Growers discuss upcoming opportunities and challenges in 2023.
Growers from across Canada discuss concerns and opportunities for the coming year. See page 10. Photo by Andrew Snook.
Preparing
Energy saving technologies in greenhouses from a plant viewpoint 8 Part 1: Energy inputs and energy losses.
Green Industry Show & Conference draws growers to Red Deer, Alta.
SARAH
DAYBOLL
HEATHER MCDIARMID
Double screening Using two energy screens helps growers with lower energy costs and climate control. BY
ROBERT HANIFIN
Addressing labour shortages
While there are many challenges that come with running a greenhouse operation, there are two issues that affect growers from coast to coast: rising energy costs and labour woes. Although energy costs have certainly risen over the past three years (along with the costs of just about everything else), it is the shortage of labour that has really come into focus. While labour struggles were not uncommon before the onset of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the past few years have placed a spotlight on the need for temporary foreign workers (TFWs), skilled labour and aggressive immigration policies to support Canada’s economy.
Immigration was down significantly in 2020 and 2021, as the federal government attempted to manage the spread of COVID-19. This has resulted in Canada experiencing one of its worst labour shortages in recent history.
Technology, Engineering and Math).”
This is good news. While the sector relies heavily on TFWs, there is also a need for skilled workers, and that need will only grow as operations continue to embrace automation and analytics. Labour will never be removed entirely from the sector, but the push to automate as many aspects of operations as possible to optimize efficiencies and reduce labour costs is happening. People with STEM skills and other skilled trades will be part of that solution.
But circling back to TFWs, what has the government done to assist growers in expediating the process of attracting more workers? Well, for one, it’s approving more workers through the TFW program.
According to The Globe and Mail’s recent article, “Employers are rushing to fill jobs with temporary foreign workers,” employers received approvals for approximately 45,200 positions through the TFW program. Of those approvals, more than 10,000 were for “general farm workers.” The total number of approvals was the largest for the TFW program
In 2022, the country welcomed a record 405,000 new immigrants...
In 2022, the country welcomed a record 405,000 new immigrants to try and offset those losses, while also announcing Canada’s 20232025 Immigration Levels Plan. This plan has set new record targets in each subsequent year with 465,000 new permanent residents in 2023; 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024; and 500,000 new permanent residents in 2025. The Government of Canada stated that there will be an increased focus on small towns and rural communities. The Feds also stated that it will be “using new features in the Express Entry system to welcome newcomers with the required skills and qualifications in sectors facing acute labour shortages such as, health care, manufacturing, building trades and STEM (Science,
in recent history (the article showed approved positions dating back to 2017).
Another way the government has been assisting the sector in attracting TFWs can be found on Employment and Social Development Canada’s website, which states that from Jan. 12, 2022 to June 30, 2023, it suspended its minimum advertising requirements for employers applying for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to hire TFWs in primary agriculture. Has this helped you resolve labour issues? Drop me a line, I’d love to know.
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Bioenterprise Canada & Horticulture Nova Scotia sign MOU
Horticulture Nova Scotia and Bioenterprise Canada, Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that launches their collaboration.
“Food sufficiency is of growing importance to countries around the world and, given the labour-intensive nature of many fruit and vegetable crops, the horticulture sector represents particular growth opportunities for innovation and technology,” says Dave Smardon, CEO of Bioenterprise Canada. “This new partnership with Horticulture Nova Scotia further strengthens Bioenterprise Canada’s footprint in Atlantic Canada as we continue to expand and diversify
our national innovation network across the country.”
Horticulture Nova Scotia is a memberbased organization that represents vegetable, greenhouse vegetable, strawberry, highbush blueberry, bramble, and related nursery stock growers in the province. The organization supports, promotes, and advocates for its grower members regionally, provincially and nationally.
“This new collaboration with Bioenterprise Canada will help us develop new and beneficial relationships that will help advance and grow our sector,” says Horticulture Nova Scotia executive director Marlene Huntley.
SOLLUM AND SAVOURA TEAM UP FOR TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE
To highlight the benefits of dynamic lighting for Québec horticultural businesses, Investissement Québec has granted Sollum Technologies $350,000 in funding for a technological showcase involving a novel strawberry research trial in partnership with SAVOURA.
Strawberry production in greenhouses under lighting is relatively new. The goal of the project is to use Sollum Technologies’ unique dynamic LED grow light solution to refine lighting strategies to increase the productivity and quality of greenhouse strawberries.
“We at SAVOURA are thrilled to take part in this technology showcase,” says Richard Dorval, president and CEO at SAVOURA Group. “This research project is exciting for us. It will allow us to test Sollum’s LED fixtures’ dynamic adaptation
BY THE NUMBERS
to different growth stages.”
“In showcasing this research we’ll provide an invaluable example to other industry players about the edge provided to growers through dynamic lighting when it comes to improving quality and yield and maximizing profits,” says vice-president Kassim Tremblay, business development for Sollum Technologies.
This is not the first time that Sollum and SAVOURA Group have worked together. Earlier this year, Sustainable Development Technology Canada granted Sollum $2.5M in phase two funding to conduct greenhouse tomato research in collaboration with SAVOURA Group, PRISM Farms and the Harrow Research and Development Centre.
Total value of inflationadjusted exports from January 2022 to September 2022.
Year-to-date, inflation-adjusted totals are up 5.3% over 2021, and up 29.5% over the 2017-2021 five-year average.
March 2022 to September 2022 compared to the same period pre-COVID average. Exports were up by 1.8% over the same period last year (Mar-Sept 2021).
ENERGY SAVING technologies in greenhouses from a plant viewpoint
Part 1: Energy inputs and energy losses
BY DR. MOHYUDDIN MIRZA
BELOW
A greenhouse built in 2000 growing peppers and look at the “clutter,” which does affect light intensity reaching the plants.
Energy is the second largest operating cost for a commercial greenhouse in Canada. In case you are wondering what is the first one, that is the labour. In cold climates energy is used primarily for heating, lighting, dehumidification, CO2 supply and equipment operation. The relative proportions of costs for fuel and electricity will vary with cost of fuel, structures of greenhouses and crops grown. Understanding the use of energy in a greenhouse operation is the first step in reducing the energy costs.
With the current spike in energy costs, both electricity and natural gas, growers are becoming more conscious of their energy expenditures and taking different energy saving measures. This is not the first time such spikes in fuel supply have occurred and newer technologies are always coming out for managing energy.
THE STARTING POINT
There are three broad, interrelated methods to reduce the impact of energy cost on revenue.
1. Increase the crop yield and market value per dollar of energy cost.
2. Reduce the energy required per square metre of greenhouse space.
3. Switch to a lower cost fuel to supply some or all of your energy needs.
Reducing energy costs per dollar of saleable product is the overall objective and this requires having good data on yields/m2 if you are growing vegetables; or number of plants per m2 if growing bedding plants and ornamentals. When I ask growers what yields of cucumbers, tomatoes or peppers they have been getting, the answer is sometimes, “I have not calculated yet.” On the other hand, I know other
Each greenhouse is unique and the above pictures highlight how space is utilized in greenhouses growing different crops. Last picture is that of a modern vegetable greenhouse built in 2021, much better light reaching the plants and almost no clutter.
growers who have excellent weekly data of yield and price. Remember, yield and price go hand in hand and that is called a sensitivity analysis to determine profitability. Therefore, it is important to get an energy audit done as the initial step towards energy conservation and management. Most of the time energy auditors will look at fuel consumption, heat leakage through the structures, energy wastes and many other aspects. You should ask the auditors to look at your productivity per m2 of space as well in relation to energy use.
