Are you really ready to start your urban farm operation?

By David Ceaser Originally published in Issue 10 So, you have been dreaming about starting an urban farm or are about to launch your new career with an indoor farm. You have gotten funding from friends and family (and Kickstarter) but have you really dotted all the i’s and crossed all the t’s as far as […]

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Village farms uses technology to increase efficiency & produce better crops

Originally published in Issue 10 Mike DeGiglio, president and chief executive officer at Village Farms International, spoke with Urban Ag News about his company’s approach to technology and how it’s using it to be more efficient and profitable. When was Village Farms started and how has it expanded in size? I started Village Farms in […]

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Choosing a substrate for hydroponic production

When selecting a substrate for growing hydroponic leafy greens, lettuces and microgreens, the type of production system should be one of the first factors considered. The type of hydroponic production system a grower is going to use can impact his choice of substrate. “Any system in which the water is being recirculated like nutrient film […]

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Florida’s protected agriculture industry continues to expand

Originally published in Issue 10 Even though the number of protected ag operations in Florida remain fairly small in size, more large growers are weighing the benefits and options of being able to grow year-round in a variety of structures. When you think of Florida agriculture, production in greenhouses or high tunnels probably isn’t the […]

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Prevent tipburn on greenhouse lettuce

Originally published in Issue 9 Cornell University researchers developed a “fast crop” production schedule for greenhouse lettuce. But growers may have to alter cultural practices to avoid tipburn caused by calcium deficiency. Tipburn is a physiological disorder of greenhouse-grown lettuce that can be a problem for growers who are trying to produce their crops in […]

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Green light is more useful to plants than you might think

By Qingwu (William) Meng You’re considering new LEDs for your vertical farms. What colors should you get? Would you be better off with classic red and blue light or broad-spectrum, white light? It mainly comes down to whether green light is useful to plants, how much it costs, and how we perceive it. To answer […]

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Taking a lean approach to vertical farming

Originally published in Issue 9 Dan Albert, owner of Farmbox Greens, made the decision to start slow and expand his vertical farm system on his own terms rather than seeking outside investor capital. Dan Albert’s first exposure to vertical farming came in 2008 during a design competition for the U.S. Green Building Council’s annual conference. “The […]

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Japan Special Report: Plant Factories with Artificial Light (PFAL)

Originally published in Issue 11 By Eri Hayashi, Japan Plant Factory Association, Industry Expert After the 1980s and 1990s, Japan has been experiencing its third boom of commercial plant factories equipped with artificial light (PFAL). This has been occurring since 2009. Besides government-funded projects, many Japanese companies started to enter the PFAL industry as growers […]

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Strawberries can be adapted to greenhouse production systems

Originally published in Issue 9 Greenhouse growers looking to diversify into edible crops may want to consider strawberries, which can be adapted to production systems they are currently using for other crops. Greenhouse growers looking to diversify their product mix with a fall to spring edible crop might want to consider strawberries. “There is still […]

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Light Quality with Farmer Tyler and Dr. Ricardo Hernandez

Farmer Tyler visits Dr. Ricardo Hernandez at North Carolina State University to learn about light quality research and its practical applications in horticulture.   See the trailer here, and scroll down for the full 43-minute interview! Full interview: Video Chapter Quick Links: 1. UV 2. Blue 3. Green 4. Red & Far-Red 5. Narrow Spectrum vs. […]

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Minnesota looks to expand local food opportunities

Originally published in Issue 8 From community gardening to developing more food distribution outlets, people in both urban and rural areas of Minnesota are expanding their involvement in the local food movement. Minneapolis with the adjoining city of St. Paul form the Twin Cities, which is the 14th-largest metropolitan area in the United States. The […]

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It takes commitment to grow organically

Originally published in Issue 6 Switching from an inorganic to organic fertilizer is not a simple process. Growers have to be willing to put in the time and effort to ensure the changeover is successful. The goal of any fertility program, regardless of whether it is with organic or traditional inorganic fertilizers, is to ensure […]

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2017 International Congress on Controlled Environment Agriculture (ICCEA) Creates Magic

The International Congress on Controlled Environment Agriculture brought together industry-leading participants in controlled environment agriculture to focus on working to reach its full potential. What happens when you bring together leading educators, researchers and thought leaders from the horticulture and agriculture industries? What happens when you combine those leaders with enthusiastic growers, entrepreneurs and personally-invested […]

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Job layoff kick starts vertical farming venture

Landscape architect Jeffrey Orkin never planned to start his own vertical growing operation, but a job lay off and a passion for sustainability led to the launch of Greener Roots Farm. After six years of college and landing a position with a large architecture and engineering firm in Nashville, Tenn., Jeffrey Orkin thought his career […]

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