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Ontario Apple Growers Newsletter - January 2006

IN THIS ISSUE
OAG Annual General Meeting | OAG Directors and Committee Members | Golden Apple Award Presented to Jim Rickard
2006 Committee and Association Appointments | National Replant Program
Promotion Update- Winter and Spring Activities | January 1, 2006 Apple Storage Holdings | Ontario Apple Marketer's Report
Juice Apple Update | GPS/GIS Mapping of Apple Orchards | ACC Farmers' Financial – Update from Brad Oakley
Ontario Apple Grower Information Day | Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention 2006
Fresh Forward Producer/Retailer Workshop
Occupational Health and Safety Act and Farming Operations | Deadline Fast Approaching
Guthion Registration Extended | Farm Business Advisory Services
2006 Committee and Association Appointments

OAG ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The annual meeting was held on January 16 th in conjunction with the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers' Association Convention at the Quality Hotel Parkway Convention Centre, 327 Ontario Street, St. Catharines, Ontario. Business conducted included approval of the Auditors' Report and Financial Statements for the year ended October 31, 2005. MacGillivray Partners were appointed as auditors for the current year. Resolutions to be presented to the OFVGA that affect apple industry were presented and approved to move forward to them. These included:

•  Buy Ontario Policy – Urging the Ontario government to adopt a policy of buying Ontario grown products at government institutions.

•  School Fruit & Vegetable Program – Urging the Ontario government to introduce a program to provide fresh and processing fruit and vegetables in Ontario schools.

•  Bunkhouse Reassessments – Urging the Minister of Finance to establish a farm rate for bunkhouses used exclusively for seasonal farm workers.

•  National Replant Program – Resolution in support of the Tree Fruit and Grape Replant Program.

•  Greenbelt – Condemnation of the government using tax payer dollars to promote the Greenbelt.

•  National Replant Program – OFVFA to actively support this proposal.

•  CORD IV R & D Funding – Requesting the organizations be given a longer period of time to utilize their R & D allocation to ensure the best application of these important funds.

Each of these resolutions was subsequently approved at the OFVGA convention.

Chair, Jim Rickard, presented plaques in appreciation for the services provided by directors and committeemen who participated on the OAG Steering Committee and those who were directors on the OAG. These included: Murray Porteous, Steve Koning and Steve Versteegh. Recipients not present at the AGM and who will be receiving similar plaques included: Marshall Schuyler, Dave Maxwell, Rene Brooymans, and Sam McLorn. These will be presented to them at a later date. >>BACK TO TOP

OAG DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Back row (l to r): Keith Wright, Steve Versteegh, Shane Ardiel, Jim Rickard (Chair), Brian Gilroy (Vice Chair), Rien Van Brenk. Front row (l to r): Art Moyer, Cathy McKay, Chris Hedges, Pete Geerts. Absent: Bob Bell, Ross Drummond, Marshall Schuyler, Brad Johnston, Steve Lennox.  >>BACK TO TOP

GOLDEN APPLE AWARD PRESENTED TO JIM RICKARD
The Uniroyal Golden Apple Award was presented to Jim Rickard during the OFVGA convention. Jim Rickard received the award and thanked all those involved for their support and for the support provided to the newly established Ontario Apple Growers organization.

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky, Jim Rickard and Jim's partner, Mary Nichol >>BACK TO TOP

2006 COMMITTEE AND ASSOCIATION APPOINTMENTS
Included at the bottom of the newsletter is a summary of the Committee and Association Appointments made by the OAG for 2006. Or click here to view it.  >>BACK TO TOP

NATIONAL REPLANT PROGRAM
Resolution in support of the National Replant Proposal was passed at the OFVGA Convention. OMAFRA confirms that the proposal is under review. The federal election has resulted in a delay in dealing with the proposal although staff at AAFC confirms that it is under review. The OAG and the Apple Working Group of CHC are renewing their lobbying efforts in order to bring this important issue to the attention of our new Conservative Government.  >>BACK TO TOP

