Small FIT projects window opened Tuesday, December 18, 2012 by BETTER FARMING STAFFIn what the Ontario energy ministry calls “a re-launching of the small Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program,” the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) has started accepting applications for renewable energy projects of more than 10 and up to 500 kilowatts. Those projects will come on stream with rate reductions of about 20 per cent for solar projects and 15 per cent for wind projects. There is also a points system that favours projects with greater community and Aboriginal involvement.In a news release, the Ontario energy ministry says it is setting aside megawatts in the small FIT program “for projects with more than 50 per cent community or Aboriginal participation.”There are three classes of FIT programs, the micro FIT program is for projects of 10 kilowatts or less, the small FIT for projects of more than 10 and up to 500 kilowatts and the large FIT for programs of more than 500 kilowatts.The micro FIT application window was reopened by OPA earlier in the year. The application window for small FIT programs is open now. A time to apply for large FIT programs of more than 500 kilowatts has yet to be announced. BF Grain Farmers establish research priorities Nominations sought for dairy farm sustainability award
Calf Auction Raises Funds for Youth Monday, June 30, 2025 Wyatt Westman-Frijters from Milverton won a heifer calf named Ingrid through a World Milk Day promotion by Maplevue Farms and a local Perth, Ontario radio station. Instead of keeping the calf, 22-year-old Westman-Frijters chose to give back to the community. The calf was sent to the... Read this article online
Cattle Stress Tool May Boost Fertility Friday, June 27, 2025 Kansas State University researchers have developed a cool tool that may help reduce cattle stress and improve artificial insemination (AI) results. The idea came from animal science experts Nicholas Wege Dias and Sandy Johnson, who observed that cattle accustomed to their environment... Read this article online
Ontario pasture lands get $5M boost Friday, June 27, 2025 The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $5 million to strengthen shared community grazing pastures. This funding supports the province’s plan to protect Ontario’s agriculture sector and help cattle farmers improve pasture quality, ensuring long-term sustainability and... Read this article online
Health Canada sets rules for drone spraying Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Health Canada has approved the use of drones, also called Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), for pesticide application under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA). Drones are considered aircraft by Transport Canada, but Health Canada treats them differently due to their unique... Read this article online
Twelve Ontario Agri-Businesses Receive Funding Support Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Bioenterprise Canada has announced the successful recipients of the second call for proposals under the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) Commercialization Stream. Twelve organizations across Ontario will receive support to bring innovative agri-food solutions to the... Read this article online