Introducing Ontario’s Crop Protection Hub – Your One Stop Shop for Pesticide Information for Greenhouse Crops

Are you a Canadian floriculture grower Planning your IPM program for Spring crops soon? Then look no further! Ontario’s new Crop Protection Hub combines pesticide data from a plethora of sources and combines them into one convenient location.

Types of data (for both chemical and microbial insecticides/fungicides) include:

Allowable pesticides by crop type (e.g. cut flowers, potted crops, unrooted cuttings)
Rates, REIs, and maximum allowable sprays per crop
Compatibility information with beneficial organisms
Efficacy ratings of pest management products for specific greenhouse pests
Recommendations for best use of products for each pest
Link to the most current pesticide label

Keep reading to find out how to access this new application.

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Trap Plants as a Tool Against Thrips parvispinus in Tropicals

*Sweet alyssum (Lobularia) as a trap plant for T. parvispinus.*

Thrips parvispinus has become a serious pest of tropical ornamental crops in North American since 2020. Due to the severity of the damage, IPM strategies are needed to complement chemical control until an effective and economical biocontrol program can be developed for this pest.

Mass trapping through traps, lures, or trap plants can be an effective strategy for thrips. We’ve already seen that mass trapping cards REALLY help with this pest (more on that, later). And, it seems that trap plants may also be an effective strategy when used properly in vegetative crops.

Read on for what we did and how to implement it on YOUR farm.

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Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SRED) tax incentives

Are staff at your greenhouse conducting research, solving problems, and promoting development on site? Then you may be eligible for a tax incentive!

Read more about the SRED program and how you can participate.

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Changes to Retrofit Program

Increases to non-lighting incentives this fall plus Instant Discounts program for lighting launching in December.

Updates to the Save on Energy Retrofit program‘s prescriptive incentives increase most non-lighting measures. The new incentives will come into effect on October 30, 2023.

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New Farmer Mental Health Initiative

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing over $8 million to support the mental wellness of farmers and their families.

This investment will ensure that key programs continue to be available to Ontario growers through December 31, 2024.

To learn more about the resources available, keep reading.

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Poinsettia Pest Management Pointers 2023: Late Production and the Whitefly “Tipping Point”

It’s that time of year again, when problems early in the crop may have caught up with you. This includes root rots, Lewis mite, and Bemisia whitefly.

Now, you’ll be forced to make a choice with your poinsettia crop. Do you stay the course with a biocontrol program? Or spray for pests? And, as always, the question is “spray with WHAT”?

This post has tips on pest management decision making when it comes to common poinsettia problems in October.

Continue reading “Poinsettia Pest Management Pointers 2023: Late Production and the Whitefly “Tipping Point”” →

Effect of Light Abatement Curtains on the Greenhouse Environment

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON ONGREENHOUSEVEGETABLES.CA on Oct 6, 2023 by Fadi Al-Daoud

Learn how light abatement curtains can be used and their effect on the greenhouse environment.

Click the image below to access the article on Ontario.ca.

Funding for Growers: Biosecurity Improvement Initiative under S-CAP Program

Overview

The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) is a $3.5 billion, 5-year agreement (April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2028) between the federal, provincial and territorial governments. It replaces the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and $2.5 billion in cost-shared programs and activities by the governments. In Ontario, this includes up to $569 million toward the agri-food industry.

The programs under the Sustainable CAP will:

support the vision and priorities the federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers agreed to in The Guelph Statement
strengthen competitiveness, innovation and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector

One program delivered under S-CAP that is particularly relevant to greenhouses is the Biosecurity Improvement Initiative.

Biosecurity Improvement Initiative

Will launch Sept 19 2023
Continuous intake until January 6th
$7.5 M available – first come, first serve basis
Reimbursement based
Delivered by OMAFRA by Rural Programs Branch (previously has been OSCIA)
Call AICC for more information
Guidelines are now up on Ontario.ca: find them HERE

Categories include:

Preventing introduction and spread of pests (up to 50K per project)
Innovative pest monitoring tools (Up to 50K per project)
Learning and Education related to biosecurity
Others…

Requirements:

OSCIA biosecurity workshop (NOT required, but recommended)
Quotes
Assessment (e.g. against national biosecurity standards)
Action plan based on assessment

More information will come soon!

New Acting Greenhouse Floriculture Specialist

As we head toward the Canadian Greenhouse Conference, let’s welcome OMAFRA’s new acting Greenhouse Floriculture Specialist. Abigail Wiesner will be within the position until Sept 2024.

To learn more about Abbie, and how to contact her, keep reading.

Abbie has a BSc and MSc in Environmental Sciences from the University of Guelph, with a specialization in entomology. For the past 11 months, Abbie has been with OMAFRA as the Acting Canola and Edible Bean Specialist.

Additionally, Abbie has experience within the nursery and landscape sector conducting leading research on the box tree moth, an invasive insect pest impacting the sector since 2018.

Abbie has a strong passion for helping growers to ensure that they are supported, have economical and effective solutions to production issues and are educated on industry and research advancements. Contact her about all issues related to greenhouse floriculture production, including nutrient and environmental issues, energy, lighting, and labour concerns.

Please contact her through email at abigail.wiesner@ontario.ca and by phone at 226-979-8250.

New Incentives for Distributed Energy Resources (DER) for Greenhouses in Southwestern Ontario

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON ONGREENHOUSEVEGETABLES.CA on September 14, 2023 by Fadi Al-Daoud

The Save on Energy Retrofit program is offering a NEW incentive for Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) for greenhouses in the Southwest region of the province. This new initiative is part of the Retrofit for Greenhouses stream of the program, with a focus on the Southwest region. A Greenhouse Distributed Energy Resources (DER) measure is available to greenhouse facilities within certain areas of Southwestern Ontario. The incentives include those for an integrated Solar Photovoltaic and Battery Storage System where none previously existed.

Incentives

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) $1435.00/kW

and

Battery Storage: $260.00/kWh

Eligibility

Facilities installing DERs must be located in the following postal codes:

N0P, N0R, N8H, N8M, N8N, N8P, N8R, N8S, N8T, N8V, N8W, N8X, N8Y, N9A, N9B, N9C, N9E, N9G, N9H, N9J, N9K, N9V, N9Y

Applications are subject to the eligibility criteria specified within the: Greenhouse Distributed Energy Resources Eligible Measures Prescriptive Worksheet available at Application documents for the Retrofit program | Save on Energy

Contact

For more information on the program, visit the Save on Energy Web site Agriculture incentives with the Retrofit program | Save on Energy or contact the Retrofit Save on Energy Delivery Agent for the SW region at 1-877-247-1095 or SouthwesternOutreach@retrofitprogram.ca