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Home My WebLink AboutFarming '89, 1989-03-22, Page 29FARMING ‘89, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1989. B5. Local orchard owners don't use controversial Alar TOWNSEND FARM SUPPLY WALTON 887-9044 BY BONNIE GROPP The confusion surrounding the issue of harmful spray residue in apples and apple juice need not concern you if you purchase your apples from local orchards. The Mait-Side Orchards, Blake’s Orch ard and Boyd Taylor’s Orchill Orchards all stopped using the controversial chemical Alar several years ago when the debate began. Alar, which is used almost exclusively in Macintosh apples has been linked to cancer of the blood vessels, lungs, uterus, liver, and kidneys, while a by-product called UDMH may cause colon cancer and birth defects. UDMH is found when apples containing Alar are processed for juice or apple sauce. Alar is used largely for cosmetic reasons and doesn’t kill pests, therefore authorities feel it should be banned. Although regulated as a pesticide its purpose is to keep fruit fresh longer and prevent Macs from falling off the trees before they can be picked. Concerned environmentalists feel the chemical is too risky to play around with. The Environmental Protection Agency is demanding a ban claim ing that the acceptable risk for cancer in children will be 50 times greater if they consume Alar. According to the EPA’s deputy director, Alar would not be approv ed today if it was a new chemical, but since it already is it is up to the agency to prove conclusively that it’s dangerous. American scientists use a math ematical model system to estimate the number of cancer cases likely to develop. They conclude that if one million children each eat apples containing one part of Alar per million parts of apple, a certain number may develop cancer. Then the numbers are changed to show what happens if the amount of residue is greater. In 1986 the EP A set its accept able limits for Alar residue at 20 parts per million which was down from the previous limit of 30. Auditor General Ken Dye critic ized Agricultural Canada last Dec ember for its limited testing for residues in pesticides in foreign and Canadian produce. Without saying it wants the spray banned, Ontario has sent the case before a powerful review committee that can recommend banning it. Though the three local orchards have discontinued using Alar they have mixed feelings about the benefits of it. David Griffiths, owner of Blake’s Orchard, RR 2, Brussels said that they stopped using Alar about three years ago. This decision was reached because of the controversy surrounding spray residue but also because Mr. Griffiths had found that the chem ical didn’t prove all that successful for them. The type of orchard the Griffiths have consists of mostly older trees. This being the case with the larger trees it takes a huge amount of Alar to be effective and as it is very expensive the Griffiths and a lot of other operators shy away from it for that reason as well. Conversely, Boyd Taylor of RR 3, Walton feels that the benefits of the Alar are numerous. He des cribes it as a management tool that acts as a plant growth regulant for apples, peaches, sour cherries, sweet cherries, and grapes. It has proven beneficial in controlling fruit drop, delaying maturity, re ducing storage scald, increasing the colour and firmness of the fruits, and controlling waterspout or suckers which in turn cuts down on pruning. The chemical was used for one spraying at Orchill in 1987 on a new block of trees to initiate flowering. The orchard did not continue using the chemical due to the questions which arose. Also, Alar must be used with chemical thinners which Orchill does not like to use. Mr. Taylor said that there are still fruit growers in this county who are using Alar and he believes if it is banned it will cause difficulties for some growers. “Without this chemical or one like it, it is going to be disasterous for producers with large acreages of the McIntosh variety like the ones in London or the Georgian Bay area,” he stated. He explains further that Macs come in during the hot weather and they cook. They begin to drop off the trees and nobody can pick them fast enough. Alar slows down the process. The owners of Mait-Side Orchard located at RR 4, Brussels stated that though unfortunately chemi cals must be used in apple harvest ing they do not use Alar. Their decision was also because of the controversy. THE CHICKS ARE COMING Mixed meat birds - 48c each with the purchase of Purina Chick Startena Also available cockerels, pullets, turkeys, ducks, geese and layers Order by April 5 for meat birds Order by April 31 for meat birds, turkey, geese, ducks and layers PICKUP DATES: May 2 - meat birds May 30 - meat birds, turkeys June 1 - ducks, geese and layers ALSO SEE US ABOUT: equipment, pet food and supplies, animal health products, and our full line of Purina chows ORDER NOW 887-9044 "Treat Yourself to Quality & Service " OMAF to privatize lab The Ontario Ministry of Agricul ture and Food has announced plans to further privatize laboratory test ing services for farm and garden soils, greenhouse media, fruit leaves and animal feeds. Until five years ago, the mini stry’s laboratory testing services were all handled by the University of Guelph. At that time the ministry tendered for testing ser vices and Agri-Food Laboratories (a division of Griffith Laboratories Ltd., Scarborough) was the suc cessful bidder. Their five-year con tract expires Aug. 31, 1989. The ministry will implement a laboratory accreditation program effective Sept. 1, 1989, and will invite any interested Ontario-based laboratories to provide the testing services. A PROVEN PERFORMER Drayton Kinsmen at PEEL FARM TOY SHOW Hours: 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm daily ■SPECIAL COLLECTOR TRACTOR • CHEEN 80 7io SCALE 160 produced LIMITED EDITION - sales up lo and during the show $1000S IN MERCHANDISE of your choice from any of the participating exhibitors at the Farm Show Qualifying win ner will be drawn from paid admission at the doorFeaturing •AMBASSADORALFALFA •PICKSEED 2700 CORN •TOUCHDOWN KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS *GRASS SEEDS *SEED CORN *LAWN SEED Call your Pickseed representative today -■ Neil Gowing Brussels 887-6292 MARYBOROUGH-DRAYTON ARENA Banquet- Tuesday, April 4th Speaker Carl Hiebert, “Gift of Wings” Social: 6:00 pm - Dinner 7:00 pm ”ickets $10:00 each available from the Di jyton Co-op, any Kinsmen Member, or Nieuwland Feed All Proceeds for Community Betterment Wednesday and Thursday April 5 and 6, 1989 TIME- 10:00 am to 10:00 pm Admission $2.00