The Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation
FACT: The Ontario turfgrass industry maintained 390,000 acres of turfgrass in 2007 while generating $2.6 Billion in revenue to the economy. The industry also provided 33,000 full time jobs while spending an additional $1.75 Billion on operating and equipment expenditures.
The Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation has released a detailed report of the economic size of the Ontario turfgrass industry. This comissioned study measures the scale and the breadth of the industry both in physical terms (acreage, employment) as well as in economic terms (gross revenue, expenditures on operating and equipment). The Ontario turgrass industry consists of diverse segments, such as golf courses, municipal parks, sod farms, lawn care companies and sports fields. Surveyed industry professionals and selected turfgrass industry segments, along with other data sources, provided an in depth analysis of the value of Ontario turfgrass industry. The results of this study emphasize the importance of the turfgrass industry to the economy of Ontario.
Click on the following link for a brief summary Highlights of Economic Profile of the Ontario Turfgrass Industry.pdf For a copy of the full report, click on Economic Profile of Ontario Turfgrass Industry.pdf
Monday, February 23, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Were the Groundhogs Right?
An old German superstition holds that if a hibernating animal casts a shadow Feb. 2 – the Christian holiday of Candlemas – winter would last another six weeks. If no shadow was seen, legend said spring would come early.
This year, both Wiarton Willie and his American cousin, Punxsutawney Phil, predicted another 6 weeks of winter a few days ago on February 2 (Groundhog Day). Yet this week we are experiencing temperatures in the double digits (Centigrade).Today was 11 degrees and more of the same tomorrow.
In front of little plaza near our office is a lawn that catches a lot of the sunshine since the lawn faces south. Lo and behold that lawn was a beautiful green colour. It was a refreshing sight to see that patch of turf. Don't know if it was starting to grow, but it almost seemed like it was ready to be fertilized by the Turf King technicians.
We still have a fair amount of snow piled up on lawns and on the parking lots. The snow in piles of course, always takes a lot more sunshine before it disappears.
The sunshine and above freezing temperatures has started to thaw the phones. A bit of spring-like weather and people's thoughts turn to the yards and gardens.
Turf King provides the best lawn care for your lawn. Call or email today.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Promises, Promises- More McGuinty Promises
The Ontario Environment Minister in the McGuinty Liberal govermnment said on November 26, 2008 that his government has been adamant that they were going to implement the Cosmetic Pesticide by the growing season of 2009.
Hon. John Gerretsen: Well-and I appreciate the question-we have been very adamant on the whole pesticide situation that we were going to implement the new rules and regulations by the growing season of 2009. We have said that right from the very beginning, and we intend to do
Yet the governments EBR when comments were first requested on January 18, 2008 clearly states under "Timing" that there would be a phased in implementation of (e.g. 3 years).
Looks like another McGuinty promise.
Ontario's Hansard
Session: 39:1 Date: 20081126
View full text - size 348795 bytes
Partial text with relevant conversations are copied below.
PESTICIDES
Mr. John Yakabuski: My question is for the Minister of the Environment. During the debate on Bill 64, the pesticide ban, you assured cemeteries that they would be exempt. We now find that you have broken your promise, but given your track record, nobody is surprised.
You further committed to comprehensive consultations with lawn care professionals to implement regulations in a sensible way, with a realistic timetable. You have gone back on your word to them as well.
If your government understood business at all, you would recognize that your regulations leave them no room and no time to plan or prepare for the 2009 growing season. Why can't you people keep your word?
Hon. John Gerretsen: Well-and I appreciate the question-we have been very adamant on the whole pesticide situation that we were going to implement the new rules and regulations by the growing season of 2009. We have said that right from the very beginning, and we intend to do that.
But, as the member also knows, the final regulations are on the EBR right now. We're looking for comments from individuals. We've met with the same organizations that he has obviously met with within the last day or so. We are still reviewing the situation, and we'll be making a final determination shortly.
The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary.
Mr. John Yakabuski: Those regulations will be finalized in March, and that doesn't give anybody enough time.
