The usual water-borne suspects With pathogens to watch out for in your irrigation water. By: Dr. Sarah Jandricic | 12
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6
Business Issues 10 Mental health during tough times
Technology Issues 11 The heat in sweet peppers #CanadianFlower BoostChallenge 22 Suppliers support the floriculture sector
Detangling Data 38 Q&A with Pieter Kwakernaak
Finding AgriStability 40 Why this financial program should be top of mind
Inside View 46 Plans? What plans?
Isolated growth Researchers bring vertical farming technology up north BY
GRETA CHIU
Is that a pepper weevil? How to tell this pepper pest apart from its lookalikes BY
CARA MCCREARY & DR. ROSE LABBÉ
Fresh retail ideas 11 ways to change up retail, even in a post-COVID world BY
JOHN STANLEY
PHOTO CREDIT: OMAFRA
PHOTO CREDIT: J. STANLEY
FROM THE EDITOR
GRETA CHIU | @GreenhouseCan
Looking towards a post-COVID world
As I’m putting the final touches on this month’s issue, COVID-19 restrictions are starting to lift for a few sectors, but retail remains largely closed.
In the past few months, consumer isolation and national lockdowns have taken their toll on the general economy – and Canada is not alone.
Export Development Canada (EDC) released their Global Economic Outlook near the end of April that suggested a drop in global economic activity by 2.8 per cent this year, “with developed markets being hardest hit and tumbling collectively by 4.2 per cent in 2020.” What’s more, they predict that Canada will be impacted to a greater degree than the remaining OECD members (Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development), with the national economy shrinking by 9.4 per cent. This, they attributed to low consumer savings and high debt-to-income ratios, rocky trade relations between partners, and oil.
dropped since, but were still more than 10 per cent greater than their averaged previous levels at the end of the month.
The demand for garden products has skyrocketed, particularly as temperatures rise. With questions of food security and a yearning to be outdoors, consumers have gravitated towards gardening with an emphasis on vegetables. One of the last provinces to do so, Ontario allowed garden centres to re-open their brick and mortar storefronts in early May – just in time for Mother’s Day. Anecdotally, I have heard that Mother’s Day was a great success for ornamental greenhouses and independent garden centres this year, particularly as it followed a less-thanstellar Easter for some. Could there be a shortage of product as we move into later spring sales?
But just because COVID-19 restrictions are easing up, doesn’t mean we should stop offering online sales, delivery, curbside pickup and other new ways to reach the consumer.
72 per cent are rethinking handshakes with business contacts.
“Economic recovery will be directly related to the timing of return-to-work developments across the globe. When that happens, we can expect high positive numbers,” says Peter Hall in an EDC email. “While this is expected in the latter half of this year, we will have to wait until 2021, when world output rebounds, to the tune of an impressive 6.2 per cent.”
Be that as it may, grocery items are always on the menu. According to CBC News, “sales at Canadian grocery stores were more than 40 per cent above last year’s levels for both the second and third weeks of March,” as Canadians stockpiled on supplies. Those numbers have
In a survey of 500 professionals surveyed by Robert Half Canada, 46 per cent said they worry about being in close physical proximity to their colleagues, 74 per cent would like to work remotely more often than before the outbreak, and 72 per cent are rethinking handshakes with business contacts. There will likely be less travel as well, with 61 per cent reconsidering in-person business events and 59 per cent expressing qualms about travelling for business.
With work on the vaccine still in its early stages, life won’t be the same for a long while.
meet the standards of the publication.
NEW Cha-Cha Calibrachoa
Featuring an assortment of dazzling colours, including two novelties, Cha-Cha is a cascading calibrachoa that’s easy to grow. Trialed and tested for uniform timing and habit across all colours, it’s perfect for large containers. Book yours now.
AgriStability deadline extended
The AgriStability enrollment deadline has been extended without penalty to July 3, 2020, allowing growers more time to sign up.
Agreed to by federal, provincial, and territorial governments, this step will help more growers manage the impact of market disruptions, increased expenses, and production challenges.
AgriStability is a low-cost risk management program offering financial assistance to producers who
experience large margin declines due to any combination of production loss, adverse market conditions or increased costs. Coverage is personalized for each farm by using historical data to calculate a program year margin and a reference margin. Growers experiencing losses are encouraged to apply for interim payments under AgriStability for more rapid support. Note that this program is administered provincially in some provinces.
PROVINCES SUPPORT E-BUSINESS GROWTH
Manitoba and Ontario announced their respective decisions to support online sales opportunities for agricultural producers, funded through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. $160,000 will be provided to Direct Farm Manitoba for the purchase of a software platform that will allow Manitobans to order food online from local producers and farmers’ markets. The funding will also go toward developing
a network of pickup and delivery options to connect consumers with their orders, along with COVID-19 safe handling and packaging practices for producers and processors. Meanwhile, $2.5 million is being invested in the Agri-Food Open for E-Business initiative. Open to food producers, garden centres, greenhouses, nurseries, farmers markets, retailers, and agricultural associations looking to develop online business,
Ontario welcomes new greenhouse vegetable specialist
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) revealed their new greenhouse vegetable specialist – Dr. Fadi Al-Daoud.
“Fadi brings to us a world of experience in agricultural research,” writes Cara McCreary, greenhouse vegetable IPM specialist at OMAFRA. Earning his Ph.D. from McMaster University in molecular plant pathology, Al-Daoud subsequently worked for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Fredericton, N.B., then at the University of Guelph, Ont. “There, he worked in collaboration with academics, government agencies, industry partners, and grower groups. He has conducted applied and basic research of horticultural and field crops, and has experience communicating his research to the scientific community and producers.”
Al-Daoud takes over from Shalin Khosla, who retired from the role late last year.
the initiative also aims to provide consumers with greater access to a wide variety of food and agricultural products. Ontario’s targeted application intake features two funding streams:
1. Bring Your Business Online Eligible organizations and businesses can apply for grants of up to $5,000 to establish an online e-business and marketing presence. Funding under this stream will be quick and responsive for those needing immediate solutions.
2. Develop Online Business Opportunities. Eligible organizations, businesses and collaborations can apply for cost-share funding of up to $75,000 to implement high-impact projects. Eligible applications will be received and assessed on a continuous basis, while funding is available.
For more, visit greenhousecanada.com.
BY
THE NUMBERS
• 3 team members are needed, on average, for efficiency
• 50% of surveyed retailers only handled pre-orders
• The average wait time was 11 minutes
Source: J. Stanley, 2020
Leucanthemum superbum ‘Ice Cream Dream’
Like little scoops of ice cream, this Shasta Daisy will charm gardeners as it comes into focus in early to midsummer. Intense yellow buds open cream and expand to be near white, fully double, pom-pom-like flowers with small yellow centers. The flowers are 2½-3” wide and totally cover the compact habit of dark green foliage. Shasta Daisies are alltime favourites for the perennial border. Zones 5 to 9. 30 cm tall, 46 cm wide. waltersgardens.com
Silene Carol Jean
This all new summer blooming ground cover boasts clean white or intense pink flowers. Carol Jean will come into bloom as Phlox subulata goes out of bloom. This
means customers are in stores when it is naturally in colour. Its heat and humidity performance will have consumers loving it all summer long. green-fuse.com
Lemon Drop Squash
Small, lemon-shaped fruit brings a new look and flavour to the table. Unique, creamy-yellow squash can be picked at a very young stage, and is ideal for fresh eating, sautéeing or grilling. Grows best in-ground. Days to harvest: 55-60. 30-41 cm tall, 102 cm wide. Fruit Size: 5-8 x 5 cm. burpeehomegardensbrand. com
Sol-Luna Impatiens Hybrid
Begonia
Betulia features a compact habit, with extremely durable, smaller foliage and excellent branching. As a result, Betulia does not require PGRs and can tolerate later spacing. It blooms continuously from spring through frost with no deadheading, as the plant selfcleans (unlike typical varieties in this class). It is extremely weathertolerant and versatile for use in outdoor or indoor containers. It does not like to be kept overly wet, making this an ideal plant for the patio. 10-18 cm tall, 13-18 cm wide. ballingenuity.com
This hybrid Impatiens series delivers in both sun and shade. Easy to grow, Sol-Luna takes the guess work out of gardening for homeowners. A
compact, well-matched series that is perfect for packs, quarts and gallons. Available in four different shades. Pictured: Tropical Punch danzigeronline.com
Wee Bit Grumpy Hydrangea
Wee Bit Grumpy was selected for its combination of pure, intense, saturated flower colour and outstanding landscape performance. In acidic soils, its big, full blooms take on a moody, dramatic deep purple-blue. They appear amid a neat, tidy mound of compact foliage that resists disease and stands up better to cold weather than conventional hydrangeas. Dark green glossy foliage, excellent performance in the landscape. Zones 5-9. 61cm tall, 76 cm spread. provenwinners.com
Florencio Begonia
Florencio Begonia hybrida pairs a striking range of vibrant colours with upright grower-friendly habits. Its medium vigour, well-branched habits are grower-friendly and ideal for mid-to-large sized containers. Bred for outstanding outdoor performance, Florencio holds up to the rigours of the season and provides season long value for the end consumer. Available in five new colours. 45-60 cm tall, 30-45 cm wide. syngentaflowers-us.com
HAVE NEW VARIETIES TO SHOWCASE? EMAIL GREENHOUSE@ANNEXWEB.COM.
