Quick,
Off-shore
Was the wage hike too abrupt? See page 20 Photo: Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers
Loco for local ‘Buy local’ movement in Eastern Canada fuels light adoption and organic production
BY JORDAN WHITEHOUSE
Shifting the spectrum What gives LEDs their colour and how to make them work for you
DAVE LLEWELLYN AND
DR.
YOUBIN
ZHENG Let there be more light Making the most of natural light without compromising on energy costs BY
MAURICIO MANOTAS
Rarely do costs ever go down, but greenhouse operating expenses seem to be rising at an alarming rate.
Total operating costs rose from $2.16 billion in 2013 to $2.56 billion in 2017 (Statistics Canada) – a $400 million difference, which translates into a 19% increase over four years. The Consumer Price Index rose by 6.2% (Statistics Canada, 2013-2017), so the rise in costs seems out of step with inflation.
In emailed communications with greenhouse horticultural advisor Gary Hickman, he drew attention to greenhouse vegetable operational costs which rose by 28%. Some of the highest increases were from payroll (+40%) and electricity/fuel (+22%). The remaining costs rose by 24%.
Inspired, I dove into the rabbit hole that is Statistics Canada online. Lo and behold, the total number of employees in greenhouse vegetable operations rose by 15.5%. Combined with an average pay increase of 21%
bioprograms) rose by 49.1% per m2, making up 18 per cent of total costs.
The numbers tell a different story for “greenhouse flowers and plants”, as 10% of greenhouse area was lost.
Payroll (a third of the 2017 expenses) dropped by 11.2%. Number of employees was reduced by 19%. And with an average 10% wage raise per employee, this seems to add up.
Fuel costs were reduced by 13.8%. Though on a per m2 basis, that’s -4.2%. And unlike greenhouse vegetables, this sector’s fuel costs only make up five per cent of the total operating expenses. Electricity only accounts for another 2.5 per cent.
“Other crop expenses” rose by 73.1% per m2, making up 15 per cent of total operating costs. In contrast, “plant material purchases for resale” have declined by 10.2%, as have “other operating expenses” by 6.8% (includes interest, taxes, insurance, repairs and machinery) both per m2
Both sectors seem to be growing their profits in different ways...
per employee, no wonder wages made up a third of total operational costs in 2017.
As for fuel, it made up a sixth of the total 2017 operating costs, while electricity was less than one-twentyfifth. By itself, fuel costs rose by 19% from 2013. Could this simply be due to greenhouse expansion? Total greenhouse area had increased by 16.3% over the same period (perhaps driving the rise in #employees), but the total operating costs per m2 also rose by 10%. A separate category known as “other crop expenses” (including fertilizer, pesticides, irrigation, containers, packaging, growing media and
Have sales increased? Sales rose by 15.5% for greenhouse vegetables (likely driven by expansion) and 7% for greenhouse flowers and plants. But do these numbers make sense for the latter? Because if we look at sales per m2, fruit and vegetables didn’t change by much (-0.62%), whereas flowers and plants jumped by 18.8%.
Both sectors seem to be growing their profits in different ways. But the next time high-level, industry statistics are presented, I’ll be sure to ask “do they make sense?”
Note: Calculations are based on 2013-2017 data from Statistics Canada.
National Advertising Manager SARAH OTTO sotto@annexbusinessmedia.com 888.599.2228 ext 237
Account Coordinator MARY BURNIE mburnie@annexweb.com 519.429.5175 888.599.2228 ext. 234
Circulation Manager BARBARA
to the
Applications for the Canadian Agricultural Partnership officially opened on April 1st
The five-year program involves a $3-billion commitment from the federal government, with $2 billion budgeted for cost-share programs delivered in partnerships with individual provinces and territories.
Programs offered through the partnership are made available to agricultural producers and
processors as a way to grow the sector over the next five years, through market development, agri-technology and on-farm and processor food safety.
Deadlines, programs and eligibility requirements will differ by province/territory. Not all programs will accept applications in each round. Interested greenhouse operators should check eligibility requirements and deadlines.
For the first time in Ontario, eligible farmland operators looking to upgrade their water distribution system with a more efficient, constant pressure pump will benefit from a new AgriPump Rebate Program launched by Hydro One and Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc.
The rebate is applied at point of purchase and provides
a maximum of $610 per kit. Constant pressure pumps offer energy efficiency improvements of up to 40 per cent, feature reduced maintenance costs, encounter less overall wear-and-tear, and can be installed in one day. The program is open to all farms, including greenhouses.
“The AgriPump program will help our farming customers better manage their
energy needs, reduce water consumption, and operate more efficiently to ultimately improve their bottom line,” says Cindy-Lynn Steele, vice president of market solutions at Hydro One.
Rebates are for kits rated between 0.5-10 horsepower and must comprise of a high-efficiency pump, motor, variable frequency drive and accessories.
Customers should review the list of qualified product kits, be connected with a contractor, and verify eligibility as agricultural facilities must operate in either Hydro One or Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc. service territories.
Residential customers must have a Farm Business Registration (FBR) number to participate. For details, visit agripump.ca
Violet is a core new colour addition to the Pentas BeeBright series from Syngenta. Offering the fastest finish for packs and small pots, this early flowering series finishes one week faster than the competition on average. Tight uniformity and consistently compact habit is seen across all colours. Extremely free flowering with fast flower follow-up in the greenhouse and the garden. Pelleted form, mounding habit. 15-20 cm tall x 31-35 cm wide.
syngentaflowers-us.com
For a uniform, semi-trailing habit, along with medium vigour and attractive flowers, look for MiniFamous Neo from Selecta One. The series features large single blooms with a wide
range of colours. New Pink Strike brings an extra-large “punch-type” eye flower pattern to the series. Great for hanging baskets. 25-38 cm tall x 25-38 cm wide. selectanorthamerica.com
‘Wild Romance Red’ from Dümmen Orange is a true-shade New Guinea impatiens with excellent uniformity across the series, making them ideal for combination produc-
The soft lavender and white-striped bicolour flowers of new Superbena Stormburst are sure to be a hit. Like all Superbena Verbenas from Proven Winners, it touts exceptional resistance to powdery mildew and bears large clusters of flowers through the heat of summer without going
Easy Wave Red from PanAmerican Seed gets an upgrade, including seed quality, denser plant structure with more branching and a controlled habit, plus a deeper, richer red
tion in large containers. Resembling a rose as the bud is opening and a gardenia when fully open, Wild Romance truly stands apart at retail. dummenorange.com
to seed. This selection is well-matched to Superbena Violet Ice in timing, habit and vigour. The two would be perfectly paired together in hanging baskets and upright containers with other medium vigour varieties. 15-30 cm tall x 46-76 cm wide. Part sun to sun. provenwinners.com
that doesn’t wash out. Always a standout in the petunia market, it delivers customer-pleasing performance all summer long. 15-30 cm tall x 76-99 cm wide. panamseed.com
Rose Mega Splash is a new addition to this series known for intense colour that lasts. Award-winning performance makes this a reliable choice for premium geranium programs. This
This impressive salvia upgrade offers excellent summer garden performance, with longer flower hold for brighter blue flower colour. Mystic Spires from Ball FloraPlant is a premium variety that can command a higher price point. The sturdy, dark green-leafed plants are naturally compact, heat hardy and very free-flowering. Great for late-spring/summer programs. 46-61 cm tall x 30-46 cm wide. ballfloraplant.com
vigorous series has shown excellent performance in the landscape and thrives under heat and drought conditions. Mounded habit. 36-41 cm tall x 51-61 cm wide. syngentaflowers-us.com
The Sombrero series of echinacea offers bold colour and hardy perfor mance to USDA zone 4. New Granada Gold from Darwin Perennials fea tures a rich, golden-yel low colour that doesn’t fade. Sombrero are well-branched on sturdy, highly floriferous plants that overwinter well for years of enjoyment in the garden. Drought-re sistant when established, it also attracts birds and other pollinators. USDA zones 4-9. 46-51 cm tall x 56-61 cm wide. darwinperennials.com
LISA
Ontario farm uses crop selection and branding to gain big markets.
