Landscape Ontario's Horticulture Review Online

Landscape Ontario's Horticulture Review Online http://www.horttrades.com/news.php en-ca The voice of Landscape Ontario, Horticulture Review's online news feed.Mon, 07 May 2012 13:35:23 -0400 Mon, 07 May 2012 13:35:23 -0400 http://www.horttrades.com/vineland-receives-support-for-innovative-technologies Vineland Research and Innovation Centre receives support for innovative technologies Vineland Research and Innovation Centre receives support for innovative technologies
The Government of Canada is investing $2.5 million in the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre to support the development of innovative horticultural technologies.

"Our government's top priority remains creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity for Canadians," said the Honourable Rob Nicholson, M.P. for Niagara Falls, who made the announcement. “This investment will help Canada’s horticulture industry become more competitive, and open new markets to businesses participating in this project.”

Through this contribution, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre will work with local businesses to develop and commercialize two promising horticultural innovations: a robotic automation system for use in greenhouses and nurseries and a frost protection system for use in vineyards, orchards and fields. In addition to supporting economic growth and diversification in the region, this investment will help horticultural operators in Canada and abroad reduce the costs associated with labour and spoilage.
]]> Mon, 07 May 2012 13:35:23 -0400 http://www.horttrades.com/boxwood-blight-update Boxwood blight: customers should be wary of 'free from' claims Boxwood blight update: Customers should beware of “free from” claims
The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association reports that some growers of boxwood are claiming to be “free” from C. buxicola or boxwood blight, based on negative test results that have been supplied to growers by their CFIA inspectors.

Growers that have been inspected by CFIA as part of their detection survey and have received all negative results, are able to receive documentation to that effect from their CFIA inspector. However, it is important to note that this documentation from CFIA is not verification that the grower is "free from" boxwood blight, but rather that the samples taken were negative. There is no program or process in place to guarantee 100 per cent freedom from boxwood blight. CNLA recommends growers use the wording, “apparently free from boxwood blight.”

While there is no test that will give 100 per cent assurance that a crop doesn't have the blight, chances are miniscule that your plants will contract boxwood blight if you buy from reputable growers who have been tested, and continue to test their crops for the disease. Boxwood is still an important plant in the landscape, and by asking your suppliers for their written assurances, you should feel safe in knowing that the chance of boxwood blight showing up in your garden centre is slight.

For further information or to refer to the CNLA’s best management practices for retailers and landscapers, click here.

]]> Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:51:06 -0400 http://www.horttrades.com/book-boxwood-blight-testing-before-april-27 LO offers voluntary boxwood testing Boxwood Blight Sample and Test Program to be made available to Landscape Ontario growers
Landscape Ontario is pleased to offer a voluntary sample and testing program for those growers that wish to verify the status of their boxwood inventory related to Cylindrocladium buxicola. The following outlines the organizational details of this program.

A qualified university student will provide sample collection services. This student will be trained by OMAFRA's Jen Llewellyn to actively look for symptomatic plants and to send branch samples to the U of G Plant Diagnostics Laboratory, in accordance with their specifications.
It will be up to the nursery to determine the number of samples taken, however, the suggested sample rate is 1/2,000 plants.
The results of the PCR diagnostics testing will be returned directly to the nursery grower. Other agencies, including Landscape Ontario, CNLA and OMAFRA will not be notified of the results.
In the event of a positive find of C. buxicola, and given that this is not a regulated pest, the level of eradication to be undertaken, is at the discretion of the grower. Until further research findings become available, Landscape Ontario concurs with the recommendations listed in the ANLA’s Best Management Guide (posted at www.boxwoodblight.org)
Landscape Ontario encourages any grower with a positive find of C. buxicola to provide notice to their customers within 48 hours of learning of the positive find.
Communicating the results received from the U of G Plant Diagnostics Laboratory is at the discretion of the grower. Landscape Ontario will post a list of nurseries that wish to make this information available on a voluntary basis on its website.

To expedite this project in a timely and cost-effective manner, Landscape Ontario will organize the collection process. All nurseries that wish to participate should download, fill out this form and forward to Kathleen at the LO office by Friday, April 27, 2012. Kathleen can be reached by email at kpugliese@landscapeontario.com, by fax at 905-875-3942 or by telephone at 800-265-5656, ext. 2309.