Maintaining mental health through tough times
Canada’s farming community is in a mental health crisis. Even when we are not experiencing a pandemic, the rate of mental illness in agriculture is higher than those in other professions, and the situation is putting the industry at risk.
Research from the University of Guelph led by Dr. Andria Jones-Bitton, has confirmed that farmers face higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and a higher risk of burnout than the general population.1 Approximately 45 per cent of farmers across Canada experience high stress, while 58 per cent meet the threshold for anxiety and 35 per cent meet the standard for depression, exceeding levels in
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A constant need to be resilient, compounded by social stigmas around mental health, can mean growers hesitating to seek help.
the general population.2
Canadians working in agriculture face stressors daily that challenge the stability of their mental health – unpredictable climate conditions, fluctuating markets, a changing industry, and physically demanding and exhausting work that increases the risk of experiencing a traumatic event.
Yet, there is an expectation to be resilient – work hard, be strong. But, don’t let it show when you feel vulnerable. This is compounded by a social stigma around mental health and a lack of good community-specific support systems or services. As a result, few farmers seek help.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
It’s hard to support someone else if you don’t take care of your needs first. Learn how to recognize stress in yourself. Be aware of changes in your behaviour. Are you feeling mentally fatigued or overwhelmed by all of the work you have to get done? Do you put off eating? Are you more irritable,
impatient or quick to anger? Has there been an increase in use of alcohol or drugs?
It‘s important to acknowledge the presence of unusual behaviours. If you know you will be entering a stressful environment, it’s helpful to recognize your responses to stress.
Expel the negative feelings. The more you avoid addressing your mental health, the worse the situation will get. Discharge negative thoughts by talking to someone you trust, let them know that you are struggling. If you don’t feel comfortable talking, writing about how you feel helps to get the thoughts out of your head.
Implementing a self-care plan identifies the support systems and protective factors used to manage stress and maintain physical, mental and emotional health. A self-care plan should be reviewed regularly and revised as needed.3
If you are taking care of yourself, you will be in a better position to support others.
SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES
It is important to reassure your workers that you are trying to keep them safe – both physically and mentally. As an employer or manager, you may be the person someone reaches out to for help.
Employees often experience the stressors similar to their employers – concerns about personal finances, the possibility of job loss or injury, and the demands of supporting a family. Understand that changes in your operation will impact your workers. Implementing a change management strategy lays out expectations and will help ease anxieties.
Employers and managers should learn to empathize and be available for those employees experiencing anxiety. Practise an open-door communication policy and let your employees know that you understand. Encourage self-care in the workplace to help ease stress.
RESOURCES
For more, look for resources from the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health, the Canadian Red Cross’ Psychological First Aid Pocket Guide and Bounce Back’s Online Support for Mental Wellness.
1 University of Guelph, 2018; 2 A. Jones-Bitton, Ontario Veterinary College at University of Guelph; 3 https:// www.redcross.ca/crc/documents/CRC-Psychological-First-Aid-Guide-2019.pdf
The heat in sweet peppers
Just as human beings have different skin temperatures of distinct parts of the body, the surface temperatures of plants and parts of plants tell us a lot about how they function.
Using infrared thermometry with false colour imagery, we observed the surface temperatures of various parts of the sweet pepper crop in the shady environment of a production greenhouse located in southwestern Ontario. Using a FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared) camera, we observed that although these pepper fruits are sweet, they are hot in comparison to their leaves and stems and the
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Figure 1. An infrared false colour image captures the temperature of developing sweet green peppers at a DelFresco Pure greenhouse in Kingsville, Ont. Fruits are numbered 1 to 5, leaves are labelled A to E. The scale on the right shows the range in temperature.
surrounding air.
From Fig 1., the average temperature for all of the visibly developing peppers was 26.84 ˚C, which was 3.24 ˚C higher than the average leaf temperature at 23.6˚C. Similarly, the average minimum and maximum temperatures of the peppers were around three degrees higher than the average minimum and maximum temperatures of the leaves. Note that the daily greenhouse temperature was 20 ˚C, the pre-nighttime temperature was 11˚C and post-nighttime temperature was 14˚C.
Clearly, the additional heat of the fruits was not due to direct solar radiation because the leaves and stems were not reaching the same high temperatures. Moreover, the greenhouse was experiencing cloudy conditions when the observations were made. So why were the fruits hotter than the other plant parts? It could be that as fruits develop, they grow quickly and do not transpire as much, resulting in excess metabolic heat. Perhaps they
were absorbing heat from the heating pipes, which had surface temperatures of 30.7˚C to 41.0˚C. The reason behind this phenomenon of higher temperature fruit remains unknown and is part of our ongoing research.
High surface temperatures of fruits are known to cause damage or “sunburn” that reduces the yield and quality of the fruit, regardless of whether the excess heat is from solar radiation or another source (McCaskill et al., 2016; Yazici & Kaynak, 2009). Much of the research conducted on fruit surface temperatures use thermocouplers to measure fruit temperature, but infrared and near infrared cameras can offer additional uses for horticulturalists and food producers.
Infrared and near-infrared spectrum technology has been used to characterize fruits for sugar and acid content and to assess plant pathogens (Salman & Abu-Khalaf, 2013). This non-invasive sensor technology has been used on a wide variety of agricultural plants to measure many parameters such as quality, stress and diseases. Going forward, we may see more producers using infrared cameras to gain insight into crop health and a deeper understanding of the life of plants, including bell peppers under greenhouse conditions.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
This project is part of the Accelerating Green Plant Innovation for Environmental and Economic Benefit Cluster and is funded by the Canadian Ornamental Horticulture Alliance (COHA-ACHO) and by the Government of Canada under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriScience Program. We are grateful for the generous access to the production greenhouse at Sunrite Greenhouses Ltd. and DelFresco Produce Ltd. and their personnel, Muhammad Javed and Rashid Idrees. Shalin Khosla, former greenhouse vegetable specialist at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, was instrumental in initiating this small project.
REFERENCES:
Abu-Khalaf, N., and Salman, M. (2013). Spectroscopy. NIR News. https://doi.org/10.1255/nirn.1369
Jones, G. H. et al. (2003). Journal of Experimental Botany https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erg116
McCaskill, M. R., et al. (2016). Agricultural and Forest Meteorology doi:10.1016/j.agrformet.2016.05.017
Yazici, K. and Kaynak, L. (2009). Acta Horticulturae. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.818.26
Charlotte Coates is a research associate, Peter Kevan is professor Emeritus at the University of Guelph.
PHOTO
WHICH PATHOGENS are really in your water?
From water-borne fungi and bacteria to possible viruses, here’s what could be swimming around in your water.
BY DR. SARAH JANDRICIC
When it comes to talking about disease-related issues in greenhouse crops, one point of confusion is often over which pathogens can be transmitted by water. Some are obvious – we all know Pythium is water-borne. But what about other culprits, like Fusarium or Erwinia? Should you worry about these in your recirculating water?
“WATER-BORNE” FUNGI
You may have heard the term “waterborne” when discussing irrigation water and disease risks from fungi, but aren’t sure exactly which pathogens it includes. Join the club. Generally, there are two types of pathogens we can consider as “waterborne” fungi. The first and most classic definition points to pathogens
that are motile in water (i.e. produce swimming structures). This includes Pythium and Phytophthora. Both of these diseases are technically classified as “water molds”, being more closely related to algae than to fungi, though they look very much like fungi. They are well-adapted to an aquatic environment and can live where irrigation water is stored (cisterns, ponds) for long periods. Then there are pathogens that survive for short periods in water and are carried by bulk flow with water and soil debris. We can also consider these water-borne, since they can theoretically carry disease from a single infected bench throughout your whole facility via your irrigation system.
Fusarium, Thielaviopsis, Alternaria,
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Impatiens can be infected by Pythium aphanidermatum, a common water-borne disease.
Botrytis, Ascochyta, Rhizoctonia, and Verticillium technically all fall into this second category. Species of Fusarium carried in irrigation water have been conclusively linked to outbreaks of root rots. However, direct links between these other pathogens in irrigation water and disease outbreaks still need to be made in greenhouses – but we shouldn’t rule them out. Other routes –such as splashing via overhead watering, dirty benches or ground covers, and vectoring by tools, shoreflies and fungus gnats – may be more likely transmission sources.
Purely foliar diseases – like powdery or downy mildew – have not been reported from irrigation water, and this is not a known transmission source for these pathogens. Controlling humidity in your greenhouse through proper ventilation, however, is key to preventing and controlling these diseases.
BACTERIA IN IRRIGATION WATER
WHAT ABOUT VIRUSES?
Most viruses need a mechanical form of transmission to get into the plant. Examples are the piercing mouthparts of vectoring insects (e.g. thrips or aphids) or pruning equipment.
But surprisingly, some viruses have been shown to spread through recirculating nutrient solutions in greenhouses, infecting the plants via sensitive root tissue without an insect vector.
