Apples

General

Rootstocks and cultivars

• Apple rootstocks

  Learn how appropriate rootstocks can improve the economics of growing apples.

• Honeycrisp rootstock study

  Learn about the rootstocks that can be used with Honeycrisp apples.

• Insect and disease-resistant apple rootstocks

  Learn about common apple rootstocks and their resistance to insect and disease.

Crop load management

Soil, fertility and crop nutrition

• Nutrient and soil diagnostics

  Learn about nutrition and soil fertility.

• Publication 611: Soil Fertility Handbook

  Learn about soil fertility and how to sample and test soil.

• Guide to soil and nutrition for fruit crops

  Learn how to develop a soil fertility program that works for your crops.

• Orchard leaf tissue sampling

  Learn why leaf tissue sampling is important.

• How to sample for leaf tissue analysis

  Learn about leaf sampling in an orchard.

• Accredited soil laboratories in Ontario

  Find contact and analysis information for labs in Ontario.

Irrigation

• Permits to take water

  Get, renew or update a permit to take more than 50,000 litres of water.

• Knowing whether you need a permit to take water

  Learn about the permits required to take water.

• Best management practices for irrigation management

  Information on irrigation and fertigation management.

• Irrigation timing in fruit trees

  Learn about the importance of irrigating your fruit trees.

• Irrigation scheduling for fruit crops

  Learn about sprinkler systems and which one suits your needs.

• Data to make irrigation decisions

  Learn how to use evapotranspiration to make better irrigation decisions.

• Irrigation during water shortages

  Learn how to use equipment efficiently and deal with water shortages.

• Improving water quality through good irrigation practices

  Learn the risks and protect your water to improve on-farm food safety.

Pollination

Pest management

• CropIPM

  Information to help you identify, monitor and manage pests specific to your crop.

• Crop Protection Hub

  Find pest management strategies and information on pest control products.

• Weed identification guide

  Learn how to identify and minimize their impact on your crops.

Pesticide safety

• Pesticide label search

  Easily access digital pesticide labels.

• Sprayers 101

  Learn about safe, efficient and effective agricultural spraying.

• Farm pesticide storage facility

  Learn about safety, rules, signage, structures and more.

• Handling pesticides safely

  Learn how to avoid spills and what to do if it occurs.

• Pesticide contamination

  Learn how to avoid contaminating well or surface water sources.

• Ontario Pesticide Education Program

  Get your grower or vendor certification and find training resources.

Harvest and post-harvest

Food safety

• Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001

  Learn about the Food Safety and Quality Act for agricultural commodities.

• Ontario Regulation 119/11

  Find information on the regulations needed for produce in Ontario.

• Regulatory requirements in Ontario

  Learn about requirements for produce under Ontario Regulation 119/11, including food safety, label, packaging, advertising and misrepresentation.

• CanadaGAP

  Learn more about this program to promote food safety.

• Food safety monitoring program

  Learn about the ministry’s food safety monitoring program and review a summary of the program’s results from the past 5 years.

• Environmental monitoring for sanitation effectiveness

  Learn how environmental monitoring can help verify your cleaning and sanitation program’s effectiveness in a food of plant origin facility.

• Waste management

  Resources on manure, biosolids and more.

Organic certification and standards

• Organic crop and livestock production in Ontario

  Learn the principles of organic production and certification.

• Starting an organic farm

  What to consider, including land, soil and climate limitations and more.

• Organic fruit production in Ontario

  Learn about organic fruit production in Ontario including steps to transition and standards.

Weather and climate

• Winter injury

  Learn how to reduce damage caused by freezing.

• Freeze protection

  Learn about protecting crops from frost and freezing temperatures.

• Frost

  Learn how to reduce damage caused by frost.

• Hail injury

  Learn how to reduce damage caused by hail.

• Cold temperatures

  Learn how to reduce damage caused by cool weather.

• Excessive heat

  Learn how to reduce damage caused by hot temperatures.

• Excessive moisture

  Learn how to reduce damage caused by rainfall or over-irrigation.

• Insufficient moisture

  Learn how to reduce damage caused by a lack of rain.

• Wind damage

  Learn how to reduce damage caused by wind.

• Air pollution

  Learn how to identify damage caused by air pollution.