Nurseries will be notified by Landscape Ontario of the date that the collection person will be at their premises. There will be no cost to the grower to have samples collected and sent to the lab. This service is being provided by Landscape Ontario and OMAFRA. The costs of PCR testing will be billed directly to the grower.
]]> Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:13:33 -0400 http://www.horttrades.com/boxwood-blight-confirmed-at-ontario-nursery Boxwood blight confirmed at Ontario nursery Boxwood Blight Update

CFIA determined a positive location of Cylindrocladium buxicola at an Ontario nursery on Mar. 26, 2012.

Downham Nurseries, of Strathroy, Ont., has confirmed with CNLA that two of six samples taken from its York Ave. production facility were positive. This facility ships #1 and #2 size boxwood. The nursery’s Elgin production facility, located 35 km away, has tested negative and healthy boxwood plants will continue to be shipped from that location.

In a letter sent to all customers on Mar. 27, general manager Mikel Peesker also confirmed the company’s intention to work co-operatively with CFIA in the eradication of all boxwood plants at the York Ave. facility.

“We fully recognize that these new pest situations are always a time of high anxiety for the sector,” noted Peesker. “We appreciate the patience of industry in providing us with the necessary time to develop a plan of action and a communication strategy to our client base.”

CFIA’s detection survey is ongoing, however in view of their limited resources, they have stated that only higher risk nurseries will be tested immediately. The Ontario confirmation is in addition to the two positive locations identified by CFIA in B.C. earlier this year.

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The American Nursery Landscape Association has also confirmed that positives have been found at one Ohio Nursery. The nursery is co-operating with the state’s department of agriculture to eradicate the disease.

On Mar. 23, ANLA hosted an informative webinar entitled, “Where we are and where we hope to be,” an overview of how the research community is addressing this new pest. The slide presentation is now available on-line through ANLA’s Knowledge Center.
]]> Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:00:22 -0400 http://www.horttrades.com/2012-advance-payments-program Application for nursery product Advance Payments Program online Application for nursery product Advance Payments Program online
In 2009, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and ACC Farmers’ Financial created a cash advance program with the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association to help growers with both their production period and marketing program. The 2012 Advance Payments Program applications for Canadian Nursery Products are now available for download at ACC Financial.
]]> Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:13:57 -0400 http://www.horttrades.com/emergency-use-registration-for-boxwood-blight Emergency use registrations for boxwood blight Emergency use registrations for boxwood blight

Two fungicides have registrations for use on boxwoods (Buxus spp.): DACONIL 2787 FLOWABLE FUNGICIDE (PCP#15724) and SWITCH 62.5WG FUNGICIDE (PCP#28189) for use in BC, Quebec and Ontario until Dec 31, 2012.

All boxwoods are susceptible to boxwood blight (Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum = C. buxicola) which causes defoliation in as little as seven days. This has the potential to have a devastating effect. Currently, only boxwoods are known to be susceptible. Use these fungicides preventatively when disease conditions are present.

Rotation of these products is required to prevent development of resistance, application of both fungicides requires a 12 hour re-entry interval into the treated crop, SWITCH is restricted to 3 applications per crop cycle. Users should consult the full label before applying these products. Contact your local pest control products supplier.

Many thanks to the Provincial Minor Use Coordinators of B.C., Ontario and Quebec for sponsoring and assembling the emergency use submissions and thanks to Syngenta Canada Inc., for supporting these emergency use requests.
]]> Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:57:53 -0400 http://www.horttrades.com/in-memoriam-jim-wickware In memoriam: Jim Wickware
Wickware owned and operated Canavonda Nurseries in Dunrobin, and was mentor to many budding horticulturists in eastern Ontario.

He was the devoted husband of the late Ruth MacIntosh. Beloved and respected father of Greg (Joanne), Paul (Margo) and Matthew (Lynda). Brother of Sheila Curran, Josephine Young, Clive and Geoffrey Wickware, and predeceased by his sister, Anne Holt. Also survived by four grandchildren, Katie, Suzanne, Alan and Alena.

A family memorial service will be held at a later date. For those who may be entertaining a donation in memory of Jim, please choose a charity of your choice.

