Sweet corn

As published in 2007, sweet corn is grown on 23 451 hectares (57 947 acres) in Canada. Ontario leads in the production of sweet corn 60% of the national production, followed by Quebec at 31% and Alberta at 5%. Total national production stands at 237 410 tonnes ( Statistics Canada).

On-Going Sweet Corn Strategy

Health Canada (HC) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) Pesticide Risk Reduction Program identified sweet corn as a priority crop. General sweet corn production information and issues, along with pest issues are documented in the Crop Profile for Sweet Corn in Canada. A sweet corn issues document, extracted from the crop profile, was used as a discussion tool in sweet corn 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 sweet corn industry, the Pesticide Risk Reduction Program's Technical Working Group and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).

Sweet Corn Stakeholder Meetings and Consultations

Quebec Stakeholder Meeting

A stakeholder meeting was held March 27, 2006, in Longueuil, Quebec, to prioritize issues, identify possible solutions and propose members for a national steering committee. Participants included growers, provincial specialists, researchers, the pest control industry and federal government representatives (Pest Management Centre and PMRA).

Ontario and Alberta Stakeholder Consultations

It was decided that consultations with Ontario and Alberta would occur via teleconference. The Alberta teleconference was held on April 20, 2006, and the Ontario teleconference was held on April 25, 2006.

Sweet Corn Steering Committee

The national steering committee is comprised of sweet corn growers or grower representatives from Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, scientists, provincial specialists and a representative from the Pest Management Centre and the PMRA. The steering committee identified lepidopterans--mainly European corn borer and corn earworm--and annual grass control as their top priority issues requiring working groups (June 29, 2006). Common rust and broadleaf weed control in plasticulture were also identified as national priorities.

Sweet Corn Working Groups

• Annual Grasses
  Meetings: September 25, 2006
• Lepidopterans

Research Funded Under the Pesticide Risk Reduction Program

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

Projects Funded to Date

• Evaluation of low risk weed management options in sweet corn, tomatoes, sugar beets, peppers, cole crops and vine crops (Project Code: MU03-WEED1)
• Raising awareness to pesticide risk reduction on the farm for the benefit of health and the environment (Project Code: PRR07-300)
• Evaluation of reduced-risk weed management approaches for annual grass control in sweet corn (Project Code: PRR07-040)
• Development and Implementation of a Reduced-Risk Integrated Pest Management Program for Lepidopteran Pests of Fresh Market Sweet Corn in Ontario and Quebec (Project Code: PRR07-460)

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