Table 1 summarizes the major energy inputs to a greenhouse. During daylight hours, the solar heat input is often more than required and ventilation is needed to reduce the temperatures. In Alberta, the annual solar energy input to a greenhouse is 4 to 6 Giga Joules/m2 with typical fuel energy use around 2 to 4 GJ/m2. Modern vegetable greenhouses use around 2GJ/ m2 of energy while bedding plants and ornamental greenhouses use closer to 4GJ/ m2/year.
Table 2 summarizes major energy losses in a greenhouse. Ventilation to reduce temperature and/or to reduce humidity can be a major energy loss. Ventilation also increases consumption of natural gas to replace vented CO2
Condensation on the inner roof reduces greenhouse humidity and ventilation required to reduce humidity. Moisture is removed from the greenhouse air and condenses on the cold roof and thus humidity decreases. The condensation can significantly increase heat losses through the roof. Part 2 will address methods for reducing energy costs.
ENERGY IN COMMENTS
Solar Energy
Fuel for heating
Electricity or supplemental lighting
Fuel for CO2 generators
Electricity for motors, vents
Labour inputs
Based on the glazing material at least 70% or above is transmitted through the roof. More than 50% of this light is used directly for plant transpiration of water. About 1 to 5% is used for photosynthesis. It heats the greenhouse air and biomass of soil and structures. CO2 equivalent of this solar gain needs to be calculated to achieve a better understanding of carbon credit scenarios. As an example, in the Medicine Hat area of Alberta, the sunlight contribution was equivalent to 253.2 kg of CO2 /m2/year.
Mainly required at night or on cloudy days. Essentially this heat replaces building losses and venting losses. Natural gas is the biggest hot spot for carbon footprint.
Supplemental lighting accounts for up to 40% of the heat requirements of the greenhouse.
Natural gas-fired boilers are used and CO2 recovery from the exhausts. CO2 is also generated by directly burning natural gas inside the greenhouses using burners especially designed for this purpose.
With natural venting systems in place, the electrical use is 50-60% less when compared to exhaust fans.
They are considered indirect energy inputs. Reducing labour and increasing automation are important aspects of energy management.
ENERGY OUT COMMENTS
Heat transfer through greenhouse structure
Radiative heat loss through the roof
Controlled ventilation
Leaks in the structure
Furnace stack gases
• Roof accounts for over 80% of heat losses
• Wind increases heat loss by up to 25%
• Condensation increases heat loss because it necessitates dehumidification
• Energy curtains properly used could have a very significant effect on energy savings
• From 30 to 50% of heat loss at night is radiation to cold night sky
• Losses are highest on clear nights
• Energy curtains can help to minimize this heat loss
• Both hot air and CO2 are lost during ventilation
• Strategies are available to use CO2 more effectively
• Source of about 0.5 to 1 air changes per hour
• Wind increases heat loss due to leaks
• 15 to 40% of the natural gas bill goes up the furnace stack as hot combustion products
• Potential source of CO2 for greenhouse
Table 1: Energy inputs to a greenhouse
Table 2
STATE OF THE SECTOR
Opportunities and challenges coming in 2023
BY ANDREW SNOOK
LABOUR. ENERGY. INFLATION. SUPPLY CHAINS.
These are among the top concerns from growers across the country for the coming year. To learn about the challenges and opportunities for 2023, Greenhouse Canada reached out to growers and associations across the country. Here is what they had to say.
ONTARIO
In Ontario, where the majority of greenhouse operations are located, one of the biggest challenges for fruit and vegetable growers is achieving higher returns to offset increased costs due to rising energy costs and inflation,
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explains Jan Vander Hout, co-owner of Beverly Greenhouses and board member for the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, The Ontario Greenhouse Alliance, and the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada.
“It’s a big challenge because at the same time people are having a hard time paying for their groceries because of all the other increased costs in their lives. That economic piece is the biggest challenge right now – as an industry for sure, and as a society,” Vander Hout says. “Everyone who pays the grocery bill or restaurant bill understands this is expensive now, and our costs have not been fully realized through the system yet. We actually need more than we’re getting
Greenhouse growers across the country note inflation, labour shortages and energy as key challenges to overcome in 2023.
right now, or their will be casualties.”
Joe Sbrocchi, general manager for the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, is an agreement, stating that inflation is by far the biggest challenge for Ontario’s growers.
“Inflation has really ravaged our sector this year. The ability to translate so many of those input costs – because, quite frankly, it’s every single one of them – into pricing for the retailers and foodservice companies has not gone successfully, and it needs to be this [coming] year.”
Energy is another major concern for Ontario’s greenhouse sector.
“Ontario needs to reinforce its infrastructure. Farms that want to expand are hit with barriers to available electricity,” Vander Hout says, adding that as society continues to electrify various aspects of our lives, there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done for ensuring the country has the necessary capacity to accommodate energy demands. “It all takes electricity, and if you’re going to displace natural
gas, you’re going to need a lot of infrastructure for that – distribution, transmission lines and generation.”
The ability to attract labour of varying skill levels is another challenge for the coming year.
“Everybody thinks in terms of a migrant workforce. Actually, it’s at every level, it’s no different than anywhere else,” Sbrocchi says, adding that data analytics is a key area of greenhouse operations that always needs talented people. “That’s one of the most important, if not the most important, because that’s about analysis that enables you to predict what’s going on.”
In the ornamental horticulture sector, Andrew Morse, executive director for Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc. and Flowers Canada Growers Inc., says there are both opportunities and headwinds facing its members.
“I think most of our members are coming off two, or even three, of the best years they’ve ever had. And everyone’s kind of wondering how next year is going to shape up with the potential
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of a recession, as well as recovery from COVID-19. So, it’s anyone’s guess, frankly, but if I’m looking into the crystal ball, a lot of firms are likely trying to make an assessment as to where they see the market going and trying to react to that,” Morse says.
On the positive side, Morse sees increased opportunities for members due to the return of live events.
“Given that our sector has traditional events. They’ll do well in a recession, or better than many other sectors,” he says. “And part of that, I think, comes back to why COVID-19 increased sales of our products. It comes down to people staying home and trying to unify the space that they live in, not being able to do much else. Buying flowers and plants for your home and your backyard is a nice way of enjoying your home a little more. Within a recession, however, the same could be true. If financial challenges start to rear their head for consumers across the country, they may choose to abandon some of their larger purchases or travel plans,
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as an example. That may encourage the same environment that created success in COVID-19. It’s hard to predict whether that’s actually going to happen, but it’s certainly a possibility.”
In terms of trade challenges, Morse says its vital that borders continue to remain open.
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Inflation has had a major impact on greenhouse operations across the country over the past year.
that, there is a lot more interest every day for helping to find solutions through automation,” Morse says. “I think there is a lot of opportunity to prevent that problem, which is exacerbated over time. By making those investments sooner rather than later, and looking at opportunities to automate as much as possible… I do see that as an opportunity for addressing the long-term challenge. I don’t think the labour problem is going to get better overnight. Certainly, a lot of firms are already experiencing that challenge today. So, the more than they can invest in preventing that down the line, it’s probably better for them.”