ABOVE Duffy and Jordan Kniaziew maximize production while maintaining their brand’s superior quality.
How does a first-generation family-run greenhouse land its branded products in grocery stores across Canada and much of the U.S.? By perfecting its growing process, and adding a little Zing!
Jordan Kniaziew, vice-president of sales and marketing at Leamington-based Orangeline Farms says since his family entered farming in 2000, they’ve focused on finding the best varieties and seed selections for peppers and other crops.
Since 2013, the family has been growing, packing and shipping its own products -- including award-winning peppers and greenhouse strawberries – under the Zing! Healthy Foods brand.
“We’re always looking at growing products that fit the taste profiles we’re after,” says Kniaziew. “In peppers, our core product, we’ve seen there’s room for growth in the category overall by growing peppers for every meal – in fajitas or stir-fry, scrambled eggs and as snacks.”
In addition to common red, yellow and orange peppers, Zing! offers packages of “chef samplers” under specific taste profiles such as sweet and hot peppers, as well lunchbox peppers. The company has won multiple awards for its peppers and other products including a Premier’s Award for Agri-Food
innovation Excellence for its greenhouse strawberries.
Kniaziew says the family’s initial interest in growing food stemmed from his parents’ first careers in health-related fields. Kniaziew’s father is a local optometrist, his mother is a nurse and his brother studied sciences. The Kniaziews continue to value a healthy, active lifestyle and they see farming as an extension of the health care field.
But an interest in growing healthy food and a proven track record of growing quality greenhouse peppers didn’t necessarily mean an easy road for Zing!. Kniaziew says when the company began its branding process, it had to build its customer base from scratch.
Today, they boast a handful of growing partners and a staff team that reaches 85 at peak season and Kniaziew says the company continues to grow its family of products with a focus on maximizing production while maintaining its brand’s superior quality.
“There’s innovation not just in selecting the right variety, but in finding the best way to grow it, pack it, brand it and deliver it to the consumer,” Kniaziew says. “It’s important the consumer gets a full experience, and that the product isn’t being hidden in the back of the grocery store.”
JANE ROBINSON | AgInnovationOntario.ca
Ontario’s greenhouse pepper growers are struggling to control a very problematic invasive insect, but have very few effective options. Pepper weevils are threatening the province’s $420 million greenhouse pepper industry – a high value crop that covers about 520 hectares (1,285 acres) in Ontario.
University of Guelph researcher Dr. Cynthia Scott-Dupree is testing a genetic control strategy that could bring much-needed hope to growers.
ABOVE
Greenhouse pepper growers have few options when it comes to controlling the pepper weevil.
“Pepper weevils began causing substantial economic losses in Ontario in 2015,” says Scott-Dupree, a professor in the School of Environmental Sciences and Bayer Chair in Sustainable Pest Management. “There really aren’t any effective insecticides that control the adult, and the direct damage caused to the pepper is invisible until you cut it open.”
Adult female pepper weevils lay a single egg in a puncture wound on the surface of the pepper. When the egg hatches, the larvae chew into the pepper to feed. The adult emerges inside the fruit, feeds on the pepper a little longer, mates and then
exits the fruit. And the cycle starts all over.
Scott-Dupree started working on sterile insect technique (SIT) about five years ago to control a leafminer in Ontario-grown chrysanthemums. She was then approached by Bruce Power about the potential to use gamma radiation to mitigate insect pest problems in Ontario agriculture.
“I steered them to the pepper weevil issue as I knew that growers were stuck for solutions,” she says.
SIT introduces sterility into a pest population as a way to rapidly reduce pest numbers. It’s been successfully used to control codling moths in B.C. apple crops and screw worm in U.S. livestock. In the case of the pepper weevil, pupae are irradiated so the developing males don’t produce viable sperm but look and act normal.
“We want the males to be sterile, but function and mate normally. That’s the magic balance we’re after,” she says.
If Scott-Dupree’s concept is successful, female pepper weevils would continue to lay eggs on the outside of the pepper, but no burrowing or further crop damage would occur because the eggs never hatch.
“The exciting thing about SIT is that it’s a process that will dovetail very nicely with biological control strategies in greenhouses. These sterile pepper weevils will not have any negative effect on anything else in the greenhouse,” says Scott-Dupree.
With support from the University of Guelph Gryphon’s Leading to the Accelerated Adoption of Innovative Research (LAAIR) program, ScottDupree is focused on identifying the effective dose of radiation, and how to rear enough pepper weevils in artificial facilities to provide sufficient populations of the sterile insects to growers.
It’s a part of a team approach with colleagues at the University of Guelph and Agriculture and AgriFood Canada. As for commercializing the process, that’s still down the road.
“I doubt it will be hard to find a company that’s interested in commercialization, if we can prove the concept has potential,” she says.
This article is provided by AgInnovation Ontario, a project of the Agri-Technology Commercialization Centre (ATCC). For more information, contact info@aginnovationontario.ca
Consumers in Atlantic Canada offer some of the most support of locally made goods than other parts of the country. Producers explore organic and crop lighting for year-round success.
BY JORDAN WHITEHOUSE
When the Business Development Bank of Canada released its widely cited consumer trend survey in 2013, it came as little surprise to many in the East that Atlantic Canadians make more of an effort to purchase locally made goods than some other parts of the country.
Buying and supporting local — or at least trying to — has been a defining characteristic of the region for generations, particularly within the food sphere.
In the 1970s, for instance, a successful but now-defunct organization called Atlantic Canada Plus took off with a mission to support the
ABOVE
promotion and marketing of the region’s bounty. In the 1990s, a group of farmers in eastern New Brunswick famously created a cooperative that ended a wave of bankruptcies and increased earnings by selling directly to their neighbours. Today in Nova Scotia there are more farmers’ markets per capita than any other province or territory in the country.
Given all that established local love, it’s no wonder grocery stores, restaurants and other food businesses want to try to satisfy it all year round. And that’s where greenhouses and, increasingly, vertical farms are poised to play a bigger role, say experts.
Growing crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, spinach and eggplant, Shurman Family Farm began installing high-pressure sodium lights to help produce year-round.
ABOVE
What once started as a mixed livestock farm, Shurman Family Farm now owns three acres of organic greenhouse production, feeding the strong demand for organic on PEI.
The greenhouse vegetable industry in the East may be tiny compared to the rest of the country, and yet recently there has been a slight increase in the number of greenhouses using crop lighting and heating, says Dr. Lord Abbey, an assistant professor with Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture, who focuses on greenhouse technology.
The buy local movement is a “big-time” reason for that, he adds. “Some are also using that technology to take advantage of the increased taste for specialty crops.”
One of them is the Schurman Family Farm near Kensington, PEI. What started as a mixed livestock farm is now a threeacre organic greenhouse operation where the main crops are beefsteak tomatoes, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, peppers and a number of specialty crops like lettuce, spinach and eggplant. In 2014, the family began installing high-pressure sodium lights.
“I’ve always found that when you stop producing in the fall, stores have to start going to Mexico or elsewhere to get their tomatoes or whatever,” says family patriarch Marc Schurman. “They got into the habit of doing that and it seemed to be always hard to bring them back around, to get things switched my way again. So I wanted to have enough product to supply them with a little bit every year, year-round.”
The decision to install those lights has been worth it overall, says Marc, because his local customers are buying his bounty week after week, whether that’s at the Charlottetown Farmers’ Market or at Sobeys or Atlantic Superstore locations throughout the region under the Atlantic Grown Organics label.
Still, he says it’s not always easy getting those big chain stores to understand that you have local products to sell them yearround. What’s helped is making contact with them week in, week out, and being there with organic products in particular since there is a strong demand for organic on PEI. “If I hadn’t done that switch to organic, I wouldn’t be in business today,” he says.
Going organic doesn’t solve everything of course. When you grow year-round, you don’t get a chance to shut your greenhouse down so that you can break disease cycles and freshen things up.
You also have to deal with light technology that isn’t exactly perfect. Like elsewhere in the country, high-intensity discharge (HID) lights [which include Schurman’s high-pressure sodium lights] are the most popular choice in Atlantic Canada, yet more growers there are looking at alternatives, says Dr. Abbey. Their main reasons being the high energy use of HID and the limited spectrum you get.
