ONTARIO ASPARAGUS GROWERS’ MARKETING BOARD
ANNUAL REPORT 2009
1283 Blueline Rd., Box 587
Simcoe, On N3Y 4N5
T: 519-426-7529 F: 519-426-9087
www.asparagus.on.ca
2008/2009 DIRECTORS & COMMITTEE MEMBERS DIRECTORY
ONTARIO ASPARAGUS GROWERS’ MARKETING BOARD
Chair Brenda Lammens
Vice Chair Jason Ryder
Treasurer Charles Welsh
Executive Director Denton Hoffman
Administrative Assistant Kathie Vysick
District #1 (Counties of Essex, Kent, Lambton, Middlesex and part of Huron lying south of Highway No. 83)
Directors
Keith Wright (Chair) RR#1, Harrow, ON N0R 1G0 (519) 738-6120
Committeemen
Kim Fysh RR#4, Thamesville,ON N0P 2K0 (519) 692-4854
Bob Kerr RR#5, Chatham, ON N7M 5J6 (519) 352-3479 –kerrfarm@minsi.net
Josh Jaques RR#2, Tupperville, ON N0P 2M0 (519)809-0323
District #2 (Counties of Elgin, Oxford, Perth, Waterloo and part of Haldimand-Norfolk lying south of Highway No. 3)
Directors
Brenda Lammens RR#5, Langton, ON N0E 1G0 (519) 875-4449-spearit@kwic.com
Lonnie Duwyn RR#1, Delhi, ON N4B 2W4 (519)582-1239-elitepak@xplornet.com
Frank Schonberger(Chair) RR#5, Langton, ON N0E 1G0 (519)875-2988-fschon@xplornet.com
Jason Ryder 53 Bilgers Rd., Delhi, On N4B 2W4 (519)582-8675-jryder@kwic.com
Ed De Hooghe 802 James Str., Delhi, On N4B 2E1 (519)582-2864
District #3 (Counties of Bruce, Grey, Wellington, Peel, York, Dufferin, Simcoe and part of Huron lying north of Highway No. 83)
Directors
Jeff Wilson(Chair) RR#3, Orton, ON L0N 1N0 (519) 855-6519
Committeeman
Morris Gervais RR#2, Barrie, ON L4M 4S4 (705) 791-4472-morris@barriehillfarms.com
District 4 (All Counties not listed in District #1, #2, #3 and #5)
Director
Brian Beatty(Chair) P.O. Box 235, Bloomfield, ON K0K 1G0 (613)393-2986-beatt12@aol.com
Committeemen:
Henry Jansen RR#1, Grafton, ON K0K 2G0 (905) 344-7304
Jack Ketcheson RR#2,Frankford,ON K0K 2C0 (613) 398-8393-jbketch@sympatico.ca
District 5 (Counties of Halton, Hamilton-Wentworth, Niagara, Brant and part of Haldimand-Norfolk lying north of Highway No. 3)
Directors
Charles Welsh RR#3, Scotland, ON N0E 1R0 (519) 446-3706-welshc@sympatico.ca
Murray Porteous (Chair) RR#3, Waterford, On N0E 1Y0 (519) 428-4727-mporteous@execulink.com
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
ONTARIO ASPARAGUS GROWERS’ MARKETING BOARD
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2009 8:30a.m.-11:30 a.m.
SIMCOE RESEARCH STATION - AUDITORIUM
1283 BLUELINE ROAD SIMCOE
AGENDA
Coffee available
8:30 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. Financial Report from the auditor – Doug Murphy
9:15 a.m. Minutes AGM 2008, Minutes November 2008 to elect Board 2009/2010
9:25 a.m. Report from the Chair – Brenda Lammens
9:35 a.m. Report from the Executive Director – Denton Hoffman
9:45 a.m. Report on Processing – Brenda Lammens
10:00 a.m. Report on Research – Director Research & Seed Development - Jeff Wilson
10:15 a.m. Reports from Districts
10:15 a.m. Report on Acreage
10: 20 a.m. Report on Seed – Ed DeHooghe
10: 25 a.m. Report on Safety Nets – Murray Porteous
10:35 a.m. Report on Projects
11:00 a.m. Comments from the Chair
11:30 a.m. AGM 2009 adjournment
Report from the Chair – 2009
The scope of the Ontario Asparagus Growers’ Marketing Board is broadening to meet the needs of our industry and the environment in which we are producing and doing business.
