What's Growing ON‪?‬ ONhortcrops

In this episode, Kristy sits down with OMAFRA's Application Technology Specialist, Jason Deveau to talk sprayer technology. In the first part of the conversation, Jason covers tips, tricks and pieces of advice for sprayer winterization and spring preparedness. Switching gears for the second half, Jason moves into precision agriculture and the future of spray technology. Questions for Jason? Contact him at jason.deveau@ontario.ca.    

For more information on spray application and technology in Ontario, check out the following resources:
Sprayers 101 - A Resource for Safe, Effective & Efficient Agricultural SprayingAirblast101 – Your Guide to Effective and Efficient Spraying, 2nd EditionFor more updates on Ontario horticulture and educational events, visit:
ONvegetablesONfruitONspecialtycropsHave a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at ONhortcrops@gmail.com 

Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes

In this episode, Kristy sits down with OMAFRA's Erica Pate (Fruit Crop Specialist) and Katie Goldenhar (Plant Pathologist) to talk about an emerging pest issue in Ontario strawberries, called Neopestalotiopsis. For more information on identification and biology of this disease,  check out Pest Alert: Neopestalotiopsis - An Emerging Strawberry Disease in North America on the ONfruit blog. If you suspect this disease in your field,  contact Erica  (erica.pate@ontario.ca) or Katie (katie.goldenhar@ontario.ca).

Following,  we get a crash course on the Canadian registration process for crop protection products with OMAFRA's Minor Use Coordinator, Josh Mosiondz (joshua.mosiondz@ontario.ca). For more information on the minor use system and product registration, check out the following resources:
Ontario Minor Use Program Ontario Emergency Use Registrations Health Canada - Pesticides and Pest ManagementHealth Canada - Decisions and UpdatesFor more updates on Ontario horticulture and educational events, visit:
ONvegetablesONfruitONspecialtycropsHave a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at ONhortcrops@gmail.com 

Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes

In this episode, OMAFRA's Fruit Crop Specialist, Erica Pate sits in the horticulture hotseat to talk about the importance of strawberry aphid management to minimize incidence and impact of insect-vectored viruses. Following,  Kristy dives into the waters of pesticide rainfastness to look at some general guidelines around insecticide and fungicide wash-off and how these can assist in decision-making when it comes to what to do following a rain.

For more information on strawberry aphids and their management, check out the following resources:
Strawberry aphids and their management in Ontario strawberry farms - OMAFRA FactsheetAphids - Strawberry  - Ontario CropIPMStrawberry virus symptoms - photos of virus symptoms found in Ontario strawberriesFor more information on insecticide and fungicide rainfastness, check out the following resources:
Rainfast characteristics of insecticides on fruit - Michigan State University ExtensionRainfastness, persistence & performance attributes of insecticides for tree fruit IPM - presentation by Dr John Wise, 2021 OFVC Virtual Educational SeriesHow to get the most out of your fungicide sprays - Michigan State University ExtensionFor more updates on Ontario horticulture and educational events, visit:
ONvegetablesONfruitONspecialtycropsHave a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at ONhortcrops@gmail.com 

Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes

In this episode, Kristy sits down with OMAFRA's Vegetable Crop Specialist, Elaine Roddy to get the buzz on the important pollinator of pumpkin and squash, the squash bee. Questions for Elaine? Contact her at elaine.roddy@ontario.ca.    

For more information on squash bee in Ontario, check out the following resources:
Managing  Pumpkin/Squash in Ontario  to Maximize Pollination Services by Wild Bees - Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention presentation by Dr. Susan ChanNative Pollinators on Farms Resources - Farms At WorkFor more updates on Ontario horticulture and educational events, visit:
ONvegetablesONfruitONspecialtycropsHave a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at ONhortcrops@gmail.com 

Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes

Episode artwork: Nigel Raine, University of Guelph

In this episode, we hear from a series of OMAFRA specialists during a marathon of Horticulture Hotseat. Up first, we review the basics of integrated pest management (IPM) with Summer Research Assistant, Ali Collingwood. Consider this an opportunity to review where the strengths and gaps lie within your on-farm IPM program. Following Ali, OMAFRA's Plant Pathologist, Katie Goldenhar (katie.goldenhar@ontario.ca) walks us through the various tests available for plant virus detection - a rather fitting topic given the current pandemic. Next, Erika DeBrouwer (erika.debrouwer@ontario.ca), OMAFRA's Tree Fruit Specialist addresses the difficulties of apple thinning following a frost event. Lastly, Kristy (kristy.grigg-mcguffin@ontario.ca) sits herself down in the hotseat to ask the question are all mildews equal?

For more updates on Ontario horticulture and educational events, visit:
ONvegetablesONfruitONspecialtycropsHave a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at ONhortcrops@gmail.com 

Editing: Jade Lo
Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes

In this episode, Kristy chats with fellow OMAFRA Horticulture IPM Specialists, Wendy McFadden-Smith (tender fruit and grape) and Melanie Filotas (specialty crops) to talk about the importance of regular pest scouting, from how often and how much to what to look for and where in perennial crops. Questions for Wendy or Melanie? Contact them at wendy.mcfadden-smith@ontario.ca or melanie.filotas@ontario.ca.   

Check out the Ontario CropIPM website for more information on scouting as well as identification, biology and management of key pests in horticultural crops grown in Ontario. For videos on Ontario horticulture, visit the ONhortcrops YouTube channel.
For more updates on Ontario horticulture and educational events, visit:
ONvegetablesONfruitONspecialtycropsHave a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at ONhortcrops@gmail.com 

Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes