Chilean fruit farms harvest the sun for water Monday, February 20, 2012 Chile's Atacama Desert, one of the driest regions on earth and one of the best locations for sunshine, might become a great place to raise fruit using solar energy to drive its irrigation systems.Subsole, a large locally owned fruit exporting company, secured a $32 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank to increase output by 60 per cent over four years and by expanding farming in the Copiaoo valley, 800 kilometres north of Santiago. Subsole is building a 300-kilowatt peak solar photovoltaic plant to pump water from underground aquifers. The plant will also run cooling plants.According to a news release from the lender, Subsole shares its profits with workers. This project will create another 10,000 direct and indirect jobs and boost its exports by 42 per cent in the next three years. Over the past decade, Subsole has increased table fruit exports by an average of 20 per cent per year. BF Castrating with teeth not recommended Nitrogen fertilizer: how much more efficient can we get?
Looking for a heritage machine Tuesday, February 10, 2026 A Brantford, Ontario area heritage organization—the Canadian Industrial Heritage Centre (CIHC)—is putting out a call to the Canadian agricultural community in hopes of locating a rare piece of machinery that helped transform grain harvesting around the world. The CIHC is preparing... Read this article online
Why farmers built their own renewable energy association Tuesday, February 10, 2026 When renewable energy developers come knocking on rural doors, farmers often find themselves staring at 40-page leases, unfamiliar terminology, and long-term commitments that could shape their land for decades. For many, the opportunity is exciting and enticing—but also... Read this article online
Food Freedom Day 2026 - What Canada’s Grocery Costs Really Tell Us Monday, February 9, 2026 The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) has announced that Sunday, February 8th, 2026, marked Food Freedom Day—the date by which the average Canadian household has earned enough income to cover its entire annual grocery bill. Each year, CFA analyzes how much of Canadians’... Read this article online
Canadian Grain and Pork Sectors Join Others in Sound Alarm Over AAFC Research Cuts Friday, February 6, 2026 The Grain Growers of Canada (CGC), the Canadian Pork Council (CPC), and Swine Innovation Porc (SIP) are expressing serious concern following recently announced staff reductions and facility closures or consolidations within Agriculture and Agri‑Food Canada (AAFC). The groups warn that... Read this article online
Red Tape Pushes 70% of Agri Businesses to Deter Next Generation from Farming Thursday, February 5, 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