HomeMy WebLinkAboutFarming '92, 1992-03-18, Page 5Farming '92
FARMING ’92, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18,1992. A5
OMAF sets guidelines for chemical spraying
Family tradition
Orchill Farms and Orchards, just east of Blyth, has 1500
trees on the 6.5 acres. Boyd and Muriel Taylor have
operated the business since taking it over from Boyd's
father in 1959.
continued from page A4
but it wasn't until 1950, Boyd says,
that it began as a commercial busi
ness. He took over the business in
1959 from his father who, he said,
had started the trees by grafting
scions onto wild apple rootstocks
giving him a standard tree. Then, in
1962, Boyd began replanting the
orchard with first semi-dwarf and
now dwarf trees. Though this is a
large labour investment now, it will
save in labour costs at picking time,
Boyd explains. "OMAF (Ontario
Ministry of Agirculture and Food)
statistics say that as soon as a pick
er is four feet off the ground the
cost per bin doubles," he said. Also,
Boyd And Muriel, Orchill employs
two or three people at picking time.
The 13 varieties harvested at
Orchill are sold at the orchard's
retail store and through local
wholesale distribution. The store
which is open from early harvest in
July to the following May is the
main source of income. "Basically
everything is moved out of the cold
storage on the farm," says Boyd.
An added bonus for customers
buying Ontario orchard apples is
the knowledge of quality control
regarding chemical use. "There are
chemical products used in the
States that are not registered in
Canada," says David. "It is harder
to qualify chemical use in Canada
than in the States."
OMAF has a spray program
listing the chemicals that are safe to
use and have distributed a calendar
with guidelines for pest manage
ment. David says his apples are
randomly sampled, taken and tested
for pesticide residue by the year-
old Ontario Apple Marketing Com
mission as well.
A new pack, called Orchard
Crisp, is David said, quality-con
trolled from blossom to harvest.
"OMAF and the Commission
inspect the apples weekly as we are
packing to ensure the grade is of a
quality to meet consumer stan
dards."
During the summer, Peter
inspects Mait-side trees with a
magnifying glass, on a regular basis
to monitor any infestation. If spray
ing is necessary, and only if neces
sary, it will be done with
government-approved chemicals.
David says the guidelines state
that the last spray has to be done at
least six weeks before harvest.
Excessive spraying is also too cost
ly he adds. "You can't afford to do
it unless there is a major threat to
the crop."
Boyd agrees. "They're expen
sive, so you are obviously going to
be careful about using them."
Boyd says he feels the strict reg
ulations ruling the use of chemicals
have taken away the concern over
their use. "We are subject to ran
dom tests and restricted by OMAF
guidelines." He adds that he neither
washes nor waxes the Orchill har
vest as "nature's coat is on the
apple. Waxing is strictly eye
appeal," he said.
The problems plaguing farmers
today have not escaped the apple
harvesting industry either. The
continued on page All
SnE
ON ALL
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We carry:
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•Hardware
•Plywoods
if pickers don't have to climb lad
ders, there is obviously less risk of
injury. "So this way the pickers
stay on the ground, except for the
stupid old man who runs the place,"
says Boyd, with a chuckle. Besides
CAL
Her own boss
Erika Gunthardt tends to the retail store at Mait-Side
Orchards in Brussels, while her husband Peter cares for
the trees on the 30 acres of orchard now planted. The
retail business runs from early harvest in July to the
following spring.
LTD.
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