We need strength to be able to adapt to the changes and access the opportunities presented to the industry. 2009 has been a year of adapting and accessing opportunity and a year to build on as our pilots and research initiatives strengthen our industry.
Research funding in the amount of $564,000 was granted by CanAdvance for a total project of $1.4 million to research Human Health, winter hardiness and replant. Please thank Jeff Wilson, Research Chair, Dr. Dave Wolyn, Seed Breeder and Denton Hoffman for their commitment to completing this application and the advancement of our industry. We must use science as a marketing tool that brings value back to the farm gate. Marketing through the health benefits of our Guelph varieties of asparagus. The Guelph varieties have been proven to possess the highest level of antioxidants in vegetables because of the component Rutin. We are also investigating additional future funding to continue this research so that we can scientifically include this powerful information in our marketing program.
We continue to work with our Michigan counterparts and further develop that relationship through attendance at their spring and fall grower days and development of our Guelph varieties to compliment their production practises. They have reported back that the Guelph varieties have better yields, better tip quality and they adapt to adverse weather conditions more successfully than the Jersey varieties. Denton and I recently joined a group of Michigan growers and General Manager, John Bakker, in Peru for two days of our 7 day mission. We joined together to tour and investigate Peruvian asparagus production. The time spent with this forward thinking group of producers again strengthens our position in a more global aspect - realizing again how we may be small in size but certainly innovative.
Food Safety and Traceability programming caused us, as an industry, some anxiety this spring. Program funding was over subscribed to and as a result only a few producers were able to access the program. As an industry we are in a very unfortunate position with the timelines they have implemented, as applications for the next round of funding will not be accepted until April 1, 2010. After 6-8 weeks to review the applications and decide if we qualify, leaves us little time to implement any improvements to our operations until 2011. We are continuing to lobby for some answers and change to this program such as leaving the present applications in the queue as they were submitted
this year. We are requesting that we continue on with the order instead of reapplying and possibly missing the funding again. Please be aware that before you make any expenditure with respect to this program, that you are approved for funding, as they are not respecting purchases made before approval.
Our National CHC Food Safety program now called CANADAGAP is proceeding with international benchmarking so that it will be registered globally as a certification program for the export market. In April, I was summoned as a witness to the Listeriosis Hearing which was being conducted by the Federal Government. I presented on behalf of horticultural farmers in Canada with respect to the On Farm Food Safety programs. I was questioned by a panel of seven Members of Parliament, for 10 minutes each, after my presentation. It was a very intense session, but well received. It also was a great opportunity to let the government know that farmers understand food safety.
Jamie Petchell, a representative of Hargreaves, an English Seed Business, visited us in August to tour our seed breeding program and visit strip trials on growers’ farms. Jamie was very impressed with our seed business and a certain variety of asparagus that Dr. Wolyn has been trialing. The variety is more suited to the English market and growing conditions. Again, more confirmation that we are gaining recognition on the international seed stage and becoming a world class seed business. It was very interesting to spend time with Jamie and gain insight into the United Kingdom’s asparagus industry. Many thanks to Paul Banks for being the tour guide and convenor of Jamie’s stay with us.
We successfully completed our Cost of Production (COP) for Ontario Asparagus in 2009 in preparation for the Risk Management Program (RMP) which is based on COP. The lobby effort for the RMP has gained acceptance by the Minister of Agriculture in Ontario and work is underway to put some structure around the concept. We will continue this winter, to update our COP so that we are using the most current figures as our costs continue to increase. E.g. Minimum Wage. The Federal Government is being lobbied aggressively to contribute their 60% to this program so that it is fully funded and functional for Ontario farmers.
Ontario Asparagus participated in the Queen’s Park garden party to kick off Pick Ontario Freshness for another year on June 16th. Grilled asparagus was offered to the public and recipe brochures passed out by the dozens. Premier McGuinty visited our booth and stopped for conversation and photos but did not sample the grilled treats. Processing was again an activity of the board and you can see from the Processing Report, we conducted a Pilot Project with IQF. The Royal Winter Fair was the venue at which we rolled out our IQF asparagus and the media uptake was excellent being
featured in the food section of The Toronto Star and many food publications. Chef Robert Campbell, of the Direct Energy Centre endorsed the product and grilled some up for the photographer covering the rollout. We are very excited about this project and will continue to bring you more information as we receive our market analysis. We have given 100 Mile Market the exclusive rights to handling this product and also the task of completing the market analysis. With the recent announcement around funding for an IQF facility in Delhi we are very excited about future opportunities for Ontario Asparagus.
