Co-op's solar plans move ahead Wednesday, April 13, 2011 by PAT CURRIEAGRI Solar Co-operative Ltd., a 400-member organization with solar panels on 725 locations in an arc running from Windsor northeast to Huron County, is busy installing "five to 10 units each week and connecting them with the (Ontario electricty) grid, AGRI Solar general manager Andrew Clark said Thursday.It was announced at the co-op’s annual meeting in Chatham recently that its $66-million construction project is now in full swing, aimed at connecting all 750 sites to the provincial grid this fall, Clark said. The units are being installed under Ontario’s micro Feed-in Tariff program that buys up to 10 kilowatts of power from small renewable energy providers.Each site contains an array of 54 solar panels that capture energy from the sun and turning it into electric power. That power will be sold to Ontario Hydro One at 64 cents per kilowatt hour, a drop of 16 cents from the rate first established by the Ontario government but cut back a year ago. The lower price is still enough to provide the owner of each site with an income estimated at $3,700 a year together with a $1,500 annual lease payment, he said.Those who obtain a contract with Hydro One and pay $20,000 to join the co-op "just sit back and let the money roll in," said Clark."We do everything else for them," he said, adding that AGRI Solar now is the largest manager in Ontario of microfit solar installations.Clark said the co-op’s goal is to reach a total of 1,000 members. BF Decision delayed Tender fruit pest arrives in Ontario
Pilot project supports Ontario and Quebec ag Friday, July 24, 2026 A new two-year pilot project is designed to help livestock farmers in Quebec by giving them access to an Ontario abattoir. The project, a collaboration between the Quebec and Ontario governments, with additional support from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), would see a limited... Read this article online
Canada Opens Interprovincial Alcohol Sales Thursday, July 23, 2026 A major change to Canada's internal marketplace is set to create new opportunities for wineries, breweries and distilleries after nine provinces signed a landmark agreement allowing direct-to-consumer sales of alcoholic beverages across participating jurisdictions. The deal is being hailed... Read this article online
Heat and Rain have led to a challenging growing season for Cauliflower Growers in Ontario. Thursday, July 23, 2026 There are only 1,225 acres dedicated to growing cauliflower in Ontario, but they produce 14,545,000 lbs of the vegetable. Growers across key vegetable-producing regions are preparing for increased shipments of locally grown cauliflower to grocery stores, restaurants, wholesalers and... Read this article online
Who Knew so Much Canadian Watermelon is Grown in Ontario Thursday, July 23, 2026 Many consumers may think of watermelon as an exotic fruit, but Ontario grows about2,000 acresof watermelons each year, more than 35,084tonnesof watermelon.Watermelonharvest now is underway. Watermelon originated in northeastern Africa, particularly in the region that today includes Sudan... Read this article online
Ontario Farmers Harvest One of Canada’s Top Carrot Crops Wednesday, July 22, 2026 Carrots are among Ontario's most important vegetable crops, contributing significantly to local food production and year-round fresh produce availability. Ontario grows the most carrots of any Canadian province – 45% of the country’s carrots. According to Statistics Canada, Ontario... Read this article online