Not surprisingly, the most popular alternative to HID in Atlantic Canada is LED because efficiency is much higher, the lights are more durable than HID, and they give growers more significant amounts of blue regions of the spectrum than HID.
The downside of LEDs is the high cost of investing in it and, at times, the dubious qualities touted by some salesmen and online marketing, says Dr. Abbey. “We have so many fake ones on the market. They tell you the intensity is this, but it’s not true. They tell you it’s this quality, but it’s not true. So we need more regulation, and we need more research with LED.”
Marc Schurman echoes those sentiments. In 2016, he decided to switch some of his greenhouse’s high-pressure sodium lights to LED, and while he did notice an improvement in efficiency, he
says he hasn’t noticed the return on investment that’s often promised.
“To be able to pay for the extra capital cost, you really need to get increased yield. And I haven’t been able to demonstrate that. In all fairness, though, there is still a lot of research to be done. Every article you read has a slightly different opinion on how to use LEDs. And, of course, a lot of the research is not focused on food production, but on a much more higher value crop that’s coming very soon [marijuana].”
As for heating greenhouses yearround, natural gas is the most common choice in Atlantic Canada, but renewable sources and other energy-saving initiatives are gaining in popularity, says Dr. Abbey. Particularly solar sources and glycol-water systems. He also says that growers in the East are investing in more sustainable ways of constructing their greenhouses, such as using gravel-packed or sand-packed curtain walls, floors or double walls. “There’s a lot of innovation and discussions going on.”
The most indoor growing innovation in Atlantic Canada is probably happening inside a 12,000 square foot building near Truro, Nova Scotia. It’s the headquarters of TruLeaf, one of the first vertical farming operations in North America, and GoodLeaf, a TruLeaf subsidiary that’s now producing about 25 different greens all year long for grocery stores throughout the region.
According to TruLeaf founder Gregg Curwin, they’re probably one of the leaders in LED research in North America right now. And that’s a big reason why they’ll soon be opening one of the largest vertical farms in the world in Guelph, Ontario.
Curwin is wary to get into the specifics of how they use LED since a lot of their technology is proprietary, but he does say that more recently Atlantic Canadians want more than just a local product. They want to know more about it, especially its nutritional value.
“Six or ten months ago, when I’d do in-store demos, you’d hear, ‘Oh, you’re in Truro. I’ll try it.’ Now I’m seeing a big uptake in the consumer’s willingness to understand and learn the role of nutrition as it relates to health. So when we tell people about our microgreens and the incredible level of nutrition — and by the way they taste really good — then there is a major attachment there at any age.”
He’s quick to add, however, that setting a reasonable price is paramount for local producers, particularly on the east coast
A popular lighting alternative, LEDs can provide greater efficiency, durability and more blue light that could benefit production.
where six of the top 10 lowest paid regions in the country are found. Atlantic Canadians do want nutritional, local products, but there is a limit to what they will pay.
And yet Curwin also believes there’s lots of room for the local market to grow on the east coast. And what’s going to help spur that growth is education.
“We all have to play a bigger role in educating the consumer that while it may cost a bit more for local products, it’s worth it. That if it’s a fruit or vegetable, you’re automatically getting a better experience from a taste and nutrition standpoint just by the inherent fact that you’re consuming something that’s close to your market.”
THE FUTURE OF LOCAL
Integrity is another big factor that will contribute to the growth of the local market, say Curwin and other greenhouse growers. As in other areas across North America, consumers in the East are being told that some of the products they purchase are local when, in fact, they’re not. Local verification through an Atlantic Canadian certifying body would definitely help stop that, growers agree.
Couple that with more institutions sourcing regional bounty, and you have the makings for a local movement in the East with real veracity, says Curwin. “You only need to take a quick look at our universities and hospitals to see that the vast majority of that food is just not optimal. So you know what, university and government officials, why don’t you get out there and figure out that supply chain and bring
more local food in? That’ll help a lot.”
And those institutional changes will do more than just grow the regional market, says Dr. Abbey. They’ll help combat the region’s issues with food insecurity, a term that essentially means an inability to afford healthy or culturally appropriate food, an inability to access that food, or both. According to a couple of recent studies, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick in particular have some of the highest rates of food insecurity in the country.
“It’s a widespread problem here, especially in First Nations communities and immigrant communities,” says Dr. Abbey. “But I do see more greenhouses trying to combat that by extending the season with crop lighting and so forth and using their greenhouses to produce more ethnic crops. I recently visited the Annapolis Valley [in Nova Scotia] and saw a greenhouse that’s only used for the production of ginger, for example.”
Back on PEI, winter is almost over and Marc Schurman is harvesting or getting ready to harvest beans, melons, herbs and radishes. It’s clear that the buy local movement’s strong historical roots are extending well into the future here. And that’s a really good thing, he says.
“You know, being a small island on the east coast of Canada, we depend on the rest of the world for so many things. So if we can all learn to support things that we can efficiently produce here instead of those that come from the other side of the world, then it will be better for our economies, for our local communities and everyone.”
Canada is full of skilled and knowledgeable young people who are driving the greenhouse industry forward. Thank you for taking the time to recognize their hard work and potential.
Join us as we reveal the winners on June 20th at Grower Day in St. Catharine’s, Ontario. They’ll also be featured in the July issue of Greenhouse Canada magazine and online.
Jose Chen Lopez and Susan Parent, Horticulture Specialists, Premier Tech Horticulture
Water is essential for plant growth and development. Water is used by plants for transpiration (to lower leaf temperature), it acts as a solvent, it is involved in chemical reactions like photosynthesis, and it transports nutrients through the plant. The purpose of watering a plant is to replenish the water that was used by the plant for the above actions and to leach salts from the growing medium.
Watering frequency and duration (amount of water) depend on the plant species, the stage of plant development, the growing medium selected and the growing environment. Water management is problematic when there is plant damage from overwatering or underwatering.
Typically, when a plant is overwatered, the leaves turn chlorotic, plant growth is stunted, algae start to grow on the surface of the substrate, the root respiration rate decreases, and the roots are more susceptible to root rot diseases like Pythium, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia and Alternaria.
On the other hand, when a plant is underwatered, transpiration ceases, the leaves are no longer turgid, nutrients, such as calcium, do not go to the furthest parts of the plant (this creates blossom end rot), the plant is under hydric stress, and growth and development are negatively affected.
Overwatering can be a common problem during a rainy season or
the cool, short-day winter months. Therefore, it is very important to design a water management strategy that considers the crops grown, container size(s), the growing environment, and the different growing media needed.
If overwatering is a problem, the grower might consider a different container size or use a growing medium with a lower water holding capacity. Growing media with a lower water holding capacity often contain higher percentages of coarse materials like perlite, chunk coir or bark for increased drainage and porosity.
Perlite is an inert material that can be used in different particle sizes. Perlite increases the air porosity of the mix since it retains less water than peat moss. Also, it does not interact with nutrients and it is free of weeds and diseases because it is produced at high temperatures.
Chunk coir, is obtained from the coconut husk. The husk is cut into pieces, washed to flush out salts, dried and compacted. It is then hydrated and added to our growing media products. Although chunk coir retains more water than perlite, it creates larger pores that increase air space to help plant roots obtain air for healthy growth.
Plants utilize water better, helping to reduce overwatering. By nature, coir has a high concentration of sodium and chloride. The quality of the coir depends on the country of origin and the manufacturing
process. It is very important to select coir from a reputable company with high quality standards to be sure the product meets specifications and that quality standards are stringent.
The last component used to reduce the water holding capacity of growing media is bark. Composted, aged pine bark adds bulk density, reduces the water holding capacity and provides aeration. The bark component in these products is obtained from pine trees and is partially composted and aged for several months to decrease the carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio.
Bark quality is very important for growing media. If the bark is not sufficiently composted or if it is green, it will tie up nitrogen, robbing it from the plant, and produce heat that can damage the plant’s root system.