The XII International Asparagus Symposium was held in Lima, Peru from October 29 – November 1st and Denton and I were able to attend due to the generous contribution of District 2 growers. Dr. Dave Wolyn, Paul Banks and Erik Laundry also attended representing the University of Guelph. Denton and I were able to spend additional days touring asparagus operations thanks to Rodrigo Santillan of Agriculture and Agri Food Canada, who accompanied us on this trip. Rodrigo was an incredible asset to our mission as he originates from Peru and the Peruvian Asparagus Industry. He put together an agenda that kept us busy everyday travelling and visiting sites such as the largest IQF facility in the world, medium packing facilities and one of the largest packing facilities. He also arranged to visit small farmer operated farms and their market situation which is very different from the larger players. I will be presenting a full report at our Grower Day in the early spring. I also was introduced to Juan Jose Gal’Lino, the President of the Peruvian Asparagus and Vegetable Institute, which is my equivalent here at Ontario’s Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association with respect to vegetables. Time spent with Juan Jose was very informative while we compared countries and production issues and costs. On behalf of our asparagus industry in Ontario I wish to thank Agriculture and Agri Food Canada for their contribution and assistance with this trip and networking opportunity. We certainly were exposed to all aspects of the Peruvian asparagus industry and returned home with the complete picture which was so well thought out and arranged by Rodrigo Santillan.
The Ontario Asparagus Growers need to support their Board and I invite everyone to get more actively involved in our initiatives as it is very difficult for just a few to do all the work. I would like to thank Denton and Kathie for being the keepers of our industry and providing support. My Board of Directors, I challenge you to get more involved and thank those that do rise to the challenge and help move our industry forward. Most importantly, I thank Raymond and my daughters, for their love and continued tolerance of my passion for the asparagus industry.
Blessings ~ Brenda
Respectfully submitted: Brenda Lammens, Chair
Report from Executive Director - 2009
As we review the financial statements the overall influence the seed sales has on our business is even more apparent. We invested in a new seed cage and we had less seed to sell in 2009. This is the major change in our financial statement as we expected. Last year’s weather related production resulted in less seed and a final decision to construct a new seed production unit with costs pushing up to about $80,000 was a good decision, market driven and when on line (scheduled for 2010) will be flat out fully sold. We continue to be the little seed company that could. All of our major seed markets are projecting more demand. We’ve moved from a possible success story to a very real seed success story. All we need is good production. We finally moved from a per pound basis sale to a per seed basis of $30/thousand. All other companies have made this change. It was time. I must thank our Director of Research and Seed production Jeff Wilson for his guidance, enthusiasm and salesmanship. The driving factor is the market place now has an appetite for millennium. We see new potential for upcoming varieties in the background. Development is a slow business but we have a solid distribution base. New hybrids and now plant pathology at the University of Guelph in Simcoe are positive for our asparagus program. We will move towards seed certification in 2010.
The funding announcement by the Government of Ontario, in Delhi, on Tuesday, November 24, will help form our asparagus future. The entire hort community needs an IQF facility. Our pilot venture into IQF seems to show success. RAWF launch was a great marketing tool. After considerable planning we will take our next steps with caution but at this point in our review and analysis we see a future for asparagus and IQF in Ontario. We were advised to avoid shipping to Michigan now we see a handler is bankrupt. This year we will continue with caution. We will discuss our options when we meet with Michigan regulators and handlers in Grand Rapids at the Great Lakes Expo in early December.
Our relationship with PAM (spray) initiated last year will be in full swing in the coming season. This initiative should help boost sales of “thicker asparagus for grilling” and as preliminary discussions with PAM have taken place we are confident that this will be part of our promotion program in 2010.
The On Farm Food Safety program delivery by the province failed to satisfy our interest and need. The last straw was we need to reapply.
We will have a special Grower Meeting in February, 2010 to discuss what the Feds and Province are supporting and how we fit. We will assist growers in transitioning to the new CHC asparagus manual. Minister Dombrowsky has thanked us for our letter of complaint re: Food Safety and Traceability initiative (FSTI) and the fact that we applied this past year and not only did not get any financial support but are required to cue up again for application. The Minister is reviewing the program and parameters may
change so new applications will be required re status. Effectively the board was waiting for a funding announcement from OMAF that didn’t come relating to organization
financial support. The OMAF program coordinator, Dermod Mark, has assured me this will not reoccur in 2010 and he will be in attendance at our grower day in February to discuss the program and its changes.