Your regulations will, further, create the very strange situation of allowing individuals the right to apply class 7 pesticides, such as Grub Eliminator, but not allow professionals to do the same.
Many people, including seniors and the disabled, rely on professionals to take care of their properties-professionals who are trained to deal with the products in the safest possible manner, including not requiring the homeowner to deal with the storage or disposal of unused product.
Will you commit to correcting this blatant inconsistency immediately?
Hon. John Gerretsen: We know where this government stands on this particular issue. We want to protect children in the best way we know possible as far as banning the cosmetic use of pesticides is concerned.
We also realize that there are certain products that under certain circumstances could be used for purposes other than-
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The member from Renfrew, you just asked the question. I would ask that you be respectful and listen to the answer.
Hon. John Gerretsen: As he well knows, there are certain products that can be used for different purposes. For those purposes, particularly when we're talking about indoor purposes, there will be a use of restricted products on that list that will be sold to individuals on an individual basis for those specific purposes.
We intend to bring in the best possible law, as we have done, and the best possible rules and regulations to make sure that the children of this province are-
The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you, Minister.
I guess this is the naked truth about politics. Glad I'm in the lawn care business.
www.turf-king.ca
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Get serious about the science! We’re all safer with science-based regulations
We’re all safer with science-based regulations
Crop life has posted an easy to use "send to the Premier" letter on their website. http://www.croplife.ca/web/mailmp/
You can send a letter to your MPP as well. Here's what they say--
Canadians expect the laws governing the products they find on stores shelves to be based on sound scientific principles. Ontario’s draft regulations to ban the sale and use of some pesticides are seriously flawed because they are lacking in scientific criteria.
| What does that mean?
|
We are asking the Government of Ontario go back to the drawing board and define the scientific criteria it will use to assess current products and future innovations so that homeowners and professionals will have access to the safest and most effective tools to manage legitimate pest problems.
Your voice counts!
Make sure the McGuinty government knows scientific criteria must be the cornerstone of these regulations.
Here’s what you can do:
- Send in the letter below online to Premier McGuinty and Minister Garretson. It is easy. Just complete the attached fields and push send.
- Contact your Member of Provincial Parliament. Email, phone numbers and office addresses can be found at: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_current.do?locale=en
- Let department officials know what you think, too, by submitting comments through the Environmental Bill of Rights
(The comment period ends December 22, 2008!)
http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTA0OTk2&statusId=MTU3MjYz&language=en
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Please Comment
Please Comment on McGuinty’s Cosmetic Pesticide Ban Regulations
The Provincial government has just released the final list of products that will be banned under its Cosmetic Pesticide Ban Act.
Here is the website to view the information that has been proposed.
http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTA0OTk2&statusId=MTU3MjYz&language=en
Essentially, after reading all the details
1. there will be no products available to effectively and economically control weeds in lawns.
2. there will not be effective and economical methods to control white grubs.
3. there will not be an effective way to control crabgrass once it has sprouted.
4. there will not be effective products to control weeds and grasses that sprout up in your driveways and patios.
Turf King-Hamilton does not support the draft Regulations as currently written.
•The regulations do not allow solutions that will prevent the destruction of Ontario’s lawns and landscapes from damaging pest infestations.
•The regulations do not create a level playing field. Dual use products will be available on the retail shelf.
Damaging Insect Infestations
•Viable, effective alternative solutions do not exist to control the wide range of insect pests threatening our green spaces. If they exist, what are they?
•While some may argue a few weeds in a lawn is deemed cosmetic and the use of a traditional herbicide to control them is non-essential, there can be no argument that damaging insect infestations that risk the destruction of our lawns and landscapes goes beyond cosmetic.
SOLUTIONS
1. Provide Regulations to allow the prescribed use, by licensed professionals, of two otherwise banned pesticides on the Class 9 list.
•Granular Merit containing Imidacloprid (for grub control) Granular Merit is less toxic than table salt.