The problem of overwatering can be corrected by reducing the water frequency. All plants require more water as they grow in size during the season. Moreover, fast growing plants, like geraniums and petunias, require more water than slower growing plants such as shrubs, thyme, rosemary, etc. Therefore, young plants and slow growing plants must be watered less frequently than fully grown plants or fast-growing plants. Often, watering mistakes are made when all plants are watered the same, regardless of the plant species, stage of development or container size.
An easy way to identify if plants
are being watered too frequently is to identify if algae are growing on the surface of the growing medium. To solve this problem, decrease the watering frequency, space plants to encourage humidity to escape from the plant canopy, and increase air flow in the greenhouse. In peatbased growing media, the color of the surface of the growing medium can be used as an indicator of when to water; allow it to change from dark brown to tan
Other factors that increase water retention
Sometimes, sand is added to a growing medium to allow more drainage, but it will actually decrease air porosity and increase water content because the macropores are filled with the sand. Another mistake that is commonly seen in a greenhouse is adding a layer of perlite or sand at the bottom of the pot. The growing medium on top of the layer of perlite or sand will drain only when it is saturated with water. In effect, the depth and volume of substrate in the pot is lower, but it will stay wetter as the water does not readily flow from the growing medium into the layer of perlite or sand.
When a growing medium is over-processed, the particles will break down into small particles, which will increase water retention.
Compaction is another problem associated with overwatering. Compaction decreases the air porosity because the macropores (large pores between particles) collapse, forming many small micropores. D ue to the capillarity of a growing medium, it will retain more water if it has a higher proportion of micropores to macropores.
The problem is more evident when the last portion of the growing medium from a bale fluffing machine is used to fill containers. Usually, the bottom of a fluffing machine is where most of the over-processed growing medium is found. An over-processed growing medium will retain more water, and therefore, the water retention will var y from the first containers filled. It is recommended to minimize the time spent fluffing a growing medium, run the ribbon blender at slow speeds, and also add enough water to bring the growing medium to the ideal water content– for transplanting or seeding
For more information on this subject you can contact Premier Tech Horticulture or your growing media specialist.
The minimum wage in British Columbia will rise to $12.65 per hour in June, with yearly increases culminating in a rate of $15.20 per hour in 2021. Ontario’s proposed raise to $15 per hour is scheduled for 2019.
Everyone in Canada’s business community remembers the mid2017 announcement from Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne about minimum wage. Her plans to quickly and significantly raise minimum wage raised eyebrows across the country. As promised, at the start of 2018, she raised the rate by $2.60 per hour (from $11.40 to $14) and a further increase to $15 is planned for 2019.
Other provinces are also boosting their minimum wage. Alberta businesses will be required starting this coming October to pay $15 per hour, $1.40 over the current $13.60, which was the result of last September’s increase. In BC, minimum wage will rise to $12.65 in June, with yearly increases culminating in a rate of $15.20 in 2021. In comparison, minimum wage will still range from only $11 to $12 by the end of 2018 in the rest of the provinces and territories, with the exception of Northwest Territories and Nunavut (see sidebar for more).
There have been several reports by prominent Canadian institutions condemning the increases this year. The Bank of Canada, for example, stated in January that the increases in various provinces might cost 60,000 jobs by 2019 and also result in higher prices for many products.
The Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis states that Ontario’s minimum wage hikes are the largest in 45 years, and that employers are now having to adjust to some of 64 direct and indirect costs related to labour. The preliminary results of a mid-2017 survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses found that the hike to $15 in Ontario by 2019 will cause 34 per cent of Ontario’s small- and medium-sized business owners to consider selling, closing or moving their firms out of the province. However, other business experts say the overall impact of minimum wage increases on the economy will be minimal and that many economists critical of the hikes are avoiding analysis of the benefits they can provide – more available spending money and the related stimulation to the economy
The concerns expressed by Canada’s greenhouse industry are similar to those of other industries. One of them is the lack of research and incorporation of feedback by provincial governments. As far as Ken Linington, human resources director of Flowers Canada Growers is aware, zero economic impact
A closer look at the impacts of minimum wage hikes on the greenhouse industry in Ontario, British Columbia and beyond.
BY TREENA HEIN
research was done before the recent major hike in Ontario. Karl Stensson, CEO and president of the Sheridan Nurseries chain of garden centres and farms in Ontario, reports that “in all the sessions where the government was fact-finding, I never once heard that it would entertain phasing in the increases over a few years,” he observes. “This [major increase] was a done deal from the start. They made some minor concessions to make it look like they were listening.”
The situation was similar on Canada’s west coast, according to Linda Delli Santi, executive director of the BC Greenhouse Growers Association for vegetable operations. She notes that while there were hearings held last year by the Fair Wages Commission, they were not at all adequately publicized and her organization actually found out about them by accident. “We were able to quickly prepare and present our concerns and they were similar to those of other agricultural groups,” she says. “But the government did not hear anything that was said.”
Dr. Justine Taylor echoes the sentiment. “The announcement [in early
Minimum wages should be revised annually by a percentage equal to the per cent change in the Ontario Consumer Price Index.
Minimum wages should be revised annually, and a minimum of four months’ notice of any wage change should be provided. The effective date of minimum wage changes should be April 1 of the following year. This would result in notification by December 1 of the previous year.
3
The Government should undertake a full review of the minimum wage rate and the revision process every five years. This review should be conducted by a panel of stakeholders and a neutral chair. The mandate of this Panel would be to review Ontario’s past experience with minimum wage revisions within the context of Ontario’s social and economic progress and prevailing practices in other jurisdictions to recommend changes that could better serve Ontario’s future needs.
4
To aid the full review process, and to ensure that Ontario’s minimum wage policies are in step with the needs of its citizens, the Government should establish an ongoing research program for data and information gathering and its subsequent analysis to address policy-relevant minimum wage issues.
Source: www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/pubs/mwap/index.php
2017 of an increase in Ontario] took many in the agriculture community by surprise,” says the science and government relations manager at Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG). “We had understood that
minimum wage was to increase according to the Consumer Price Index as outlined in the 2014 Minimum Wage Advisory Panel report” (see sidebar). She says the abrupt announcement and short timeline “has left many of our
From seed to table, higher quality with better taste.
A better-quality product for the consumer. An integrated, innovative greenhouse solution for you. That’s what Syngenta provides through quality genetics and new variety innovations. Your customers, and their dinner tables, deserve nothing less than the very best.
To learn more about varieties from Syngenta, contact Plant Products at 519-326-9037 or info@plantproducts.com
growers reeling, wondering how they will absorb these costs given the time it takes for the relevant markets to adjust to these new realities. Our growers, like most employers, wish the best life possible for all employees. We are not against raising the minimum wage, but the speed and rate at which it is being elevated threatens our viability.” Joe Sbrocchi, general manager of OGVG adds that he would like to think that if the government fully recognized the financial impact and the precarious position in which this move puts our growers, “literally putting many of them in peril of bankruptcy,” it might not have moved so quickly, “and if so, may have made more effort to ease the transition.”
Linington points out that the speed of increase in Ontario has been faster than anywhere of which he’s aware. “California is a major competitor and has a major increase planned, but it’s a few years away,” he says. “It’s also tied to economic conditions.”
Sbrocchi agrees that “virtually overnight,” the minimum wage hike in Ontario has made its greenhouse sector uncompetitive compared to other jurisdictions. “For example, BC, the second largest greenhouse produce region in Canada, has a lower per hour rate,” he explains, “not to mention a much more favourable approach to carbon pricing for greenhouse operations.”
The combined impact of the wage increases and the carbon tax in Ontario, says Taylor, will conservatively amount to a cost increase of about 33 per cent for greenhouse owners by this time next year. This is in addition to the indirectly related cost increases expected on fertilizer, packaging, transportation and general crop inputs, and the ‘domino effect’ (workers making
more than minimum wage expecting a raise). Sbrocchi asks how any business “can sustain these types of increases to their cost structures and remain viable.”
Ontario greenhouse vegetable growers are using multiple approaches to deal with their new financial reality. Sbrocchi believes more automation will be used if and when possible, and that it’s likely more growers will move to more profitable non-food crops such as cannabis. Sbrocchi adds that “like good business people, we will attempt to raise prices to compensate for these cost increases. Our sector is pretty much as efficient as it can be given the current technologies, so cutting hours does not present much of an opportunity.”