QUEBEC
According to the “Cross Canada Perspective: Quebec, Overview of Quebec’s Greenhouse Industry,” prepared by Marie-Michelle Ganache from the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, the Quebec fruit and vegetable greenhouse sector has been relatively healthy thanks to a strategy implemented in 2020.
Labour will continue to be a struggle for the sector in 2023.
“Our members have expanded exports dramatically over the last several years, and that puts more pressure on ensuring that the border stays open and accessible. If you have a trade barrier, all of a sudden you can lose a big chunk of your income – if more is going into the United States. There’s a lot of opportunity but exporting certainly comes with additional challenges.”
Energy and increasing carbon taxes are additional concerns.
“There’s certainly a lot of farms that are thinking about energy, a lot of discussion about carbon tax right now, and the expected costs associated with [operating] a greenhouse,” Morse says.
Labour will continue to be a struggle for the sector in 2023.
“The challenges of finding sufficient labour will persist. With
In 2020, the Government of Quebec implemented its Greenhouse Growth Strategy, which had the goal of doubling fruit and vegetable acreage between 2020 and 2025. The report states that the program has been incredibly successful:
This has enabled the creation of investment support programs and research chairs, as well as the funding of major projects. Supported by this context, the sector is experiencing remarkable growth. Between 2019 and 2021 alone, there were increases of about 25% in the number of enterprises, 20% in areas and 30% in cash receipts. At this rate, the objective of the Strategy will be achieved and will multiply the volumes produced.
While the government’s strategy has gone well, there are still challenges facing Quebec’s greenhouse sector. According to the report, the main challenges
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include “recruitment and retention of a qualified workforce, the adoption of new technologies and sustainable practices, the development of expertise, and the enhancement of Quebec products.”
One technology company that recently received government funding to help showcase a potential solution for fruit and vegetable growers is Winter Farm, a technology company that designs, implements, and operates controlled environment agriculture (CEA) solutions in co-existence with existing agri-food ecosystems.
The company recently announced that it raised $46 million to scale up its vertical farming solution to produce one million kilograms of strawberries, which represents approximately 20 acres.
“About 12 months from now, we’ll be quadrupling our site,” says Yves Daoust, founder and chief technology officer for Winter Farm. “We have two rooms in production right now, and we’re adding six more rooms to the rooms we have.”
The Winter Farm vertical farms are installed inside a greenhouse in
connection with the existing greenhouse systems, while also exchanging energy between the vertical farms and the greenhouse in order for it to reduce the overall energy costs and reduce (or remove) greenhouse gas emissions produced by the greenhouse, Daoust explains.
“There’s a good synergy,” he says.
For the ornamental horticulture sector, uncertainty in consumer behaviour will be a factor to consider for 2023.
In the report, “Greenhouse crops: A look back at the 2022 annual flower season in Québec,” Michel Senécal, agronomist and consultant to greenhouse producers for greenhouse crops in the Montreal region, writes:
Just as the sector is subject to weather conditions when it comes to market, it is difficult to predict consumer behaviour in relation to inflation, rising interest rates and uncertainties with the COVID situation and of the war in Ukraine. Will consumers allocate their budget to other expenditure items (travel, meals in restaurants, shows,
etc.) rather than gardening and beautifying their property? Nevertheless, consumers will be there, but perhaps by buying differently. Knowing this, producers must play it safe and only produce what their buyers ask of them. Excess production without a contract should be avoided. For 2023, the industry must continue its promotion (flyers, events, social networks, websites, local and national media, etc.) in order to stay on the consumer’s radar.
Due to potential supply chain disruptions, Senécal suggests that growers continue to purchase inputs in advance:
Because of delivery logistics issues, it is a good idea to order some of your production inputs at least 8 to 12 months in advance to have a better choice and price and get them on time.
B.C.
In B.C., Michel Benoit, CEO for the United Flower Growers Co-op (a cooperative of over 80 B.C. floriculture growers that supply B.C. floral products to floral retailers and wholesalers as far east as Manitoba), says the biggest challenge for the local ornamental horticulture sector next year will be economic concerns.
“Moving into 2023, there are some concerns about a potential recession, about the increase in inflation, and I think that may make some buyers for larger stores, some chain stores, take a very conservative approach in their ordering. It’s not necessarily that demand won’t be there, but I think they are going to be conservative in their ordering, and that might result in a little bit more product being available, which will put downward pressure on prices,” Benoit says. “Post-COVID, we’ve already seen a decrease in price, and that decrease in price might just stick around for a longer period as a result.”
In addition to inflation and a potential recession, consumers now have more freedom on how they can spend their disposable income, which may also negatively impact sales. But overall, Benoit says he feels pretty good about 2023.
“We’re still optimistic. We still feel that it’s in terms of a recession-resistant sector, we’ve gone through that in the past where we were not impacted as negatively as other areas. People need to be cheered up a bit, and that is going towards flowers, or going into the
Albert Cramer, president of the Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association, says energy tops his list for challenges for Alberta’s greenhouse sector in 2023.
Consumers now have more freedom on how they can spend their disposable income.
garden, which is a lot easier to do in a recession than going to travel the world,” he says.
Benoit also expects the return to live events to have a positive impact on the B.C. sector.
“We went through a significant backlog of weddings and other events early on this year. But the difference between 2021 versus 2022 is that there are functions, gatherings and conferences. And so, when we compare year over year some of our sectors, especially the floral distribution, for example, for events they’re actually doing quite well. Compared to last year, they’re in a stronger place right now,” he says.
ALBERTA
If you ask Albert Cramer, president
of the Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association, what growers’ biggest concerns are for the coming year, energy tops his list.
“The biggest challenge is energy. Energy has so many unknowns right now. It’s one of those things that are kind of out of our control, too,” he says.
Inflation is another major concern.
“The price of everything has gone up, and I’m not sure it’s going to change. How do we charge that out, recoup that cost?” Cramer asks.
“You wonder where the end is, because for young families, how can they pay for this? Cost of fuel is up. In the stores, the vegetable prices, I’m shocked.”
Adding to these issues is a shortage of truck drivers.
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Growers may need to invest aggressively in automation in the coming years as a means to counter some of the labour shortages within the sector.
“Trucking is in disarray as far as getting drivers, it’s a huge problem,” Cramer says.
One the bright side, there’s no shortage of demand for the products being produced.
“Demand for products is there. I think through the whole pandemic, if we’ve learned anything, it’s that people look a lot more to local products now. They definitely shop closer to home a little more,” Cramer says.
NOVA SCOTIA
In “Cross Canada Perspective: Nova Scotia,” prepared by Talia Plaskett, protected crop specialist at Perennia Food and Agriculture Inc., she stated that the “interest surrounding the production of greenhouse commodities is growing amongst current producers, as well as those who are new to agriculture, which is promising for the future of greenhouse production in Nova Scotia.”
Plaskett says there’s a strong demand for locally grown produce in the province, whether it’s produced in a greenhouse or through field crops.
“We’re home to a large number of farmers’ markets, and we see a lot of these smaller family farms that are able to sort of support themselves using smaller plots of land, typically under 10 acres. They’re usually doing like a variety of field crops, as well as a handful of protected crops as well, and sending them to local farm markets, and CSAs. So, I feel like a lot of the time, the focus here is more towards the farmers’ markets, as opposed to the larger retailers,” she explains. “So, we do have quite a high demand for local product, and people do like going to these smaller farmers’ markets to buy their produce.”
Rising heating and energy costs are some of the biggest hurdles for these small farms, Plaskett says.