PROMOTION UPDATE - WINTER AND SPRING ACTIVITIES
Following is a list of upcoming promotions:

• Foodland Ontario Press Release in early January.
• Foodland Ontario Apple TV commercial – air time in February during Olympics.
• Ontario's “Big Red” Promotion – promoting Macs, Red Delicious, Empire, and Idared apples:
• Radio advertisements (10 second tags and 30 second commercials) from January 28 to February 10.
• Consumer contest – “Win 1 of 30 Apple® I-pod® Nanos”. 500,000 ballots will be placed in 3 and 4 lb bags of the featured varieties. POS material will also be placed in stores by Foodland Ontario Reps.
• Apple “Retail Display Contest” – February through March.
• Foodland Ontario's Winter Recipe Booklet – some recipes will feature Ontario Apples.
• April is the “5 to 10 a Day - For Better Health” Apple Month.
• Spring Promotion - radio advertisements April through June.

JANUARY 1, 2006 APPLE STORAGE HOLDINGS
Unfortunately the January 1 st storage holdings are not included with this newsletter. Not all storage operators have submitted their storage holding information to CFIA therefore, the information is incomplete. Attempts are being made by the OAG, the marketers and CFIA to improve the reporting system. >>BACK TO TOP

ONTARIO APPLE MARKETER'S REPORT
The Ontario market had an excellent fall movement but then experienced a slower than normal November. December movement recovered somewhat followed by good movement by mid January. Crop condition is moving at a rate faster than expected and marketers will be seeking every opportunity to encourage sales.

Ontario retailers have supported OAG and Foodland promotional activities in the fall and they continued to support these activities after the New Year. Marketers are encouraging retailers to continue to offer local Ontario fruit in each of their banners. Marketers are pursuing ad activity to try and keep the crop moving ahead of condition.

JUICE APPLE UPDATE
During a recent conference call with Ontario juice processors, each reported that the volume of apples purchased for juice exceeded original estimates and emphasized the importance of good crop and market information in order for them to plan to purchase the available quantities. This also includes the estimated volume of packing line sort outs from the 2005 crop. If you have apples which will not be suitable for fresh market and you anticipate marketing them for juice purposes, it is important for you to advise the processors to determine their needs, capacity and timing capabilities.  >>BACK TO TOP

GPS/GIS MAPPING OF APPLE ORCHARDS
This project is now 70% complete with the remaining acres to be mapped this spring. Approximately 12 growers have either refused to cooperate or would allow the acreage measurement but not the inventory by variety. This is very unfortunate and unfair to the vast majority that did cooperate. Each of these producers has received a personal letter from the chair pointing out the importance of the project. These included:

1. There is no cost to the OAG or the producer to have their orchard(s) mapped. The total cost of the project is funded either by AgriCorp or R & D grants.
2. The information obtained from the project will be used to develop a business plan for the National Replant Program should government agreed to participate. It will be impossible to include them in the program without accurate information on your acreage and variety mix.
3. Since the demise of the old Apple Commission, accurate production figures have been very difficult to obtain. We are attempting to get the figures back to a credible level. Without accurate production information, it is impossible for the OAG or the marketers or processors to accurately forecast their needs and develop their marketing plans.
4. Accurate production statistics are vital to the success of any trade actions.
5. AgriCorp is now offering free tree loss coverage for those growers who carry crop insurance. They will require tree inventories in order to provide this coverage. >>BACK TO TOP

JANUARY 1, 2005 STORAGE HOLDINGS
Just want to give everyone a quick overview of ACC Farmers' Financial (ACC). First just a little about who I am for those of you that do not know me. I farm in the Beaver Valley near Georgian Bay and we have 200 acres of apple trees and just like the rest of you I am making bags of money. I have been on the board of ACC for 3 years and this year I was elected 2 nd vice chair. ACC has a very competent staff and management team and the board's mandate, basically, is to give the management team general direction. This year as 2 nd vice chair I will be more involved as part of the executive. ACC Farmers' Financial was started 14 years ago and is comprised of 16 different organizations (8 grains & oilseed organization, 7 horticultural organizations and OFA). A key goal is to provide Ontario producers with financial tools at a fair price. ACC lends between $160 and $200 million per year across the Commodity Loan Program, Spring Credit Advance Program, and Advance Payment Program.

