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?
Ontario farmers get boost for energy upgrades Friday, July 11, 2025 The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $3 million in the third round of the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (ASI). This funding will help farmers improve the energy efficiency of their operations and support the long-term sustainability of the agriculture... Read this article online
Swede midge and cabbageworm found in Ontario canola Thursday, July 10, 2025 As reported on the OMAFA website fieldcropnews.com, Ontario canola crops are at various growth stages, ranging from seedling to full bloom depending on planting time and region. Winter canola is now fully podded, and harvest is expected to begin soon in Essex and other southern... Read this article online
Early Career Research Award supports two Guelph research initiatives Friday, July 4, 2025 The was presented to two University of Guelph researchers at the recently held Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) symposium. Dr. Kelsey Spence received $40,000 towards her work in on-farm biosecurity research, and Dr. Sam Workenhe was awarded $60,000 to further his... Read this article online
Grape Growers 40th Annual Celebrity Luncheon has Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser Friday, July 4, 2025 The Grape Growers of Ontario’s marks the opening of the by showcasing Canadian personalities and celebrating the annual grape harvest. This year, in partnership with Meridian Credit Union, Ontario’s largest credit union and the third largest in Canada, the Grape Growers of Ontario... Read this article online
Ontario crops respond to summer heat Wednesday, July 2, 2025 According to the OMAFA Field Crop News team, Ontario field crops are showing rapid development as summer-like temperatures have dominated late June early July. The warm spell has accelerated growth and helped reduce the heat unit deficit from a cool spring. Corn fields have seen a burst... Read this article online