“A lot of these places are going to have a variety of high tunnels, and large Caterpillar tunnels, and those who are really looking to step it up to the next level at that point are going to be looking at supplemental lighting,” she says. “The majority of these producers do have the capacity to supplement some heat throughout the winter, so we do see winter greens production. A lot of this is also happening in soil, so we haven’t really seen that full transition to substrates here yet.”
Most winter producers who are growing greens have the capacity to heat, but typically only to hold temperatures slightly above freezing, usually around 4C to keep the plants growing.
“But without that supplemental lighting, there’s really only so much you can do. So, in order for them to really kickstart that production, you need that supplemental lighting. When you start talking about supplemental lighting, and you’re talking about additional heating costs, and then when you’re
A smart system for precision climate control
supplementing all that heat, you want to make sure that your structure is sufficient for insulation. I feel like we’re kind of at this point where people have maximized the amount of production that they can do in a more low input setting,” Plaskett says.
She adds that the next step for local growers will come with a lot of pieces, without many of the advantages places like southern Ontario offer growers.
“We don’t necessarily have the same access to natural gas as Ontario does,
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acres in size are typical in Nova Scotia.
so a lot of people are filling oil tanks to try to keep greenhouses going, which is obviously been quite high [cost] over the last little while. You’re talking about a couple thousand dollars, at least, every few weeks.”
In addition to increased fuel costs, the impact of inflation on other expenditures has impacted the industry with much of those costs currently being absorbed by the growers.
“There’s only so much that people are going to pay for greens, and that’s the other really big challenge for this industry. You’re in an industry that is very sensitive to price,” Plaskett says. “I think everyone is kind of just holding their breath at this point, hoping things calm down, because it doesn’t seem very sustainable at this point… at some point, prices do need to adjust to make it make sense for the growers.”
She adds that the weather events have created additional challenges in recent years.
“Our coastal climate is definitely causing a bit of headache. For this year alone, we’ve had two major weather events, which have caused damage to greenhouse structures, one of which was in February. We got a bunch of wet, heavy snow over a really short period of time, which then all froze. We saw a lot of structure collapses happening at that point,” Plaskett says. “And then we had Hurricane Fiona pass through at the end of September this year, which also caused hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to greenhouse infrastructure. And then previous to that, the last time large scale hurricanes hit Nova Scotia was in 2019. So, it’s really not been as big of a break between these catastrophic events as he would like.”
Plaskett says assessments need to be done for creating strategies for dealing with these types of storms.
“Keeping in mind that these are becoming more frequent, we need to make sure that we’re resilient against them,” she says.
When it comes to the ornamental horticulture sector, retail sales are beginning to slow, which comes as a bit of relief to Cathy Oulton, president of Greenhouse Nova Scotia, and president of Bloom Greenhouse & Garden Centre in Hammonds Plains, N.S.
“It’s been a really interesting year. Coming down from the highs of COVID, I’m kind of thankful that some of the business pressure was released. We still have better numbers than pre-COVID in 2019, but we did get a little release from ‘every day is a record breaker,’” she says.
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When it comes to the ornamental horticulture sector, a potential recession, energy prices, labour shortages, upcoming carbon tax increases and possible Canada-U.S. border closures are major concerns.
One of the reasons that Oulton is thankful for a minor decline in sales is because of challenges finding staff.
“Our retail sales are down a little, which I’m thankful for, because I did not have the staff to fulfil our retail promises the way I’d like to,” she says. “We were open [to the public], and we could approach our customers and serve them directly, except I didn’t have enough staff.”
One of the reasons for the shortage in staff is related to the demographic that made up a large percentage of Oulton’s workforce prior to the pandemic.
“Much of my workforce were boomers – people who were retired but worked in the garden business because they love gardening. When people’s physical vulnerabilities became an issue,
we lost those people. They couldn’t expose their partners, themselves or their spouses to the health effects that came with COVID-19,” she explains. “We’re also in a very urban area… there isn’t an agricultural labour force in my area at all.”
To solve her labour issues, Oulton is looking into offshore labour as a potential solution.
“It’s not an ideal fit with a smaller operation, so we’ll see how it goes,” she says.
Oulton says the recent influx of people from Central Canada to Atlantic Canada has been positive for helping bridge the gap a little for labour in the local horticultural sector.
“Nova Scotia, and Atlantic provinces in general, have definitely seen a boom in people moving to Atlantic provinces. We are getting some knowledgeable staff through those means, which is neat to have – people who have careers in horticulture coming to Nova Scotia,” Oulton says. “It’s great because it’s been historically hard to find experienced growers in Nova Scotia. There’s not enough of them.”
Oulton says she has a very positive outlook for 2023. Strong vendor relationships are a big reason for her optimism.
“The last two years were all about vendor relationships. We’re lucky to have some awesome vendors that have ‘gone to the well’ to make sure we have what we need for the season. Those relationships are really important to me,” she says. “I think our industry in Atlantic Canada has done really well these last few years, I just hope we can find the workers.”
Overall, Oulton jokes that the entire sector is full of optimists.
“Everybody in this business is an optimist, because it’s too much work otherwise,” she says.
NATIONAL LEVEL
Beverley Greenhouses’ Vander Hout says there is a big opportunity for Canada right now for the country to recognize the importance of food sovereignty and being able to feed Canadians with Canadian-produced foods. He adds that a healthy food production system will help with managing food shortages.
“If there’s a shortage of [certain] foods, we need to have something we can trade – like other types of food
to trade with them – to continue to have access to that food supply, or preferably, produce as much as we can domestically and maintain a viable, horticultural, agricultural system that’s economically sustainable,” he says.
Sbrocchi says there will be a huge opportunity for the greenhouse sector going forward over the next five years to produce food traditionally grown in places like California, Florida and Arizona.
“Displacing the food that they
produce is going to result in greater reliance on the food being produced in Canada, closer to home,” he says, adding that many new types of crops are being developed by growers within the greenhouse sector. “You’ve already seen some of them. Probably one out of every two new acres that’s been put into play here over the last year or two, and going forward for the next few years, is going to be strawberry, raspberry and blackberry production.”
LOOKING AHEAD to 2023
Preparing for spring crops
BY DR. SARAH JANDRICIC AND DR. CHEVONNE DAYBOLL
It’s hard to believe, but as the first snow hits the ground here in Niagara, that means it’s time to think about spring crops again. This article gathers some of the most important things to plan and prep for in the greenhouse, including ordering inputs, preventative maintenance, and your pest control program. Think of this as your “to-do” checklist for successful spring crops.
SPRING CROP CHECKLIST
1. MAKE SURE ALL YOUR INPUTS ARE ORDERED We can’t emphasize this one enough. Supply chain issues are still causing product shortages and shipping delays that are affecting many industries, including greenhouses. Make sure you order potting mixes, plastic trays and pots, fertilizers, and production inputs well ahead of when you will need them. Consider ordering into your summer and fall crops as well, and storing the materials, if you can. And, if you are planning on doing greenhouse upgrades in between seasons make sure you confirm delivery and installation timelines with your contractors. Many of them are facing delays, too!
2. GET YOUR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE DONE
Before your spring crops go in is a good time to schedule preventive maintenance for your boiler, irrigation and shading systems. Make sure that all motors and alarms
are working before you need to rely on them. No one wants to find out that their temperature alarm failed on a cold February morning! Ensure you are getting the pressure you expect all along your irrigation system. If you rely on propane heaters for early spring production, make sure they are venting properly. Damage from improper venting can present as stunted growth or leaf burn.
