What’s Growing ON?
Digging up the latest dirt on Ontario horticulture production. What’s Growing ON? is hosted by Cassandra Russell and Kristy Grigg-McGuffin. This podcast features conversations with crop specialists from Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs on production, pest management and other best management practices for fruit, vegetables and specialty crops.
For more updates on Ontario horticulture visit:
Have a question or a topic you would like us to cover? Email us at ONhortcrops@gmail.com
Season 2
Episode 3: Managing Pesticide Resistance
In this episode, Kristy sits down with OMAFRA’s Katie Goldenhar (Plant Pathologist) and Hannah Fraser (Entomologist) to talk about pesticide resistance in horticulture crops and the importance of resistance management. In this episode, we look at the mechanisms behind insecticide and fungicide resistance, how modes of action differ, pesticide classifications and what you can do in your production system to manage resistance.
For more information on pesticide resistance, check out the following resources:
- Fungicide Resistance Action Committee
- Insecticide Resistance Action Committee
- Manage Resistance Now – CropLife Canada
Music: Apsire by Scott Holmes
Episode 2: Improving On-Farm Productivity – Part 2
In this episode, Cassie continues the conversation with Engineer Specialist, John Van de Vegte on ways to evaluate and optimize on-farm productivity. John gives some examples of value-add and non-value-add activities in vegetable cropping systems as well as discusses the future direction for automation and labour saving technologies in field vegetable production.
Accessible format available upon request.Music: Apsire by Scott Holmes
Episode 1: Improving On-Farm Productivity – Part 1
In this episode, Kristy sits down with Kathryn Carter, Fruit Crop Specialist and John Van de Vegte, Engineering Specialist to talk about improving productivity and why establishing baseline information for your farm is so important. In this episode, we look at how labour efficiencies can be improved in perennial cropping systems such as vineyards and orchards as well as the benefits and challenges with investing in mechanization.
Accessible format available upon request.Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes
Season 1
Season 1, Episode 9: Pepper Weevil & Cyclamen Mites
In this episode, Kristy chats with co-host Cassie Russell, former acting Vegetable Crop Specialist and current acting Tree Fruit Specialist to talk about monitoring for the problematic invasive insect, the pepper weevil. For more information on how to properly identify pepper weevil, check out Which Weevil Warrants Worry? on the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable blog. Suspect you have pepper weevil? Contact Amanda Tracey – Vegetable Crop Specialist (amanda.tracey@ontario.ca) or Cara McCreary – Greenhouse Vegetable IPM Specialist (cara.mccreary@ontario.ca).
Also on this episode, Erica Pate – Fruit Crop Specialist, sits in the ‘Horticulture Hotseat’ to shine some light on the tiny but destructive pest of strawberries, the cyclamen mite.
Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes
Season 1, Episode 8: Herbicide Resistance and Colorado Potato Beetle
In this episode, we are joined by Kristen Obeid, Weed Specialist for horticulture crops to talk about the status of herbicide resistance in Ontario and a provincial resistance testing project that is underway. For more information on how to get your fields tested for free, contact Kristen at kristen.obeid@ontario.ca.
Continuing the pesticide resistance theme this week, we also hear from Dennis van Dyk, Vegetable Crop Specialist about the Colorado potato beetle (CPB), an insect pest that is infamously known to have major resistance issues in potato and tomato crops. Suspect you have resistance populations of CPB on your farm? Contact Dennis at dennis.vandyk@ontario.ca.
Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes
Season 1, Episode 7: Back to Basics – Apple IPM Case Study
In this special extended episode, Cassie goes back to basics with co-host Kristy Grigg-McGuffin, Horticulture Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Specialist to talk about the components of what makes an IPM program using summer disease in apples as a case study. More information on IPM for a variety of different crops can be found on the Ontario CropIPM website.
Accessible format available upon request.
Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes
Season 1, Episode 6: Cucurbit Downy Mildew & Gypsy Moth
In this episode, Katie Goldenhar, Pathologist for horticulture crops, talks about the early activity of cucurbit downy mildew (CDM). For more information on CDM, visit Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecast on ipmPIPE and the Michigan State University Hausbeck Plant Pathology Research Lab. Looking to report CDM in Ontario? Contact Andew Wylie (andrew.c.wylie@ontario.ca) or Katie Goldenhar (katie.goldenhar@ontario.ca).
As well, Jennifer Llewellyn, Nursery & Landscape Specialist sits in the ‘Horticulture Hotseat’ to shine some light on why we’re seeing such high populations of gypsy moth in Ontario this summer. Plus, Ontario crop updates for July 17th, 2020.
Accessible format available upon request.
Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes
Season 1, Episode 5: Most Crop Per Drop
In this episode, we are joined by Rebecca Shortt, Water Quantity Engineer to hear tips on how to make every drop of irrigation count for horticulture production. For more information and links to videos, visit the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs Irrigation website. Plus, Ontario crop updates for July 10th, 2020.
Accessible format available here
Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes
Season 1, Episode 4: Strawberry Anthracnose & Sweet Potatoes
In this episode, we are joined by Erica Pate, Fruit Crop Specialist for berries to talk weather-based models and how they can be used to manage issues like anthracnose in strawberries. And, is it a yam or sweet potato? Melanie Filotas, Horticulture IPM Specialist for specialty crops sets the record straight on Ontario sweet potato production. Plus, Ontario crop updates for July 3rd, 2020.
Editor’s note: Since the recording of this podcast, cucumber downy mildew has now been detected in Kent County, Ontario.
Accessible format available here
Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes.
Season 1, Episode 3: Cucumber Beetle & Grape Set
In this episode, we are joined by Andrew C. Wylie, Vegetable Crop Specialist to get more information on striped cucumber beetle in cucurbits. As well, we hear from Kathryn Carter, Fruit Crop Specialist on factors impacting fruit set in grapes. Plus, Ontario crop updates for June 19th, 2020.
Editor’s note: Since the recording of this podcast, spotted wing drosophila has now been caught in all monitoring regions of the province.
Accessible format available here
Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes.
Season 1, Episode 2: Spotted Wing Drosophila & Weed Control in Carrots
In this episode, we are joined by Hannah Fraser, Entomologist for horticulture crops and Erica Pate, Fruit Crop Specialist for berries to introduce us to the invasive insect, spotted wing drosophila and how berry and tender fruit growers are dealing with this difficult pest. As well, we hear from Dennis Van Dyk, Vegetable Crop Specialist for root vegetables on weed control in carrots as well as some existing and emerging technologies for getting rid of those pesky weeds. Plus, Ontario crop updates for June 12th, 2020.
Accessible format available here
Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes
Season 1, Episode 1: Garlic Scapes & Fire Blight
In our first episode, we are joined by Travis Cranmer, Vegetable Crop Specialist for alliums, brassica and leafy vegetables to introduce us to the benefits of removing garlic scapes and Katie Goldenhar, Pathologist for horticulture crops to discuss the risk of fire blight of apples and pears after bloom. Plus, Ontario crop updates for June 8th, 2020.
Accessible format available here
Music: Aspire by Scott Holmes