Thank you Kathie for your loyal, steady assistance. I would like also to express thanks to Chair, Brenda, her enthusiasm and support must be noted. She is an accomplished, hard working leader, giving all she can to the asparagus industry in Ontario. Thank you Brenda
Processing Committee Report 2009
The economic climate prevented us from pursuing the processing market in Michigan in 2009. We had confirmation from the freezers in Michigan that their freezers were still holding inventory of unsold product from 2008, so they would be processing minimal product in 2009.
We are investigating what demand there maybe for 2010 in the processing sector of Michigan. When we confirm more details in January, we will report to the membership.
The processing committee focused more locally this season, on the opportunity for Individual Quick Freeze (IQF) with a local company. We completed a pilot project of 5000 lbs of product which is being marketed and promoted into the food service industry by 100 Mile Market.
The IQF asparagus is being very well received by the Chefs in the GTA and a complete market analysis will be provided to our committee in January 2010 by 100 Mile Market. With this information, we will be able to plan for the coming asparagus season and hopefully provide more opportunity to our growers for a processing market. We rolled out our IQF asparagus at The Royal Winter Fair on November 11, 2009 and received excellent coverage from the media and the endorsement of Chef Robert Campbell, Direct Energy Centre.
With the recent announcement of Rural Economic Development funding for an IQF facility in Delhi, we are very confident that our value chain of grower, processor and 100 Mile Market will bring great opportunity to the asparagus growers of Ontario. We thank the Minister of Agriculture, Leona Dombrowsky for supporting this facility and future opportunities for Ontario Asparagus.
Respectfully submitted:
Lonnie Duywn
Brenda Lammens
Denton Hoffman
News Release November 2009
The Ontario Asparagus Growers Marketing Board stays local 12 months of the year with the launch of Individual Quick Freeze (IQF) asparagus
Flash frozen to retain flavour within 24 hours of field picking, IQF asparagus could replace imported product
November 10, 2009 (Toronto, ON) -- Ontario Asparagus Growers will be introducing their newest pilot project – IQF asparagus – at the Journey to your Good Health Pavilion, part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
“Each spear is frozen individually to retain texture, colour and most importantly flavour,” says Brenda Lammens, Chair, Ontario Asparagus Growers. “In Ontario, we harvest fresh asparagus just two months of the year in May and June. To extend our season and to supply the marketplace and food service industry year round, we have found a way to preserve freshness and flavour through an Individual Quick Frozen process.”
100 Mile Market will be the exclusive delivery agent for the IQF asparagus fulfilling its mandate of supplying local product to the marketplace and food service sector. “The IQF asparagus is the ideal product frozen at the peak of freshness and providing an excellent replacement for fresh imported product,” says Albert Knab, President 100 Mile Market. “It’s fabulous grilled on the barbeque and just as tasty in stir fries.”
Executive Chef, Robert Campbell of Centreplate at the Direct Energy Centre has prepared the IQF asparagus and will join the roll-out as a supporter. “I have used the IQF asparagus and had very good results,” says Chef Campbell. “The product has been served at several functions during the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and the comments have been very positive towards the flavour and presentation of the asparagus.”
The Ontario Asparagus Growers Marketing Board is a regulated marketing board and represents 200 Ontario asparagus growers. It is the oldest yet most innovative marketing board in Ontario and continues to explore and research effective ways to market processed and fresh asparagus to their markets.
The Media Event will take place on November 10, 2009 from 11:00 – 11:30am at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Booth #7312 in the Journey to Your Good Health pavilion, Hall B, Direct Energy Centre, Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
For more information:
Ontario Asparagus Growers Marketing Board 100 Mile Market
Brenda Lammens, Chair, 519-983-6396 Albert Knab, 519-983-3398
Denton Hoffman, Executive Director Paul Knechtel, 519-502-4240
Office: 519-426-7529 or Erich Remler, 519-983-5677
Cellular: 519-718-3766
Direct Energy Centre, Centreplate RAWF
Chef Robert Campbell, 416-263-3526 Alex Milovanovic, 416-417-3630
Research Report 2009
Last spring we were able to secure funding on two fronts to continue the work to provide answers to the myriad of problems we face growing asparagus.
