Pea planting is approximately 80% complete. Progress has been slower than usual due to the earlier cold weather. Planting is expected to finish next week.

The cool spring has also delayed sweet corn planting but with the recent warm-up, planting is now back on track.

Lima beans and green beans are currently about 5% planted.

The Ingersoll plant remains on schedule. Construction of the building is complete, and work is now focused on equipment.

Just a reminder to please keep your records up to date in Agro One, continue to monitor your fields, and reach out to your Nortera representative with any questions or concerns.

Provided by Jennifer Thompson, Nortera on 05/29/26

Downy Mildew reimbursement analysis available for Hartung growers

Emails have been sent to Hartung Growers, as outlined in clause 1b of your Hartung agreement, providing the average product pricing from three local suppliers for reimbursement for the Downy Mildew program.

If you have not received this email, please contact our office at opvg@opvg.org or by phone at 519‑681‑1875.

As pea harvest will soon begin in Ontario, OPVG and Nortera have engaged Farm to Fork Safety to complete the pea tenderometer audits at the Ingersoll, Strathroy and Tecumseh plants.

This protocol was developed and implemented to ensure proper function and verification of the tenderometer readings' accuracy. Farm to Fork Food Safety will continue to complete inspections as pea harvest progresses.

What are the best control options for cucumber downy mildew? 

Downy mildew is an aggressive disease in processing cucumbers that can appear rapidly and have a devastating impact on crops. There’s the added challenge of the pathogen’s ability to continually adapt and develop resistance to existing chemistries – reinforcing the need for ongoing testing of registered products and evaluating new options to support the Ontario processing cucumber industry.

“For more than 20 years, research has helped identify effective fungicide programs, support resistance management strategies and contribute to the registration of new fungicide products,” says Rachel Riddle, part of a research team that recently evaluated fungicides at the Ontario Crops Research Centre – Simcoe. “This research provides growers with management options to protect yield, fruit quality and the long-term viability of cucumber production.”

The fungicide efficacy trial was conducted during 2025 at the Ontario Crops Research Centre – Simcoe, led by University of Guelph’s Rene Van Acker, with research technicians Riddle and Lisa Weber.

The team evaluated 15 different treatments, including an untreated control, on the parthenocarpic variety “Springsteen” to reflect the shift to plant these hybrid varieties that don’t require pollination and produce seedless fruit.

Here are some key findings:

• Orondis Ultra is still the most effective registered product to control downy mildew to levels that don’t have an economic impact on the final crop yield, even under high disease pressure.
• Torrent and Zampro provided immediate control suggesting that if used in a program with Orondis, these products remain the best down mildew control option.

“Research on fungicide products for cucumber downy mildew control is critical to maintaining a sustainable cucumber industry in Ontario,” says Riddle.

Read the full research report Efficacy of fungicides for downy mildew control in processing cucumbers.

Ontario's Local Food Week, taking place from June 1 to 7, 2026, is a time to celebrate the abundance of fresh, healthy food grown, produced, and processed right here in our province.

It's an opportunity to recognize the hardworking farmers and food producers who provide us with safe, nutritious food every day.

Thank you for all that you do!

As a farmer, you know one tough year can affect your ability to invest in your operation, upgrade equipment, or simply keep the doors open. AgriInvest is a self-managed producer-government savings account

Here's how it works:

• Each year, you can deposit up to 100% of your Allowable Net Sales to your AgriInvest account and the government will match 1% of contributions. That's free money for your farm.
• Your AgriInvest account grows as you make deposits and earn interest. The more you put in, the more you have available when you need it.
• You can withdraw funds from your AgriInvest account at any time. Whether you're managing a small income decline or making strategic investments, the money is there for you. 

June 30, 2026 – Initial deadline to submit your 2025 form without a penalty

September 30, 2026 – Final deadline to submit your 2025 form (with a penalty) and file your income tax return

For complete details and how to apply, visit agriculture.canada.ca/agriinvest

Do you have any questions? Call the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Contact Centre toll-free at 1-866-367-8506

OPVG office hours

8:00 am – 4:00 pm 

Monday to Friday

519.681.1875 opvg@opvg.org