New Year, New Treats!

 2023 is off to a good start, with a handful of fantastic webinars coming up in the next few months! Here are some of the things to look forward too, and will hopefully come in handy when planning for the upcoming season:

'Getting Into the Weeds' Seminar Series 

Introducing the next season of the Getting into the Weeds seminar series! 2022 saw a significant cost increase for production inputs, and combined with the global supply chain issues we have been experiencing over the past few years, agricultural production is becoming more challenging. This year's seminar series is comprised of 4 information sessions focusing on maximizing efficiencies on farm. These sessions will focus in on product application, nutrient management, on-farm input efficiencies (labour etc.), as well as the trials and tribulations of on-farm plots.

 

For those who are interested in attending these free webinars, please find additional speaker details and instructions for registration on Perennia’s learning page.

   

If you have any questions about these sessions specifically, please contact Hugh Lyu (hlyu@perennia.ca; 902-890-0472) or Talia Plaskett (tplaskett@perennia.ca; 902-305-3419).

Managing Nitrogen in Protected, Soil-based Systems

Managing crop fertility in protected spaces can be difficult to navigate throughout the growing season when deciding what to apply, how much of it and when. Join Judson Reid from Cornell University and Perennia Specialist Talia Plaskett on February 9, 2023, at noon to learn about nutrient management in protected, soil-based crops.

Register now to secure your virtual spot and help set yourself up for a productive growing season! 

This event is being held as part of the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) program. The goals of the program are to encourage on-farm sequestration of carbon and reduction in greenhouse gases through the implementation of improved nitrogen management, enhanced cover crop adoption, and the normalization of rotational grazing. For more info on the OFCAF program, please visit ofcaf.perennia.ca 

Cover Cropping in Tunnel Spaces

Cover cropping has proven to be quite beneficial in field production and is gaining a lot of momentum across Nova Scotia. This raises the question – is this a practice that can be adopted in protected production? Join Judson Reid from Cornell University and Perennia Specialist Talia Plaskett on March 23, 2023, at noon to hear about the work done around cover cropping in tunnels and see how this practice could apply to your farm.

Register now to reserve your virtual spot and start thinking about what your off-seasons could look like! 

This event is being held as part of the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) program. The goals of the program are to encourage on-farm sequestration of carbon and reduction in greenhouse gases through the implementation of improved nitrogen management, enhanced cover crop adoption, and the normalization of rotational grazing. For more info on the OFCAF program, please visit ofcaf.perennia.ca

• For a full list of the learning opportunities hosted by Perennia, check out the events page here

• For more information on OFCAF, funding and application windows, and the training available, check out their website here.
  
  

Here is to a successful 2023!

Posted by: Talia Plaskett

Webinar Alert - Energy Alternatives in Protected Production

  Greenhouse Canada is hosting two free webinars on energy that are coming up soon!

Thurs May 5 at 3pm (Atlantic):  Biomass – Fire up the greenhouse

Biomass may be considered a renewable energy source, but where does it fit into Canada’s clean energy future for greenhouse agriculture? Learn about its use, the importance of fuel sources, as well as new developments that could give it a place on the journey towards net-zero emissions. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_s8xsNXl7Rd-jNwiaB_tG0A

Wed. May 11 at 3pm (Atlantic): Reducing Carbon Emissions – Now and in the Future

What can greenhouse growers and vertical farming operations do to reduce their carbon emissions both now and over the next decade? This webinar will be centred around three main pillars: natural gas, demand-side management and low carbon solutions. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fVz9J78TS-WX5SlGY1E_aw

Each session will have a live Q&A, where you will have an opportunity to chat to the experts directly! Can't attend the event? Registering for the webinar will give you direct access to the recording afterwards, so it is worth putting your name in!

More info and registration can be found in the links above! See you there

Posted by: Talia Plaskett

2022 Updated Spray Guide

The process of selecting products for pest and disease management can be daunting - not only is there a wide selection of products to chose from, but we have to consider compatibility amongst products, the growing conditions within the production space, as well as the impact of these products on any biological control agents that may have been released into the space.  

Every year Perennia's Protected Crop Specialist takes the time to go through and update the spray guide to account for changes that have happened over the last year. Suppliers can be known to change application rates, recommendations for applications, formulations and REI/PHI values as well, and it is important to make sure that you are up to date on these things to maintain the health of your crop, efficacy of the products, and continued compliance with Health Canada recommendations.  

While this spray guide is no substitute for the actual product label, it can help narrow down the choices of what works best for your grow. Say, for example, you are having an issue with spider mites. You can scroll down to the 'Mites' portion of the guide (or 'control - Find' for the tech savy), and take a look at all of the products that are registered for use in cannabis against mites. 

Some products are going to be more compatible with your production system than others. For example, say you have been applying sulfur to manage powdery mildew. Oil sprays are not going to be your best choice to tackle mites in this case, as these may cause some funky side effects on your canopy. This is a fast way to narrow down your search to a product that will be more suitable. From there, double check the label, and ensure that you are applying based on their recommendations. Product registrations can change any time of year, and our guides, updated every March, are not going to capture things that have taken place in April...May...June etc. 