...plants exhibiting viral symptoms should be disposed of as soon as possible...
Bacteria are another important pathogen type to consider when it comes to your water. Specifically, Erwinia (now known as Pectobacterium carotovorum), Xanthomonas and Ralstonia have been shown to infect ornamental greenhouse crops via irrigation water. Some bacteria can remain biologically active in water for over a month if the water is untreated.
Further, bacteria are likely to build up and form what’s known as a biofilm in your pipes and irrigation lines. This can clog emitters and create losses due to wilting, plant stress, and extra labour.
Examples include the highly contagious Pelargonium flower break virus and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). However, high virus loads are needed for this to be a source of transmission.
Generally, managing insect vectors –and your employees – is more important to controlling the spread of viruses than managing your irrigation water. However, plants exhibiting viral symptoms should be disposed of as soon as possible to prevent the spread of the virus via all possible transmission routes.
WHEN TO SUSPECT YOUR IRRIGATION WATER IS TO BLAME
As with many things, we have to remember that correlation does not necessarily mean causation. Just because a pathogen is found in your water supply doesn’t necessarily mean it’s where your disease pressure is coming from.
Here are some questions to ask yourself when a disease issue arises (adapted from Hong et al. 2005):
1. What part of the plant is affected? In the case of root or
stem rot, irrigation water could be to blame if you are sub-irrigating. Overhead watering? Then bacterial leaf spots could also be a result of contaminated water.
2. Can a pathogen be detected in water sources? If the level of the pathogen is below the detection limit for a test like a DNA analysis, it is unlikely to be at sufficient pressure to cause disease. However, just because it is present, doesn’t mean it’s definitely causing the disease.
3. Has the identified pathogen been reported to spread by irrigation and been able to infect the crop in question? If only one of these is true, then irrigation water might not be the source of your outbreak. Experience, growing guides and your local extension agent can help answer this.
4. Look at the spatial distribution of diseased plants. If only a portion of the crop is irrigated from the suspect water supply, then areas irrigated from different sources should exhibit differences in the number and distribution pattern of diseased plants. If the suspect water is applied over the
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Plant viruses can remain viable in recycled water, but this is an uncommon route of transmission. Pictured: Impatiens necrotic spotted wilt virus in Echinacea.
entire area, such as by ebb-and-flow irrigation of benches, flood floors or overhead sprinkler irrigation, expect a large amount of plants to be affected with a somewhat even distribution, rather than small foci of diseased plants.
Now that you know which pathogens can be spread via your irrigation water, the next step is to learn how to effectively sample your water, so it can be properly
managed as part of an Integrated Disease Management (IDM) program.
Stay tuned for a three-parter on water sampling do’s and don’ts at ONFloriculture. com.
Sarah Jandricic, PhD, is the greenhouse floriculture IPM specialist for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. She can be reached at sarah.jandricic@ontario.ca.
Anderline, Amblyseius andersoni, offers great control through variable spring conditions. Active at wide temperature range (6–40°C).
Phytoline, Phytoseiulus persimilis, is an active hunter of two-spotted spider mites.
Californiline, Amblyseius californicus, is an effective, industry-standard for control of mites.
Water-resistant Sachets contain a breeding colony, ensuring continuous release over several weeks for long-term mite control. Use loose material for immediate crop protection in mite infested hot spots.
A HAVEN for northern growth
By combining renewable energy, vertical farming technology and crop production know-how, researchers are empowering locals to grow fresh produce in this isolated northern hamlet.
BY Greta Chiu
The grow pod is housed in a 20-ft long container with 96 sq. ft. of growing space.
In a small Inuit hamlet above the Arctic circle, about 1,000 km northeast of Yellowknife, lies a 20-foot shipping container filled with some of the region’s first growing vegetables.
Gjoa Haven, Nunavut, is home to the nation’s most northern vertical farming project. Known to organizers as the “grow pod”, this collaborative venture not only aims to develop crop production technology in the North, but empowers locals with the necessary tools and knowledge to grow plants of their own.
“We asked the Gjoa Haven Elders and members of the community to tell us what they needed most,” says Tom Henheffer, vice president of communications at the Arctic Research Foundation (ARF). The overwhelming response was a request for fresh produce. “It’s so expensive, and half the time it’s rotten [when] it gets here.”
For the past nine years, ARF has partnered with government groups and other research institutions on scientific and socioeconomic projects in the Arctic. Differing from other short-term northern research projects, ARF’s goal is to have a lasting impact and as such, their projects often have 20-year timelines. The results of their work have not gone unnoticed. Not only have they raised the public profile of Northern issues, their projects have led to progressive community development in the region as well. Leveraging the technology of their self-powered mobile science labs crafted from refurbished shipping containers, ARF is working collaboratively with Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada (AAFC), the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to bring this vertical farming project to Gjoa Haven.
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This grow pod not only tests vertical farming technology in Gjoa Haven, it aims to empower the local population to continue growing plants of their own.
POWERING A FARM
Residents of Gjoa Haven were knee-deep in the project right from the start. They helped unpack the materials for the grow pod as the container exceeded the maximum lifting capacity of any local forklift, says Digweed. By the end of October, ARF and local technicians had finished setting up power for the pod, installing wind turbines and solar panels.
...most components had manuals, and more importantly, replacement parts readily available.
What made ARF the ideal partner was their proven track record of success with research projects in the Arctic along with their close relationships with local communities, says Quade Digweed. A greenhouse engineer at AAFC and one of the lead researchers on the project, Digweed worked closely with colleagues Dr. Xiuming Hao and Dr. Shawna Mackinnon to design the plant growth systems used inside the grow pod.
After receiving the green light last spring, the AAFC team had just three months to design, build, test and dismantle the grow pod in Harrow, Ont., ensuring that the container made the scheduled sealift leaving Montreal in July. “Everything that we could do commercial off-theshelf, we did,” says Digweed. This turned out to be an advantage as most components had manuals, and more importantly, replacement parts readily available. “All the plumbing is [made of] PVC that you could buy at a local hardware store.”
“Our first night on arrival in Gjoa Haven, Adrian Schimnowski (CEO for the Arctic Research Foundation) arranged a meeting with the local Elders,” Digweed recalls, recounting their first visit to the hamlet where the population of 1,400 is 95 per cent Inuit. “First we thanked them for letting us into the community, and they advised us of where to put the container because they knew where we would get the best wind in town…. The wind turbines have been spinning almost constantly since.”
Power is a big challenge, Henheffer explains. “Most of these communities are powered by diesel generators – there’s no electricity. Everything has to be off-grid.” Although diesel is not the most efficient means of power, it’s the only option available. “That’s why we’re developing this cutting-edge solar and wind technology,” he adds, which has been largely responsible for powering ARF’s mobile stations and this vertical farm.
“In the Arctic, you have extremely periodic sunlight,” Digweed explains. “For half the year, you’re getting close to no yield in the solar panels. For the other half of the year, you’re getting a phenomenal amount of energy out of them.” According to Travel Nunavut, Gjoa Haven experiences 24 hours of sunshine daily from mid-May to mid-July. While temperatures can reach 15°C in the summer, winters are more frigid at -20°C to -40°C, not including wind
PHOTO CREDIT: AAFC
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While most communities rely on diesel, the grow pod is mainly powered by solar and wind.
chill. As a backup, the team installed a diesel generator for days without significant wind or sun.
HUMIDITY CONTROL
“Controlling the humidity is very difficult because regular HVAC systems don’t work when it’s that cold,” Henheffer points out. “The ambient moisture will cause them to freeze and lock up.” While researchers look at possible HVAC options, the team has relied on natural air exchange to let out excess humidity.
“In front of our 20-foot grow pod, we have another 20-foot container that [ARF] previously used as a mobile science lab,” explains Digweed. As technicians enter and exit the facility through the mobile lab kept at 15°C, they bring in cool dry air that takes some of the humidity away from the grow pod, which is kept between 19°C and 21°C.
“Sammy, one of our local technicians, had actually put what he called a ‘breathing hole’ into the pod,” Digweed adds. “It’s how the Inuit would vent shelters out in the land. It was working quite well until we managed to put in a better fan system in February.” The next step will be to look at extracting waste heat before they exhaust the air.
Although the water lost through transpiration cannot be recaptured using this method of dehumidification, water
“One of the visions of the system is to eventually have a zero waste facility.”
consumed by the grow pod is still quite low. “There are four growth racks in the container, and each rack has a 150-litre stock tank below it,” says Digweed. With an ebb-and-flow system in place, he estimates that the tanks only need replen ishing once every six to eight weeks using water from the town.
NO PESTS OR DISEASES
Inside the grow pod are twelve, 2 x 4-foot flood trays on four racks, amounting to 96 square feet of growing space. So far, the team has largely focused on micro greens and lettuce for their short turnover and proven performance in vertical farms. As the local crew grew more familiar with the system, they starting producing 75 to 80 heads of lettuce per week, says Dig weed. Since then, researchers have tried different varieties of tomatoes to see how well they perform.
