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
BASF introduces Surtain herbicide for field corn growers Tuesday, September 17, 2024 Field corn growers in eastern Canada have a new crop protection product available to them. After about 10 years of research and trials, BASF has introduced Surtain, a residual herbicide for corn that combines PPO inhibitor saflufenacil (Group 14) and pyroxasulfone (Group 15) in a premix... Read this article online
We Didn’t Start the Fire! Impacts of Wildfire Smoke on Corn Monday, September 16, 2024 Assistant Professor of Corn Production at Purdue University’s College of Agriculture, Daniel Quinn, PhD. recently provided fascinating insights into the impacts of fire on major corn producing areas, many of which have been impacted by smoke from wildfires. Quinn was the keynote... Read this article online
New home for the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario Saturday, September 14, 2024 The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) has announced it has moved into its new office building in Ingersoll. Located at 274620 27th Line in Ingersoll, the new office will serve as the hub for CFFO’s ongoing efforts to advocate for and support Ontario’s Christian farmers.... Read this article online
Canadian Ag Youth Council Welcomes new Members Saturday, September 14, 2024 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has announced the latest members to join the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council (CAYC). This update introduces nine fresh members alongside thirteen returning youths, marking a significant step towards involving young voices in agricultural... Read this article online
New CEO for Livestock Research Innovation Corporation Friday, September 13, 2024 Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) is promoting from within with the appointment of the organization’s newest Chief Executive Officer. Industry Services Manager Kelly Somerville has been tapped to assume the role as of September 3, replacing retiring CEO Mike McMorris.... Read this article online