What are some of the things to look out for this year?

There are a handful of changes to product labels from 2021

• Lalstop is no longer registered for use in cannabis
• the active ingredient Gliocladium catenulatum can still be found in other products, so if this was part of your usual rotation there are alternative products available that should behave the same way
• Milstop has differentiated the application rate to be used depending on where you are growing - ourdoor and indoor rates are no longer the same
• Expansion of the label for Rootshield HC Biological Fungicide, which now can be applied as a foliar spray to tackle botrytis issues
• Bioceres label has been expanded to include use against spider mites 
• Purespray FX and Regalia Maxx were only registered for indoor use, but this year we see that it can be used for field production as well
• Two new active ingredients have been registered for use in cannabis!
• MustGrow Crop Biofumigant, which can be used against species of the Pythium genus, Fusarium genus, Verticillium dahlia and root knot nematode, relies on the active ingredient  oriental mustard seed meal
• Timorex Gold controls botrytis, powdery mildew and white mold via the active ingredient tea tree oil

Interested in learning more about changes to horticultural products for 2022? Check out the recording of our webinar 'Product Changes Impacting Horticulture' for the full list of changes.

Otherwise, be sure to check out the updated spray guide, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions! 

Spray happy my friends!

Posted by: Talia Plaskett

Upcoming Webinar: Phosphorus and Cannabis - How much is Enough?

April 28, 12:00 - 1:00 pm EST sets the stage for the next webinar in the GrowON series, organized by extension staff at OMAFRA. As the cost of fertilizer increases, greenhouse growers of all shapes and sizes are looking for ways to optimize nutrient use efficiency in order to manage the costs of the inputs. Phosphorus, being an important nutrient for plant production, is the focus of today's talk. Bill MacDonald, the coordinator of the commercial cannabis program at Niagara College, will talk about the results of phosphorus deficiency trials conducted over the last few years in Cannabis. Following this discussion, there will be a review of other nutrition work that has been done to help dial in the ideal recipe for your crop. 

In September 2018, Niagara College became the first post secondary institute in Canada to obtain a Health Canada license specifically to grow cannabis with the intention of training students. Prior to joining Niagara College, Bill MacDonald owned and managed greenhouses, and spent 8 years consulting in the cannabis industry. He has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and a Master of Science in Plant nutrition from the University of Guelph, so he is well versed in all things cannabis nutrition.

If you are interested in learning more about the role Phosphorus plays in your crop, and getting a better idea of the impact of varying nutrient levels on your crop, click here to register for the session. 

Posted by: Talia Plaskett

Upcoming Plant Health Virtual Conference

  Get those calendars ready folks, we have another greenhouse webinar coming up! This (FREE) virtual event takes place Wednesday March 23 from 12-4pm EST and focuses on various ways to improve on plant health in controlled environments. 

So, what are we going to be hearing about?

Watching Water Quality - 12:20 - 1:05 pm

Water quality is extremely important to consider for protected production, especially in a hydroponic setup. Water quality can impact long-term root-zone pH and EC, as well as root disease susceptibility, pesticide applications, equipment longevity and appropriate fertilizers. Neil Mattson, Associate Professor at Cornell University, will discuss why and how often you should be submitting your water for a quality test. From there, he will review some of the key aspects to focus on when interpreting the results from the lab, as well as highlight some of the things on that report that are slightly less important to help keep us on track. By understanding your water, and the impact it has on your crop, you can help mitigate any water-based headaches around the facility and help improve the overall growing conditions (and productivity) of the crop

The Physics of Spraying in Closed Environments- 1:15 - 2:00 pm

Jason Deveau, the Application Technology Specialist at OMAFRA will explore the physics of spray application methods that are specific to closed environments. By understanding how spray behaves, and through using simple diagnostic methods to characterize your current spray tendency, operators can improve the efficacy and productivity of the products applied in the protected space.

Quality Assessment of Biological Control Agents (BCA): Why It Is Important to Know if your BCA are Alive or Dead - 2:10 -2:55 pm 

Dr. Raymond Cloyd, Professor/Extension Specialist out of Kansas State University will provide an overview of biological control, and then focus in on the importance of developing quality assessments to ensure that your BCA are functional. Functionality is key for successful insect and mite populations, so it is important to implement these assessments into your usual routine!

Growing Media Selection for Optimized Plant Health - 3:05-3:50 pm

Dr. Brian Jackson, Director of Horticultural Substrates Laboratory at North Carolina State University, is going to talk about the importance of selection and management of growing media. When done properly, it is easier to promote root growth and development, which is crucial for overall plant health and success. Additionally, precise water management of substrates/containers at different times over the cropping cycle of plant production can aid in growth regulation as well as the post production shelf life of plants. Dr. Jackson will also comment on new substrates that are entering the marketplace, and talk about how they compare to traditional mixes when it comes to water management. 

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This fantastic line up will help get you start your growing season on the right foot, so definitely consider tuning in if you are looking to improve the quality of your greenhouse plants! 

If you are interested in registering, or learning more about the event, click here

Posted by: Talia Plaskett