PHOTO CREDIT: ARF
TOWARDS SELF-SUFFICIENCY
With the research team scattered across multiple research centres from Kentville, N.S., to Saskatoon, S.K., data logged by the grow pod’s various climate sensors are sent to researchers by the local team on a regular basis – but the end goal isn’t to run the vertical farm autonomously from afar.
“Our main focus is providing the toolkit for them to learn how to produce crops,” Digweed explains, “not necessarily to grow the best crop possible in a container in the arctic, but to give them the skills to do that themselves one day.”
By creating this common spot in the community, organizers hope to inspire interest and skill development in horticulture. For Henheffer, he would like nothing more than to see an entire network of these grow pods established throughout the Arctic. They’ve received nothing but positive responses from the locals, and a number of other communities have expressed interest as well.
The next step is to trial some culturally significant crops, such as teas and berries. The team had originally planned a summer expedition to locate seeds which
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As the local technicians became more familiar with the system, the grow pod was able to produce 75 to 80 heads of lettuce per week.
aren’t available within the community, but these plans will largely depend on how the COVID pandemic plays out. Henheffer wants to avoid any chance of bringing the disease up to the hamlet where access to medical care is extremely limited and the closest hospital is a flight away.
“[Traditionally] the Inuit are not a people who farm – they’re hunter-gatherers,”
he says, but with this project and hopefully similar ones in the future, that will change.
“While they’re teaching us their traditional knowledge, we’re teaching them these new methods of growing. It’s really a beautiful synergy of North helping South and South helping North. It’s a cooperation that should have been happening centuries ago but is finally working now.”
Growing is your business. Protecting it is ours!
SUPPLIERS TAKE CANADIAN FLOWER BOOST
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, floriculture suppliers and supporters donated their time and efforts not only to support local growers, but to show their appreciation to workers on the front line.
“These difficult times call for some extra kindness to brighten someone’s day and some extra support for local businesses. The Flower Boost Challenge encourages just that,” says Paul Di Ianni, economic development officer for the Town of Lincoln, Ont. “It began at Van der Ende Group, a company in Holland, where employees challenged each other on LinkedIn to buy flowers for colleagues, friends, and family.”
Here were a few highlights spotted on social media over the past few months:
During the outbreak, Prins Greenhouses donated tulips from Pioneer Flowers to the frontline staff at Niagara Health’s St. Catharines General Hospital. Paul Boers donated orchids from CosMic Plants to workers at Bethesda Services in Vineland, Ont., who provide services to those with special needs.
“The #FlowerBoostChallenge is a great initiative to help boost the floral industry during these difficult times, and put a smile on the faces of people receiving the flowers.” ~ Prins Greenhouses & Paul Boers
Priva North America donated bouquets from Orchardcreek Greenhouses to healthcare professionals at Niagara Health in St. Catharines, West Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Grimsby and Chatham-Kent Health Alliance in Chatham and Wallaceburg.
“It was truly satisfying to see the appreciation and positive responses from these healthcare professionals [with] a small gesture. The real appreciation is for these hard-working frontline professionals working so selflessly to help #flattenthecurve …A special thanks to Dave Taylor and Dennis Massender for getting these flowers out to the Southwestern Ontario locations.”
~ Priva North America
ON THE BOOST CHALLENGE
Hoogendoorn America donated 400 orchids from CosMic Plants to Niagara Emergency Medical Services.
“This generous donation was such a welcome boost to the entire staff at Niagara EMS. Can’t thank Hoogendoorn America Inc. and CosMic Plants Inc. enough! #flowerboostchallenge #canadianflowerboostchallenge” ~ Bryce Brunarski, Superintendent of Public Relations and Affairs, Niagara EMS
“We truly appreciate the brave health care workers who are fighting daily for our well-being, while risking exposure to the virus. …Moreover, with these flowers of gratitude, we supported the Canadian flower sector at this challenging time. These difficult circumstances affect us all, therefore we would like to encourage organizations and individuals to buy flowers and to spread some joy #canadianflowerboostchallenge.” ~ Hoogendoorn America
Town of Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton teamed up with local orchid grower, CosMic Plants, to bring this viral challenge to Canada and announced the #CanadianFlowerBoostChallenge by gifting flowers to town hall staff.
“Flower growers in Niagara employ thousands of people and have experienced dramatic hardships during this time, with lay-offs and a major downturn in sales. This is a fantastic opportunity for people to provide a boost in business and bring brightness to the community. It is the hope that if many people take part in this small gesture of kindness, it will have a larger impact on the economy and our local flower growers.” ~ Paul Di Ianni, Town of Lincoln
How to know when your weevil is evil
A guide to distinguishing the pepper weevil from its doppelgangers
BY CARA MCCREARY AND DR. ROSE LABBÉ
The pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii, is an economically damaging pest that can be found throughout all major pepper growing regions in North America. This pest can catch producers off-guard. Reproducing at exponential rates, it is incredibly laborious to manage and causes significant yield loss.
Management options are limited with few insecticides currently registered in Canada. Recent work has identified effective reducedrisk and biorational products to support new registrations and label expansions. However, available insecticides have limited efficacy largely due to the concealed immature life-stages, which develop inside the buds and pepper fruit, that go practically unscathed following an insecticide
application. For best results, it is critical to detect pepper weevil early in the initial infestation period, then respond promptly with diligent scouting, removal of infested fruit and buds, and use insecticides when necessary. One of the most reliable tools to assist in early detection are pheromone baited traps. These traps include large yellow sticky cards and lures containing compounds found in naturally occurring aggregation pheromones. These aggregation pheromones are released by adult male pepper weevils, telling both male and female pepper weevils “this is where the party’s at – there’s food, there’s mates, come on over”.
One challenge encountered when monitoring these traps is that other equally small weevil
TOP Figure 1. Pepper weevil caught on a yellow sticky card.
BOTTOM Figure 2. Snout of a pepper weevil emerging from an aborted pepper bud.
White-yellow scales
Dense patch of white-yellow scales
2 to 3.5 mm
Anthonomus eugenii – Pepper weevil: Note the spurs under each of the six femora, white-yellow scales on body and wing covers, oval-shaped body with strongly arched back, and a small dense patch of white-yellow scales at the top of the wing covers.
species are often observed, and sometimes well before any pepper weevils ever appear. The conundrum, then, is that failure to properly identify and promptly respond to the presence of pepper weevil could rapidly lead to a difficult-to-manage pepper weevil population. In contrast, misidentifying a non-pepper weevil as one, could lead producers to spend more time and money on a higher-than-normal rate of crop scouting, infested fruit removal, and the unnecessary application of insecticides. For these reasons, the accurate identification of weevil species is essential to making informed and timely pest management decisions.
IT CAN’T BE THAT HARD…
To give you an idea of the diversity of weevils in Ontario and Canada, we look to the 2013 Checklist of Beetles (Coleoptera) of Canada and Alaska (Bousquet et al., 2013). According to this source, there are currently 960 described species within the superfamily Curculionoidea (a.k.a weevils) in Canada; 480 of which are found in Ontario. Within that superfamily are the more relevant members of the family Curculionidae (a.k.a true weevils or snout beetles) of which there are 823 described species in Canada; 400 of which are found in Ontario. This family includes 37 weevil species belonging to the genus Anthonomus in Canada; 17 of which are
found in Ontario. Some of these species not only closely resemble the pepper weevil, but may also respond to the same pheromones in baited traps designed to attract pepper weevil. However, in a greenhouse pepper crop, there is only one species that we really care about: the pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii. Because there are many similar morphological features among weevil
species are most commonly observed on pepper weevil pheromone baited traps in a specific geographic location. Secondly, of those known species, we should determine which are most difficult to distinguish from the pepper weevil. Lastly, we need to determine which features to focus our attention on in order to tell them apart.
...in a greenhouse pepper crop, there is only one species that we really care about...
species in general, it can be quite challenging to know just which species is stuck to your sticky trap. Essentially, we are expecting you to pick a needle out of a haystack. No big deal, right? So, how do we differentiate between pepper weevil and the hundreds of other weevil species in Ontario?
THERE MUST BE A WAY TO MAKE THIS EASIER…
There is a way to make this easier. The first step is to determine which weevil
To answer these questions, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) initiated a collaborative effort aimed at identifying the numerous other weevil species found on pepper weevil pheromone baited traps in southwestern Ontario. This ongoing work is focused on distinguishing close relatives of the pepper weevil, and other morphologically similar weevil species to better assist IPM specialists, scouts and producers in confidently identifying the evil weevil with ease. Since 2016, thousands of weevils have been collected from traps, catalogued and their prevalence and seasonal occurrence recorded. With this information, we can help narrow down the list of suspects.
A WEEVIL DETECTIVE’S TOOLS
To begin your detective work, it’s important to have the right tools in order to see body shapes, textures and other tiny features to help distinguish weevil species from one another. Most weevil features can be observed with a 10X hand lens or low magnification microscope. These days, digital USB microscopes or mobile phone attachments are relatively cost effective and can make it easier to
take and share quality pictures of your specimens. As a bonus, this can also help build an image reference library useful for ongoing pest identification and management. Once you are set up with a suitable device, it’s then important to get familiar with morphological terminology typically used to describe insect body parts (i.e. Do you know what a femur is?). Doing so will help you work though the feature lists of described weevil species, and enable you to access a huge array of online resources that can be used to rapidly compare your specimen to other relatives. Together, these tools combined with this guide should make identification of weevils as comprehensive as possible.
