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.

OMAFRA’s New Acting Greenhouse Floriculture Specialist

Sophie Krowlikowski (left) helps with an OMAFRA field day in cereal crops.

Like me, many of you may have been feeling the absence of Dr. Chevonne Dayboll, who has temporarily taken a Research Analyst assignment with OMAFRA. To help fill the gap, we welcome Sophie Krolikowski, who will be the Acting Greenhouse Floriculture Specialist until June 2023.

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

Continue reading “OMAFRA’s New Acting Greenhouse Floriculture Specialist”

VRIC’s Pest Management Survey – It Counts!

Are you a Canadian greenhouse ornamental grower? Then the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre is currently looking for your feed back on your pest management practices. Whether you practice biocontrol or lean more heavily into chemical control, your answers help set benchmarks for where are industry is at, and help guide research needs.

The survey only takes about 15 minutes, and can be accessed here. The deadline for the survey has been extended to January 21st, and you can win $400 prize for completing it. (How often can you win money talking about bugs?!?!).

More information on the survey, including contact info, is below.

Continue reading “VRIC’s Pest Management Survey – It Counts!”

Missed our Webinar on Smart Sensors for Floriculture? Access the Recording On-Demand

Missed our latest Controlled Environmental Agriculture Webinar by Dr. Nemali? That’s OK. We recorded it for you!

Just register for the webinar using the link in the original posting, and you’ll have access to the recording right away. (Note there’s a few minutes of dead air in the recording – don’t worry! Exciting content starts at about the 2 minute mark.)

You can learn more about Dr. Nemali’s exciting research by checking out his CEA website!

You can also find the link to the webinar recording here:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_71KmGWbGQtKzGFae9tjVdA

They’re HEEERRE! Japanese Beetles Are In Flight.

Japanese Beetles Have Started To Emerge

Posted on June 25, 2021 by Jen Llewellyn

<a href="/clm/species/popillia_japonica"><em>Popillia japonica</em></a> (Japanese Beetle) adult on cedar.

Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica) adults are starting to take flight in southern Ontario!  They have been spotted in Hamilton and Toronto this week.

Look for these shiny green and copper beetles feeding on grape leaves, roses and many other trees and shrubs. Where possible, homeowners can knock adults into a bucket of soapy water (to smother them).  Several insecticides are registered for the adults in greenhouses and nurseries, including BeetleGONE.

European chafer (Amphimallon majale) adults are also starting to emerge. Look for medium brown scarab beetle swarming blooming Linden trees (e.g. Tilia cordata).  Historically we see them around Canada day in the Guelph area.

RoseChaferAdultJLA 

And don’t forget about our little friends, the Rose Chafers (Macrodactylus subspinosus), pictured aboveThey are also out in full force. These scarab beetles feed on the flowers, fruit and foliage of several ornamentals.  The larval stage feeds on roots of grasses and weeds (usually a sod nursery pest). Like most scarab beetles, females are more likely to lay their eggs in sandy soils and will avoid egg laying in clay soils.  Insecticides for the grub stage of other scarab beetles will also reduce larvae of rose chafer.

Preventative applications of Intercept and Acelepryn are registered for white grubs in nursery and greenhouse production and the application period begins now. (Above photo: European chafer larval feeding damage).

Have questions regarding pesticide applications for this pest? Then check out this post from a few weeks ago on JB control and export regulations.

Reminder: Using Temporary Help Agencies and Employment Standards Webinar June 22

The first installment of OMAFRA and MLTSD’s monthly webinar series is scheduled for Tuesday, June 22, 12 – 1pm ET. These webinars will occur on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at noon.

Next week’s webinar is: Using Temporary Help Agencies and Employment Standards Webinar

When faced with a labour shortage, many employers in the agriculture sector turn to a temporary help agency (THA) for assistance. But did you know clients of agencies have legal obligations when using a THA? Before speaking with an agency, clients of agencies should find out what their responsibilities are under the ESA.

Continue reading “Reminder: Using Temporary Help Agencies and Employment Standards Webinar June 22”

Garden Mums – 2021 Production and Protection Tips

praying mantis on garden mums

This post was contributed to by Drs. Sarah Jandricic, Andrew C. Wylie and Chevonne Dayboll.

Summer is getting underway, and so too are garden mums!  Although generally an easy crop, there several tweaks you can make to help save headaches AND money.

This post has updated information to help you optimize your irrigation, fertilizer and pest management programs in garden mums.

New Resources for Mum Production

Hit your exact ship size on your ship date using Graphical Tracking

Track and even out the growth of your mums using a graphical tracking tool with a few easy steps:

Continue reading “Garden Mums – 2021 Production and Protection Tips”

In-Depth Webinar on Thrips Management: From Planning to Pesticides

Thrips webinar promotion 2020Thrips got you down? Not sure what you can do to beef up your thrips-management program? Then this new webinar is for you!

Drs. Sarah Jandricic (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) and Rose Buitenhuis (Vineland Research and Innovation Centre) have combined their respective knowledge into a “systems approach” for thrips management.

Want to know what that means, and how it can work for you? Then keep reading!

Continue reading “In-Depth Webinar on Thrips Management: From Planning to Pesticides”

Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program Accepting Applications for On-Farm Changes Made in March

Enhaced Worker Protection ProgramOn May 14, 2020 the ministry announced the launch of the Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program for ProducersHowever, many in the greenhouse sector had already made pro-active improvements to workplace safety in light of Covid-19.

If you fall into that category, the program is now accepting applications for changes made as far back as March 15 2020.   Applications are being accepted until funding runs out.

The program has also been simplified to provide faster assistance by eliminating pre-approval. Growers can now submit eligible expenses up to the farm maximum ($7500).  This now includes accommodation and/or transport costs related to outbreak prevention. More program details can be found below and on the OMAFRA website. Continue reading “Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program Accepting Applications for On-Farm Changes Made in March”

Garden Mums – 2020 Production and Protection Tips

praying mantis on garden mumsThis post was contributed to by Drs. Sarah Jandricic and Chevonne Dayboll.

Summer is in full swing, and so too are garden mums!  Although generally an easy crop, there several tweaks you can make to help save headaches AND money.

This post has information to help you optimize your irrigation, fertilizer and pest management programs in garden mums.

Continue reading “Garden Mums – 2020 Production and Protection Tips”