Grow-ops cause Pacific power blowouts Tuesday, February 9, 2016 Legal marijuana grow operations are putting such a strain on the power grid in Oregon and Washington states that they're blowing out transformers.In a November Statesman Journal article, Portland General Electric spokesman Steve Corson estimated that the grow-ops account for 10 per cent of the roughly 400 transformer blowouts the Oregon utility experiences in a year.The article also quotes Roger Blank, director of safety for Pacific Power, as saying a grow-op with four plants under standard lights "is like hooking up 29 refrigerators that run 24/7."Corson told Portland Business Journal in November that the popularization of LED lighting, more expensive to install than traditional lighting, is easing the situation. One grower quoted in the story estimated that 200 lights per 10,000 square feet of an indoor operation would take US$10,000 a month to light by LED and double that amount by traditional light. BF Irrigating precious crops equals jobs Behind the Lines - February 2016
Grey County Ag Services launches 2026 winter course lineup for farmers and rural residents Friday, January 30, 2026 Grey County Agricultural Services has released its 2026 Winter Course List, offering one of the most diverse and community‑focused educational lineups the organization has ever assembled. Running from February through early April, this year’s program includes hands‑on livestock training,... Read this article online
DIY Spark Plug Test - Keep Engines Running Smoothly Friday, January 30, 2026 From chainsaws to snow blowers, you can keep your small engine equipment in great shape with some preventative maintenance and knowledge. Help keep your machines running smoothly. If you use other small-engine tools on the farm, like chainsaws and other power equipment, spark plugs... Read this article online
Québec names Lori Anne Berthiaume and Steeve Nadeau as 2026 Outstanding Young Farmers Friday, January 30, 2026 Berthiaume’s leadership at Ferme Porc SB Inc. and her team-centred approach helped drive major productivity gains and earned recognition from Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers. Québec’s Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) program has named Lori Anne Berthiaume and Steeve Nadeau as the... Read this article online
Canada’s Ag Day Is Coming Soon – Here is why it matters! Thursday, January 29, 2026 Canada’s Ag Day is a national moment to recognize the people who grow, raise, make, and move our food. Ag Day will be on February 10th and it will be celebrating its 10th anniversary. But beneath the celebration lies something even more essential: our food system depends on... Read this article online
Red Tape Pushes 70% of Agri Businesses to Deter Next Generation from Farming Thursday, January 29, 2026 Canada’s food production system is under mounting pressure as agri-businesses warn that regulatory overload is discouraging the next generation from entering the industry. A new snapshot from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) reveals that almost 70% of agri... Read this article online