The first was CanAdapt which is allowing us to take our breeding program to the next level in terms of breeding specific traits for specific conditions be they climate or weather, or nutraceutical, which are the natural chemicals in asparagus which may contribute to better health or wellness.
We are also searching to see why our Guelph varieties are starting to appear to have better longevity than our competitors, especially the Jersey varieties. This summer in Michigan we saw side by side proof in a number of fields where Millennium next to Jersey Giant stood significantly better. One field was planted in 1999 and is the oldest significant commercial field in existence. The difference is dramatic, with the Millennium still looking "as good as the day it was planted" in the words of the grower. We want to understand why this is happening scientifically, so that we can incorporate this trait into new varieties. Much of this work is long term, but so is asparagus. All these beneficial factors add up why we are developing a credible reputation in our seed business.
The second area of funding we were able to utilize was ORD ( Ontario Research and Development) fund. We have two projects, one looking at the long term effects and value of irrigation, in collaboration with Dr. Dan Brainerd from Michigan State University. This was very initial work funded for one year under ORD. Dr. Dave Wolyn, University of Guelph is looking at a long term effort to evaluate irrigation over multiple years. As we all know the weather is changing, two successive years of cold wet weather, following two years of dry. What, if any, is the value of irrigation over 10 years? We want to be able to give growers quantifiable, and quality recommendations.
The second part of the ORD work is in collaboration with Dr. Mary Hausbeck of Michigan State. Dr. Hausbeck is world renowned for her work on asparagus soil diseases. This project is actually being done here at the Simcoe Research Station with the support of Dr. Catarina Saude who is under contract to Al McEwen in Simcoe. Paul Banks is assisting her in getting samples blind from grower’s fields to determine the levels of phytophthera, leading to the onset of fusarium and death of the asparagus plant. Dr. Saude trained under Mary Hausbeck at MSU and has the respect and full support of Dr. Hausbeck. She is identifying the disease and strain thereof. The goal is to get a sense of the presence of disease in Ontario and level. While this is only a one year project, it is a start. Our goal will be to secure funding to continue this work.
Ultimately the better we understand soil diseases the closer we get to a potential solution. Another interesting development is that Dr. Saude has discovered a new trap to catch airborne spores, and diagnose them in 4 hours. Imagine the implications for predicting when foliar diseases are at a critical level in asparagus (or any other crop, downey mildew come to mind?). We are at the initial stage in looking at this instrument, and we haven't secured funding to date. It could have a profound effect on our asparagus industry.
I view it as very positive that the Simcoe Research Station is getting back to pathology work after too long an absence. The University of Guelph is losing most of its pathology capacity for various reasons: retirements, secondments and cutbacks. It behooves us to fight as a board and as an industry to maintain some pathology capacity in Ontario, to address what is clearly the major roadblock to long term profitability in asparagus. Dr. Hausbeck at MSU can't do it all especially for us here in Ontario. Dr. Saude would be a fabulous and welcome addition for the future of asparagus and a multitude of other vegetable crops.
Respectfully Submitted: Jeff Wilson, Director Research & Seed Development
District #1 Report -2009
The 2009 season started near the end of April and in some locations it was the first week of May. There was some frost damage reported in most locations. Severity of damage varied from minimal spot damage to widespread damage across whole fields.
Yields for this past season varied also across the district, with some growers reporting good to above average yields to some reporting slightly below average yields.
One common concern that we seemed to share in District #1 was that grower returns were less this year than the previous year. This trend cannot continue if we want to maintain a viable industry.
Even with higher yields our ever increasing wage rates and associated costs will nullify any benefit from having these high yielding varieties.
District #1
Director Keith Wright
Committeemen Josh Jaques
Kim Fysh
Bob Kerr
Respectfully submitted; Keith Wright
District # 2 Report - 2009
The 2009 asparagus harvest season provided District 2 growers with cold weather challenges. Multiple frosts, during May harvests, kept asparagus yields average, at best, for the season. Market prices seemed to remain stable with the lower volumes of asparagus moving to the marketplace during the month of May.
Growers missed the Michigan processing asparagus project which was very effective in removing some asparagus from the marketplace in 2008. The Board will have to work hard at continuing to pursue potential processing markets for Ontario asparagus.
