cktimes.ca Archives for Agrilink
Agrilink
OCTOBER LAUNCH FOR LAMBTON KENT AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM’S NEW ‘HEALTHY EATING CLUB’ PILOT PROJECT!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
From a Release - Ridgetown - Lambton Kent Agriculture in the Classroom’s (LKAITC) new Healthy Eating Club pilot project is scheduled to launch in two area schools this coming October, November and December. The two sites chosen for this project include London Road Public School in Sarnia, Ontario and Thamesville Area Central School in Thamesville, Ontario.These clubs will target students in grades 6, 7 and 8 and will have a direct connection to those grades’ health curriculums. The goals of the clubs are to promote healthy eating while allowing students to try new things, to learn where their food comes from, and to understand the importance that agriculture plays in everyone’s daily lives.
Each of the pilot clubs will meet twice a week for a period of 8 weeks which totals 16 forty-minute sessions. Each week will focus on a specific food group and topic. One session per week will involve hands-on food preparation and sampling. The other session will have a producer/commodity/volunteer group delivering a positive message around the healthy eating of Ontario farm-grown products. Recipe cards and other resource materials will be organized in individual student binders which will become a personalized take-home resource book for each member of the club.
LKAITC is working together with associated project partners including: Lambton Kent District School Board, County of Lambton Community Health Services, Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit, local producers and commodity groups and volunteer organizations. Funding for this project was provided in part by Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc.’s Healthy Eating Program.
The LKAITC committee is operated by volunteers as a non-profit organization delivering successful agricultural programs to local school children. Increasing awareness of the agri-food industry continues to be the mandate of the committee. Some of our projects include: school resource kits which has grown into a cooperative effort with the Science Education Partnership; implementation of the Spring Days (in Lambton) and Harvest Days (in Kent) where students explore agriculture by journeying through different agricultural stations; and, our annual gala fundraising dinner called ‘A Taste of Lambton-Kent’ which is always a success thanks to our strong supporters.
RECORD CROWD ATTENDS MUDDY SCHOOL PROGRAM AT RIDGETOWN
10/16/09
From a release - Ridgetown - “The weather was a farmer’s nightmare, but we made the best of it. That’s what we do on the farm” explained Luanne Brien, LKAITC program co-ordinator. “The outdoor event plodded through mud, rain, sleet and high winds to provide the program that teachers and students look forward to every fall for the past 25 years.
The annual Harvest Days program which runs late September and early October, presented by the Lambton Kent Ag in the Classroom Action Committee wouldn’t have had it any other way.” This year record attendance of over 800 students, teachers and parents from 15 Chatham Kent schools, toured the stations set up on the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus. “The record numbers of students attending this year means the agricultural message is being heard” commented Dennis Bryson committee chair.
The Lambton Kent Agriculture in the Classroom Action Committee designed the 2009 program to provide this interactive program using the grade three curriculum. Harvest Days themed four stations with activities to give hands on activities to students and explore the world according to farmers. Dairy farm animals, seeds and soils, modern equipment and historical settlement all relating to agriculture and farmers were explored. Hands on learning that students will remember long after returning to class! The goal is to put students in touch with their food in its original wrapper.
This six day program is fully sponsored by the Lambton-Kent Agriculture in the Classroom Action Committee; the program is free to schools.
Public support of the Lambton Kent Agriculture in the Classroom “Gala Dinner” each spring makes this and other programs possible throughout the year.
COMMENTARY-A NEW ROLE FOR ONTARIO PORK
10/16/09
This week's commentary comes from Henry Stevens of the Christian Farmers.
Motivated by the concerns of our members, the Executive Board of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario has taken the unusual step of adopting a “provisional leadership position” on some key elements related to the future of the pork industry. Usually, we start the policy process amongst grassroots producers and gradually develop a leadership position over several months. But due to the great need in the pork industry, the CFFO Executive Board is taking a leadership position to our grassroots members for discussion, deliberation and potential adoption.
