Category: Uncategorized

June, 2026 DLI Report

Published on by Averie Mastronardi

Summary

DLI data were available for two and half weeks in June for Leamington-Kingsville. The average DLI for the month of June 2026 for Leamington-Kingsville was 61 moles/m2/day. The maximum DLI was 73.1 recorded on June 7th, and the minimum DLI was 38.9 recorded on June 21st.

DLI data were available for two weeks in June for Vineland. The average DLI for the month of June for Vineland was 49 moles/m2/day. The maximum DLI was 75.1 recorded on June 6th, and the minimum DLI was 22.8 recorded on June 25th.

Leamington-Kingsville received 22% more light in June than May. The monthly DLI average for June 2026 was 15% higher than it was in June 2025.

Last month’s data were not available for Vineland but compared to April it received 53% more light in June. Vineland received 20% less light than Leamington-Kingsville.

Listen to the monthly DLI radio report (below) that airs on the second Tuesday of every month on Country 91.3 during the Noon Farm Show.

Continue reading “June, 2026 DLI Report” →

Creature Feature: Nesi — The Green Bug That’s Not Always Good News

Published on by Julia Dubeau

Authors: Julia Dubeau (Research Assistant, OMAFA), Rose Labbé, PhD (Research Scientist, Greenhouse Entomology, AAFC), and Cara McCreary (Greenhouse Vegetable IPM Specialist, OMAFA)

Meet the Creature

For this Creature Feature, we’re meeting Nesidiocoris tenuis, commonly known as Nesi, green bug, or tomato bug.

Close-up of a green late-instar Nesi nymph with developing wing buds

Nesi is a small green mirid bug that has become a concern for Ontario greenhouse vegetable growers – specifically greenhouse tomatoes and greenhouse cucumbers but greenhouse peppers are also a potential host.

At first glance, Nesi might not look too scary. It is small, green, and easy to mistake for something helpful. But this is one of those “don’t judge a bug by its colour” situations — not every green bug in the crop is a good bug!

Nesi is an omnivorous mirid, meaning it can feed on both insects and plant tissue. In some regions around the world, it has been used as a beneficial insect, but in Ontario greenhouse vegetable production it is considered a pest because of the plant damage it can cause.

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Fourth Intake of Agricultural Stewardship Initiative Cost-Share Funding Program Opens July 8, 2026

Published on by Averie Mastronardi

The governments of Ontario and Canada are investing an additional $12 million through the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (ASI) to help farmers adopt practical improvements that increase efficiency, reduce costs and build long-term resilience. This initiative delivers on the government’s plan to protect Ontario’s farmers and agri-food sector by making strategic investments in cutting-edge solutions needed to support modern farming and help the sector remain resilient and competitive in the global marketplace.

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PYGANIC® Insecticide label temporarily expanded via Emergency Use Registration request to help manage Nesidiocoris tenuis in greenhouse grown tomatoes and greenhouse grown cucumbers in Ontario.

Published on by Cara McCreary1 Comment

J. MOSIONDZ, OMAFA, Minor Use Coordinator, Guelph

The Pesticides Regulatory Directorate (PRD), formerly known as the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), recently announced the approval of an Emergency Use Registration (EUR) request for PYGANIC® insecticide for management of Nesidiocoris tenuis, “Nesi”, on greenhouse grown cucumbers and greenhouse grown tomatoes in Ontario. This EUR request can be used only in Ontario from April 17th, 2026, until April 16th, 2029. The request marks the first agricultural related EUR request to be granted a multiyear term on the grounds of preventing the establishment of a new invasive species.

Continue reading “PYGANIC® Insecticide label temporarily expanded via Emergency Use Registration request to help manage Nesidiocoris tenuis in greenhouse grown tomatoes and greenhouse grown cucumbers in Ontario.” →

New Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency Initiative (intake Feb 17-Mar 17, 2026)

Published on by Fadi Al-Daoud

On January 20, 2026, the Government of Canada and the Ontario Government announced the launch of the new $20 million Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency Initiative to support market diversification and resiliency within domestic and international markets, with an emphasis placed on new and growing markets. This Initiative provides funding opportunities to Primary Producers and Processors and includes three Project Categories:

  • The Market Development and Diversification Implementation Planning;
  • Implement Market Development and Diversification; and,
  • Implementation of Equipment and Technology.
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PART 2. Genomic diversity of ToBRFV: Is it changing in Canada?

Published on by Cara McCreary

Authors: Greg Fougere (MSc graduate, Brock University), Jonathan Griffiths (Research Scientist – Virology, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) and Cara McCreary (Greenhouse Vegetable IPM Specialist, OMAFA)

Part 1 explained how we suspect ToBRFV was entering into Canada and moving between greenhouses (access post here). Here we will explore mutations, adaptations and how the virus is responding to the protection offered by genetic host resistance.

Before we go any further, let’s explain what these terms mean.

Mutation: random change in the viral genome that occurs when the virus replicates inside a host plant. Plant viruses with RNA genomes (like ToBRFV) are especially prone to mutations.

Adaptation: heritable trait that becomes common in a virus population because it improves survival or transmission in a specific environment.

Adaptation occurs through natural selection acting on mutations. This can happen over multiple infection cycles.

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PART 1. Genomic diversity of ToBRFV: What’s happening in Canada?

Published on by Cara McCreary1 Comment

Authors: Greg Fougere (MSc candidate, Brock University), Jonathan Griffiths (Research Scientist – Virology, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) and Cara McCreary (Greenhouse Vegetable IPM Specialist, OMAFA)

For several years now tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) has reared its ugly tomato head in Canadian greenhouses and across the world (Zhang et al., 2022). The greenhouse sector and all its allies including greenhouse employees, grower organizations, suppliers and researchers have worked diligently to understand mitigation and management. Biosecurity has improved. Detection has improved. Seed suppliers have developed ToBRFV-resistant cultivars at a rapid pace. But we are not out of the woods quite yet.

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Third Intake of the Agricultural Stewardship Intitiative Opens August 13 to September 3, 2025

Published on by Fadi Al-Daoud

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $3 million and launching the third intake of the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (ASI) to help farmers implement projects to improve the energy efficiency of their farming operations. To support the province’s plan to protect Ontario, this funding will help local agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products businesses across the province enhance their competitiveness, put more money back into their pockets and keep workers on the job.

Funding program details:

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“COMMUNITY” PEST ALERT: Spotted Lanternfly

Published on by Cara McCreary1 Comment

They may be pretty, but they aren’t our friends.

Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive sap-feeding planthopper with potential to harm agriculture and forestry in Ontario.

But I only grow greenhouse fruits and vegetables, so why does it matter to me, you ask? Although not considered a huge threat to our greenhouse crops, we can still do our part in our communities. If you enjoy the benefits of orchards, vineyards, agroforestry or ornamental nurseries or you have neighbours, friends or family that produce these commodities, then you are part of this community.

Spotted lanternfly is a quarantine pest in Canada. It is important to report any sightings immediately to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Steps to take if you suspect SLF:

  1. Take a photo or video
  2. Collect specimens including adults, nymphs or egg masses
  3. Report

Tip: To assist with early detections, pay close attention to any tree-of-heaven‘s that you have on or near your properties since these are preferred hosts for SLF.

Below are some resources that can be used to spread awareness including:

  1. Pest Alert: Spotted Lanternfly
  2. Spotted Lanternfly Poster (English)
  3. Spotted Lanternfly Poster (Spanish)
omafra-spotted-lanternfly-pest-alert-en-2023-07-21Download
LO_EN_SpottedLanternFlyPoster_2024Download
LO_SP_SpottedLanternFlyPosterDownload