Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/668668
www.goodfruit.com Good Fruit Grower MAY 1, 2016 23 workers Canada the program. The federal government retained the right to refuse service to any growers whose operation does not meet SAWP standards. Today Workers arrive throughout the year, but no worker can stay longer than eight months. Force has used the program to hire seasonal workers on his 250-acre farm for 46 years. He and his son hire 18 Jamaican workers, plus two or three local Canadians to work on their operation. One Jamaican worker has worked for them for 31 years. Keeping workers around for that many years is not uncommon on Canadian farms. Hector Delanghe said returning workers comprise 95 percent of his seasonal help. Delanghe has a 400-acre farm, 200 acres of which is in fruit. He grows apples, peaches, pears, plums, apri- cots, nectarines and strawberries in Blenheim, Ontario. Delanghe said he hires about 20 guest workers each year and has used the program for 47 years. "If we get more local help, then we won't bring in as many foreign work- ers," he said. All of his workers are trained to run the farm machin- ery. Two are trained assistants, workers who are licensed to apply chemicals on the farm. The rest of the crews "do a lot of pruning, thinning and harvest work." Massive shortage The U.S. guest worker program, H-2A, has come under criticism from farm labor groups who contend the program takes jobs from domestic laborers. That kind of criticism exists in Canada, too, coming mainly from advocacy groups and unions, even though Ontario law forbids the unionization of farm labor. However, the criticism is muted somewhat by research showing large agricultural labor shortages there. A recent study by the Conference Board of Canada, an independent, nonprofit applied research organization, showed that Canadian agriculture had positions for 59,000 seasonal workers. "We were able to fill 43,000 jobs with foreign workers, leaving 16,000 jobs unfilled," Force said. By 2025, he said, the study projected Canadian agri- culture would be short 114,000 jobs. • "The Canadian government and the governments of the countries where the labor came from, as well as the farm community, were all involved in running the program." —Ken Force © 2016, Trécé Inc., Adair, OK USA • TRECE, PHEROCON and CIDETRAK are registered trademarks of Trece, Inc., Adair, OK USA TRE-0869 PLEASE: ALWAYS READ THE LABEL DECREASES DAMAGE! 40% Average Reduction Compared to Insecticide Alone. * INSEC T PHEROMONE & KAIROMONE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED ® Your Edge – And Ours – Is Knowledge. CIDETRAK ® DA MEC ™ contains a novel, patented kairomone in a micro-encapsulated liquid formulation that influences the behavior of adult and larval Codling Moth, resulting in significant enhancement of the control of Codling Moth larvae when tank mixed with various insecticides. Additionally, Codling Moth adult control is significantly enhanced when mixed indirectly with airborne Codling Moth pheromone applied as a mating disruption treatment. • What it does: Disrupts oviposition. Changes larval behavior: Stops/delays locating fruit; stops/delays fruit entry and reduces damage. • How to use it: Simply tank mix with each insecticide application. • Longevity: More than 14 days following application. Contact your local supplier and order now. Visit our website: www.trece.com or call 1- 866 -785-1313. ENHANCED CODLING MOTH LARVAL CONTROL MICRO-ENCAPSULATED SPRAYABLE! *Based on USDA analysis global data base. Available in 10, 20 and 40 acre container sizes!