There was a good supply of harvest labour in 2009 with the large increase in processing cucumber acreages in 2009. The workers came to work in asparagus harvest and then shifted to cucumber harvesting several weeks later. The two crops seemed to be a good fit together providing up to twelve weeks of work for labourers during a normal season. The high cost of labour continues to be of concern to growers due to their inability to pass these increased production costs on to the marketplace. With the minimum wage about to increase once again in 2010, many growers are concerned
about the impact it may have on Ontario asparagus production in the future.
The following producers will represent District #2 for 2010- Brenda Lammens, Ed DeHooghe, Lonnie Duwyn, Jason Ryder and Frank Pihokker.
Respectfully submitted: Frank Schonberger
District 3 Report - 2009
The 2009 growing season was similar to the previous year. Cool wet weather, brought a slow start, but did result in exceptional quality in the asparagus. Yields were down from the average, but prices were steady resulting in an average but disappointing year overall. We are feeling the effects of the McGuinty government efforts to put us out of business with his wage policies, with no offsetting safety net relief. Other input prices are skyrocketing as with all other asparagus growers. The inequity between Michigan and Ontario pesticide pricing continues to widen. For 3 years now we have attempted to bring an issue to light without success. The mandarins listen but they do not hear. There is growing frustration out there that unfortunately is now being directed at farm organizations and leadership. The district feels the time for action is now.
Morris Gervais continues as chair of the district with Jeff Wilson as director to the board.
Respectfully submitted: Jeff Wilson
District #4 Report - 2009
Our growers are spread out and continue to function at a conservative pace. Most have accessed local markets and on farm sales. The growing season was longer by far than normal. Production was acceptable but expensive with a cold June. Our group has become frustrated over the market driven developments of the past five years. The first blow was the closing of the back doors of most chains to anything but warehouse product re: Food Safety. Now that buy local has become the buzz word in 2009, they are still shut out because of the lack of an acceptable food safety program for the chains. Any opportunity to serve their local demand and expand production has once again been destroyed. The Board’s inability to influence the market place has fueled indifference.
After all these 30 plus years as a director of OAGMB I have always taken the liberty to put on record my thoughts of what we need to focus on in the coming year as an
industry. Our breeding program and seed sales are a huge success. The excellent production per acre is also a given with the new hybrids. The OAGMB has only survived
because of massive government financial support and seed sales revenue, not acreage assessment.
We have been blessed to have marketers who accessed export business in the USA: Sandy Shore Farms, Streef Produce and Bayshore Produce.
We are a group of growers who resist a common box; length grades; cold chain requirements; food safety and traceability requirements in the perfect world we are thrust into.
We have a government minimum wage increase that should have wiped everybody out ( U.S. $6.85/hr; Ontario $10.00/hr.
The scrapping of our OAGMB Food Safety Program, the uncontested power play at CHC to administer the Food Safety for Canadian Horticulture could have asparagus growers who haven’t had a CHC audit shut out from domestic sales in 2010; definitely in future years, the absence of a processing sector, the movement of the US dollar to below par. This is the lineup we bring forward for 2010.
As a group and a board how do we even get a response from our “Growers” to shore up our line up to market 2010’s production?
Reaction and action are needed by our growers and Board to these fixable problems. The marketers need action now and not next spring.
Thank you for your attention. I believe this will be my last term as an OAGMB director. Good luck and good health.
District #4
Chair Jack Ketcheson
Director Brian Beatty
Committeeman Henry Jansen
Respectfully submitted; Brian Beatty.
District #5 Report - 2009
The annual meeting for the District #5 Growers was held November 3rd at the OMAFRA Research Station in Simcoe. Attendance was excellent with the vast majority of the acreage being represented at the meeting.
Overall, 2009 turned out to be a better-than expected year. Frost resulted in decreased
yield for a few days, but the slow growing conditions with cool weather resulted in cuts that optimized yield for the most part and reduced the tonnage of Number 2’s by avoiding blooming-out. This was especially noticeable with better-than-expected yields and quality being obtained from Millennium plantings. Harvest continued into July on some fields and this increased tonnage as well.
The Buy-Local move increased on-farm direct sales and retailer support was generally good with steady movement and no huge oversupplies. Market conditions varied between growers and comments in the press regarding low yields, terrible pricing and lack of retailer support during harvest resulted in worried calls from bankers and accountants that needed to be dealt with.
No resolutions were brought forth for the Annual Meeting and Charles Welsh and Murray Porteous will return to the OAGMB for the 2009/10 year.