Condolences and tributes may be made at www.crgamble.com
]]> Wed, 14 Mar 2012 11:54:28 -0400 http://www.horttrades.com/best-management-practices-for-boxwood-blight Avoid spreading risk of boxwood blight with new BMPs Best management practices

Based on the find of C. buxicola at one nursery in B.C., and positive finds in eight U.S. states, the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association has released Boxwood blight best management practices for nursery growers.

Developed by the CNCI’s C. buxicola Technical Committee, these BMPs enable growers to minimize the risk of moving C. buxicola through the wholesale nursery industry. The committee is currently working on a C. buxicola certification module for the Clean Plants program.
Download Boxwood BMPs for growers.

Until Canadian nursery growers are able to implement BMPs and certify their nurseries through the Clean Plants program, there is only so much that retailers and landscapers can do to minimize the risk of spreading C. buxicola. However, the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association has put together some guidelines and identification tips for those working in the field to avoid the spread of this disease.

Note that at this time, C. buxicola has been found at only one Canadian nursery, which immediately took aggressive measures to eradicate its source.
Download Boxwood BMPs for retailers and contractors

]]> Wed, 07 Mar 2012 09:12:44 -0500 http://www.horttrades.com/in-memoriam-john-bakker-sr In memoriam: John Bakker Sr. John Bakker Sr.

The funeral service John Bakker Sr. took place on Sat., Feb. 11, at 11 a.m., at Trinity Christian Reformed Church in St. Catharines. He passed away on Feb. 7. Bakker was a second-generation owner of J.C. Bakker and Sons Nursery. His love of the nursery industry was passed on to his two sons, John III and Ken, who still work at the nursery today. He was the loving husband and best friend of Grace for 53 years. He was dear father of Marg and Greg Kuiper, Linda and John Suk, John and Renee Bakker, Ken and Lisa Bakker and Robert Bakker. He will be sadly missed by 19 grandchildren and one great granddaughter. To see the obituary, go to John Bakker Sr. ]]> Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:40:35 -0500 http://www.horttrades.com/independent-construction-contractors-must-register-this-year-for-wsib-coverage Independent construction contractors must register this year for WSIB coverage Independent construction contractors must register this year for WSIB coverage

Independent operators with no employees, who perform ‘construction’ work (work that falls primarily under Class G of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s Employer Classification Manual), have until Dec. 31, 2012 to register their business with the WSIB.

Bill 119, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, makes insurance coverage mandatory for independent operators, who do not employ workers. The Bill was proclaimed as of Jan. 1, 2012, and comes into full force on Jan. 1, 2013.

An independent operator is defined as, “a person who carries on an industry included in Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 and who does not employ any workers for that purpose.” WSIB’s Class G includes rate groups in the 700s, such as excavating, masonry or fence, deck or pool installation (711), but Bill 119 could also affect other rate groups with complementary businesses. For example, among member firms of Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS), this could include landscape or pool companies that use an independent contractor to do portions of the work within the contract that are classified as construction activities.

To figure out whether your business may be included, see below, ‘Determining whether Bill 119 affects you.’ Home Renovators who contract directly with the person occupying the residence, and work exclusively in home renovation, are exempt from the mandatory coverage legislation. The WSIB warns that landscape companies using an independent contractor to do work classified in Class G, by January 2013, must make sure they are registered with WSIB by requesting a clearance certificate.

For more information on the amendment, access Bill 119 and background information.

Check out online by accessing the WSIB’s Employer Classification Manual. Landscape companies are typically registered in rate group 190 under Class C. Note that the above activities under 190 are classified with a domestic or home renovation application for a private residence. Commercial contracts would classify these activities under Class G: Construction.

The work activities that a landscape company may include in the scope of a contract and might be classified in Class G: Construction falls under rate groups 711: Roadbuilding and Excavating, 741: Masonry and 748: Form work and demolition. The work activities include: excavating and grading, asphalt paving, fencing and deck installation, swimming pool installation, masonry and stone work and pre-cast concrete installation except domestic.

If your company includes these types of work within your landscape contracts, call the WSIB’s Employer Service Centre during business hours to clarify the application for your business at 1-800-387-0750, and select option "3" to connect with the centre. If you’re an independent operator required under Bill 119 to register, you can do so online.

To calculate the premiums you could expect to pay, based on 2012 assessment rates, WSIB has an online premium estimator. Visit www.wsib.on.ca, enter “premium estimator” in the search field, and click on “How much will I pay in WSIB premiums?” ]]> Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:15:06 -0500