSTEMSGintec Shade Technology ...................................................12

INSURANCEMeester Insurance Centre ..................................................33

IRRIGATIONIrritec ..........................................................................................28

LABELS AND LABEL MACHINERYMGI Ltd. .......................................................................................6

LABORATORY ANALYSISA&L Canada Laboratories Inc. ...........................................12

MANUFACTURER / DISTRIBUTOR OF CONTAINERS, BASKETS, BAGS AND BOXESIndustrial Bags ........................................................................26

NETTINGRedden Net ..............................................................................26

NURSURY STOCKHartmann’s Plant Company ...............................................33

NUT AND FRUIT GROWER/MARKETBurrow / Kosir Farm ..............................................................38

PACKAGINGCanadian Corrugated & Containerboard Association ..............................................................................10

PEAT MOSSLambert Peat Moss ...............................................................18

PROCESSING POTATOESEdmonton Potato Growers Ltd. ........................................26

REFRIGERATION TECHNICIANSErie Mechanical Inc. ..............................................................37

SEED POTATOESEdmonton Potato Growers Ltd. ........................................26HZPC Americas Corporation .............................................25Pacific Potato Corporation .................................................25

SOLAR ENERGYGlenergy Inc. ...........................................................................29

SORTERS, GRADERS AND SIZERSKerian Machines Inc..............................................................30

TECHNOLOGYGreentronics ............................................................................23

UNIVERSAL TRELLIS CLIPEvans Manufacturing Company, LLC ..............................38

VITACULTUREViticulture A&M ......................................................................30

WEED MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONSKult Kress, LLC .........................................................................13

BUYER’S GUIDE

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