Fresh with Edge: taking locally-grown to new heights

Originally published in Issue 7 Chris Lukenbill at Fresh With Edge is differentiating his hydroponically-grown greens and herbs by delivering them to his customers while still in their vertical production towers. Photos courtesy of Fresh With Edge. As Chris Lukenbill and his wife Lisa became more educated about what they were eating and how their […]

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Horticulture industry optimistic about potential of LEDs

Originally published in Issue 7 Scientists and growers are excited about the potential of LEDs for plant growth. Researchers advise growers that not all LEDs are created equal and that they should do their homework before investing in this new technology. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are gaining the attention of horticulture researchers and commercial growers. […]

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Maximize your plants’ growth with supplemental CO2

Originally published in Issue 7 Whether you’re growing ornamentals or vegetables in a controlled environment, if you’re not providing supplemental carbon dioxide you could limit your crops from reaching their full potential. If you are growing ornamental plants or vegetables in a controlled environment, including greenhouses, warehouses or growth chambers, carbon dioxide (CO2) could be […]

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Monitoring is critical for hydroponic production systems

Whether a grower is using a nutrient film technique or deep water raft hydroponic system, it is important to closely monitor pH, soluble salts and temperature to optimize plant growth. Growers who are doing hydroponic production in nutrient film technique (NFT) or deep water raft systems should be monitoring pH and soluble salts content (electrical […]

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Japan Plant Factories are providing a safe, reliable food source

Originally published in Issue 6 Japan’s plant factories are expanding to meet the increasing demand for safe, pesticide-free, locally-grown food. Japan has more plant factories (PFs) than any other country. The largest number of plant factories are located in Okinawa Prefecture near Taiwan. The rapid commercialization and financial subsidization by the Japanese government of PFs, […]

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The nuances of crop fertilization

Originally published in Issue 5 Regardless of the crop being grown or the irrigation system being used, growers face the same issues related to water quality, nutrient delivery and nutrient uptake. One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to fertilizing plants. Regardless of the crop being grown, whether ornamental or vegetable, different species have […]

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Vertical farm competes with conventional ag

Originally published in Issue 5 Famgro Farms is using a vertical farm production system to successfully compete with conventional farming to produce healthier, better tasting food. Steve Fambro, CEO at Famgro Farms in Oceanside, Calif., isn’t your typical farmer. And his “farm” isn’t the typical agricultural operation. It’s located in a 10,000-square-foot building that was […]

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More research focusing on greenhouse food crops

University researchers, some of whom previously focused on ornamental crops, are turning their attention to food crops as more growers look to replace or supplement flower crop production. University of Arkansas horticulture professor Mike Evans said that he has seen a shift in interest by growers and students from greenhouse floral crops to food crops. […]

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Part 3: Publicly Funded Research is Key in Driving Agriculture and Horticulture Growth

“Knowledge builds on itself so that the pace of discovery is faster when knowledge is freely available.” USDA-ERS, Nov. 10, 2016 The Urban Ag News team is continuing to adapt to the changes we recently announced. It has not been easy and as anyone who tries to effect change knows, it doesn’t always go smoothly. […]

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Water Quality is Key In A Successful Commercial Hydroponic System

Originally published in Issue 4 With continuing concerns about water availability, safety and regulations, more growers are looking at water treatment to protect this vital resource. The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is scheduled to release a report on the impact of climate change in March 2014. A leaked copy of the final […]

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Part 2: Public funding for agricultural R&D continues to decrease

This month I had the pleasure of attending the 2017 North Central Extension & Research Activity (NCERA-101) annual meeting. It was an excellent opportunity to meet with many leading plant science researchers from universities, institutions and corporations in the U.S. and Canada. Over the course of two intense days I was able to obtain research updates […]

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Urban Ag News continues to evolve

Even as Urban Ag News’ method of delivering information on the controlled environment agriculture industry changes, it will continue to diligently work to provide a variety of platforms to disseminate science-based, unique content to industry members. Part 1: Urban Ag News is changing formats Some of you might be wondering (at least I hope some […]

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2018 Farm Bill is Enormous Opportunity for Urban Agriculture

By Brian Filipowich, Director of Public Policy at The Aquaponics Association About every five years the Federal Government passes a massive, far-reaching “Farm Bill” with the main aim of providing an adequate national supply of food and nutrition. The Bill affects all facets of the U.S. food system including nutrition assistance, crop subsidies, crop insurance, research, and […]

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Making Integrated Pest and Disease Management Work

Originally published in Issue 4 Regardless of whether growers refer to using an integrated pest management (iPM) or integrated pest and disease management (iPDM) program, it won’t be successful if they don’t plan it out. “Ironically, one of the biggest misconceptions greenhouse growers have with controlling pests and diseases is actually related to the success […]

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