By Jennifer Llewellyn, OMAFRA Nursery Crops Specialist

Just last month, the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) sponsored an industry meeting in Calgary to establish priorities and actions for National Growers’ Group (NGG) for next three to five years. Meeting delegates included Provincial and National Growers’ Group members, CNLA members, Provincial Nursery Crops Specialists (BCMAF, AAFRD and OMAFRA) and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Friday evening and Saturday were spent updating members on industry issues and identifying national priorities (e.g. National Growing Standards) with action plans and timelines.


State of the Industry:
The nursery industry has experienced significant growth (15.7 per cent) in 1999, which is up from eight per cent in the previous year. In 1999, Statistics Canada reported farm gate values from nursery products (and sod) to be $460.6 million in Canada. Just to put that in perspective, the total U.S. grower cash receipts was $8.2 billion in 1998 and this sector grows by about $440 million each year. Some of this Canadian growth is due to inflation, with some also due to the Canadian dollar and expanding U.S. markets. In 1999, Canada exported $273 million of product to the U.S. It is estimated that over half of nursery stock is exported to the U.S., especially from B.C. The Canadian export accounts for only 1.35 per cent of the U.S. retail market for green products, meaning these exports could increase significantly without presenting too much of a threat to the U.S. market. There was a huge drop in the export of fruit and nut trees, not surprising given the arrival of quarantinable pests to North America. There has, however, been a huge increase in the export of cuttings in the last couple of years.


National Ornamental Minor Use Label Expansion Committee (NOMULE):
This group helps to facilitate the full and minor use registrations for pesticides. So far, it has been successful only with the registrations of a handful of products (Nova, Eagle and Banner being the latest). Currently, NOMULE is pursuing the joint review of new U.S. products. The process has been slow and frustrating (e.g. OH-II was to be registered last fall and is still sitting in limbo). There are a few things lacking from the program:

• reliable statistics for types of crops and their acreage (these are required for minor use applications — fill out these surveys when you receive them!)
• long-term funding strategy for nursery pest control products with a full-time technician dedicated to these registrations
• improved communication
• public knowledge of conservative grower practices

Emergency Eradication Plan:
With the surge of quarantinable pests coming into North America these days, many growers have felt the pinch of lost sales and markets due to CFIA regulations. The CNLA proposed the agriculture sector put together a reserve fund for emergencies, such as eradication due to introduced pests. This joint industry-government program will stimulate proactive action in the event of a new pest, thereby decreasing the downtime that a nursery is unable to grow or ship their product. Currently, a sub-committee of the Canadian Plant Protection Advisory Committee is working on a proposal for the agricultural industry.


Vintner’s Quality Assurance (VQA):
This voluntary standards system was first introduced to Ontario and has also been adopted by B.C. Standards are placed on the production of grapes and the wine making process. The standards have geographic designations, definitions of specialty products and prohibited practices clearly defined. This seems to be the underlying criteria for its success. Oh, and coincidentally, a very strong retail marketing investment. VQA actually tripled the sales for wine in B.C., improved prices and the image of Agri-tourism. These standards are consistent and achievable, making it a nice model for the development of nursery production quality standards.


National Growing Standards/Nursery Quality Assurance:
There has been some interest for the Canadian nursery industry to develop standards for nursery production practices. Other countries with established production standards include: NAKB and HBN (Netherlands), Eco Labeling (European Union), Florverde (Colombia) and of course CNCP and VQA in Canada. During a Horticultural Producers meeting (AIPS) in France last year, Jeff Hicks (National Growers’ Group chair) and Vic Krahn (President CNLA) became aware of the very successful Florverde program for the cut-flower producers in Colombia. The program is made of industry-approved production standards and provides grower support, marketing and education. The number of growers registered with Florverde grew from eight per cent in year one to 56 per cent in year four. Because of our large number of growers, range in geographic locations and huge crop diversity, more time may be needed to develop and implement a program like NQA.


National Growers’ Group Priorities:
Although many issues were brought to the table, issues that meet the following criteria were given top priority:

1. Foster climate conducive to economic well-being of the industry
2. Contains significant national interest and perspective
3. Can be addressed in a timely manner
4. Has high degree of buy-in and agreement
5. Can be addressed cost-effectively
6. Enhances industry relations with government and regulatory agencies

Issues that became priorities were then broken down into action plans with timeframes for completion. The top three priorities became:

1. Pest Management/NOMULE
   • identify funding sources for technician dedicated to the registration of nursery pest control products
   • develop IPM certification manual/program for provincial/federal industry (emphasizing inter-provincial collaboration)
   • further develop Emergency Eradication Plan
     
     
2. Communication
   • develop CNLA website to be more informative for growers
   • Provincial Growers Group (PGG) reps stand two-year term (instead of one), more PGG reports
   • more conference calls, face-to-face meetings (e.g. at Congress)
     
     
3. National Growing Standards/NQA
   • steering committee assembled — growers, directors, guests (e.g. VQA)
   • hire full-time person to manage program

     In addition to the presentations and brainstorming, friendships were struck between growers and associates across Canada. This will undoubtedly lead to better communication and problem solving in the future. If you would like to be involved with any of these priorities, please contact the CNLA at 1-888-446-3499.


Jennifer Llewellyn may be contacted c/o Hort Science Division, University of Guelph, 519-824-4120, ext. 2671, fax: 519-767-0755, e-mail: jennifer.llewellyn@ omafra.gov.on.ca. OMAFRA website: www.gov. on.ca/omafra/english/crops/hort/nursery.html. Turf and Nursery-Landscape Agriphone: 1-888-290-4441.