Part of the CFFO’s leadership position calls for a stronger role in marketing and production allocation by the provincial pork marketing board. We believe that Ontario Pork can become a first-class marketing business for all participating hog producers if the following steps are taken:
A Competitive Pork Supplier. The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission should review the powers of the Ontario Pork and provide it with the powers necessary for it to function as a competitive supplier of hogs to both Ontario and the world market, and the first choice of processors in forming supply contracts.
Powerful, but not a full single desk. The powers of Ontario Pork should not include full single-desk selling powers. Those producers that choose to market their own hogs or invest in cooperative ventures should be able to do so without working through Ontario Pork. But they won’t have the board to help them with marketing problems, nor be eligible for government risk management programs.
· Contracts and Supply. Ontario Pork needs to be the negotiator of all producer contracts with domestic and international processors. In addition, Ontario Pork would then allocate that production to producers through a licensing system.
· Pricing. Ontario Pork would price hogs based on a formula price that reflects the realities of the North American market price. In addition, the marketing board should be given the power to negotiate floor prices with processors to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Ontario sector.
· Market Segmentation. Ontario Pork needs the powers to segment hog shipments into appropriate markets for consumer demand. Higher and lower quality hogs would appropriately be streamed to higher and lower value contracts.
· Full Traceability. The quality of hogs can only be assured through a full traceability system for all producers contracting through Ontario Pork.
Our pork producers need proactive options and the CFFO believes Ontario has the know-how and the will to come up with solutions that secure a better future. Redefining and strengthening the role of our provincial pork marketing board to deliver marketing and production discipline is one of the key places to start developing new options.
BIG OIL LOOKS TO BIOFUELS
10/19/09
From the Wall Street Journal
The biofuels industry, hit hard by the global credit crunch, is getting a shot in the arm from a new source–the oil majors.
Among the oil companies, BP PLC and Royal Dutch Shell PLC have been the most active investors in the sector. But it's even beginning to attract more-conservative companies like Exxon Mobil Corp., whose chief executive, Rex Tillerson, once famously dismissed corn-based ethanol as "moonshine." Exxon announced in July it was investing $600 million in an algae-to-fuel start-up, Synthetic Genomics Inc.
"It was a major signal to the biofuels industry," says Bruce Jamerson, chief executive of Mascoma Corp., a producer of cellulosic ethanol, which is made from inedible plant materials.
Big Oil and biotech may seem an odd combination. Oil companies' profits are driven by traditional, fossil-based gasoline and diesel. Biofuels are alternatives that have a marginal market presence.
So why switch to switchgrass?
The answer is the low-carbon policies now being put in place across the developed world. In the U.S., for example, the Renewable Fuels Standard mandates growth in annual sales of biofuels through 2022.
The Department of Energy expects U.S. production of biofuels to increase from less than half a million barrels a day in 2007 to 2.3 million barrels a day in 2030. Inevitably, that will erode the oil majors' conventional business.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To view these articles online, please visit us on the web at
http://www.ridgetownc.com/agrilink/agrilink..._scoops.cfm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TekTalk
ROOT DISEASE IDENTIFIED IN TOMATO FIELDS WITH “VINE DECLINE” PROBLEMS
10/19/09
From Janice LeBoeuf's, OMAFRA Vegetable Crop Specialist
BACKGROUND
In 2009, many processing tomato fields grew poorly and/or experienced a premature decline of the foliage. In many cases, yield and quality impacts were severe. Similar problems have been seen in some fields for many years, but
attempts to identify the cause or find a way to manage the problem have been unsuccessful.
Through the intensive efforts of Tomecek Agronomy Services and in cooperation with growers, processors, consultants, and researchers, I was able to collect samples from over 30 fields across the growing area. Root samples
were submitted to Dr. Jim Traquair, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in London, for study.
