Carrot and onion

As published in 2007, fresh market and processing carrots are grown on 8383 hectares (approximately 21 000 acres) in Canada. Ontario leads in carrot production with 47% of the national production, followed by Quebec at 29% and Prince Edward Island at 4%. Total national production stands at 280 043 tonnes ( Statistics Canada).

As published in 2007, onions are grown on 5785 hectares (14 295 acres) in Canada. Ontario is the leading onion producer with 45% of the national production, followed by Quebec at 32%, and Alberta at 10%. Total national production stands at 190 688 tonnes ( Statistics Canada).

On-Going Carrot and Onion Strategy

Health Canada (HC) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) Pesticide Risk Reduction Program identified carrots and onions as priority crops. General carrot production information and issues along with pest issues are documented in the Crop Profile for Carrot in Canada. Carrot and onion issues documents, extracted from the carrot crop profile, were used as discussion tools in carrot and onion stakeholder meetings and consultations to help identify the top insect, disease and weed issues. General issues of concern and potential solutions to these issues are also discussed at these meetings. AAC's Pest Management Centre prepared both documents in consultation with the carrot and onion industries, the Pesticide Risk Reduction Program's Technical Working Group and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).

Carrot and Onion Stakeholder Meetings and Consultations

Manitoba Carrot and Onion Stakeholder Meeting

A Manitoba carrot and onion stakeholder meeting was held November 28, 2005, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The meeting focussed on prioritizing pest management issues, identifying solutions and proposing members for a national steering committee. Participants included growers, provincial specialists and the federal government (PMRA).

Ontario Carrot and Onion Stakeholder Meeting

The Ontario carrot and onion stakeholder meetings were held separately, but the same National Steering Committee will work on both commodities. The carrot meeting was held March 22, 2006 and the onion meeting was held March 24, 2006, during the Annual Muck Conference in Bradford, Ontario. The meetings focussed on prioritizing pest management issues, identifing solutions and proposing members for a national steering committee. Participants included growers, provincial specialists, researchers, pesticide industry and federal government (PMRA and AAC).

Quebec Carrot and Onion Stakeholder Meeting

A Quebec carrot and onion stakeholder meeting was held April 12, 2006, in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. The purpose of the meeting was to prioritize pest management issues, identify solutions and propose members for a national steering committee. Participants included growers, provincial specialists, researchers, agronomists and federal government (PMRA and AAC).

Atlantic Carrot and Onion Stakeholder Meeting

Stakeholders in the Atlantic met on June 8, 2006, in Truro, Nova Scotia, to pest management issues, identify solutions and propose members for the National Steering Committee. Participants included growers from Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, provincial specialists, industry, researchers and the federal government (PMRA and AAC).

National Steering Committee Conference Call

The National Steering Committee consists of growers, AAC and university researchers, provincial specialists, provincial government and representatives of the AAC's Pest Management Centre and PMRA.

The National Steering Committee held its first conference call on August 15, 2006, to set national priorities, establish working groups to develop solutions for the issues and to elect a chair person.

Carrot and Onion Working Groups

• Sclerotina (White Mold) on Carrots
  Meetings: October 13, 2006
• Carrot Weevil / Carrot Rut Fly
• Weed Control in Carrots
• Onion Thrip
• Downey Mildew / Botrytis Leaf Blight

Research Funded Under the Pesticide Risk Reduction Program

The Pesticide Risk Reduction Program has funded several projects addressing the priorities established by the Carrot and Onion Working Group in consultation with the Pest Management Centre and the PMRA.

Carrots - Projects Funded to Date

• Use of real-time technologies for the detection and quantification of soilborne plant pathogens (Project Code: PRR03-500)
• Efficacy of CONTANS^®WG for the control of Sclerotinia rot in carrot: A case study for other susceptible muck soil crops (Project Code: BPI06-190)
• Carrot foliage trimmer for control of Sclerotinia rot in carrot (Project Code: PRR06-310)
• Reduced risk weed control strategies in carrot production in organic & mineral soils (Project Code: PRR06-700)
• Evaluation of low risk weed management options in snap beans, lima beans, carrots, red beets, pea, and dry bean (Project Code: MUR06-030)
• Enhancing the efficacy of a natural mustard biopesticide (CA-1) against nematodes, wireworms and microbial pathogens of carrots and potatoes in NB and PEI (Project Code: BPI07-200)
• Development of bioclimatic models to forecast the dynamics of two insect pests: carrot weevil and carrot fly (Project Code: PRR07-090)
• Determination of the critical weed-free period in carrots grown on muck and mineral soils (Project Code: PRR07-260)

Onions - Projects Funded to Date

• Development of reduced-risk insecticides and novel attract and kill strategies for managing wireworms and click beetles in potatoes and other crops (Project Code: MU03-ENT1)
• Leek moth, Acrolepiopsis assectella, a pest of Allium spp.: pest biology studies and the development of a reduced risk IPM strategy for control (Project Code: MU03-ENT2)
• Biological control of the leek moth Acrolepiopsis assectella (Lepidoptera: Acrolepiidae) a Pest of Allium spp (Project Code: PRR03-360)
• Implementing a biological control agent as a pest management tool against leaf blight of onion (Project Code: BPI06-020)
• Reduced risk herbicides for horticultural crops in organic soils: supplemental registration data & herbicide screening (Project Code: MUR06-100)
• Implementation of spore trapping network technology combined with improved forecasting systems to manage Onion Leaf Blight at the regional scale (Project Code: PRR07-190)
• Raising awareness to pesticide risk reduction on the farm for the benefit of health and the environment (Project Code: PRR07-300)
• Identification of efficient sprayer application tools to maximize onion thrips control (Project Code: PRR07-350)

For further updates, please visit Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.