UNCOVERING THE DETAILS OF THE PEPPER WEEVIL
First, there are certain morphological features that can be particularly helpful for ruling out many beetle species and distinguishing between the more relevant weevils. For starters, we can begin by looking for the Muppet character, Gonzo. In other words, does your specimen have a snout? Pepper weevil and its close relatives all have a snout, which is basically the nose of the weevil and looks a bit like an elephant’s trunk. (Note: there are some weevils that don’t have snouts). Other distinguishing features specific to the pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii include (Fig. 3):
• 2-3.5 mm length (head to tip of abdomen)
• Black-brown-mahogany coloured body (quite variable)
• White-yellow scales (look like thick hairs) on the body and elytra (wing covers); scales are in slight disarray (picture Albert Einstein) relative to some other species
• Very small, but dense, patch of scales in the centre top dorsal (i.e. their back) section of the weevil located between the two wing covers – this section of the body is called the scutellum (picture a small, whitish circular patch at the base of the neck where the wing covers meet)
• Oval-shaped body
• Strongly arched back (very notable and a common trait of the genus Anthonomus)
• Spurs on the underside of all 6 femora (picture a thorn on a rose stem protruding from the back of its thigh)
5.
Polydrusus formosus – Green immigrant leaf weevil
FIGURE 6.
Anthonomus signatus – Strawberry clipper weevil: Note the thin covering of white scales, a small, dense patch of scales at top of wing covers, and large concentric circles on wing covers with white scales surrounding a black centre.
FIGURE 7.
Ceutorhynchus typhae: Note the concentrated white scales at the top of the wing covers and down the centerline, a thin covering of white scales on the body, and round, squat body shape.
PHOTO CREDIT: CHRIS JOLL, BUGGUIDE
Despite these key features of the pepper weevil, many other weevils have similar-looking traits and it can be tough to tell some of them apart. Let’s look at features that can help us rule out these other species.
THE INNOCENT WEEVILS (IN A PEPPER CROP)
Among the specimens we captured on pheromone baited traps, some looked wildly different from the pepper weevil, such as the beet petiole borer, Cosmobaris scolopacea (Fig. 4) or the green immigrant leaf weevil (Polydrusus formosus) (Fig. 5). Others have a striking resemblance in size and features. One further confounding factor to identification is that sometimes the glue from sticky traps can change a specimen’s appearance to the point where easily distinguished features are less obvious or entirely hidden. Therefore, it’s important to look closely at the series of features that can help rule out other weevil species as culprits. Specifically, look at size, colour, density of scales, the presence of spurs and perhaps most notably, the body shape. Ask yourself, “What is similar to the description of a pepper weevil and what is different?”
There are a few other key weevil genera that keep popping up among our collected specimens including other Anthonomus, Ceutorhynchus, and Tychius species. Some of these other species frequently appear on traps in spring and early summer as they emerge from overwintering sites and their suitable hosts are available, whereas the pepper weevil tends to be more prevalent during mid-to-late summer. However, it is possible to observe the pepper weevil at any point throughout the growing season. Below are some of the distinguishing features of commonly collected weevil species found on pepper weevil pheromone baited traps:
• Small, dense patch of white scales in the centre top dorsal section between the two wing covers (i.e. the scutellum) (similar)
• Oval body shape (similar)
• Thin covering of scales (slightly thinner than the pepper weevil)
FIGURE
Thin covering of white scales Oval shape 2 to 3 mm
Concentric circles
Dense patch of scales
PHOTO CREDIT: MIKE QUINN, TEXENTO.NET
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• One large concentric circle on each wing cover, in which white scales surround a large nearly black centre – the rest of the weevil body varies in shades of reddish-brown and black (this is the feature that will most likely set it apart from the pepper weevil)
Ceutorhynchus typhae (Fig. 7)
• 1.5-2.1 mm length (smaller)
• Concentrated white scales at top of wing covers and down centerline (usually a clear “white skunk stripe”)
• Thin covering of white scales on body (similar)
• Round, squat body shape (different)
Ceutorhynchus rapae – Cabbage weevil (Fig. 8)
• 2.7-3.2 mm length (similar)
• Body appears grey due to thick covering of white scales on black body (different – the grey is very noticeable when placed side-by-side with the pepper weevil, but may not be when observed on its own)
• Snout is long, narrow and downwardcurved (somewhat different)
• Round, squat body shape (different)
In addition, Ceutorhynchus erysimi is also occasionally collected (photo not shown). While it has some similar characteristics to the above-mentioned Ceutorhynchus species, including a similar body shape and smaller size of approximately 1.8 to 2.7 mm length, C.
Long, narrow and downwardcurved 2.7 to 3.2 mm 1.7 to 2.1 mm
Round, squat shape
FIGURE 8.
Thick covering of white scales
Ceutorhynchus rapae – Cabbage weevil: Note the snout is long, narrow and downward-curved, body appears grey due to a thick covering of white scales on the black body, and a round, squat body shape.
erysimi can be distinguished by its black shiny body with metallic blue-green wing covers, and the virtual absence of scales.
Tychius meliloti – Sweet clover weevil (Fig. 9)
• 1.7-2.5 mm length (smaller)
• Brown body (the distinct amberbrown colour may be a dead giveaway)
• Concentrated white scales at the top of wing covers and down centerline (usually a clear “white skunk stripe”)
• Thick covering of yellow and white scales (different)
Orangebrown segments
Elongated oval shape
FIGURE 10.
to 2.5 mm
Elongated oval shape
Concentrated white scales
Orangebrown segments
Thick covering of yellow & white scales
9.
Tychius meliloti – Sweet clover weevil: Note the orange-brown lower leg segments, a thick covering of yellow and white scales, concentrated white scales at the top of the wing covers and down the centerline, plus an elongated oval body shape.
Thick white scales
Tychius picirostris – Clover seed weevil: Note the orange-brown lower leg segments, thick white scales on the body, and an elongated oval body shape.
• Elongated oval body shape (different)
• Lower leg segments are orange-brown (somewhat different)
• Body is dark greenish-brown to black (somewhat different)
• Thick white scales on body (somewhat different)
• Elongated oval body shape (different)
• Lower leg segments are orange-brown (somewhat different)
Aside from these common weevil species often found on pepper weevil pheromone baited traps, there are other weevil species in Ontario belonging to subfamily Baridinae (Fig. 11) that also share a considerable resemblance to the pepper weevil. Members of this group are incredibly difficult to identify at the species level. However, there are some key features that can be useful for identifying members of this subfamily. Males have obvious prosternal spines protruding from their heads (picture horns coming from the underside of their neck) (Fig. 12) – these are used in male-to-male combat. At first glance however, the females can look remarkably like the pepper weevil. Perhaps the most important difference is the body shape – the pepper weevil has an arched back while the baridine weevils do not.
It is noteworthy that pepper weevil’s doppelgangers may be pests in other crops, but not in peppers. Ultimately, the
FIGURE
BOTH
PHOTOS: JOHN ROSENFELD, BUGGUIDE
Prosternal spines
basic information provided here can be a useful first resource for quickly weeding out the weevils that aren’t of interest to pepper producers and identifying the weevils that likely are. Although we would urge you to look for these details when first observing and distinguishing specimens yourself, when in doubt or when a specimen strongly resembles the description of a pepper weevil, it is important to reach out to your trusted IPM specialist or entomologist for confirmation. Either way, if you are a pepper producer and find a weevil on one of your traps, don’t panic until you know that your weevil is in fact evil.
THE PROOF IS IN THE PRODUCT
REFERENCE
Bousquet, Y., P. Bouchard, A. E. Davies, and D. S. Sikes. 2013. Data associated with Checklist of beetles (Coleoptera) of Canada and Alaska. Second edition. Data Paper. ZooKeys. http://dx.doi. org/10.5886/998dbs2a
Cara McCreary, MSc, is the greenhouse vegetable IPM specialist at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Rose Labbé, PhD, is the greenhouse entomologist at Agriculture and AgriFood Canada. Questions? Email Cara at cara.mccreary@ontario.ca.
FIGURE 12.
Prosternal spines on baridine specimen.
FIGURE 11.
Left: Pepper weevil. Right: Baridine specimen.
Biofuel boiler puts the “green” in greenhouse
A first for North America, this European boiler is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
BY ROSEMARY MANTINI
Talk about walking a fine line. Greenhouse growers care deeply about feeding their communities. But the process of extracting and distributing the fuel that allows them to heat those greenhouses – typically, natural gas or oil – can contribute to pollution in the atmosphere and waterways. With more consumers expressing concern about the effects of fossil fuel use and increasing pressure from the federal government to reduce carbon emissions, these farmers face a challenge. How can they meet current and future food production needs while managing the costs of running a business and reducing greenhouse gas emissions all at the same time?