Also take some time to inspect the greenhouse for wear and tear. Repair cracked poly and broken glass to keep heat from escaping. Make sure old torn energy curtains are replaced. A heat sensitive camera can help to identify areas of energy loss (see Fig. 1) and help you plan for energy efficient upgrades in the future.
3. SANITIZE
NOW, THEN PLAN YOUR DISEASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Several key spring crops, like Calibrachoa, Pansy and Petunia are highly susceptible to black root rot (Thielaiviopsis), and we’ve seen more Fusarium root rot pop up in the last few years on crops like salvia, gerbera, echinacea and lavender. These pathogens are everywhere in the environment and can easily be brought in on cuttings, rooted lines and even on workers’ boots or via equipment.
More importantly, spores of these diseases can hide in nooks and crannies of benches while less-susceptible crops are growing, then pounce when conditions are right. Once black root rot or Fusarium get hold, it can be almost impossible to control them with fungicides. When it comes to these diseases, a good clean-out of your spring crop propagation and growing areas is as close to a “silver bullet” solution as we are going to get. This includes:
• Scrubbing down your benches. This removes all the soil particles etc., where fungal spores might be hiding. It also allows sanitizers to work better, since they can get trapped by organic matter. Use a hose, scrub brush and a product like “Strip-It” to make sure everything is as clean as possible.
• Sanitize benches and drip lines, where organic matter, biofilm and disease spores can accumulate. Use peroxide (e.g. Virkon) or quaternary ammonium (e.g. KleenGrow) products at the recommended rates for the material you’re sanitizing. If cleaning drip lines, make sure to always thoroughly flush your watering system several times before plants go in to prevent any potential
FIGURE 1
Heat loss from an older (left) and newer, more efficient boiler (right).
PHOTOS BY OMAFRA
phytotoxicity.
• Use new plug trays. This may be more costly, but it’s something you’ll wish you did if you develop a problem. Pot/tray cleaners aren’t perfect, and trays can act as a ready source of inoculum for resting spores. If you are cleaning your trays, use the same process as for benches: first clean, then sanitize!
• Control fungus gnats and shoreflies, as they can spread disease spores. Fungus gnat larvae can also chew on plant roots, making them more susceptible to disease.
To help you plan your disease management program beyond just sanitation, check out the GrowON webinar, “Root rots: What you can’t see can hurt you,” by Dr. Mary Hausbeck of Michigan State University. You can find this video on under “Recorded Webinars” on the ONFloriculture.com blog. It’s full of tips about prevention and products to use if you do develop a problem. Other good refresher videos include “Fusarium basics” with Dr. Ann Chase of Chase Horticultural, and “Cultural controls for managing disease,” by Dr. John Lea-Cox from the University of Maryland, both of which are housed on the digital Greenhouse Canada website, under the “Webinars” tab.
4. MONITOR
PH FOR OPTIMAL NUTRIENT UPTAKE
Keeping the pH of your crops in an ideal range can help with a host of issues. To avoid common nutritional issues such as iron deficiency, it’s best to keep crops at a pH in the range of 5.5 to 5.8. Iron deficiency can be difficult to distinguish from other
issues (like black root rot), but it typically leads to yellowing of new growth. Leaves may only show chlorosis between the veins, or it may be spread throughout the leaf. This is different from nitrogen deficiency where yellowing occurs in the oldest leaves. If iron deficiency occurs, adding a chelated form of iron is best for uptake.
A lower pH can also significantly inhibit black root rot. Aim for a pH between 5.0 and 5.5. Regularly monitor the pH and EC of your feed water and crops using the pour-through method.
ABOVE
You can reduce pressure from thrips and other arthropod pests that come in on spring cuttings with dips.
COMMON HOSTS FOR TOP GREENHOUSE INSECT PESTS:
APHIDS BROAD MITES WESTERN FLOWER THRIPS SPIDER MITES
Peppers Zonal geraniums Dracaena Tricolor ipomoea
Celosia New Guinea impatiens Ivy geraniums Dracaena
Pansy Thunbergia Ipomoea Mandevilla (and other tropicals)
Dracaena Torenia Verbena Herbs
Ipomoea Verbena Marigold Chrysanthemums
Salvia Rieger begonias Chrysanthemums Ivy geranium
Calibrachoa Solenia Begonias Argyranthemum New guineas
Dahlia Sunpatiens Bidens Thunbergia
Verbena Verbena
Summer baskets
WHITEFLY
MEALYBUG
Herbs (esp. sage) Tropical plants
Poinsettia Hedera
Lantana
Ipomoea
Black and blue salvia
Summer baskets
Succulents (Sempervivum)
Sedum
Pothos Ivy geranium
SCALE
Hedera Tropical plants
5. PREVENT PESTS WHERE POSSIBLE
Cutting dips aren’t just for whitefly on poinsettia anymore! Research from Dr. Rose Buitenhuis’ BioControl Lab at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre has demonstrated that dips can be an important weapon for reducing thrips, whitefly and spider mites in chrysanthemums and potentially other spring crops (once label registrations are achieved for crops other than chrysanthemum). Dip registrations are currently available for the following products: BotaniGard WP, Kopa Insecticidal Soap, Landscape Oil, and Suffoil X.
The first step in successfully incorporating dips into any IPM program is phytotoxicity testing. Testing at Vineland demonstrated just how differently certain plants react to different products. For example, although Landscape Oil at 0.5% is safe for hardier crops like potted chrysanthemums, ivy geraniums, ipomea, impatiens and mandevilla, it can cause significant phytotoxicity on sensitive crops, like zonal geraniums, petunia and mini roses. Variety can also play a role, even crops where dips are already registered, like chrysanthemums. This highlights why on-farm testing of a small batch of all varieties should always be done before you incorporate preventative dips on a wide-scale. You can see a summary of the plants and products tested by Vineland on ONFloriculture. com. Always read the product label for appropriate rates and allowable crops.
The second step in incorporating dips into an IPM program is deciding which products will best tackle your specific pest problem. Vineland’s BioControl lab also researched the efficacy of different products against the most common pests, which can co-occur on cuttings. In general, oils have the highest efficacy (>70%) against all three main greenhouse pests (thrips, whitefly and spider mites). Soaps were generally only effective for whitefly, whereas BotaniGard (by itself) was generally only effective for thrips. However, soaps and BotaniGard also pose the least risk to plants when it comes to phytotoxicity. Striking the right balance between efficacy and phytotoxicity is why testing like this is a must.
6. PLAN YOUR BIOCONTROL PROGRAM
Advanced planning can help you decide where you’re spending your dollars, and where you can potentially cut back based on last year’s performance. It can also help you plan for contingency issues (i.e. what are you going to do if your planned biocontrol program isn’t working?).
