The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has developed a free, easy-to-use online tool that will assist growers to evaluate the performance, efficiency, and economics of a wide variety of horticultural luminaires, typically used in greenhouses and other controlled agricultural environments. This online tool, called the horticulture luminaire calculator allows growers to accurately compare several luminaires and select the one that will be most effective for their particular application. Electric lighting is essential to providing supplemental light in many greenhouses and is the only source of light for indoor agricultural environments. These lighting systems are extremely expensive to…
Author: urbanagnews
Atlanta farm will be the company’s newest and largest, demonstrating Kalera’s ability to quickly scale on a national and international level Press Release — Today, technology-driven vertical farming company Kalera announced that it will open a new state-of-the-art growing facility in Atlanta, Georgia in early 2021. The new Atlanta facility is the next step in Kalera’s rapid domestic and international expansion plan to bring consumers fresh leafy greens right where they are. By placing its farms directly in the communities that they serve, Kalera is able to supply national retailers and foodservice distributors without a long haul across the country,…
Hort Americas offers first online short course on hydroponic growing systems. HYDROPONICS 101 – Growing systems Learn all the important aspects of growing crops hydroponically, from hydroponic growing system selection, best substrate options for your plants and how to create the proper environment to promote growth and development successfully. Instructor: M.S. Karla Garcia Hort Americas Technical ServiceMaster in Plant Sciences from The University of ArizonaRecognition by ISHS in strawberry hydroponic researchEditor: Book Roadmap to Growing Leafy Greens and HerbsCEO at Microgreens FLN Date: Saturday, May 2, 2020 Schedule: 12 PM to 6 PM (Central Time) Platform: ZOOM US Price: $50 US Once you have…
‘Photons = Flavor, the case study of basil’ by Dr. Roberto Lopez and Kellie Walters (Michigan State University) Roberto and Kellie work on lighting technologies for basil production and shared their most updated research on light intensities during young seedling stage of basil, affecting flavor profile and consumer liking in addition to yield and quality. Indoor Ag Science Café is an outreach program of our project OptimIA, funded by USDA SCRI grant program (http://www.scri-optimia.org). The café forums are designed to serve as precompetitive communication platform among scientists and indoor farming professionals. The Café presentations are available on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjwIeYlKrzH_uppaf2SwMIg4JyGb7LRXC …
Village Farms International Inc. is helping to feed over 10,000 families in Texas with donations throughout the state to local food banks and food pantries. Demand for donations has been higher than usual due to the COVID-19 crisis and Village Farms has been stepping up their donations of fresh tomatoes and cucumbers to meet this need. Village Farms operates three growing operations in the towns of Marfa, and Fort Davis, where they are the largest employer in both Davis and Presidio counties. Village Farms also operates a state-of-the-art high-tech greenhouse in the Permian Basin region. And, Village Farms operates one…
GLASE presents their latest webinar: Lighting approaches to maximize profits Date: April 16, 2020Time: 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. ESTPresented by: Marc van Iersel Supplemental lighting is often necessary for year-round greenhouse production of ornamentals and vegetables. However, the cost of providing supplemental light is high. It is therefore important that supplemental light is provided in a way that provides the greatest benefits for the crop, at the lowest possible price. To do so, it is important to understand the cost of providing supplemental light as well as how plants use that light. Accurate weather predictions can help minimize the…
The first Vertical Farming World Congress will be held from 22nd to 24th September at London’s Heathrow Airport. Eminent industry leading speakers have confirmed their participation from North America, the Middle East and Asia as well as Europe. The chosen theme is ‘Shaping Food’s Future’. “Vertical farming really can help shape the future of food production,” explained Richard Hall, Chairman of the food and drink experts Zenith Global and the event’s organizer. “By being indoors and with completely controlled conditions, there are no floods, droughts, winds or pesticides. You can grow 30 crops a year locally, right next to a…
e-GRO Edibles Alert: 5.06 Ryan Dickson and Leala Machesney University of Arkansas Blackberries and other small fruits are increasingly being grown in soilless substrate and containers versus field soil. Growing small fruit crops in containers requires additional capital and effort compared to field production, but has some potential benefits.
By Marlow Schindler, U.S. Small Business Administration The SBA is responding to small business owners impacted by the Coronavirus with several different forms of assistance. Last week the CARES Act was signed by President Trump. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) outlined in this stimulus package is not yet available. Lenders may begin processing loan applications as soon as April 3, 2020. The SBA provides low-interest disaster loans directly to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters. For this disaster, Economic Injury Disaster Loans are currently available throughout the state of California. You can get access to the online application and information about the SBA disaster loans here.…
Originally published by Florida Agri-Womenby Ruth E. Jensen, President, Florida Agri-Women Port Charlotte, Florida, April 1, 2020 — In this moment in time due to the coronavirus pandemic, our nation is facing many challenges as we adhere to instructions of social distancing. Our leaders are working 24/7 to contain the spread and are developing American-made tests, vaccines and medicines in their efforts to eradicate this invisible enemy. While agriculture is listed as an essential critical business, there are issues unique to the fresh fruit and vegetable sector. Florida Agri-Women along with other members of American Agri-Women sit in on the White House Critical Infrastructure Partners conference calls…
e-GRO Edibles Alert: 5.05 Powdery Mildew Management 101 Nick FlaxPenn State Extension Though powdery mildew does not lead to total crop death in the way that many other plant pathogens do, growers need to manage this disease. This article covers powdery mildew basics and tips for managing the disease in greenhouse-grown food crops.
Wednesday, April 1st: 12:00pm–1:00pm CST Maria I. Marshall, Ph.D., Professor Department of Agricultural EconomicsPurdue University Dr. Maria Marshall is Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University and Director of the Purdue Institute for Family Business. She has an internationally recognized program focused on small and family business development. Dr. Marshall will provide an overview of the Hemp market. The overview will include trends associated with licensing, pricing, and production. She will also provide a summary of recent producer surveys detailing 2019 producer expectation and experience. In addition, she will touch on the COVID- 19 Virus and the…
Words by Professor Joel Cuello, Ph.D. Image modified from Martin Sanchez/Unsplash Article originally published by the Association for Vertical Farming The speed with which the coronavirus outbreaks in Asia, Europe and North America metastasized into a full-blown global pandemic — catching many world governments by surprise and with little preparation — underscores just how our world today is highly interconnected and how, in order to contain and stem the surging pandemic, temporary disconnection from the physically-networked world by cities, regions and even entire nations has become an urgent imperative. With confirmed coronavirus cases globally now exceeding 370,000 and the number…
Amsterdam, 19 March 2020 – GreenTech Amsterdam is moving from 8-10 June to 20-22 October this year. The expected duration of the global situation, due to the spread of COVID-19, has resulted in this decision. RAI Amsterdam, as organiser, has complied with the explicit wishes of both exhibitors and visitors to reschedule the event. Due to the Corona virus, many travelers are confronted with travel restrictions and measures put in place by their own countries. To maintain the national as well as the international reach and quality of the event, a new date has been set. International characterGreenTech Amsterdam is the…