Respectfully submitted: Murray Porteous
Acreage Measurement Report 2009
The acreage measurement program maintains an acreage inventory for the purpose of assessing annual license fees. Measurements were completed this year by Rossilind Lammens using GPS technology and database input compiled by Paul Van den Borre.
|
Size of Acreage |
# of Producers |
Percentage of Producers |
|
|
2 to 5 acres |
20 |
18.9% |
|
|
5 to 10 acres |
16 |
15.1% |
|
|
10 to 20 acres |
23 |
21.7% |
|
|
20 to 50 acres |
32 |
30.2% |
|
|
50 to 100 acres |
14 |
13.2% |
|
|
100 acres plus |
1 |
0.9% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
106 |
100.00% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year |
District 1 |
District 2 |
District 3 |
District 4 |
District 5 |
Total |
|
2000 |
419 |
1,273 |
231 |
106 |
230 |
2,259 |
|
2001 |
431 |
1,325 |
215 |
94 |
226 |
2,291 |
|
2002 |
377 |
1,571 |
221 |
98 |
250 |
2,517 |
|
2003 |
328 |
1,607 |
178 |
117 |
213 |
2,443 |
|
2004 |
314 |
1,972 |
187 |
116 |
257 |
2,846 |
|
2005 |
264 |
2,296 |
165 |
116 |
221 |
3,062 |
|
2006 |
262 |
2,359 |
131 |
98 |
206 |
3,056 |
|
2007 |
198 |
2329 |
124 |
89 |
198 |
2,938 |
|
2008 |
183 |
2004 |
127 |
89 |
218 |
2,621 |
|
2009 |
189 |
2029 |
125 |
88 |
224 |
2,654 |
|
Acres Ploughed Out |
|
|
|
|
|
2009 |
36 |
|
2008 |
327 |
|
2007 |
198 |
|
2006 |
147 |
|
2005 |
70 |
|
2004 |
100 |
|
2003 |
170 |
|
2002 |
93 |
|
2001 |
123 |
|
2000 |
141 |
|
1999 |
220 |
Acreage Measurement Program Report - 2009
|
|
|
District1 |
District2 |
District3 |
District4 |
District5 |
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Producers |
|
12 |
65 |
10 |
8 |
11 |
106 |
|
Percent of Producers |
|
11% |
61% |
9% |
8% |
10% |
100% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acres Planted |
2009 |
0 |
30 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
37 |
|
Acres Planted |
2008 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
10 |
|
Acres Planted |
2007 |
7 |
57 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
71 |
|
Acres Planted |
2006 |
19 |
83 |
7 |
0 |
32 |
141 |
|
Acres Planted |
2005 |
5 |
186 |
13 |
5 |
69 |
278 |
|
Acres Planted |
2004 |
0 |
375 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
378 |
|
Acres Planted |
2003 |
3 |
292 |
2 |
1 |
22 |
320 |
|
Acres Planted |
2002 |
0 |
197 |
11 |
8 |
13 |
230 |
|
Acres Planted |
2001 |
26 |
211 |
14 |
22 |
26 |
299 |
|
Acres Planted |
2000 |
14 |
129 |
21 |
1 |
10 |
175 |
|
Acres>10 years |
|
116 |
467 |
46 |
49 |
35 |
713 |
|
Total Acres |
|
189 |
2,029 |
125 |
88 |
224 |
2,654 |
|
Percent of Acres |
|
7% |
76% |
5% |
3% |
8% |
100% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Summary of Acreage Measurement 2009 |
|
|
||||
|
|
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
|
Total producers |
59 |
41 |
22 |
24 |
29 |
27 |
|
Total Acres Measured |
1333.2 |
832.7 |
518.9 |
444.5 |
687.31 |
532.42 |
|
Average Acres Measured |
22.6 |
20.3 |
23.6 |
18.5 |
23.7 |
19.7 |
|
Total Cost of Measurer |
$5,555 |
$3,565.52 |
$2,113.58 |
$2,107.00 |
$2,144.15 |
$1,580.75 |
|
Average Cost per Measurement |
$94 |
$86.96 |
$96.07 |
$87.79 |
$73.93 |
$58.54 |
|
Average Cost per Acre |
$4.17 |
$4.28 |
$4.07 |
$4.74 |
$3.11 |
$2.96 |
Respectfully submitted: Rossilind Lammens, Paul Vanden Borre
Seed Report - 2009
The following is a summary of the varieties of seed that have been licensed under the ARIO-U of G-Asparagus Board agreement (established 28 May 1996)
|
Sales in pounds |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
|
Guelph Millennium |
473 |
93 |
305 |
303 |
248 |
273 |
512 |
607 |
558 |
287.44 |
|
Guelph Tiessen |
41 |
|
|
375 |
236 |
|
73 |
125 |
97 |
73 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Production totals |
Guelph Millennium (lb) |
Tiessen (lb) |
|
Start inventory 2009from harvest year ended 2008 |
287.44 |
73 |
|
Total seed sold 2009 |
287.44 |
73 |
|
End inventory 2009 |
0 |
0 |
This year we removed the west side of the old field putting the good cloth over the remaining acre. If timing is everything, Paul’s call to put in extra bees was right on the money! The old plot yielded quite well.