Making a table like on p. 24 for your own greenhouse can help you remember which plants are likely to get which pests
each year, so you can focus where to spend your IPM dollars. For example, spring crops like zonal geraniums, begonias, torenia, fushia, vinca, petunia and sunpatiens are unlikely to get thrips, so why waste applications of predatory mites here? Similarly, Rieger begonias are unlikely to get other pests besides broad mites. A “one and done” application of an effective miticide can allow you to focus your attention on more challenging crops. The list was originally compiled by Mark Crossley of Western Michigan IPM, but has
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ABOVE
Hanging baskets can harbour thrips and aphid problems but can sometimes get ignored once hung up.
been tweaked for what we commonly see here in Ontario. For the more common pest issues we see in spring crops, here are some further tips to help you have a successful spring:
• Hanging baskets: thrips can be tricky in these crops, since they tend to get hung up and forgotten about. If your baskets contain any thrips-magnet crops (see table on p. 24), then your best strategy is to use long-duration sachets here. These products have a higher chance of ensuring mites are present in the baskets for eight to 10 weeks, without
needing to add a second sachet. Make sure to nestle them within the foliage, as placement has a big effect on sachet performance. As with thrips, aphids can be a major problem in hanging baskets, especially those containing calibrachoa or pansy. Work from Cornell University demonstrated that parasitoids don’t control aphids on calibrachoa, which means pesticides are your best bet. Beleaf (flonicamid) has been the go-to for a while, but Altus (flupyradifurone) may provide an alternative. Both work best when applied as a preventative drench sometime in early March.
• Chrysanthemums and gerbera: Using dips on both will make your life easier, as these popular crops can arrive already infested with insecticide-resistant pests that may move to other attractive crops.
• Verbena: Use thrips-sensitive crops like verbena to assess whether your current strategy is working, or if you need to add things like twice-weekly sprays of Beauveria-containing microbial pesticides.
• Impatiens, begonia, and other crops prone to broad mites: Although spider mites can generally be controlled with releases of Persimillis when outbreaks occur, broad mite and cyclamen mites are much harder. In some crops, high releases of Amblyseius cucumeris will keep populations in check enough to get you to sale. Where broad mites tend to be your only problem (and insecticide residues aren’t an issue) preventative applications may be the best option. Fujimite (fenpyroximate) and Forbid (spiromesifen) are registered for broad mites, but Pylon (chlorfenapyr) or Avid (abamectin) are likely your best bets if spider mites are also a crop concern.
• All crops: Mass trapping is your friend in the spring, as temperatures above 10°C mean thrips can potentially fly in from outside (including the usual Western flower thrips and onion thrips). Large sticky cards also help prevent thrips from migrating from source crops to sensitive crops.
More information can be found on the ONFloriculture.com blog version of this article. Questions about spring plant production and pest management can currently be directed to Dr. Sarah Jandricic (OMAFRA’s Greenhouse Floriculture IPM Specialist) at sarah. jandricic@ontario.ca. Dr. Chevonne Dayboll will return to her position as Greenhouse Floriculture Specialist in March 2023.
A photo of a plug liner barely begins to summarize the hours of attention given to that plug’s success; the trials to decide on tray size, the careful evaluation of water, heat, and fertilizer requirements, and the diligent oversight of growers scouting for pests and daily needs. All of this so we can offer a consistent product rooted in customer success..
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Are growers ready for the low-carbon transition?
Greenhouse operations are a growing industry in Canada according to Statistics Canada. They can provide healthy and tasty food close to home, creating jobs, reducing distances travelled, and increasing resilience toward the disruptions to food supply chains that climate change is making all too common. But in a world where carbon emission reductions are a growing priority, greenhouse operations in Canada may face challenges in the years to come.
Canada and most advanced economies have committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Reaching this goal is essential because the devastating droughts, floods, storms and wildfires experienced just in the last few years are nothing compared to what we and future generations will experience if we do not. This means that every sector of our society will see growing pressure to transition to low-carbon operations.
According to the IPCC, over a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions can be tied to the food that we eat. Reducing emissions from this sector will be more challenging in many ways than reducing emissions from transportation and buildings because it can’t be achieved just by replacing fossil fuels with systems that run on clean electricity. And as we
Greenhouse growing is a carbon-intensive business.
make progress in other areas, the spotlight is shifting toward our food systems.
Many people are already choosing to eat more plant-based foods to reduce their personal carbon footprints. Food carbon calculators and apps are now available to help consumers make lower carbon choices, and some of these consider how food is grown.
Institutions are also examining the food that they buy. For example, the University of British Columbia has introduced climate-friendly food labels and the University of Waterloo has inventoried the emissions associated with its food purchases.
Businesses, including food and beverage companies, are under increasing pressure to report
on and reduce their supply chain emissions as a climate risk management strategy .
The upshot is that the emissions associated with food grown in greenhouses will be getting increased scrutiny as individuals, institutions and businesses seek ways to reduce their food-related emissions. The carbon implications of local greenhouse-grown produce over imports or alternatives will be carefully examined.
Greenhouse growing is a carbon-intensive business. With their transparent walls and roofs, it should come as no surprise that greenhouses are energy inefficient buildings, requiring large quantities of heat to sustain the growing conditions favoured by many greenhouse-grown foods. Currently, greenhouses are typically heated with fossil fuels. Fertilizers and other inputs also have large carbon footprints. Lower carbon alternatives exist (heat from biomass, heat pumps, ground air heat transfer systems), but shifting to these alternatives will likely mean changes to how and what is grown in the greenhouse.
Rising carbon and energy prices are an added strain for conventional greenhouse operations with potentially serious consequences. Bloomberg recently reported that 8% of Dutch greenhouse operations are expected to declare bankruptcy in the coming year because of rising energy prices.
The math on carbon emissions doesn’t look good for conventional greenhouses. One kilogram of Ontario greenhouse tomatoes is responsible for 3.2 kg of greenhouse gas emissions , but those same tomatoes grown in a Mexican field and trucked to Canada is responsible for approximately 0.3 kg of emissions
The transition to a low carbon society has started. Canadian greenhouse operations had better take note.
Heather McDiarmid is a climate mitigation consultant and founder of McDiarmid Climate Consulting. She specializes in decarbonisation solutions for the buildings sector. When not working, she enjoys growing food in her own tiny hoophouse and spending time outdoors.
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Double screening for energy savings and improved greenhouse climate
Using two energy screens in the greenhouse helps growers not only save energy, but also allows for greater control over greenhouse climate. Canadian growers can still save additional energy with a light abatement screen as a second energy screen, which is demonstrated by simulation models.
BY ROBERT HANIFIN
Greenhouse climate screens, or curtains, have been in use in greenhouse vegetable and ornamental crop production for nearly 45 years. Today they are nearly universal in new greenhouse construction, particularly in northern climates where their main purpose historically has been to save energy and reduce the cost of greenhouse heating for the grower. From simple beginnings when first introduced during the energy crisis of the 1970s, curtains have been gradually diversified into the many types available to growers today to both save energy and help control the overall greenhouse climate. These range from transparent energysaving curtains to full blackout curtains for light abatement and/or photoperiod control. Curtains of
varying shade levels, and which diffuse light, are also available both as energy-saving versions and as open-structure curtains allowing airflow (and are meant for use as shade curtains during summer and periods of high light radiation).
Maximizing energy savings in greenhouse production has been on many growers’ minds as energy costs for greenhouse heating have skyrocketed in Europe over the past year. Prices are increasing in North America as well, though in not as extreme of a manner. Regardless, installing a second energy-saving curtain and managing both curtains to maximize energy savings can yield an additional 15-20% reduction in energy
PHOTOS
consumption for heating over the use of a single curtain. This has become common in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe, particularly with multiple transparent (with as high as 89% light transmission) energy-saving curtains for use in unlit vegetable production. Both curtains can be closed overnight to trap as much heat in the greenhouse as possible, and one or both can strategically stay deployed in the morning or at other points in the day to continue to reduce heating demand while not sacrificing light to the crop.