Kathleen Hubert, owner of Hubert’s Springhill Nursery (an independent greenhouse and garden centre between Pembroke and Petawawa, Ontario) will be “as conscientious as possible of employee hours, but you can only do so much. We don’t want to have fewer employees and run people harder. That’s not the right way to go. We hope we can manage on the same number of employees, but we may have to cut some back sooner, later in the season, and family members will do more of the work.” Hubert’s customers will also pay more for select items this year that have not seen a price increase over the last few years. Hubert’s grows and sells many types of landscaping and garden plants, bushes and trees. “Some businesses are increasing prices
Stensson estimates that the wage increase will equal to about 30 per cent of previous profits at Sheridan Nurseries this year.
In total at Sheridan Nurseries this year, the wage increases will equal about 30 per cent of previous profits. Stensson explains that at his farms, over 100 temporary foreign workers are hired every year, and that this year they will each get about $5,000 more. However, he does think his employees deserve a raise. “Our stores have hundreds of minimum
wage students who will also get the increases,” he says. “We do not begrudge the fact that they are getting the raises. We do feel ravaged by the speed with which the increases were implemented. We do not want to reduce benefits to our employees so the only solution is to raise prices. We have already heard from many of our suppliers that costs are rising to
across the board,” Hubert says, “but we are choosing specific items.”
There will also be price increases in Canada’s greenhouse flower sector where the market will allow it, Linington says, but adds that if the prices of some products are increased, competitors charging a lower price will get the sale. He also foresees the use of fewer employees this year and efforts to improve worker proficiency. “Some growers may not grow lower margin crops anymore,” he adds, “depending on their business model. I’d say the most vulnerable product group will be cut flowers as opposed to potted plants or bedding plants.”
Province Minimum Hourly Wage Notes
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Northwest Territories
$13.60 The minimum wage rose to $13.60 on October 1, 2017. It will rise to $15 per hour on October 1, 2018.
$11.35 On June 1, 2018, the minimum wage will rise to $12.65 from $11.35 in 2017 and $10.85 in 2016. It will further rise to $13.85 on June 1, 2019, to $14.60 on June 1, 2020 and to $15.20 on June 1, 2021.
$11.15 On October 1, 2017, the minimum wage rose to $11.15. It will rise to $11.35 per hour on October 1, 2018.
$11.25 On April 1, 2018, the minimum wage increased to $11.25. It will then be adjusted annually relative to the Consumer Price Index.
$11.15 On April 1, 2018, the minimum wage increased to $11.15.
$13.46 On April 1, 2018, the minimum wage increased to $13.46 an hour. The regulation does not specify that there must be an annual increase.
cover the minimum wage increase, so inflation will be much higher in 2018 than what the government is touting.”
In Stensson’s view, the average voter does not seem to understand that the economic engine of Ontario is businesses making a profit. “They believe that most companies make too much and therefore can afford this massive increase,” he says. “Some might be able to absorb it but most of us simply can’t absorb it. Any of the people I know in our business in cities in the U.S. where the minimum wage has been dramatically increased have raised their prices to compensate. It remains to be seen whether the consumer will accept the increases.”
Nova Scotia
Nunavut
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon
$11.00 On April 1, 2018 the minimum wage increased to $11.00 per hour. It will then be adjusted annually relative to the Consumer Price Index.
$13.00 The minimum wage is adjusted annually on April 1.
$14.00 The minimum wage rose to $14 per hour on January 1, 2018 and will rise to $15 per hour on January 1, 2019.
$11.55 On April 1, 2018, the minimum wage increased to $11.55 per hour.
$12.00 On May 1, 2018, the minimum wage increased to $12.00 per hour.
$10.96 On October 1, 2017, the minimum wage rose to $10.96. On October 1 of each year, minimum wage is adjusted annually relative to the Consumer Price Index and Average Hourly Wage. Changes to minimum wage will be announced each year on or before June 30.
$11.51 On April 1, 2018, the minimum wage increased to $11.51 per hour. The minimum wage is adjusted on April 1 of each year relative to the Consumer Price Index. Yukon’s Employment Standards Board is currently conducting a review of the minimum wage and will make their recommendations to the Minister of Community Services in Fall 2018.
Source: Reprinted with permission from the Retail Council of Canada, https://www.retailcouncil.org/quickfacts/minimum-wage-by-province
“We do not begrudge the fact that they are getting the raises. We do feel ravaged by the speed with which [they] were implemented.”
And like others, Sheridan Nurseries has also had to bump up the wages of people who already earn more than the minimum. “We cannot expect a supervisor in our stores to make the same as a new cashier,” observes Stensson. “However, we also had to draw the line and say that we could not possibly afford to give everyone a 20 per cent raise.”
Delli Santi says that in BC, with this year’s minimum wage hike, the new employee health premium and the 17 per cent carbon tax increase on her members’ existing 80 per cent carbon tax rebate (which, due to industry expansion projects started two to three years ago, will mean less of a rebate for everyone because the funds are capped), the greenhouse vegetable industry is likely going to reach a breaking point where it’s not profitable anymore. “It’s too fast and too much,” she says, “and while we will continue to try and figure out what we can do to keep our businesses going without eliminating jobs or moving our businesses out of Canada or getting out of food production into other crops such as cannabis, some of that is likely going to happen.”
In part 2 of this two-part series, researchers look at dimmable LEDs in changing light spectra.
BY DAVE LLEWELLYN AND DR. YOUBIN ZHENG
In our last article we examined the potential for saving energy by integrating dimmable horticultural LED lighting systems into various feedback-control strategies. This time, we will review background concepts of LED light spectrum and explore how spectral modifications can be leveraged to improve crop production.
THE BASICS BEHIND LEDS
Quite often we hear questions such as “Are LEDs better than HPS?” and “How do I use LEDs in my operation?”. To answer these types of questions, we need to understand the basics about the light that LEDs produce. It is also important to understand that there can be important differences in the spectral output of different LEDs of a given ‘colour’ (e.g. ‘red’ or ‘blue’). Bare (i.e. uncoated) LEDs are considered monochromatic, meaning each diode produces a single ‘colour’ of light. More accurately, each LED produces a narrow range of wavelengths,
ABOVE
and whose spectral power distribution usually follows a bell-shaped curve. LEDs are often characterized according to their peak wavelength (i.e. the highest point on the curve) and the width of the peak at half of the maximum height (dubbed ‘fullwidth half-maximum’ or FWHM). Since the LEDs used by various manufacturers can have different properties these metrics can help the end-user evaluate different systems they are considering. Figure 1A to 1C demonstrate the typical shapes of the peaks coming from monochromatic blue, red and green LEDs. White LEDs, such as in Figure 1D, are a slightly different type of LED that uses base blue LED underneath a phosphor layer. The phosphor coating, which is similar to the coating on the inside surface of fluorescent lights, broadens the distribution to include longer wavelengths of the visual spectrum. This makes for light output that appears white to the human eye because, like the sun, it has all of the colours of the rainbow.
The signature magenta colour of many horticultural LED systems comes primarily from red and blue spectral combinations.
HUB International is a leading global
Since 1963 we have been providing high quality insurance
to our clients from coast to coast.
Experienced, local service is available through our national network of offices.
For a quality product, local service and very competitive pricing give us a call today.
HUB International Ontario Limited www.hubontario.com 800-463-4700
24 Seacliff Drive East. Unit 100 Leamington, ON N8HOC2
At your service across the United States and Canada.
ABOVE
1. Each coloured LED emits a narrow range of wavelengths. For example: blue (A), red (B) and green (C). White LEDs (D) start with blue as a base, then use a phosphor coating to spread out the distribution over longer wavelengths.
Blue LEDs are used as the base for white, because shorter wavelengths naturally have higher energy (as an aside, this is why short wavelength (<300nm) UV light can cause sunburns but visible light does not). Shorter wavelengths can be converted into lower-energy, longer wavelengths but not vice versa.