ENTER THE BIOFUEL SOLUTION
Greenhouse growers are nothing if not inspired. Thanks to them, the greenhouse sector has the potential to become one of the superheroes in the fight against climate change. Take Marc and Krista
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Schurman, owners of Atlantic Grown Organics in PEI. The Schurmans were depending on four boilers to heat their four acre greenhouse, using byproducts from a local oilseed processing plant as fuel and supplementing with oil. In January, they accessed over $800,000 in federal and provincial government grants to trade in all four boilers for two, Austrian-made, 1250kw Herz Energietechnik BioFire boilers. Running on 100% solid biofuel, these boilers are designed to function efficiently and cleanly on wood chips. Supported by government funding, the Schurmans are testing the boilers’ ability to handle more than wood alone, but a mixture incorporating local oilseed byproducts from crambe and meadowform crops.
This European technology is a first-of-its-kind in North America, and it’s pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. “Our Canadian technology is similar,” Schurman says, “but it doesn’t meet the rigorous emission standards that they have in
Using a combination of sustainably sourced wood chips and local oilseed byproducts, Marc Schurman and his family are testing new boilers running on 100 per cent solid biofuel.
Heat exchanger module
3. Intermediate hopper with fall shaft, double stoker screw and fuel barrier layer
4. Automatic ignition with hot air blower
5. Combustion chamber made of SiC fireproof concrete (temperature resistance up to 1550°C) with step grate (two zones) made of solid cast chromium steel. The fuel-pusher grate intervals and two primary air zones are separately controllable. The grate elements can be changed individually. Furthermore, the combustion chamber has two secondary air zones.
6. Standing pipe heat exchanger with integrated turbulators and cleaning mechanism
7. Automatic flue gas and combustion monitoring via lambda probe control
8. Frequency converter controlled induced draft fan (on the cyclone) with underpressure control in the burning chamber
9. Ash discharge screw from the combustion chamber including push rod floor conveyor
10. Ash discharge screw from the heat exchanger module
11. Ash containers with wheels allow easy and convenient emptying of the ashes. Optionally a central ash discharge is possible
12. Flow connection possible on both sides
13. Return connection possible on both sides opposite the advance flow and return flow connection is the hydraulic connection between the combustion chamber and the heat exchanger module
14. Efficient heat insulation for lowest radiation losses
15. Zone-controlled primary air supply
16. Combustion zones
a) drying zone
b) combustion zone c) burn-out zone
17. Double HARDOX stoker screw
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A schematic diagram of the Herz BioFire shows how the solid biofuel is fed through the biomass boiler.
Europe.” With the Schurmans testing the BioFire’s stamina in PEI, they have taken on a dynamic role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while heightening their efforts to feed more people year-round. In fact, the Schurmans estimate that the boilers can offset 2.1 million kg of CO2 annually, equivalent to removing nearly 500 cars off the road.
Terrence Sauvé, engineer in farmstead operation and safety at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, suggests, “using solid biofuel, such as woody residues and byproducts from the forestry sector, or woody residues from packaging such as pallets and skids …
has the potential to meet some of the heat demand of early adopters at a cost competitive advantage over certain fossil fuels. In the European Union, solid biofuels make up over 85% of the renewable heat produced.”
Detlev Elsner, managing director of Wood4Heating that installed the Schurmans’ new boilers, agrees that Europe is further ahead. “European countries, such as Germany, England, and Italy,” he says, “have provided significant subsidies to help businesses and individuals, including farmers, purchase green technology. The government support has the added benefit of encouraging companies to in-
vest in researching ways to continuously develop and improve that technology.”
Here in Canada, most greenhouse growers still rely on fossil fuels as a consistent power source. Sauvé acknowledges that it can be more economical for many farms. “Greenhouses located near urban areas have secured long term contracts for natural gas supply at very low rates,” he says. So, while the benefit of switching to a heating system fueled by clean and renewable sources may not be immediately apparent for some greenhouses, it can be a lifeline to those in rural and remote areas. Greenhouses located far from urban centres can “pay as
1. Combustion chamber module
2.
much as a 50% premium for #2 diesel,” he says.
No doubt, making the switch to solid biofuel is much easier when the greenhouse is located within easy reach of active forestry operations. Yet, the pressure to look at alternative sources of heating for the whole sector is mounting. “In the future, oil and gas may be less available, regardless of price, because of greenhouse gas policies aimed at reducing the use of fossil fuels,” says Professor Ralph Martin, University of Guelph. According to the National Inventory Report 1990-2018: Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada published in 2019 by Environment and Climate Change Canada, the current federal government has invested “$2.3 billion in clean technology including nearly $1.4 billion in financing dedicated to supporting clean technology firms and $400 million to support the development and demonstration of clean technologies.”
The BioFire is expected to cover over 95 per cent of the Schurmans’ annual heat load.
INSIDE THE HEART OF A BIOFIRE
The Schurmans are no strangers to testing renewable sources of heating for their greenhouse. They’ve been burning biomass, including straw, wood chips, and other types of crop residues, since the 1980s. The critical point for them came when their organic vegetable operation expanded to a size where burning biomass could no longer provide the necessary heat, leaving them to rely on over 100,000 litres of fuel oil annually.
It was Elsner and his business partner Alex Pratt who found the ideal solution. While the Herz BioFire boiler system was designed to burn wood chips, it also has the potential to handle non-woody solid biofuels, notably the oilseed byproducts being tested by the Schurmans. Better yet, the BioFire functions by two-stage combustion, which gives it over 93% combustion efficiency. And there’s no smell. The Schurmans report that “the boilers will cover more than 95% of the annual
heat load and improve the environmental impact of the operation.”
The most impressive part might be the fact that it’s smart. “The whole system can be controlled from your phone,” Elsner explains. Herz developed a colour-coded, touch-sensitive interface by which the various parts of the system, such as combustion control, buffer management, pressure control, motor valve, and more, can be monitored.
The boiler begins the heating process by drawing biomass from the storage
area, which can be built beside or above the boiler depending on space. The grate moves the biomass through the drying zone – which is ideal when there might be a higher water content in the fuel –and into the first combustion chamber where the biomass is gasified. The initial gasses produced, such as methane, are moved into a second combustion chamber where they are burned to produce heat, releasing CO2 in the process. Finally, the BioFire discharges the ash and automates its own gravity-based self-clean
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Climate management
Water management
Energy management
Food safety and labor
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The Schurmans grow organically under the brand ‘Atlantic Grown Organics’ and harvest year-round.
cycle. Each BioFire boiler self-modulates to burn continuously at optimized efficiency for every given load, Pratt and Elsner explain.
The fact that the BioFire releases carbon dioxide might seem like a contradiction. But, Canada Energy Regulator considers the amount of CO2 produced to be offset by the amount of carbon dioxide taken in by plants during their lifetime. According to a summary produced by Environment and Climate Change Canada on the Global Methane Initiative, methane is a “precursor to ground-level ozone – a key component of smog.” The report recognizes that methane “traps more than 70 times more heat over a 20-year period than the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide.”
If the BioFire can satisfy the Schurmans’ growing needs all year long and burn as cleanly as it purports, then that’s a step forward for the agricultural sector and the local economy.
THE GROWTH OF LOCAL
Wouldn’t it be great if more Canadian greenhouses could supply produce to markets across the country year round? That’s certainly one of the Schurmans’ goals. An efficient and clean heating system will allow them to do that and satisfy one of their other goals, too. Purchasing locally harvested waste residues and agricultural byproducts means that
the Schurmans will put an estimated $100,000 annually back into their own community.
The circular nature of the green economy at large seems to have bolstered another emerging industry – namely, solid biofuel delivery. “Businesses that have the processing and logistical equipment are already supplying solid biofuel heating systems,” Sauvé says. “The businesses may be forestry operators and processors, or waste management businesses that have the possibility to segregate and divert non-contaminated solid biofuels from urban areas or other local farm-related businesses.”
Using solid biofuels as a heat source has incredible potential. But, for now, there remain some perceptual, logistical, and regulatory obstacles to surmount.
Elsner doesn’t want people to picture clear-cut forests and high carbon emissions when they think about burning biomass. In fact, what makes operating the BioFire potentially carbon-neutral is the fuel used. “The wood chips should be sourced sustainably,” he says, which includes smaller trees removed during forest thinnings, leftover material from lumber mills and diseased trees – all materials that would otherwise be scrapped. In fact, disposing the biomass in other ways – burning it, leaving it to decay, or dumping it into landfills – could lead to the release of more aggressive greenhouse gasses. Instead,
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Crops include tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants and more.
burning biomass cleanly in modern appliances turns an existing byproduct into an economic and environmental plus. Studies conducted by Environment and Climate Change Canada suggest that allowing space for the remaining trees and shrubs to grow “represent[s] the biggest contribution to the overall removal” of CO2. As Sauvé iterates, “using wood-based solid biomass residues from the Canadian forestry sector to generate heat and power is carbon neutral.”
COMMUNICATION IS KEY
To move forward, related sectors must clear up any misinformation and demonstrate how viable this technology can be. “Currently,” Sauvé explains, “the solid biofuel heating industry is still in its infancy, and there is much to be done in this sector to promote the benefits of modern wood heating appliances and the solid biofuel supply chain. Regulations for approving, operating, and supplying solid biofuel heating systems are not consistent from province to province and may pose a barrier to increasing their adoption.”
