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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2016-05-11, Page 11Wednesday, May 11, 2016 • News Record 11 Ginseng farmers hope to rebound Michael -Allan Marion Expositor Staff Ontario ginseng growers are presiding over one of the largest fresh plantings in several years as they recover from two crop years of devastating losses to spring frost. Growers hope to take advan- tage of higher prices in a market buoyed by strong demand. "We've had some pretty good prices that are leading growers to plant more," said Carl Atkinson, chairman of the Ontario Ginseng Growers Association. "The market is there, but the weather hasn't co-operated. The markets have been strong so we had substantial plant- ings in the last two years that have been larger than in previ- ous years." Until 2013, the North Ameri- can market dominated by the Ontario ginseng patch's grow- ers in Norfolk, Brant and Oxford counties was marked by lower prices, a slack market due to oversupply, and a decline in grower numbers to about 130 members, Atkinson said. In 2014, however, the glut had cleared and growers were encouraged to plant more beds. But a frost that spring put a freeze on their ardour even as prices began to rise to above $30 per pound. Then a devas- tating frost on May 23, 2015 practically wiped out many fresh plantings and stunted second- and third -year beds, but consequently caused prices for last year's harvest to rise above $40 per pound. The best root was fetching more than $45 per pound. Growers had planted more than 2,000 acres in each of those two years, only to see their efforts stunted by frost plant diseases caused by damp growing conditions. They made their money in higher prices on third- and fourth-year root harvests. It's unknown at this point how much growers are planting, because the association doesn't keep statistics and the growers are wary of divulging much information about their opera- tions, Atkinson said. But he con- cedes it's a good bet that plant- ings will be strong again. Portents are favourable this spring, with prices still high and good early growing condi- tions, said Atkinson. "The weather has been co- operating. Temperatures are a bit cooler right now, making seeds a bit slower to germinate, but that's not necessarily a bad thing," he said. "It's also drier, with less rain, which means there's less disease pressure on plants." The weather hasn't handed growers heavy winds that can damage young plants, nor huge rainstorms and rains every other day that can cause flooding, Atkinson said. "A lot of plants are germinat- ing and pushing through the straw. Now we are keeping our fingers crossed as we watch for frost. We don't want that again." Still, growers are ready to fight should a frost come, he added. They have frost cloth at hand, which they will lay over ginseng plant to offer protection. Many also have wind fans to keep the air moving. The association is also enjoy- ing a resurgence in the crop's fortunes. Its membership has climbed to 150 as more growers are getting into the market. That's how it should be, Atkin- son said. The root contributes more than $600 million a year to the economy, growers were told at the association's recent annual general meeting. "From a gross revenue stand- point, ginseng is the number one outdoor horticultural crop in Ontario. It's that valuable and we grow the best root." MMarion@postmedia.com Twitter com/EXPMarion clintonnewsrecord.com ATTENTION ADVERTISERS! DEADLINES Our Weekly Deadlines are as follows: ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL Friday @ 2:00 pm Clinton e Nws Record www.clintonnewsrecord.com 53 Albert St. S, Clinton PH: 519-482-3443 J posniEDIA OFFICE HOURS: Mon. - Fri. 9am - 5pm CLOSED TUESDAYS Susan Bradnam/Sun Media/sbradnam@lfpress.com Dandelions and ginseng grow along the road to Norwich. ffritatioic PPfll& 11 Victoria St. Clinton, ON NOM ILO Ph: 59-482-3528 • Fax: 519-482-5302 Email: interiortrends@tcc.on.ca Oa/int Jae ,A19 -27 / can, (yet the 2,t d @ (5o % (� t7" our home canadian style rrA • HIT A HOME RUN FOR YOUR HOME with gr=eat s.'t;ring on PAPA Paints-