The new structure was put up on the east farm and the final planning was completed.
Everything looks good. Our super males were not super. The seed set was light. We expect next year that the male will be stronger and we expect a substantial improvement.
Respectfully submitted; Ed DeHooghe
Safety Net Report – 2009
Agri Flex – Applications for infrastructure projects are being approved by commodity organizations and forwarded to AAFC for funding. Any project that is new can qualify such as cooling for asparagus. A letter of intent needs to be sent to the OAGMB office for endorsement. This program is viewed by AAFC as key in assisting producers to cope with change.
Cost – of – Production – OFVGA has been increasing its efforts to get a new safety net program for horticulture. The cost of production type program is what Quebec had with ASRA and what I believe the pulse growers in Alberta had.
ASRA made the hog situation much worse by supporting the industry when prices fell below the cost of production. Producers delayed or even expanded their herds keeping the hog inventory artificially high and creating financial problems for hog producers in other provinces. For this reason, AAFC will be very reluctant to funding any type of cost of production formula.
RMP - OFVGA has now joined a coalition to lobby for an RMP program similar to what grains and oilseeds have had for the past two years in Ontario. This program is viewed by many as being a success because it had a high participation rate, but with high grain prices, triggered very little in payouts. Minister Dombrowski has committed in the Federal/Provincial/Territorial meetings that she will not be spending any more money on safety net companion programs. Ontario needs to be onside with other provinces for this to be federally funded because the Federal government has made it clear that it will not fund programs that are trade distorting, commodity-specific or regional. The federal government did not contribute to the Grains and Oilseed’s program.
Respectfully submitted: Murray Porteous
OAGMB - Hargreaves Plants Annual Report 2009
Please find below a brief report from Hargreaves Plants on its activities with the Guelph germplasm during 2009.
European Crown Sales 1st November 2008 – 21st October 2009
- A crowns (70g+) 676.500
- B crowns (40-70g) 210.200
- Ungraded crowns (40g+) 27.695
- Total 914.395
Guelph Millennium is now being more widely planted as growers wish to replace the late season Dutch variety Backlim. Millennium offers quality advantages over Backlim. We see a real opportunity to grow the market for Millennium, but the fact that it is late to start here means that its potential market share is unlikely to be greater than 20%. After the trials and marketing effort we have made, combined with the shortage of seed for spring 2009, we will be looking for 2-3m Millennium seeds in February 2010.
Going forward, in the European markets I think we will be projecting similar quantities of Millennium for the next 2-3 years. Hopefully this will increase but the limiting factor is the seasonality. China is of course another conversation. It will be good to get another year's worth of results under our belt and then plan a commercial development strategy. This could / should involve 10m+ seeds per year, but will need a well laid out plan to be agreed between us and the board.
UG001 - I have high hopes. First thing of course is to be sure we can solve the current seed production issues. I can then be confident in developing a proposal along the lines of what I discussed when in Canada; i.e. working initially exclusively with a large produce marketing company before moving on to offer it more widely. Knowing the problems that exist, it is difficult to accurately forecast. However, for this exercise I will assume that there are no seed production issues. In this case, we should be looking to use the 400-500k seeds per year from this existing seed cage in the next 3 years and then scaling up to 2+ million over 5 years. Experience will then tell us if we can expand further. The big advantage of UG001 is that it crops much earlier than Millennium over here. As such, it is competing with Gijnlim (60% of our market).
We are also very keen to evaluate the thicker speared selections from the Guelph program. The principal aim here is to develop varieties that can perform as white asparagus. The white asparagus market in Northern Europe is significantly larger than the green so offers a potentially more important opportunity.
Respectfully Submitted: Jamie Petchell, Hargreaves Plants United Kingdom