Ontario Grain Farmer February 2021

“Art has worked tirelessly to reduce the economic impact of Fusarium and mycotoxins in wheat and corn for the growers of Ontario and we are all indebted to him for his passion, dedication, and contributions,” adds Tenuta. Schaafsma’s studies have also led to some management tools for Fusarium in corn but he says there have not been nearly as many gains in this area. Despite Schaafsma’s frustration with Fusarium in corn research, Dr. Josh Cowan, manager of research and innovation at Grain Farmers of Ontario, says he is still the go-to resource for DON management. “Whether it was helping farmers come out stronger on the other side of the DON epidemic in wheat in the 1990s or his most recent efforts to improve comprehensive DON management and sampling options in grain corn in response to DON epidemics in recent years, Art and his research team could be counted on to work with the sector to find practical solutions for farmers,” he says. PEST PROGRESS Invasive pests were also a focus for Schaafsma during his career. Learning about and developing solid management tools for spider mites and soybean aphids are among his highlights. “The progress with the soybean aphid is really satisfying. Everyone was spraying like crazy when it first invaded and now we hardly spray at all. That is a very major development that is really exciting to see,” says Schaafsma, who collaborated with professor Dr. Rebecca Hallett and numerous graduate students on this topic. More recently, Schaafsma and his team studied western bean cutworm (WBC). “We learned that the insect became resistant to Bt corn. We’ve come some distance, but WBC is still a challenge so we’re working behind the scenes with industry partners on new proteins for resistance,” he says. Tracey Baute, field crop entomologist with the OMAFRA, was Schaafsma’s first graduate student in the late 1990s. She says he has mentored her for the majority of her career. “Art always thinks of growers first and is very dedicated to finding practical scouting and management options for them,” explains Baute. “His work on Bt corn and leadership as chair of the Canadian Corn Pest Coalition stand out. He worked hard to encourage collaboration between industry, government, academia, and regulatory representatives to develop and follow best management practices to maintain the effectiveness of Bt corn against target pests. That collaboration was often desired by our counterparts in the United States but could not be achieved there in the same way. I know Art felt personally responsible for trying to make that collaboration happen.” TEACHING SUCCESS Dr. Jocelyn Smith, research scientist at the University of Guelph, began working with Schaafsma as a master’s student. She then joined his team as a research technician and has now completed her PhD. She says she appreciates the opportunities Schaafsma gave her to manage entomology research projects and develop as a scientist over the last 10 years. “An aspect of Art's legacy that people may not be as aware of is the large number of diploma, undergraduate, and graduate students that he has trained and the impact he had on their careers,” says Smith. Many of his former students now work in provincial or federal government positions, at other universities in teaching or research positions, and in other industry roles. Schaafsma says he has had “the most fun” while working with graduate students over the years. “They contribute a lot and I learn a lot from them too. You get involved in their lives and it is a real joy.” FUTURE OUTLOOK Although formally retired, he will continue to support a handful of graduate students for the next few years until their studies are complete. In the future, Schaafsma would like to see continued research of Fusarium in corn. “2018 was a disaster and it could happen again because we still don’t have the right tools, mainly hybrids that aremore tolerant,” he says. He notes there is also work to be done to finish solving the puzzle of WBC. Schaafsma sees Smith as a key contributor to future entomology research. “I am continuing the research that Art and I were working on together and pursuing many new projects as well. I hope to keep the field crop entomology research program at Ridgetown going strong,” says Smith. l ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 9 FEBRUARY 2021 SCHAAFSMA’S HAS PUT CONSIDERABLE EFFORT INTO DON RESEARCH.