
Stan Kaplita, co-founder and president of Zeste Farms, said potential CEA growers should not become preoccupied with the technology of any type of production system. Photos courtesy of Zeste Farms
As originally seen in Urban Ag News
Stan Kaplita, co-founder and president of Zeste Farms, said potential CEA growers should not become preoccupied with the technology of any type of production system. Photos courtesy of Zeste Farms
As originally seen in Urban Ag News
In a move that continues their influence in sustainability and energy efficiency, Southern California Edison (SCE) announced a new rebate program aimed at encouraging agricultural businesses to transition to LED lighting.
Continue reading California’s New Horticulture Ag LED Lighting: SCE Electric Utility Rebate and Incentive ProgramAn increasing number of controlled environment cannabis growers are transitioning to LED grow lights, which provide increased energy efficiency and efficacy, reduced heat emission, a longer lifespan and spectrum customization, compared to conventional lights, including fluorescent and high-pressure sodium. Photo courtesy of Wheatfield Gardens
Continue reading Optimizing the production of cannabinoids in medical cannabis using LED grow lightsElectric utility rebates and incentive programs don’t stop at the border. Many of Canada’s 151 electric utilities operating across 10 provinces and 3 territories offer varying degrees of award dollars, supporting greenhouse growers and vertical farmers advancing energy-efficiency construction projects.
Continue reading Electric utility rebates and incentive programs for Canada’s greenhouse growers and vertical farmersIn Michigan, growers can access various incentive awards from electric utilities when they undertake energy-efficient construction projects (new construction or renovation) at their farms or greenhouses. These incentive programs encourage the adoption of energy-efficient practices and technologies. This can lead to significant energy savings and reduced environmental impact.
Continue reading How Michigan Growers Can Benefit from Electric Utility Rebates and IncentivesFerme Gadbois, established in the 1850s in Saint-Barnabé-Sud, Quebec, carries a long-standing tradition of agriculture, nurtured through six generations. The farm is an integral part of the community.
Continue reading Ferme Gadbois Turns to Technology to Begin Year-Round Strawberry GrowingDALLAS—March 5, 2024— Commercial horticultural supplier Hort Americas announced today an exclusive partnership with utility rebate specialist Lee Levitt, Energy Advisors 360.
Continue reading Hort Americas Partners with Utility Rebate Expert Lee Levitt to Enhance Savings and Promote Energy Efficiency for GrowersA U.S. greenhouse grower in the Midwest was able to increase its yields of ‘Macxize’ tomatoes-on-the-vine crops by 17 percent by combining intracanopy LED lighting with high pressure sodium top lighting. Photos courtesy of Hort Americas
By David Kuack
Continue reading Can intracanopy/intercanopy LED grow lights be used to increase greenhouse vegetable crop yields?DALLAS and ELCANO, Navarra, Spain—Feb. 22, 2023—In a move to address agriculture’s mounting labor problems, while also providing a more environmentally sustainable solution, commercial horticultural supplier Hort Americas announced today it’s now the exclusive distributor of Agrifast’s Tomsystem in the United States and Canada.
Continue reading Hort Americas and Spanish Company Agrifast Partner to Tackle Waste and Labor IssuesAnnually, indoor and greenhouse growers produce significantly more lbs/ft3 of canopy compared to open field. It is a fact that we have learned how to improve crop productivity over the years and we are still expecting an exponential increase in this area. Now the most important challenge is to find the most energy efficient way to keep increasing crop productivity.
Continue reading Finding the balance to improve crop performance maintaining high energy efficiency levelsDALLAS and COLUMBUS, Ohio — Oct. 11, 2022 —When The Ohio State University opened its new Controlled Environment Agriculture Complex (CEARC) on Friday, Sept. 30, it represented a culmination of efforts between the school and industry. Companies such as Nationwide Insurance, Current (formerly GE Current), Priva and General Hydroponics (to name a few) made donations of both money and product.
Continue reading Controlled Environment Agriculture Complex Opens at The Ohio State University with Industry Support and EnthusiasmCurrent is prioritizing investing in technology to continue to develop its LED horticultural light fixtures in-house.
As LED grow lights continue to become more affordable, an increasing number of greenhouse growers and vertical farmers are considering whether the lights would benefit their production systems. Several studies and growers applications have demonstrated the development of new lighting technologies such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can increase the capability to provide ideal light conditions to crops, making possible the improvement of crop performance and product quality.
Continue reading Free Download: Key Aspects about the Use and Management of LED Lighting in Crop ProductionLight incidence over our crops will have a direct effect on yield. Photosynthesis is the most important process in plants to produce energy. But how can we relate photons of light to yield? Based on research we know now one mole of photosynthetic photons is required in order to produce one gram o dried biomass (yield).
Continue reading Photons and YieldPartnerships created the project AppLit resulting in the manufacturing of LED grow lights in the United States that will be used to grow greenhouse vegetables in the Appalachian region.
Continue reading Hort Americas and its partners focus on community food production, people and jobsGeographic location is a major driver in who qualifies for a utility rebate and how many rebate dollars are available for specific projects. Photo courtesy of Hort Americas
The majority of the Arize Factor LED grow lights being manufactured at Current’s North Carolina plant are expected to be used for vertical farming. Photos courtesy of GE Current, a Daintree company
Continue reading Looking to up your controlled environment light intensity?When working inside a growing system such as a greenhouse or a plant factory system we must have enough knowledge about light management. When we understand light we can make smart decisions to promote the best environmental conditions to promote growth, development and yield in our crops.
Continue reading How to calculate the light a crop is receiving in the greenhouseGreenhouse production of hydroponic tomatoes is increasing worldwide every year. The reason? All the advantages provided by these growing systems! The principal advantages of hydroponic controlled environment agriculture (CEA) include high-density maximum crop yield, year-round production, more efficient use of water and fertilizers, consistent crop quality, minimal use of land area, and suitability for mechanization, disease and pest control.
Continue reading Free Download: The Guide for Growing Tomatoes