•Deltamethrin (for chinch bug and sod webworm control)
This prescribed use would be conditional upon requirements as outlined in the Landscape Ontario document “Prescribed Use Compliance Criteria and Protocols” previously submitted to the Ministry of Environment. These conditions include:
- IPM Accreditation (similar to what the draft Regulations outline for golf courses) and the operational requirements associated with it.
- Insect infestations must exceed threshold levels, as currently outlined by Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, before the Class 9 pesticide can be considered for use.
2. Remove pyrethrins from the Class 9 banned list.
•Pyrethrins are currently exempt under all Ontario pesticide by-laws.
3. Remove products that are on Health Canada's Reduced Risk list from the Class 9 banned list.
•Inclusion of Health Reduced Risk products on the Ontario banned list will be a road block to the future development and introduction of reduced risk products in Ontario.
•This must provide clear criteria, and not an arbitrary decision framework. This legislation must not hinder the development of low risk, alternative, products. As currently written, it will.
4. Allow for a phase-in of Section 17 of the Regulations (Class 9 banned list).
•Given that Regulations will not be finalized until well into the New Year., a phased in period of at least one year is required to allow business to plan, price and market.
•Allowing a phase-in will prevent the needless environmental impact of pesticide waste disposal. The Health Canada amendment of pesticide labeling customarily involves a reasonable phase-in period to allow products with expired labels to be used accordingly. Municipal pesticide by-laws typically involve a phase-in period.
•The availability or development of alternative products requires a phase-in period.
Here is the website to submit your comment.Please do so before December 22/2008
Ideally, put your comments in your own words as that will carry more weight.
I will tell you that when the legislation was first proposed, many people sent in a form comment that simply said they were opposed. So the government said this many people agreed with the proposed legislation and ignored the numerically smaller but detailed comments of those who opposed it. So, it is better to comment with your opposition (even if it is a form reply) than to do nothing.
http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/searchComment.do?actionType=add¬iceId=MTA0OTk2&statusId=MTU3MjYz¬iceHeaderIdString=MTA0OTk2
Recommended comments.
- I am a homeowner and voter in the municipality of ___________
- I oppose the removal of Merit insecticide as a tool to prevent damage to my lawn from insects such as white grubs.
- I oppose the removal of 2,4-D herbicide products used to prevent weed damage to my lawn and to potentially lower my property value.
- Licensed and IPM trained Companies should be allowed to treat when infestations occur.
- What happened to the 3 year phase in promised when the bill was announced? Delay implementation at least until the spring of 2010.
- A further phase-in period for Class 9 pesticides (banned ingredients)
- The addition to Class 11 (certain biopesticides and naturally occurring pesticides) of anything classified as a Reduced Risk Pesticide by the PMRA
(You can look up your MPP's contact information by his/her name or the riding name at http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/member_addresses.do?AddType=CONT&locale=en. If you do not know either name, go to the Postal Code lookup function at Elections Ontario at http://fyed.elections.on.ca/fyed/en/form_page_en.jsp , then go back and plug the riding name into the member search list. If you have any difficulty, call Counsel Public Affairs at 416-920-0716, ext 223 (Marisa Lamont) or 224 (Katie Robb.)
If you have any questions please feel free to email us at hamilton@turfking.ca or call us at 905.318.6677.
Visit our website www.hamilton.turfking.ca
Note on Merit Granular Grub Preventer
How are you to keep up the value of our homes when there will not be any effective means to control insects on your lawn. This does not make sense. Lawn care companies cannot use Merit to prevent grubs from damaging your lawn. Granular Merit for lawns contains 0.5% Imidacloprid. and it is not allowed to be used on the lawn.
See http://pr-rp.pmra-arla.gc.ca/PR_SOL/pr_web.ve1?p_ukid=10856 for details.
In the meantime, on page 30 of the list of pesticides in Class 6 , (That class of pesticides that can sold to anyone by anyone, see the Table in section 95 of the draft legislation ) contains a number of cat and dog flea products that contain the same Imidacloprid. Guess what the concentration is in the Flea product - 9.1% imidacloprid.