Additionally, two transparent energysaving curtains can be used in tandem to help optimize greenhouse climate in other ways. Deploying both curtains allows the grower to maintain higher humidity in the greenhouse. This can be beneficial in helping young crops to grow and develop at a faster rate and potentially start to produce sooner. In periods of high radiation, both transparent curtains can be deployed to shade the crop (even two of the most transparent energy-saving curtains on the market will combine together for around 20% total shade).
Further, if the curtains close in opposite directions, both can be gapped to allow airflow between them and out to the vents above. This allows for shading to the entire crop, while still allowing greenhouse ventilation in the warmer months.
As supplemental lighting gained in popularity in greenhouse production in
the Netherlands, growers were eventually required to limit the light emission from their greenhouses. This was accomplished by the installation and use of single layer blackout curtains designed for this purpose. These were typically added as a second or additional curtain layer, on a separate wire bed from the primary
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the amount of energy (as natural gas) required to heat a greenhouse, and then determine the amount of energy saved by using one or more curtains. Thus, the climate of the region around Leamington is incorporated into the simulation comparing the possible energy savings that can be achieved through the use of one transparent energy-saving curtain or light abatement curtain used alone, compared to the energy-savings achieved by using two curtains. The greenhouse in each scenario in the simulation has the same parameters – same size, gutter height, use of lighting, climate setpoints –and differ only in the curtains utilized.
In this scenario, the curtains used were Luxous 1147 FR (a transparent energy-saving curtain), and Obscura 9950 FR W (a light abatement curtain). Simulations were performed comparing the energy performance achieved with only the Luxous curtain to the combined performance of both the Luxous and Obscura used together. The results are in the figure below. The difference was profound – use of the Luxous alone helped the figurative tomato grower in the scenario reduce their energy consumption by 26% vs not having a greenhouse curtain. This savings is increased to 41% when the Obscura light abatement curtain is added in as a second energy-saving curtain. So, in addition to helping the grower comply with light abatement regulations, a light abatement curtain can be an effective energy-saving curtain layer in a double curtain system.
energy-saving curtain. Thus, the light abatement curtains could double as energy-saving curtains and help the grower save additional energy. However, in Canada, this practice has not always been followed as light abatement has become an important issue in some parts of the country. Kingsville and Leamington, Ont., both passed bylaws requiring the use of light abatement curtains in greenhouses utilizing supplemental lighting. Many growers retrofitted their greenhouses for compliance by replacing an existing, single transparent curtain with a light
abatement curtain. In doing so, they lost an opportunity to increase their energy savings by switching to a double curtain. Below, are the results of a simulation model that quantifies how much potential energy savings is lost by a tomato grower in the Leamington region with this practice.
The energy calculator used to calculate these models was featured in an article in Greenhouse Canada’s January 2022 issue. This is modeling software that combines greenhouse parameters with real-world climate data to calculate
Double energy-saving curtain installations are commonplace in Europe and have become a necessity for growers there because of skyrocketing natural gas prices. Energy costs in Canada and the U.S., though not nearly as extreme, will continue to trend upward. As supplemental lighting is increasingly a part of greenhouse vegetable and ornamental production in Canada, installation and use of light abatement screens will continue to increase. Utilizing these curtains as a second layer, in conjunction with an already installed energy-saving curtain, will unlock a large reduction in energy consumption for the grower.
Robert Hanifin is a greenhouse climate consultant for Ludvig Svensson and is based in the U.S. Questions on greenhouse energysaving simulations and curtains? Email him at Robert.Hanifin@ludvigsvensson.com.
ABOVE
Use of double energy savings curtains in a Dutch greenhouse.
As energy prices soar across Canada, growers seek new avenues to reduce energy consumption and increase profitability. Growers can reduce long-term costs by investing in energy-efficient systems and energy-saving equipment and pursuing local and regional rebates.
As your partner, Svensson can help you maximize your energy savings potential to get the best investment return. Our climate advisors have years of experience developing energy savings strategies, rebate applications, energy savings modeling, and so much more. Using specialized tools like our energy calculator, our experts will work closely with you to help you achieve your energy savings goals and take the next step towards a more sustainable horticulture industry together.
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Fred Munn, vice-president of stakeholder relations for Pure Life Carbon, discusses the company’s products during a tour of its facilities in Red Deer County.
Bruce McEwen (right) discusses the history of Blue Grass Nursery, Sod & Garden Centre alongside his brother, Bill McEwen Jr., and his wife, Doreen. Blue Grass is a third-generation family business dating back to 1950.
A crowd watches as peppers are unloaded to begin their journey through the production and packaging line at Doef’s Greenhouses in Lacombe, Alta.
GISC back to in-person event, draws growers to Red Deer
Growers flocked to Red Deer, Alta. to check out the Green Industry Show & Conference (GISC) this past November. This was the GISC’s first return to an inperson show format. The show featured an industry bus tour with tours of Pure Life Carbon; Doef’s Greenhouses; Blue Grass Sod, Nursery & Garden Centre; and Parkland Nurseries & Garden Centre.
The show also featured industry
Dr. Mohyuddin Mirza makes a furry friend at Blue Grass Sod, Nursery & Garden Centre during the GISC industry bus tour.
Industry bus tour attendees check out some of the crops being grown at Doef’s Greenhouses.
Laura Waterfield, owner of F’Laura n’ Company Greenhouse, celebrates winning the AGGA Grower of the Year Award with her colleagues Jodi King, Rebecca King, and Carmen Leighton.
director Michiel Verheul presents the AGGA Meritorious Service Award to Yves Cournoyer.
AEROPONICS: GROWING VERTICAL
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AGGA
2023
JANUARY
Jan. 10-12
Landscape Ontario Congress Toronto, Ont. locongress.com
Jan. 18-20
Tropical Plant International Expo Tampa, Fla. tpie.org
Jan. 24-27
IPM Essen Germany ipm-essen.de
Jan. 26-28
Pacific Agriculture Show Abbotsford, B.C. agricultureshow.net
FEBRUARY
Feb. 15-19
Northwest Flower & Garden Festival Seattle, Wash. gardenshow.com
Feb. 22-23
Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention (OFVC) Niagara Falls, Ont. ofvc.ca
Feb. 28 – March 1
Canadian Federation of Agriculture AGM Ottawa, Ont. cfa-fca.ca
March 14-16
FVGV 2023 AGM Vancouver, B.C. fvgc.ca
March 14-16
Ottawa Valley Farm Show Almonte, Ont. ottawafarmshow.com
To submit an upcoming event, contact editor Andrew Snook at asnook@ annexbuinessmedia.com.
CANADA CLASSIFIEDS
CANADA CLASSIFIEDS
(519) 429-3966
CLASSIFIED RATES: Minimum order $75.00 or 84¢ per word, word ads must be pre-paid. CLASSIFIED DISPLAYS: $72.00 per column inch. GENERAL INFORMATION: Payment must accom- pany order. Copy required on publication close date. All advertising copy subject to the approval of the publisher. Send order and remittance to: Classified Dept., Greenhouse Canada, P.O. Box 530, Donly Dr. S., Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5 Canada
Payment must accom- pany order. Copy required on publication close date. All advertising copy subject to the approval of the publisher. Send order and remittance to: Classified Dept., Greenhouse Canada, P.O. Box 530, Donly Dr. S., Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5 Canada
GREENHOUSE FOR SALE
GREENHOUSE FOR SALE
GREENHOUSE FOR SALE - PETROLIA, ON
GREENHOUSE FOR SALE - PETROLIA, ON
13 Acre Modern Greenhouse on 98 acres of land with 50 workable. 7 Acres Venlo glass (2011), 6 Acres double poly (2004). Very well maintained and clean. Former pepper growing greenhouse. Currently set up for start to finish cannabis production. Lights, Curtains, Warehousing with loading docks. Complete production with modern Drying, Clone, Veg, and Mother rooms. 12 MW power supply, Priva computer and irrigation, generator, 2-400 HP Crone boilers with holding tank, CO2 distribution and scrubbers, bunkhouse, and completely fenced.