Presently ACC is involved in many different things from tracking grain sales for elevators and producers to farmers' insurance program that is just being released nationally with partners in different production areas. What I want to talk about today however are three main programs; the Provincial Commodity Loan Program (CLP), the Federal Spring Credit Advance Program (SCAP) and the Advance Payment Program. The CLP and SCAP programs provide operating money to producers and presently are both tied to production insurance. In the past SDRM was used and ACC is waiting to hear back on some proposed changes. Both programs allow loan amounts to the producer up to $50,000.00 dollars interest free. In the CLP producers can obtain up to 70 – 75% of their crop value for operating money including the interest free $50,000. Interest is set at prime less one quarter percent. The Advance Payment Program, as most of you will know, advances money on harvested fruit with the first $50,000 interest free. In 2005 there were 16 apple growers in the CLP, 29 apple growers in SCAP and 46 apple growers took the Advance Payment Program through ACC. There are more than 45 apple growers with crop insurance in Ontario. If you carry crop insurance, then you can borrow up to $50,000 interest free based on your production. I feel more apple growers should be taking advantage of these programs.

ONTARIO APPLE GROWER INFORMATION DAY
An information day dedicated to “Practices and Techniques for Integrated Fruit Production” will be held at the OMAFRA Auditorium, Simcoe on Monday, February 27, 2006 commencing at 9:00 a.m. To register, contact Bernie Solymar by February 20 th at 519-428-0706 or solymar@nornet.on.ca . Agenda attached to this newsletter.  >>BACK TO TOP

ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION 2006
The OFVC will be held at Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario on February 15 & 16, 2006. A registration form is attached to this newsletter. >>BACK TO TOP

FRESH FORWARD PRODUCER/ RETAILER WORKSHOP
The OFVGA has organized an information day to bring together Ontario producers, retailers and food service distributors to build market share for Ontario grown produce. This important event will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 at the Garden Banquet & Convention Centre, 8 Clipper Court, Brampton, Ontario. An information pamphlet is included with this newsletter. >>BACK TO TOP

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AND FARMING OPERATIONS
Farming operations now fall under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Public Information Sessions will be held throughout Ontario to provide farmers with a review of how this will affect their operations. The sessions are as follows:

For more information or to register, call the Agricultural Information Centre at 1-877-424-1300.

>>BACK TO TOP

DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING
Are you one of the 17,600 producers who completed an Environment Farm Plan and had it deemed appropriate from 1993 to 2004? If so, we urge you to act now to take advantage of project cost-share opportunities. EFP's that were deemed appropriate through peer review during this period may satisfy the eligibility requirements under the current federal environmental cost-share programs. Projects initiated in 2004 and 2005 may be eligible. Older EFP action plans will only be honoured until March 31, 2006. After that, all applications to the cost-share program will require a Third Edition EFP deemed appropriate. Call your local OSCIA Program Representative or the OSCIA at 1-800-265-9751 for more information.>>BACK TO TOP

GUTHION REGISTRATION EXTENDED
The registration for Guthion for use on apples and pears has been extended by one year. The last date of sale by retailers is now August 2007. The last date of use of the product by users is now December 31, 2007. >>BACK TO TOP

FARM BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES
Funding is available from AAFC – Canada Agri-Renewal Services to provide funding for:

•  Farm Financial Assessments

•  Action Plans

•  Business Planning

•  Diversification and Value-Added Feasibility Plans

•  Succession Planning
>>BACK TO TOP

2006 COMMITTEE AND ASSOCIATION APPOINTMENTS

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