Dr. Traquair examined the symptoms and was able to culture and identify the pathogen Pyrenochaeta lycopersici, the causal organism of corky root disease, from the symptomatic tissue. This disease can significantly reduce tomato
yield and quality, especially in cool conditions. Additional stresses were also identified in these fields, such as other root pathogens, foliar pathogens, and/or high nematode levels. In many fields, examination of the root systems
showed that they were also being physically restricted by soil compaction.
Is corky root the sole cause of the symptoms in these problem fields? Probably not. We are likely dealing with a complex of stresses that include pathogens and the growing environment, among other things. Research has been initiated to further explore the causes and management of this problem in Ontario field tomatoes.
WHAT IS CORKY ROOT?
Symptoms
? stunting, slow growth
? premature defoliation
? brown bands on roots that may develop into dark, rotted roots; loss of small feeder roots
? no discolouration of internal root tissue
? on affected roots, the outer layer (cortex) can be easily pulled off the root core (stele)
Biology & Management
Host crops include tomato, pepper, eggplant, cucumber, melon, and squash. Beet is also reported to be a symptomless host. Some solanaceous weeds may also be hosts.
The pathogen can persist in soil for many years as microsclerotia. It can be found deep in the soil. It is a very slow growing fungus, so the disease increases slowly over time. It can be spread by any means that moves soil from one
location to another.
Corky root is favoured by cool temperatures; the optimum temperature for development is 15-20°C (59-68°F).
Transplants planted into cool soils are at most risk. Symptoms may have been more severe in 2009 due to the cool growing season, cool soils, and in many fields, restricted root growth due to compacted soils.
Control is difficult. Results with fumigation are inconsistent. As the fungus can be found deep in the soil, it will be able to infect the plant through roots that penetrate below the fumigated zone, or simply outside the fumigated band.
Crop rotation may slow the buildup of the pathogen, but will probably do little to reduce levels in infected fields. If other factors are contributing to the problem, they need to be managed, too.
Corky root has been reported in field tomatoes in many parts of the world, including California. Although previous reports of corky root in Ontario were in greenhouse tomatoes (1944 and 1982-83), it should not be assumed that they
are the source of the field populations. The pathogen does not spread through airborne means, but on soil or infected root debris.
It is likely that this pathogen has been present in our soils for a long time and is part of a complex of root and foliar pathogens interacting with other stresses. Similar symptoms have been seen over many years, but corky root was not
detected (the pathogen is not easily cultured using standard media). The symptoms were widespread within fields and across the Essex and Kent growing areas in 2009. Since the pathogen is very slow growing, the patterns of incidence
do not suggest a recent introduction.
UNDERSTANDING WHY RYE WORKS AS A COVER CROP
10/19/09
From USDA’s Agricultural Research Service
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists may soon find a way to enhance the weed-killing capabilities of a cereal grain that enriches the soil when used as a winter cover crop.
Rye is often grown in winter and killed in the spring, so the dead stalks can be flattened over soybean and vegetable fields to block sunlight and prevent spring weeds from getting the light they need to germinate. The effect makes rye a popular alternative for organic farmers who grow crops without herbicides. Rye’s roots also capture nutrients and hold the soil in place, reducing erosion and run off.
John Teasdale, research leader of the ARS Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory in Beltsville, Md., is working with ARS chemist Cliff Rice to see whether organic compounds released by rye in the soil play a role in suppressing weeds and whether those compounds can be exploited to improve rye’s weed-killing capabilities. Although compounds in rye are known to inhibit weed growth, little is known about how they behave in the soil.
Teasdale and Rice grew rye in winter, killed it in spring and either tilled the stalks shallowly into the soil or left them untilled on the surface. They then took weekly soil samples to extract chemicals from them and tested the soils to see how lettuce and pigweed grew in them. They also measured levels of a family of organic compounds called benzoxazinoids, released from the rye, which are believed to play a role in weed suppression.
The researchers found that weeds began to grow better as concentrations of the compounds diminished, within a few weeks of when the rye was killed. The compounds reached peak levels about a week after the rye was killed and dropped significantly within two or three weeks. The preliminary results suggest that the benzoxazinoids do affect soil chemistry and may enhance rye’s weed-suppressing ability.
The work is part of an effort to clarify such issues as how long rye should be grown before being killed, the amount of biomass needed to maximize its effects, and the impact of weather and soil conditions on its effectiveness.
SIBLING RECOGNITION IN PLANTS
10/19/09
From Crop Biotech Update
Two groups of researchers confirmed that plant siblings grown close to each other in the soil tend not to compete with each other compared to when they are grown with non-siblings. The phenomenon was observed first by Susan Dudley of McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada in 2007 and was confirmed recently by Harsh Bais of the University of Delaware. "Plants have no visible sensory markers, and they can't run away from where they are planted," Bais says. "It then becomes a search for more complex patterns of recognition."
Using wild populations of Arabidopsis thaliana, Bais, together with student Meredith Bierdrzycki, confirmed that the length of the longest lateral root and of hypocotyls of siblings planted close to each other are shallower, indicating non-competition. But, when they are grown with non-siblings, they rapidly grow more roots to take up water and mineral nutrients in the soil, and compete with each other. In addition, leaves of the se plant siblings often will touch and intertwine compared to strangers that grow rigidly upright and avoid touching.
When added with sodium orthovanadate, a root secretion inhibitor to the set-up, stranger recognition is abolished. Identification and control of the root recognition signal will find application in field and landscape crops.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To view these articles online, please visit us on the web at
http://www.ridgetownc.com/agrilink/agrilink_...tektalk.cfm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AgriLink Upcoming Events
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Event - CleanFARMSTM collection Date - October 20,2009 to October 22, 2009 Time - All Day Event Place - Tilbury: Cargill AgHorizons Contact Name - Lilian Schaer – 519-212-9559 Email - lschaer@agcare.org
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - District 1 Sheep Meeting Date - November 5, 2009 Time - 8:00 PM Place - Coldstream Community Centre Contact Name - Bill Duffield
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Royal Winter Fair Date - November 6,2009 to November 15, 2009 Time - All Day Event Place - Toronto, Exhibition Grounds Website - www.royalfair.org
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Bounty of the County Trade Show, 59th Annual Essex County Associated Growers Date - November 24,2009 to November 25, 2009 Time - All Day Event Place - Leamington Kinsmen Recreation Complex, 249 Sherk St. Contact Name - Associated Growers - 519-326-4481 Email - ecag@bellnet.ca Website - www.bountyofthecounty.ca
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency 2009 Annual General Meeting Date - November 27,2009 to November 28, 2009 Time - All Day Event Place - Cambridge Holiday Inn - 200 Holiday Inn Drive, Cambridge ON Contact Name - Bill Duffield
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Southwest Agricultural Conference Date - January 6,2010 to January 7, 2010 Time - All Day Event Place - Ridgetown Campus Contact Name - Ag Business Centre
519 674 1596
Website - www.southwestagconference.ca
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - 2010 CCA Conference Date - January 13,2010 to January 14, 2010 Time - All Day Event Place - London, Best Western Lamplighter Inn, Wellington Road
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - 2010 OSCIA Annual Meeting Date - February 2,2010 to February 3, 2010 Time - All Day Event Place - Sheraton Fallsview, Niagara Falls
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - South Western Ontario Pork Conference Date - February 17, 2010 Place - Ridgetown Campus Contact Name - Ag Business Centre 519 674 1596
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - 4th Annual Growing the Margins Conference Date - March 8,2010 to March 12, 2010 Time - All Day Event Place - London Convention Centre Contact Name - First Stage Enterprises; 416-426-7029 Website - www.gtmconference.ca
-------------------------------------------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To view these listings online, please visit us on the web at
http://www.ridgetownc.com/agrilink/agrilink..._events.cfm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John Jordan
Editor, AgriLink and Farm Market News
University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus
Tel. 519-674-1577
Fax. 519-674-1530
E-mail: jjordan@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca
AgriLink website : www.ridgetownc.com/agrilink