It is important to note that ‘white’ LEDs come with many different spectral signatures. They all typically have a blue peak, from the native blue diode, followed by a broad peak over the longer wavelengths in the visible range. The shape of the broadened peak, as well as its size relative to the blue peak controls the colour (we perceive) of the light emitted. The colour of white LEDs is typically defined by its ‘correlated colour temperature’ (CCT), measured in Kelvins (K). For white LEDs, the higher the CCT, the ‘whiter’ the light appears to us. Low CCTs are associated with ‘warm’ light (e.g. incandescent) and high CCTs are associated with ‘cool’ light (e.g. fluorescent). Figure 2 demonstrates the range of colours of light that different ‘white’ LEDs can produce. The spectral power distribution of white LEDs also influences the colour rendering index (CRI), which is a measure of the ability of a light source to reveal an object’s true colours relative to natural light.
Monochromatic LEDs have unleashed a new era of photobiological research. In a very short period of time, we have observed many interesting light spectrum-mediated phenomena in a myriad of species (and strains/cultivars) during all phases of plant life, including seed germination, vegetative morphology, moderating reproduction and production of secondary metabolites.
While we have just scratched the surface in terms of discovering and characterizing the underlying mechanisms for light spectrum-mediated phenomena, there are some generalizations that are significant for horticultural production. Plant scientists have dubbed the light between 400 to 700 nm as ‘photosynthetically active radiation’ (PAR), as it is largely these wavelengths that contribute to photosynthetic activity. Within the PAR spectrum, the blue (400-500 nm) and red (600-700 nm) wavelengths are commonly known for producing the highest photosynthetic efficiency. As a result, the magenta colour that epitomizes many horticultural LED systems come of primarily red and blue spectral combinations. This research, which was pioneered over 40 years ago (most famously by John
McCree), was done primarily on smaller tissues and extracted chloroplasts (organelles that harvest light in plant cells). While the ‘McCree Curve’ argument is commonly used in promotional literature to justify red and blue spectral combinations, they have not necessarily translated into large increases, relative to broader spectrum profiles, in crop productivity metrics found in contemporary scientific literature.
Due to their prevalence, numerous studies have looked at how the ratio of monochromatic blue to red (B:R) light can affect different crops and production scenarios. In general, blue light seems to promote rooting, leads to more compact plants and intensifies colouration (typical of higher anthocyanin production). Of course, different plant species (and even cultivars) can have diverse responses to varied light spectra, including different B:R. For example, our lab’s recent research demonstrated that blue light alone can actually promote plant elongation, similar to some plants’ response to high far red (more on this later). Blue light’s higher energy state (i.e. blue photons have about 30 per cent more energy than red photons) makes blue light inherently less efficient to produce than red light. As a result, while some blue light is (usually)
needed for normal plant morphology, lighting manufacturers seem to favour spectral signatures with five to 20 times more
Many horticultural lighting systems now include at least some white LEDs. Regardless of their exact spectral signatures, white LEDs enhance colour rendering which, in turn, enhances visual assessments of crop health (e.g. nutrient disorders and diseases) and may improve worker comfort. Since white LEDs naturally enhance the blue (due to the fundamental colour of the native diode), fixtures that incorporate white LEDs may have fewer or no blue LEDs. Another way to create ‘white’ light is to use green LEDs (such as in Figure 1C) in combination with red and blue. However the development of high-power, energy-efficient green LED technologies is well behind red, blue and white, so green LEDs are not presently common in commercial fixtures. There is also the persistent belief that green light has lower photosynthetic efficiency than red or blue. While this may be true in a test tube of chloroplasts, it has not borne out in some studies with dense plant communities (typical of greenhouse production). Green light can penetrate deeper into the canopy and may actually increase photosynthetic efficiency (relative to red) in lower leaves and result in greater overall biomass production in crops such as lettuce.
Other wavelengths outside of the PAR spectrum are absorbed by specialized plant proteins called ‘photoreceptors’ but do not contribute directly to photosynthesis. These photoreceptors use specific parts of the light spectrum as environmental cues which can stimulate various adaptive responses.
The most well-known signaling wavelengths are far red (FR, 700 to 800 nm) and ultra violet (especially UV, 300 to 400 nm). Both the absolute amount of FR as well as the relative amount of FR compared to R (i.e. the red to far red ratio, R:FR) can have different, but interrelated impacts. A common FR-mediated response is “shade avoidance” which is a set of responses in some plants when exposed to lower ratios of red to far red light that typically happen below a canopy (e.g. on a forest floor) and during daily twilight periods (i.e. at very low solar angles). In floriculture production, typical shade avoidance responses include stretching, reduced branching, and delayed flowering – all of which tend to reduce crop quality. FR has also been associated with increased leaf expansion in seedlings and enhanced flowering in some scenarios. UV light has been shown to enhance the production of photo-protective molecules (a stress response) which can absorb damaging wavelengths. Many of these molecules increase the nutritional and medicinal value of edible plants as well as the attractiveness (darker pigmentation) of ornamentals. Some studies have shown that UV light can also be applied to improve plant tolerance to environmental stresses (e.g. disease, drought, etc.), but more research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and to develop protocols for growers to follow.
Thank you to our 2018 Event Sponsors Focus Greenouse Management Inc., AMA, Ball Superior, Benary, Berger, C French Ltd., Colonial, Concept plastic, Darwin, DummenOrange, Ed Sobkowich Greenhouses, Express Seed, Florist Holland, George Sant and Sons, Green Fuse, Greenhouse Canada, HC Canada companies, JVK, Linwell Gardens, MGS/Plant Products, Orchard Park, PanAm, Proven Winners, Sakata, Selecta, Sonnyside Flowers, Syngenta Flowers, Vacform, Vanden Bussche Irrigation
Some LED suppliers offer an array of different fixed-spectrum configurations in their product lines. This allows them to target many different commodities and production scenarios (e.g. both greenhouse and sole source) within a common, relatively simple form-factor. For example, Hortilux HortiLED offered by Canada’s P.L. Light Systems and Phillips GreenPower LED are both passively-cooled systems, offered in numerous spectrum configurations (i.e. comprised of various mixes of blue, white, red and far red). Fixture-level dimming is available on some fixed-spectrum fixtures, meaning that intensity can be lowered, but the spectral recipe of a given fixture remains unchanged.
Other manufacturers integrate spectrum-level dimming capabilities into their lights, allowing the end user to modify both the overall intensity level as well as the spectral recipe by adjusting the relative intensities of multiple ‘spectrum channels’ in a single fixture. Some adjustable-spectrum LED systems have manual controls (e.g. knobs) but most modern systems such as Heliospectra’s LX60 and LumiGrow’s PRO325™ and PRO650™ fixtures feature remote control capabilities through on-board electronics, a communications network (wired or wireless) and software applications accessible by PC, tablet or cell phone. This gives the grower the power to adjust the spectral recipe throughout the day or at key points in a production cycle, to evoke a specific morphological or biochemical response. While they are typically more expensive, light fixtures with adjustable spectrum can have advantages over fixtures with fixed spectrum and/or fixed intensity in some greenhouse production scenarios.
The majority of what the scientific community has learned about using LEDs to manipulate crops through spectral modifications has been gleaned from research done in growth chambers. Much of this research is directly applicable to sole-source production scenarios such as indoor cannabis and plant factories, because the operator can choose when and how light is supplied to the crop. However greenhouses have much more complicated lighting dynamics due to the influence of the primary light source: the sun.
ABOVE
Figure 2. The warmer white light (top) is shifted towards the red end of the spectrum, while the cooler white light (bottom) has a larger blue peak.
Sunlight has relatively equal amounts of photons of every wavelength within the PAR spectrum. While there are spectrum-modifying films on the market, most greenhouse coverings have neutral density (i.e. they don’t change the spectral distribution of PAR, although there are usually reductions in UV).
How can we best leverage the power of LEDs to manipulate crop production in the greenhouse when the presence of copious (but highly variable) background broad-spectrum sunlight will tend to dilute any attempts at spectral manipulation during the daytime? In greenhouse production, spectrum ‘treatments’ are most effectively applied at the ends of the regular photoperiod (i.e. twilight) or during the night. Our group has investigated using end-of-day applications of red light (EodR) to mitigate the shade avoidance response in high-density (and multi-layer) bedding-plant production with mixed results. We have had more success in using twilight applications of R light to control height in Easter lilies.