Challenges aside, increasing the use of biomass-fuelled heating to Canada is a significant step in the right direction. With industry cooperation and government support, it’s possible to envision a day when operating any greenhouse could be carbon-neutral.
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QUESTIONS IN DATA
Whether electronic or manual, every greenhouse collects data. But what’s worth keeping and how does one make full use of it?
Q&A WITH PIETER KWAKERNAAK, HOOGENDOORN AMERICA
As the high-tech world of greenhouse operations continues to move forward, growers are faced with increasingly more options for sensors used to monitor and streamline their operations. Now with greater opportunities for data collection and analysis than ever before, how can growers figure out which ones are important and what to do with it all? Greenhouse Canada sat down with Pieter Kwakernaak, general manager of Hoogendoorn America, to get his take on greenhouse data and its role in climate control and optimal plant growth.
Why has greenhouse data become so essential in greenhouse climate control?
Greenhouse climate data has always been very important. However, not everyone is looking at all the data because it can be overwhelming. Sometimes it is hard to tell what exactly is important. That is why this information has to be collected, analyzed and displayed in a way so growers can see what exactly is happening at the crop level. The greenhouse climate is created to let plants grow as best as they can.
What type of data should growers collect?
Why do they need such a wide array?
vides insights into how the greenhouse and plants function. By applying the new insights and principles of Plant Empowerment, many growers are already benefitting from improved results. They observe better growth and production, fewer pests and diseases and save water and energy at the same time.
With so many different types of data being collected, how can a grower make sense of it all? How can the analysis be used to improve production?
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In general, growers should look at data that directly supports plant growth (sensor-generated data, crop measurements, etc). In a modern commercial greenhouse, different sensors can generate data. For instance, aspirator boxes and sensors measure temperature, humidity, CO2 and PAR light, while meteo sensors measure the weather conditions outside. Additionally, there may be cameras and weighing scales. The current generation of climate computers also offers large amounts of data about actuators such as ventilation windows, screens, irrigation valves, etc. Plant sensors and crop measurement systems provide data about crop development, yield, and quality.
Pieter Kwakernaak
All sensors in greenhouses are installed for a reason. It is important to look at the greenhouse climate conditions. However, controlling the climate with the goal of supporting plant health is a better direction rather than trying to control indoor conditions, such as with setpoints for temperature or humidity, in general.
A good starting point would be Growing by Plant Empowerment, which is a way of sustainable growing in greenhouses by supporting plant balances in water, energy and assimilates. Continuously collecting data during the cultivation process pro-
Data analysis starts with the process of data collection, data storage, and data cleaning. A high-quality dataset creates many possibilities for data analysis, like answering questions such as what happened and why did it happen? Visualizing data with data analysis can be essential in finding the correct answers. When combining data from multiple sources, data analysis tools such as dashboards or graphs are essential to present results in a clear way and gain insights to your cultivation data. Also, calculations on real-time data can be performed to deliver even more insight. This way, data is turned into meaningful information.
In order to drive plant growth, the plant has to be in balance. To achieve this, we have to look at the three plant balances:
• Assimilates balance is directly related to photosynthesis, the starting point of plant growth. This process is described chemically as 6CO2 + 6H2O + light = 6 O2 + C6H12O6 Known as the production of assimilates, this is needed to build plant load.
• Energy balance is the balance between the energy flow towards (input) and from (output) the plant. Energy input can be from radiation (by sunlight and lamps), radiant heat (pipe rail, heaters), convective energy from air movement and evaporative energy.
• Water balance is the balance between input to and output of water from the plants; a balance between irrigation and the uptake of water with the loss of water through evaporation and growth.
Collecting the right data can give information about whether your crop is in balance. A balanced crop makes more efficient use of water, fertilizers and energy. That is how Growing by Plant Empowerment contributes to sustainable growing. In
addition to creating the optimum growth climate, resulting in optimized yields and quality, you can also save costs.
For parts of Canada, the greenhouse can face bouts of warm and humid conditions in the summer. How could a grower use their historical data, combined with AI algorithm, to help them optimize their greenhouse climate for the good of the crop?
The behaviour of a crop is not only determined by the actual greenhouse conditions, but also on many other factors resulting, amongst others, from the crop’s history. To describe these complex and dynamic systems, we need the help of dynamic algorithms and models, based on AI techniques. In general, artificial intelligence tries to mimic human intelligence. During the training process, the network gradually learns how the real crop behaves, and eventually, the network is capable of simulating this behaviour when it is fed with new input data. In other words, the trained network has become a model of the real crop.
Looking at plant production systems, we can think of different models that describe growth and development, predict yield and quality, calculate expected energy and water demand, and estimate the risks of pests and diseases. Different models together form a decision support system that is capable of answering the questions that growers like to ask, such as: what will happen if I maintain my current strategy? And what if I change this specific parameter? And what is likely to happen this upcoming week based on the current weather forecast? A yield prediction model, for example, can provide useful
information to the grower on the number of kilos that he is likely to produce in the next couple of weeks. This is very important to conclude profitable contracts with customers. An energy demand model can help plan more accurately in the purchase of gas and electricity, and also base it on the weather forecast.
An AI model needs time to learn from
historical data. However, by analyzing the data and making adjustments based on keeping the plant in balance, a grower can benefit from data analysis right away.
Is there such a thing as bad quality data? Absolutely. The data collected should be correct since growers are making decisions based on this data. Data quality needs to be of a sufficient level, because of the rule ‘garbage in = garbage out.’
It is important to make sure crop measurements are consistent and that sensors are checked and calibrated on a regular basis. Follow the recommended maintenance schedule from suppliers.
Before a dataset can be used for analysis, the data must be cleaned. The idea of data cleaning is simple; it is the process of removing outliers. Even a calibrated sensor can break down and cause errors in the dataset that should not be taken into account when calculating descriptive statistics, such as the mean value. Data cleaning is required to improve the quality of the dataset. This can be done with all kind of tools, scripts or algorithms. It’s important to think about which data is needed for the analysis.
PHOTO CREDIT: HOOGENDOORN
Managing financial risk during uncertain times
BY STEVE FUNK
When asked the question of which COVID-19 programs are most applicable to greenhouse growers, my first response is: AgriStability. This might be thought of as an odd response given that AgriStability is not a COVID-19 program, but rather a general-purpose business risk management tool for all types of farming.
The problem is that in 2020, COVID-19 related risks are compounding upon regular ongoing risks that greenhouse operations have always faced. Some of the risks that may be specifically caused or impacted by COVID-19 are:
1. Suppliers going out of business and/or supply chain interruptions, which could result in negative impacts to production
2. Customers being unable to pay for product delivered, which could result in significant bad debt losses
3. Cancellation of orders, limited access to markets, loss of processing capacity, and changes in consumer preferences as discretionary income levels drop due to mandatory workplace closures could all negatively impact prices
4. Supply shortages could increase the cost of inputs like seed, fertilizer, and chemical; there may not be a readily available work force as there has been in past years
AgriStability provides protection against losses relating to falling production and commodity prices, and rising input costs, including all the
COVID-19 related factors mentioned. For 2020, the result may be a scenario where AgriStability benefits are easily triggered, and the resulting payments would likely be greater than the sum of all other specific COVID-19 support programs that greenhouses would be eligible for. This doesn’t mean that COVID-19 programs should be ignored. It just means that signing up for AgriStability, by the now extended deadline of July 3, 2020, needs to be a priority for all greenhouse operators.
The most important thing that greenhouse growers need to understand about AgriStability is how much their revenue needs to drop before AgriStability triggers the 30% margin drop and starts to pay benefits. For all of agriculture in Canada, the answer to that question ranges between slightly less than 2% up to about 40%, depending on the type of farm and cost structure. For greenhouse growers specifically, the revenue drop is probably in the range of 7.5% to 10%, again, dependant on cost structure. Any cost increases would also weigh favourably towards triggering AgriStability benefits.
AgriStability has always been a potentially beneficial program for greenhouse growers. With the added COVID-19 factors coming into play for the 2020 year, any growers who are not currently in the program should be signing up to ensure that they benefit from proper risk management in addition to any COVID-19 specific support they might qualify for.
Here is an overview of potential COVID-19 programs applicable to greenhouse operations:
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (“CEWS”): Partial reimbursement of remuneration is paid to arm’s length employees (up to 75%) who have seen
COVID-19. Provides a one-time payment of 15% of the business’ monthly sales revenue based on April 2019 or February 2020 revenues. Maximum payment of $5,000 per business.
During constantly evolving situations like the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s critical that you have access to the most reliable,
you have any questions or concerns about what to do next, please reach out to your local business advisor or farm management consultant.
Steve Funk is the national lead for farm income programs at MNP. He can be reached at steve.funk@mnp.ca.
qualify, businesses will need to demonstrate that they paid between $20,000 and $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019, and that the funds were used to pay non-deferable operating expenses. Applications are done through financial institutions.
BDC Financing: Loan guarantees for small- and medium-sized businesses whose access to financing has become restricted. Access through financial institutions.
Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment (“SSBEP”): Provides eligible small- and medium-sized businesses ordered to temporarily close or substantially decrease operations as a result of the Public Health Order pertaining to
GARDEN EYES
LEFT
The Orangery in Moscow has developed a personalized shopping experience for customers when the store is closed.
Back in April, I was invited by Greenhouse Canada to present a webinar for growers and retailers on ideas for the marketplace. Cathy Bartolic from the Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association kindly joined us in the Q&A session to provide a local perspective. While the webinar was mainly targeted towards Canadian growers and retailers, it was attended by companies from many other countries including Germany, South Africa and the USA – a testament to the far-reaching effects of COVID-19 on garden retail.
At the time, businesses were in hibernation or closing, and it was essential for garden centres to remain open and seen as essential services to help with the wellbeing of the population. But even as COVID-19 restrictions ease up, garden retailers cannot slow down. Offering delivery, having an online presence, and engaging consumers by other means must continue in order to stay relevant and competitive in this day and age.
Here is a summary of 11 key ideas from my presentation:
1. CURB APPEAL
As a consultant, I have always stressed the importance of curb appeal to a business. While it is still important, we now need to look
towards fast food businesses such as McDonalds, Tim Horton’s and KFC, who understand that curb appeal is important for curbside pick-up
Garden retailers need to develop a curbside pickup option. It means relaying out the store to make it easier for the team to work and it does involve more team members, but consumers are now demanding this option and we need to have it ready.
2. GRAB AND GO
Consumers, when they go food shopping, are very much in tune with the need for “Grab and Go” options. In garden retailing, we have always wanted them to linger for longer, but that has all changed. We need to introduce more “Grab and Go” offerings and place them in the best retail positions in the store. “Grab and Go” revolves around finished products and arrangements. Since the labour input is about the same between differently priced “Grab and Go” products, the key is to present the customer with more expensive value-added offerings rather than cheaper ones.
3. HOME DELIVERY
Customers want to sit at home, order online and have it delivered. This is why Plantorama in Denmark, who has 11 garden centres, has purchased 22 home-delivery vehicles. The
Despite governments easing up on COVID restrictions, garden retailers need to continue implementing fresh ideas for consumer engagement and convenience.
BY JOHN STANLEY
key to success is the number of deliveries that can be done in an hour. The benchmark is three per hour, but this can be exceeded with a “milk run” approach to delivery.
4. “MAKE AND TAKE” HAS BECOME “TAKE AND MAKE”
I was the one encouraging retailers to engage with their consumer in the garden centre through workshops where they could make things and then take them home. Now, the retailer still has to engage with the consumer, but in their homes. They need to encourage the consumer to take things from the garden center, and then via a link or online video, make things at home.
5. SELL “SUCCESS” KITS
Consumers want to be successful. Often, they do not engage with plants as they are scared of killing them. They wander around the garden care department and are confused. The answer is in developing “Success Kits”. Take the products away from the garden care department and develop different kits for the range of plants you offer. Provide the materials and instructions they need, and inspire the confidence and trust consumers are looking for.
6. CUSTOMER HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
At present, there is not a focus on “Save the Planet,” but a focus on personal health and well-being. This is how we MUST promote the benefits of plants. The fact that plants make you happy, reduce stress, clean the air around you, improve mental health, help speed up recovery time from illness, etc. Now is our time to really make a difference.
Working hard to make growing easier.
ABOVE
Chladeks, in the Czech Republic, is an excellent added value garden retailer in developing Grab and Go products.
7. PERSONALIZED SHOPPING
While many consumers are fearing job loss, some still have the money to spend and want personalized shopping. Offer this as a service, especially when the store is closed. This is an ideal opportunity to grow the average sale.
8. FLORAL FRIDAY
The garden centre industry in the UK has revived Floral Friday and linked it to their Greenfingers Charity for less privileged children. How it works is, anyone who wears a floral shirt on
a Friday donates $1 to the charity. We need to link to local charities, and Floral Friday is an ideal opportunity.
9. GARDEN PACKS NOT PRODUCTS
For consumers with gardens, they want to make plant arrangements that look good outside. They rarely want one individual plant. Now is the time to show them plant borders and arrangements. Sell them the complete solution, not part of the jigsaw puzzle.
10. PROMOTE THE GROWERS AS THE HEROES
Consumers are now more likely to buy local and that goes for plants, too. Be sure to tell them when a product is grown locally, and put up a picture of the growers as part of the promotion. Now is the time to make growers the local heroes.
The retailer still has to engage with the customer, but in their homes.
11. KEEP YOUR MESSAGE POSITIVE
Use positive language with your consumers.”We are looking forward to....” provides the hope that consumers need at this time, whether they know it or not. Do not put negative messages out there. They are coming to us for inspiration and we need to cultivate that relationship.
To provide more garden retail ideas, I have been updating the Facebook page for “The Gathering” at https://www. facebook.com/JohnStanleysGathering on a near-daily basis. For more on the points summarized above, watch a recording of the webinar at greenhousecanada.com/ webinars/gardenretailintheageofCOVID
John Stanley is a retail business coach, consultant, speaker and author. His expertise is in customer-focused layout, merchandising, marketing and branding, and customer-focused selling and service. Visit his website at johnstanley.com.au.
CANADA CLASSIFIEDS
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
REAL ESTATE
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INSIDE VIEW
GARY JONES | Gary.Jones@kpu.ca
Plans? What plans?
How were your Easter sales? By the time this goes to print, Mother’s Day will also have come and gone. Likely a Mother’s Day like no other, yet I’m not bold enough to make any predictions, since I’m writing this in April while ‘physically distancing’. I refuse to use the word ‘unprecedented’, but it’s been a bizarre season. You don’t need anyone to tell you that.
We all make plans. It is sensible to have plans. But, if we didn’t know before, surely we now know for sure that no one can accurately predict the future. Not months, not even days ahead. For example, the 2020 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26), was scheduled for November in Glasgow, so who would have thought it would suddenly be postponed on April 1st. No, it wasn’t some grand April Fool’s joke. Ironic then, that the event causing the postponement of COP 26 equally brought significant changes to air quality globally. The irony is even more so, since as I write this, it is ‘Earth Day 2020’ (which means I missed my copy deadline, so please don’t tell the Editor).
National lockdowns, employees working from home, schools closed and other significant activities curtailed mean far fewer vehicles on the roads and less industrial air pollution. Hence, improved air quality in many cities globally. Take, for example, the reduced nitrogen dioxide levels seen across the UK.
sity of York [UK], said: “The temporary reductions in emissions being seen at the moment provide us with some unique insight into what might be possible for future air quality in cities. The large reductions being seen in transport emissions of NOx allow us to evaluate how the atmosphere will respond to a future electrified fleet that will no longer emit this pollutant.”1 Every cloud has a silver lining, I guess. But it’s not a climate change panacea. Indeed, reductions in some aerial gasses do not equate to a climate change solution.
COVID has clearly impacted the energy market dramatically. Yesterday, (mid-April), I heard that some oil supplies are on the market for -$38/ barrel. Yes, that’s not a typo. Suppliers are paying consumers to use oil. Get your head around that one. Imagine what that does to your business model. It’s no joke if your livelihood depends on the energy market.
Changing tack somewhat, the number of cases of tomato brown rugose fruit virus is now up to at least 21 in the Netherlands. I also note that “Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 [has a] detection in [the] United States … in a symptomatic geranium (Pelargonium sp.) plant located in a Michigan greenhouse...
What do your post-COVID emergency plans look like?
On March 24th, Dr Eiko Nemitz, Environmental Physicist at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), said: “However, it is likely that there will not be a reduction in all pollutants.… In spring, agriculture typically makes a substantial contribution to particulate matter pollution across the UK, due to the emission of ammonia from livestock wastes and fertilised fields. With agricultural production continuing, this source of pollution is likely to be much less affected by the COVID-19 situation.”1 Since I appreciate food, I for one am pleased that ‘agriculture is continuing’.
Of course, when isolation and travel restrictions are lifted, these temporary improvements in air quality will likely be lost as governments try to kick-start stalled economies. But for now, this situation provides an interesting ‘experiment’. Prof Alastair Lewis, Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry, National Centre for Atmospheric Science, Univer-
Rs R3bv2, commonly referred to as Southern wilt, bacterial wilt, and brown rot of potato, causes a wilt disease in several important agricultural crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. The geranium sample that tested positive … had been imported from a production facility in Guatemala. The importer is cooperating fully in the investigation.”2 A disease that infects common greenhouse ornamentals and the most important greenhouse vegetables is not welcome anywhere, especially when it just ‘appears’.
Every day brings new surprises. COVID-19, lockdowns, new pest/disease outbreaks. How are you planning for such events? And what do your post-COVID emergency plans look like? Perhaps it’s anybody’s guess at this point.
1 https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-todrop-in-air-pollution-because-of-covid-19/ 2 Official Pest Report from www.NAPPO.org
Gary Jones is a faculty member in the School of Horticulture at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Langley, BC. He sits on several industry committees and welcomes comments at Gary.Jones@kpu.ca.
