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Ontario Apple
Growers Newsletter - January 24, 2005
IN THIS
ISSUE
Annual Meeting of Apple Growers | OAG
- Committees and Delegates | Greenbelt Protection
Act Delayed
SDRM Approved for 2003 - 2005 Tax Years |
Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Conference - Look
Who's Coming
Permits to Take Water - Administration Fees |
Award Winners | OFVGA - Convention
& Resolutions
Research & Development Projects Approved
| January 1, 2005 Storage Holdings
ANNUAL MEETING OF
APPLE GROWERS
The annual general meeting of apple growers was held
at the Waterloo Inn on January 18, 2005. Agenda items included:
- The meeting included a Panel Discussion
on the future of research and technology transfer in the
apple industry in the future. The panel included representatives
from the University of Guelph, OMAF, AAFC and the OAG.
- Jim Rickard presented a review of the
activities of the OAG since its inception (copy attached)
- The Financial Statements for the four
month period ending October 31, 2005 was presented (copy
attached). MacGillivray & Company were appointed auditors
for 2004 and 2005.
- Acreage fees - 87% of the acreage fees
have been collected. This represents 84% of the grower members.
Growers with outstanding acreage fees have been advised
that they will be charged interest at 1 1/2% per month commencing
February 1, 2005. Further, the OAG has the authority to
order that outstanding fees be deducted by buyers and remitted
to the OAG. >>BACK
TO TOP
ONTARIO APPLE GROWER
COMMITTEES AND DELEGATES
A list of the directors and staff is attached. The
summary includes the active committees and association representatives.
>>BACK
TO TOP
GREENBELT PROTECTION
ACT DELAYED
The Ontario government has delayed implementing the
GPA until March to allow for addition comment and consultation
with the stakeholders. The agricultural sectors have come
out loud and clear that the issue of farmer viability must
be entrenched in the legislation. Specific concerns include:
- Creation of a Greenbelt Advisory Committee
which would include farmers
- A 25 acre minimum for purchases of farm
land within Niagara (rather than 50) to recognize the unique
nature of farming in Niagara
- A "Buy Ontario" policy within Government
- Monitoring the price of farm land before
and after Greenbelt
- Fair taxation of value added on-farm
operations
- Consideration for the lost rights to
retirement severances
- Strengthening of Right-to-Farm and Trespass
Legislation
- Amendments to legislation to support
Ontario agriculture
- Revitalization of Ontario horticultural
research capacity
- Harmonization of pesticides registrations
with the U.S. >>BACK
TO TOP
SELF-DIRECTED RISK
MANAGEMENT APPROVED
SDRM has been approved for the 2003
- 2005 tax years. Fruit and grape growers who did not carry
crop insurance are eligible to participate in SDRM. This is
determined on a crop by crop basis. Producers who were enrolled
in SDRM for 2002 and who are participants in CAIS will have
received an information package directly from AgriCorp. Growers
enrolled in CAIS but who were not in SDRM in 2002 may call
AgriCorp call centre 1-877-838-5144.
Details of the program are as follows:
- AgriCorp will administer the program
- SDRM participants must be enrolled in
CAIS
- CAIS deadline for 2003 and 2004 has passed
- CAIS 2005 deadline is March 31, 2005
- Producer and government deposits are based
on Eligible Net Sales (ENS)
- ENS is capped at $250,000 for individuals
and $2.5 million for corporations with 10 shareholders
- The producer deposit is 4% of the SDRM
allowed ENS
- Government will match this with 4% of
ENS
- The government contribution is taxable
in the year the producer deposit is received
- AgriCorp will manage the SDRM account
with both the producer and government deposits
- There will be no interest paid
- Producers retain ownership of their deposit
plus the matching government share
- An SDRM withdrawal form will be mailed
by to producers after the completed application/deposit
summary and deposit cheque is received
- Producers complete the form by indicating
the following:
Expected Net Sales by crop - Actual Net Sales by crop -
Difference by crop - Reason for trigger by crop
(This is a self declaration made by the producer. The
producer simply states what he expected for sales in each
year and what the actual sales were - then asks for payment
of the difference. Growers are encouraged to withdraw the
full amount each year as there will be no interest paid
on the account and you will be required to pay the tax on
the government portion each year.)
- Withdrawal payment issued by AgriCorp
>>BACK
TO TOP
ONTARIO FRUIT &
VEGETABLE CONFERENCE - LOOK WHO'S COMING?
The OFVC will be held at Brock University on February
16 and 17 (agenda attached). The conference will include trade
displays. This year, the trade show will include a number
of booths from the Canadian Produce Marketing Association
and the Ontario Produce Marketing Association. Collectively,
these associations represent 80% of the fresh produce marketed
in Canada. Key retail produce merchandizing representatives
from Loblaws, A&P, and Sobeys will be on hand to discuss
the marketing of Ontario grown produce with the suppliers
of these products. I encourage you to attend the conference
and to visit these booths. >>BACK
TO TOP
PERMITS TO TAKE WATER
- ADMINISTRATION FEES
The Ministry of the Environment has announced their
fee schedule for administering water permits. The fees will
range from $750 to $3,000. OFA and OFVGA along with most grower
boards and associations have written to the Ministry to requesting
that agriculture be exempted from these onerous fees. At the
very least, if fees are to be charged, that a permit be good
for at least 10 years and further that the legislation clearly
state that producers will never be charged fees for the water.
Concern has also been expressed over the MOE's ability to
issue permits in a timely manner. >>BACK
TO TOP
AWARD WINNERS
Congratulations go to Marshall Schuyler as this year's
recipient of the Golden Apple Award. The award was presented
at the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers' Convention on
January 17, 2005. Congratulations are also extended to Walter
Goldsmith as this year's recipient of the OFVGA Award of Merit
winner. >>BACK
TO TOP
OFVGA CONVENTION
& RESOLUTIONS
The OFVGA Convention was held at the Waterloo Inn
on January 17 th and 18 th . The apple industry was well represented
at the convention and submitted a number of resolutions dealing
with issues facing the Ontario apple industry. These include
Permits to Take Water Administration Fees, Foodland Ontario,
the Spring Crop Advance Program, the Greenbelt Protection
Act and labeling issues regarding early yellow apples. Each
of the resolutions was passed and will be forwarded to the
appropriate agency or government department.
>>BACK TO TOP
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT APPROVED
As growers are aware, the Ontario apple industry
is eligible to receive $1.5 million in funding for research
and development over the next 4 years. A call for proposals
has been issued to research and extension personnel across
Ontario. To date, the OAG as approved the following:
- Hired Kelly Ciceran to coordinate research
and development projects for the Ontario apple industry
- Kathryn Carter - efficacy testing of alternate
pest control products
- Membership and contribution to the Pesticide
Consortium for efficacy testing to speed up the registration
process
- Wendy MacFadden-Smith - apple scab research
- Earth Tramper - rewrite of the IFP manual
- Earth Tramper - demonstration sites for
IFP program >>BACK
TO TOP
JANUARY 1, 2005
STORAGE HOLDINGS
The January
1, 2005 storage holdings are attached for your information.
>>BACK
TO TOP
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