Solar rules too restrictive say Ontario's Fruit and Vegetable Growers Tuesday, May 3, 2011 by SUSAN MANN An organization representing Ontario horticultural farmers is concerned growers won’t be permitted to install roof-mounted solar panels on newly constructed farm buildings so they can generate income producing electricity as part of the province’s Feed-in-Tariff program. Art Smith, CEO of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, says they’ve written to Premier Dalton McGuinty about their concerns. The matter was discussed at the association’s March board meeting. Smith says installing the panels would help farmers defray some of the construction costs of their new buildings, such as bunkhouses for seasonal workers. Jim MacDougall, Ontario Power Authority manager of Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) procurement, says people are welcomed to construct projects and apply for either the FIT or microFIT program. A microFIT project is 10 kilowatts or less while a FIT project is greater than 10 kilowatts. People applying for rooftop microFIT projects must have a permanent building fully constructed before sending in their application, MacDougall says. “At that stage they would be eligible as a rooftop project for rooftop pricing.” MacDougall says the building must be constructed before a person can apply for the program. People can’t apply while the building is being constructed or before construction has started. MacDougall says OPA made a clarification in the rules about rooftop projects because some people were constructing buildings solely to have a roof for solar installations so they can get the higher price. Projects that are part of the rooftop program get higher prices than ground mounted projects. “From the basis of the structures being built, it did not appear that there would be even any indoor space or that the thing would have any real functional purpose other than to meet a definition for rooftop projects so they can make more money,” he explains. People reading through the rules may have perceived OPA was trying to restrict the program. But “what we were really trying to do was just avoid people putting up make-shift structures just to earn a lot more money but they (the structures) would never get used for anything.” OPA doesn’t want to pay people the rooftop rate to build something when the structure doesn’t serve a legitimate purpose. “That is contrary to the goals of the program.” As part of OPA’s rule clarification, it says the rooftop facility has to be on a permanent existing building, which was designed for use to protect people or property. But MacDougall says there is room for interpretation within the rules and the building supporting the solar installation can be a barn, bunkhouse or facility for value-added production on a farm. It just can’t be a building that has supporting a solar power installation as one of its main purposes. BF Pigeon King case postponed again Conservative majority doesn't faze farm groups
Farmland Values Climb Across the Prairies-Manitoba Leads, Ontario Holds Steady Friday, October 10, 2025 Canadian cultivated farmland values rose by an average of 6.0 per cent in the first half of 2025, according to the mid-year farmland values review by Farm Credit Canada (FCC). This marks a modest acceleration compared to the first half of 2024, which saw a 5.5 per cent increase. Over... Read this article online
Canada Post Strike Continues to Threatens Agri-Businesses and Rural Communities Thursday, October 9, 2025 The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is calling on the federal government to take swift action to end the ongoing Canada Post strike, warning that the disruption is causing serious harm to small businesses – including many in the agriculture sector. “The government’s... Read this article online
Gleaner T Series Combine Updates Thursday, October 9, 2025 Gleaner continues to advance harvest technology with its new T Series combine, delivering major improvements in power, reliability, and ease of operation. Designed with the farmer in mind, the T Series focuses on performance, accessibility, and cutting-edge precision tools for... Read this article online
Ontario Invests $41M to Boost Agri-Food Innovation Wednesday, October 8, 2025 The Ontario government has announced an investment of more than $41 million over the next four years to enhance and modernize infrastructure under Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO). This initiative, part of the province’s plan to safeguard Ontario’s agri-food sector,... Read this article online
Six Ontario Students Earn Hensall Co-op Scholarships Wednesday, October 8, 2025 Hensall Co-op, along with its Board of Directors and employees, has proudly announced the recipients of the fourth annual Bright Futures Scholarship. This year, six exceptional students from across Southwestern Ontario have been awarded a total of $15,000 to assist with their... Read this article online