Ottawa invests in research to help Ontario ginseng growers improve yields

Sep 12, 2014

The federal government announced an investment of $423,000 to the Ontario Ginseng Growers Association (OGGA) aimed at helping the province’s 140 growers increase productivity and improve yields. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and the Honourable Diane Finley, Member of Parliament for Haldimand-Norfolk made the announcement on Sept. 10 at a stop in Simcoe, Ont.

More specifically, the funds will seek to address one of the biggest problems facing the ginseng industry – managing ginseng replant disease. The disease is highly problematic for farmers because it creates a situation where by a healthy crop of ginseng is no longer possible to be grown on the same parcel of land where it had previously been produced.

“The ginseng industry is an important contributor to the economy in Ontario and across Canada. This investment in research will drive growth and productivity, ensuring a bright future for our ginseng producers and the industry overall,” Minister Ritz said in a release.

The investment directed to the OGGA will allow the industry group to examine the factors that lead to the disease and study potential solutions to this phenomenon. On the research side of things, the focus will be on the evaluation of fungicides, the introduction of beneficial organisms and a comparison of replant and non-replant sites.

The initiative will go hand in hand with work that is already underway. Agriculture Canada’s Pesticide Risk Reduction Program is conducting research focusing on understanding the factors which contribute to the disease, and looking at crop management practices. The investment was made possible thanks to the Agri-Food Canada’s AgriInnovation Program under Growing Forward 2.

Video: Will the 2025 USDA December Crop Report Be a Market Mover/Surprise?

Historically, the USDA December crop report is a non-event or another dud report as the USDA reserves any final supply changes to the final report in January of the following year in this case 2026. But after the longest U.S. government shutdown in history at 43 days and no October crop report will they provide more data/surprise and make an exception?
Our China U.S. soybean purchase tracker is now at 26.6% or a total of 3.2 mmt but for traders it’s taking too long to unfold.
The final Stats Canada production report was bearish canola and wheat projection a record crop in both (it adds to the global glut of supplies) and bullish local corn and soybean prices in Ontario/Quebec thanks to a drought. It will not help the fund flow short-term, the USDA may need to offset it?
A U.S. Fed interest rate cut of another 25-basis point next Wednesday (probability 87.1%) could help fund flow and sentiment in stock and ag commodities into year end.
More inflows into Bitcoin this past week saw prices rebound back above 90,000 with support at 82,000 and resistance at 96,000.
A V-shaped bottom in cattle suggest the lows are in after Mexico reported another new world screwworm case. Lower weights, seasonal demand and higher U.S. beef select/choice values with a continued closure of the Mexican border to cattle will result in a resumption of higher cattle futures into yearend.
Australia is expected to produce its 3rd largest wheat crop ever at 36 mmt adding to the global glut of supplies.
Reports of ASF in hogs in Spain the largest pork exporter in Europe could see the U.S. win more pork export business long-term.
If the rains verify into next week of 3-5 inches for Brazil it would go a long way to fixing the dry regions from the last 2-months, but the European weather model has been wrong for the past 2-months!
Natural gas futures are surging to the 3rd price count as frigid hold temps set in.
CDN $ is also surging to end the week on a very resilient economy and better employment numbers suggesting no interest rate cuts next week.
Finally, the CFTC report showed funds were net buyers of soybeans but sellers of corn, canola and wheat. In real time the funds have gone back to selling as they take some profits.