Another example of using spectrum to manipulate a crop would be to provide high blue light (or UV) during the last few days before harvest to darken the colour of leafy crops such as lettuce and certain ornamentals. We are currently investigating the use of various spectral treatments to elicit specific crop responses (e.g. production of phytonutrients) in
microgreens. We are also investigating whether short-term spectrum treatments can be used to enhance specific life stages of microgreens such as promoting seed germination, rooting and stem extension (to facilitate machine harvesting).
Spectral tuning also has tremendous potential for the production of medicinal plants, such as cannabis. We are learning more and more about how different lighting recipes can affect the flowering, yield and phytochemical profiles (e.g. THC, CBD and other compounds) of harvested tissues.
Horticultural LEDs offer many advantages over traditional HPS technologies. While energy efficiency and extended lifespans may garner the lion’s share of the headlines, capacities for (controlled) dimming and spectral tuning are additional capabilities that can be leveraged in order to get the maximum benefits out of this burgeoning technology.
Dave Llewellyn (dllewell@uoguelph.ca) is a research associate in Dr. Zheng’s lab who has extensive experience working with lighting technologies in research and production environments. This lab has been focusing on lighting research for producing high-value crops (e.g. cannabis, microgreens and ornamentals) for many years. Dr. Youbin Zheng (yzheng@uoguelph.ca) is an environmental horticulture professor at the University of Guelph.
When it comes to maximizing natural light, our “cheapest” resource, new technological developments in the past few years have allowed growers to maximize Mother Nature’s free gift: the sun.
BY MAURICIO MANOTAS
A little extra light can make a big difference. Recent innovations have increased the transparency of energysaving screens for vegetable and ornamental crop production. The ability for higher light transmission further optimizes the growing climate while keeping the heat in, important during the colder seasons when vegetable prices typically peak.
A greenhouse’s climate is a combination of temperature, humidity, light intensity and carbon dioxide levels. These elements are influenced by the conditions outdoors (temperature, humidity, radiation), the greenhouse structure and setup (ventilation, heating, screens, lighting, etc.), as well as the crop being grown (transpiration levels change as the crop matures).
One of the big advantages of higher transparency screens is the ability to increase the number of
ABOVE
screening hours. An increase in transparency not only lets in more sunlight, but allows the screen to be deployed for longer throughout the day without compromising on humidity, meaning higher potential for energy savings. In the winter, high transparency screens can be deployed even under low light levels, as the value of energy savings can outweigh the negligible amount of light lost. They can be open for shorter periods of time when radiation levels are higher, and closed when radiation levels lower again, saving energy night and day.
Alberta-based Big Marble Farms was the first greenhouse in North America to install Luxous 1147FR, an energy screen that allows 89% of the sun’s radiation into the greenhouse. Used with supplemental
Figure 1. Pipe temperatures rise to maintain greenhouse temperatures without the use of an energy screen.
lighting, the high transparency of this screen helps the vegetable greenhouse grow fresh produce year-round – even during the snowy winter months.
When outside temperatures fall below 15°C in darker months such as December, Big Marble typically closes the screen throughout the day to keep heat in. At night the screen is usually kept closed to maximize energy savings.
It’s no secret that energy is one of the highest operating costs to running a greenhouse. Fortunately, energy-efficient technology are rapidly revolutionizing the industry – be it more efficient boilers, better plastics and glass improvements, a more weather-sensitive computer or higher efficiency climate screens. And in some cases, improvements can cross-support different elements in the greenhouse, such as the integration of computers and climate screens. A computer that integrates more screening characteristics will give growers more precise control over the greenhouse climate. This increases their likelihood of saving energy, while producing better quality products and higher yields.
The green and red datasets in Figure 1 show the greenhouse pipe temperature setpoints when trying to maintain a greenhouse temperature of just under 20°C without the use of screens. Notice that both pipe temperatures run between 40 to 50°C in order to maintain a consistent greenhouse temperature. What’s happening? A similar analogy to this would be turning off our home furnaces in December and leaving our windows half open. The amount of heat required to maintain the desired temperatures goes up, quickly translating into dollars that are not contributing to our bottom line.
Conversely, when a high-transparency energy screen is integrated with a greenhouse computer, the boiler has to work less to reach the same sub-20°C greenhouse temperature (see figure at greenhousecanada.com/structuresequipment/screens). Imagine this situation occurring daily for three or four months, and for those up north this can even extend out an extra month or two, which translates into higher energy costs.
Energy screens can be a helpful tool in controlling the greenhouse climate, but the way they’re used should change depending on the situation, including large changes in outdoor conditions,
peaks or dips in energy prices, or changes in market prices. Computers can be set such that screens are open or closed when certain solar radiation levels are reached during the day. Screen gaps can also be programmed to maintain relative humidity levels in the greenhouse.
When choosing a climate screen to help manage greenhouse conditions, it’s important to pick one that works for your needs. Are you leaning more towards energy savings or light transmission? Or perhaps you’re looking for cooling and
shading in the summer? In some cases, double screen installations may be the right solution – doubling the ability to heat, cool and light on demand.
With businesses today facing more competition, finetuning and finding efficiencies is critical to our success. It’s about ‘squeezing the orange’ a little more. If we have the tools, we should ask ourselves, what are we waiting for?
Mauricio Manotas is president of Ludvig Svensson, Inc. He can be reached at Mauricio.Manotas@ludvigsvensson.com.
A
makes a big difference
Research project plans to evaluate heat recovery dehumidification technologies in trials.
BY DR. JEANINE WEST, DR. ANN HUBER AND JINGJING HAN
Every cold-climate greenhouse grower experiences it – it’s cold outside, the heat is on, but the relative humidity levels need to come down to prevent disease. The solution? The vents get opened to get rid of that moist air and exchange it for drier air – except the greenhouse loses heat in the process!
Greenhouse growers are facing increased energy costs and are concerned about fossil fuel emissions, so they’re looking for alternative/green heat sources or ways to decrease their energy consumption. Energy curtains have been widely adopted by greenhouse growers to decrease energy consumption, but curtains cannot be closed when humidity levels rise, therefore limiting their value. Heat recovery dehumidification technology represents a new approach for removing humidity without the resulting waste of energy associated with venting. Using this technology means a significant break from traditional growing practices, and very few greenhouses have invested in this equipment to trial at their farms.
ABOVE
However, heat recovery dehumidification technology companies advertise significant energy savings for greenhouse operations – up to a 60 to 70 per cent decrease in fuel consumption!
Major providers of this technology are based in Israel, and the technology is utilized in European commercial and institutional buildings to manage humidity for human health. Its distribution in North America has really just been for the last decade for similar uses, with very limited adoption globally to manage humidity in the greenhouse sector. New technology providers are based in North America, including Nortek Air Solutions in Saskatchewan. In Canada, there are only a handful of greenhouses using heat recovery dehumidification technology, meaning there is very little objective information available to growers on choosing the right system and adjusting their growing practices. Growers investigating this option must rely solely on information from sales representatives.
Humidity levels in a greenhouse need to be controlled to prevent disease.
Designed for both students and practitioners in the Green Industry, this book offers full coverage of the calculations necessary to effectively, safely, and economically manage a Green Industry operation.
The authors provide clear explanations of all relevant mathematical principles and cover calculations inherent in all aspects of the Green Industry, from determining area and volume, to the application of fertilizers, pesticides, and growth regulators, to preparing design and installation cost estimates.
Coverage includes computations for:
• Greenhouse, nursery, and interior landscape operation.
• Turf management, including lawn care, sports turf, and sod production.
• Proper application of fertilizers, pesticides, and plant-growth regulators.
• Proper calibration of application equipment.
DryGair unit prior to installation. Left: top unit to be installed above the crop - air inlets, fans and coils. Right: bottom unit to be installed under the benches - compressor and control panel.
ABOVE
Two Agam units installed at each end of the greenhouse zone, one on the floor, and one on a stand to allow for bench movement.