Contact FarmOntario for details 519-667-1800 VISIT FarmOntario.com FOR THE FULL VIRTUAL TOUR 1/1t/pd
13 Acre Modern Greenhouse on 98 acres of land with 50 workable. 7 Acres Venlo glass (2011), 6 Acres double poly (2004). Very well maintained and clean. Former pepper growing greenhouse. Currently set up for start to finish cannabis production. Lights, Curtains, Warehousing with loading docks. Complete production with modern Drying, Clone, Veg, and Mother rooms. 12 MW power supply, Priva computer and irrigation, generator, 2-400 HP Crone boilers with holding tank, CO2 distribution and scrubbers, bunkhouse, and completely fenced. Contact FarmOntario for details 519-667-1800 VISIT FarmOntario.com FOR THE FULL VIRTUAL TOUR 1/1t/pd
10 ACRE MODERN POLY GREENHOUSE
10 ACRE MODERN POLY GREENHOUSE
Situated on 93 acres of irrigation land with close proximity to Medicine Hat, Alberta. Has 2 irrigation pump sets with 2 water silos for fresh water and recirc water, and a water sterilation unit. Also includes 2 - 800 HP Crone boilers with C02 condenser and capacity for expansion. Water scource is from St. Mary’s Irrigation system filling a 5 million gallon dugout which facilitates year round usage. Has 40 acres of hayland under a 9 tower pivot and a wheel line for watering 5 acres with greenhouse leachate water. This is a turn key operation including some equipment, and produce is marketed throughout the prairie provinces under the Big Marble Marketing Label, and includes packaging at Redhat Co-op in Redcliff Ab, 22 kms from greenhouse. Please contact Doyle Brandt, Skyview Growers Ltd for more info, can ‘ email payday90@hotmail.com or phone/text 403-504-8864. For more information, contact admin@barriegardencentre.com or call Etti Mountain at 705-730-1113. 1/1t/pd
Situated on 93 acres of irrigation land with close proximity to Medicine Hat, Alberta. Has 2 irrigation pump sets with 2 water silos for fresh water and recirc water, and a water sterilation unit. Also includes 2 - 800 HP Crone boilers with C02 condenser and capacity for expansion. Water scource is from St. Mary’s Irrigation system filling a 5 million gallon dugout which facilitates year round usage. Has 40 acres of hayland under a 9 tower pivot and a wheel line for watering 5 acres with greenhouse leachate water. This is a turn key operation including some equipment, and produce is marketed throughout the prairie provinces under the Big Marble Marketing Label, and includes packaging at Redhat Co-op in Redcliff Ab, 22 kms from greenhouse. Please contact Doyle Brandt, Skyview Growers Ltd for more info, can ‘ email payday90@hotmail.com or phone/text 403-504-8864. For more information, contact admin@barriegardencentre.com or call Etti Mountain at 705-730-1113. 1/1t/pd
greenhousecanada.com
GARY JONES | Gary.Jones@kpu.ca
Negatives and positives
As I write, it was my wife’s birthday today. Being practically minded, and knowing she doesn’t like ‘fancy’ stuff, she was the proud recipient of a ‘living lettuce’ and a cauliflower. Yes, seriously. Who says romance is dead... Well given current prices (Nov. 2022), these are gifts worthy of being special occasion treats. Certainly, these are prices that have made news headlines across the globe (lettuce supplies and prices got to the BBC News page). Maybe though, this is not a fair reflection of the issues, challenges and opportunities that currently mark the state of the industry. Just a visible result of the chaos around us.
Over in the U.K., National Farmers Union (NFU) Horticulture and Potatoes Board chair Martin Emmett recently outlined the major issues that need addressing to keep their horticulture sector flourishing. “Consolidation in the U.K. horticulture sector has been driven by a lack of fair returns, a lack of government investment, and policies that seek to provide cheap food wherever it comes from.”1 Does some (or all) of that sound like a familiar picture of a food system in most developed nations, including here?
Identical challenges are faced by our colleagues in the Netherlands. “Challenges currently facing the Dutch horticulture sector are rising energy prices, labour costs, supply chain issues, and a decrease in consumer demand. Rising energy prices seem to be the main issue facing the sector. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, gas prices have risen from around EUR 0.80 per cubic metre, to about EUR 2.5 per cubic metre.”2
While these are the major challenges currently, there are others of course. Fertiliser availability and prices (part of the supply chain issues).
Environmental concerns (for example what to do with vast ‘seas’ of used plastic from the greenhouse producers in southern Spain), climate chaos, water use, and carbon emissions (or perceived emissions). And the weather is always a challenge – I write just as we pass the anniversary of the calamitous ‘atmospheric rivers’ that devastated agriculture in the Fraser Valley last year.
There’s more. “Efficiency and waste remain two of the largest challenges for greenhouses, leading to the development of robots to improve operations.”3 Adopting new technology, e.g. Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Greenhouse Management, may be some of the solutions, but these too come with their own challenges such as learning curves and new skill sets that staff that need to master, benchmarking unfamiliar data, and maintaining digital business security.
Positives include significant sector growth forecast...
Emmett continues “Rising costs and workforce shortages impact the horticulture sector… the NFU published the latest report from Promar International, identifying unprecedented cost inflation in the sector of up to 27%... Worryingly, but not surprisingly, it also highlighted that most growers are failing to secure sufficient increases from their customers to mitigate this inflation, and are either cutting production or continuing to operate at a loss.”1
The NFU asked the government to remove economic barriers that exacerbate the difficult situation of the seasonal worker scheme in the U.K. “Labour shortages are still biting and if it isn’t inflation that’s driving down production, then it is a lack of labour.”1 Do you recognize any more similarities here? The final NFU issue they’re seeking help with concerns energy [availability and] costs in the U.K., and the effect this is having on eroding confidence for U.K. growers. “The NFU is calling for agriculture and horticulture to be classified as a vulnerable sector so that longer term energy price support is secured.”1
But it’s not all bad. Positives include significant sector growth forecast, oodles of opportunities and let’s not forget that anyone who eats or loves flowers and plants needs us! Last fall I was blessed to be invited to the BC Greenhouse Growers Association (BCGGA) Banquet. After missing a couple of years due to ‘you know what,’ it was fabulous to be back to a fantastic in-person event and catch up with friends. I, for one, certainly left with a sense of optimism within our great industry.
1. National Farmers Union, “Lack of labour must be addressed with action.” www.NFUonline.com.
2. New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade, “The Dutch Horticulture sector: an innovative sector facing an energy crisis and rising costs - September 2022.” https://www. mfat.govt.nz/.
3. Martin Frederikson, “Tackling the challenges of greenhouse robotics”, in Industry Europe, August 2021. https://industryeurope.com.
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