Directions on the label to say to keep children from touching the pet until the product dries? but after that you can pet that cat immediately. No warning sign to keep off for 48 hours??
Where is the consistency? Merit 0.5 granular should be on the list of allowed products.It is less toxic than table salt.
(Merit granular LD50 is 4820mg/kg) http://www.bayeres.ca/Products/Lawn-Care/MERIT/Labels-and-MSDS/Merit-0-5G-MSDS-2006-(1).aspx
Table salt LD 50 is 3000 mg/kg (lower LD50 = more poisonous)
See http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/env_reg/er/documents/2008/Pesticides010-5080/010-5080%206.pdf
Copied from page 30
275. 25127 BAYER ADVANTAGE 55 FLEA ADULTICIDE FOR DOGS 11-25 KG IMIDACLOPRID
276. 25128 BAYER ADVANTAGE 9 FLEA ADULTICIDE FOR CATS & KITTENS 4KG & UNDER IMIDACLOPRID
277. 25129 BAYER ADVANTAGE 18 FLEA ADULTICIDE FOR CATS OVER 4 KG IMIDACLOPRID
278. 25130 BAYER ADVANTAGE 10 FLEA ADULTICIDE FOR DOGS & PUPPIES 4.5 KG AND UNDER IMIDACLOPRID
279. 25131 BAYER ADVANTAGE 100 FLEA ADULTICIDE FOR DOGS OVER 25 KG IMIDACLOPRID
280. 25132 BAYER ADVANTAGE 20 FLEA ADULTICIDE FOR DOGS 4.6-11 KG IMIDACLOPRID
News Release http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/news/2008/110701.php
For immediate release November 7, 2008
TAKING NEXT STEPS IN PESTICIDE BAN
McGuinty Government Asks Ontarians To Comment On Ban Details
NEWS
The province is asking Ontarians to comment on the specifics of its cosmetic pesticides ban.
In particular, the public is being asked to comment on:
• the proposed lists of pesticides (products and ingredients) banned for use and banned or restricted for sale,
• the rules for pesticide use on golf courses,
• the exceptions to the ban for public health or safety reasons.
A draft regulation containing the specifics is posted on the Environmental Registry at www.ebr.gov.on.ca (#010-5080), and can also be found on the ministry’s website at www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/land/pesticides/index.php. Comments will be accepted until December 22, 2008. The government will consider all comments before finalizing the regulation, expected to occur in spring 2009.
QUICK FACTS
• The Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act, passed in June, amended the Pesticides Act, which sets out the rules for the transportation, storage and disposal of pesticides..
“The easiest thing to find on God's green earth is someone to tell you all the things you cannot do.” Richard M. DeVos
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Fall Deep Root Feeding Pays Off
Amaryllis are Easy to Enjoy
Amaryllis
Easy to Love! Easy to Grow!
Amaryllis are one of the easiest bulbs to grow and one of the most spectacular.
The Bulb
Bigger is better. Select a larger bulb, that is firm to the touch. A few dried roots are normal, but most of the roots should be firm
Care
Be careful not to overwater. Water the plant when the top 1/2 inch of soil is dry.
As a rule, the stems and flowers will appear before the leaves. The plant grows quickly and you will need to remember to rotate the pot every couple of days so that your stem grows straight and does not lean towards the light. Expect one or two stems with four blossoms each about 6-7 weeks after planting.
Enjoy
This is a photo of one we grew this winter at home.
(The Huntington Society is selling amaryllis to help fund Huntington’s Disease research-http://www.huntingtonsociety.ca
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Green survey: Your opinion counts!
Green survey: Your opinion counts!
Would you like to see your family live a greener life? Ontario’s garden centres, nursery growers, landscape contractors and other horticultural experts do important work toward that goal.
If you would like to see some experimental ideas to capture that message visually, please click HERE to complete a simple three-step survey.
Your opinion counts, and thanks for participating!