Since the technology is so new, Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc. partnered with vegetable, herb and floriculture greenhouse growers to trial this technology at their farms, so the performance and implications of this technology could be evaluated. There are several technologies on the market that claim substantial energy savings and effective control of greenhouse humidity:
1. DryGair dehumidifier – mechanical refrigeration dehumidification (conventional system) that also recovers heat from the moist air
2. Agam VLHC (ventilated latent heat converter) dehumidification system – dehumidification by passing moist air across a chemical desiccant matrix (drying agent) converting it to warm dry air; it can also filter and remove airborne disease spores
3. Nortek HRV – a heat-recovery ventilation system that exchanges indoor and outdoor air while recovering some portion of heat from the exhausting indoor air
A fourth system is under development by Nortek Air Solutions and the University of Saskatchewan that combines a novel desiccant dehumidification technology with air-to-air heat-exchange ventilation called the Nortek ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilation). All four of these systems are being tested in production facilities; a prototype of the Nortek ERV is being developed for demonstration under this project.
To compare these systems effectively and provide greenhouse growers with information about the impact on different crops and production systems, our research team installed:
a. DryGair and Agam systems in similar-sized zones at an herb greenhouse
b. DryGair, Agam and Nortek HRV systems in similar-sized zones at a floriculture (potted) greenhouse
c. The Nortek ERV system will be installed at a vegetable greenhouse and compared to an adjacent control zone
The following data is being collected over a one-year period:
C LASSIFIED RATES: Minimum order $ 75.00 or 84¢ p er word, word ads must be p re- p aid. CLASSIFIED DISPLAYS: $72.00 per column inch, or $5.14 per agate line. GENERAL INFORMATION: Payment must accompany order. Copy required by the 1st of the month preceding publication. All advertising copy subject to the approval of the publisher. Send order and remittance to: Classified Dept., Greenhouse Canada, P.O. Box 530, 105 Donly Dr. S., Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5
FOR SALE: 2 Veissman condensing boilers with Weishaupt burners 4250 MBTU/each As new ( not ver y often used ) . Effectiveness: 99.2% on high fire! Very quick payback. Please call: E. Bertrand, Rose Drummond at 819-474-3488 06/1t/pd
• Power consumption by the units
• Total energy required (i.e. fuel consumption, electricity) for each zone with an installed technology compared to control zones (through energy, thermal, and flow sensors connected to the computer control system)
• Relative humidity levels in the greenhouse
• Outdoor climate data
• Disease pressure and crop health information
• Determination of overall energy savings (energy per unit yield) for each system tested over traditional production systems
A large part of this project is focused on getting the results out to greenhouse growers – so look for updates on this research in 2019!
The authors would like to acknowledge funding for this project from the Greenhouse Renewable Energy Technologies (GRET) Research & Development initiative, the participating farms, Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers and Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc.
The views expressed in this article are the views of the research team and do not necessarily reflect those of their funding partners.
Dr. Jeanine West is the environmental specialist at Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc., jeanine@fco.ca. Dr. Ann Huber is the environmental microbiologist at the Soil Resource Group, ahuber@srgresearch.ca. Jingjing Han (soon to be Dr. Jingjing Han) is the research engineer with Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc., jingjing@fco.ca.
fired
Pack house. Substantial land base. Bunk house for offshore workers. Storage shed. Newer two-story 5 bedroom house built in 2007 Contact: 519 718 5099 or you can E-mail: greenhouse903@hotmail.com 06/1t/pd
GARY JONES | Gary.Jones@kpu.ca
It’s been over a decade since the first ‘Inside View’. So I thought I’d look back to the first heating and energy article. The sixth ‘View’ (Dec. 2007), noted that “Canada is the 3rd largest energy consumer on the planet – demand is up 21% since 1990”. Themes reflected possible options to change this situation, namely: reduction, reuse and recycle. ‘Reduction’ ideas noted “Dr. Xiuming Hao’s work at Harrow Research Centre on heat placement (using grow-pipes placed below hanging gutters in raised-trough growing systems) and liquid foam insulation (on double-poly structures in Quebec providing almost a 46% night energy saving and an overall 24-hour saving of 30%.)” Some growers have indeed located heating pipes under gutters, but I haven’t heard that the liquid foam idea has caught on. ‘Reusing’ explored Co-Gen (a.k.a. CHP in Europe) to get more than one product (heat, electricity and CO2) from burning natural gas. ‘Recycling’ was a bit of a stretch looking at older fuels making a comeback: coal, wood, propane, fuel oil. There was also a section that didn’t really fit the ‘Three R’s’ grouping but explored alternative renewable fuels, e.g. anaerobic digestion, wind turbines, landfill methane and solar greenhouses.
The 2007 article stated that “Denmark generates 20% of all its energy needs from renewable resources, much being from wind turbines. It plans to increase this to 50%.” In fact, a decade later, “’Denmark is on track to surpassing its EU energy targets’ which is
information.) If you’re in any doubt, take a train ride across the country and notice all the PV panels on homes, businesses and other buildings.
So, how’s Canada doing? According to Natural Resources Canada:
• “Renewable energy sources currently [2015 data] provide about 18% of Canada’s total primary energy supply”3
• “Wind and solar energy are the fastest growing sources of electricity in Canada”3
For comparison, OECD countries, on average, got 9.6% of their energy supply from renewable sources, while the world average was 13.4%. In 2015, hydro accounted for 66.9% of Canada’s total renewable energy use, followed by solid biomass at 24.1%, wind at 4.6%, ethanol at 1.8%, municipal waste and landfill gas at 1.2%, solar at 0.51%.3
...need to change to accommodate different fuel sources...
to have at least 50% of its energy needs supplied by renewable resources by 2030, against a current one third, and zero fossil fuel energy by 2050, the Danish Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate said in a statement reported in RTE News.1 “With the wind power production record, [43.4% of electricity consumed last year] Denmark places a green flag on the world map,” Danish energy minister Lars Lilleholt said.1 Denmark is blessed by location for wind power, but by any measure, this is a significant achievement in the last decade.
It’s not just Denmark. “Germany has crossed a symbolic milestone in its energy transition by briefly covering around 100 per cent of its electricity use with renewables for the first time ever on 1 January [2018].”2 Renewables now provide a minimum 20 per cent of total electricity used in the UK (rising to 30 per cent depending on your source of
Against the world average therefore, Canada shapes up well (18 per cent c.f. 13 per cent). But against many nations, we’re playing catch up. Remember, Denmark is at about 30 per cent right now. “In 2015, Sweden threw down the gauntlet with an ambitious goal: eliminating fossil fuel usage within its borders, and immediately ramping up investment in solar, wind, energy storage, smart grids, and clean transport.”4 Nicaragua is “aiming for 90-percent renewable energy by 2020, with the majority of energy coming from wind, solar, and geothermal sources.”4 These are figures for total energy, not just electricity. Remember, Canada sits at about 18 per cent.
Of course, electricity isn’t the major energy source for greenhouses, where heating large volumes of air is the prime energy concern. But renewable energy is increasingly available and attractive and the industry should be, indeed is, finding ways to build this technology into everyday activities of growing plants. Perhaps plant production facilities need to change to accommodate different fuel sources, in particular electricity. Knowing the inventiveness of growers and those servicing our sector, these advances will continue long after the next decade. What will you be using in 2028?
1 RTE News, Jan 2018; 2 Clean Energy Wire, 2018; 3 Natural Resources Canada, 2018; 4 The Climate Reality Project, 2016
Gary Jones is Co-Chair of Horticulture at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Langley, BC. He sits on several industry committees and welcomes comments at Gary. Jones@kpu.ca.
Largest, longest-lasting blooms!
This may be one of the few times when you want “snow” to linger. With Spring-blooming Iberis ‘Snowsation’, you get the largest blooms of any compact Iberis. There’s also a storm of flowers, as ‘Snowsation’ has been trialed and proven to flower significantly longer than other leading Iberis, and it offers better flower coverage. That means maximum color and increased sell-through at retail. See why ‘Snowsation’ is a bright spot in early Spring gardens. To order, visit www.darwinperennials.com/WhereToBuy to find your favorite supplier, or call 888 800-0026
