Nathan Pegg from Homestead Orchards joined Dan Pollard for Tractor talk to discuss some of the challenges Apple farmers face. “There are a lot of diseases out there that can destroy a tree and end its life; if they get black rod in them, or fire blight, things like that, or viruses, scab– Apple scab, it’ll just kind of be a year to year kind of thing. If you have scab in your orchard it is hard to get rid of. For those people at home, if they have scab in their trees(..) they’re best defenses is raking up the litter at the end of the year, so getting rid of the apples and the leaves and everything that’s on the ground underneath the tree because the following year those scab spored will be in the ground. So if you break them up and get rid of them you eliminate some of that from your own trees at home.”  Fall is the peak harvest season for apples here in Ontario.

Durham Region is celebrating Welcoming Week from September 10 to 19, highlighting local events and services for newcomers. Residents can visit DurhamImmigration.ca/WelcomingWeek to learn more about newcomer programs, local events and immigration initiatives. The week is a reminder of the importance of making Durham a welcoming community where everyone feels they belong.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is heading to Europe this week to strengthen Canada’s ties with France, the U.K. and the European Union. Carney will meet French President Emmanuel Macron on September 20 to discuss defence, energy, critical minerals and technology, while also addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The trip comes as Canada looks to expand its relationships with Europe amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States.