Farms
Video: Looming Threat of Industrial Pig, Dairy and Poultry Farms
Democracy Now / 24 August 2010
Amy Goodman speaks with David Kirby about his book Animal Factory: The Looming Threat of Industrial Pig, Dairy and Poultry Farms on Humans and the Environment. "We need more regulations, and we need enforcement of the regulations," Kirby says. "These [food] companies are self-policing, and they are operating on the honor system. And consumers are obviously paying the price."
COABC Conference Webinars series is now available
The 2010 Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia (COABC) Conference Webinars series is now available online.
Belleville: Solar power a bright idea for some
Recorder and Times / W. Brice McVicar / 08 July 2010
Trevor Andrews is hoping to reduce his electricity bill while taking advantage of a natural power source. And he isn't alone.
Andrews was one of roughly 75 people who attended a seminar on solar panel systems at the Yardmen Arena, organized by the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus.
One of eight such sessions held across the province, it sought to inform people about the benefits of solar power, how the Ontario Power Authority's FIT (feed-in tariff ) program works and how to maintain a system once it's installed.
Ontario: New Price Category for microFIT Ground-Mounted Solar PV
Ontario Power Authority / Press Release / 02 July 2010
Last October the Ontario Power Authority launched the successful microFIT Program. Participation in the program is very popular and it has vastly surpassed expectations. In fact, more than 16,000 applications have been submitted, with a large majority being for ground-mounted solar projects.
To help ensure the program remains sustainable, the OPA has proposed a new price category for microFIT ground-mounted solar PV projects. Ground-mounted solar PV projects of 10 kilowatts or less will be eligible to receive a proposed price of 58.8 cents per kilowatt-hour (¢/kWh). Rooftop solar PV projects, as defined in the microFIT Rules, version 1.4, will continue to be eligible for 80.2 ¢/kWh.
The proposed new price category will better reflect the lower costs to install a ground-mounted solar PV project versus a rooftop project. It will provide a price that enables future project owners to recover costs of the projects as well as earn a reasonable return on their investment over the long term.
There will be a 30-day comment period on the proposed new price category. microFIT application intake will continue during this time.
G20 ignores looming energy and African trade crises
Kingston Whig / Geoffrey Johnston / 02 July 2010
[...] Ontario's foreign food imports rose from 25% in 1988 to 40% in 2009. But this trend will not be sustainable when the global energy crisis hits.
Rising energy and transportation costs will eventually drive up the cost of agricultural imports, forcing Canadian consumers to turn to local farmers to supply most of their food.
Brockville: In season at the Farmers' Market
Harvest Chart for Crops grown in and around Brockville
Harvest seasons don't quite run like clockwork. Changes in the weather each year, for instance, can move harvest dates up or set them back by weeks. Producers are also constantly striving to extend the harvest season on each end with new growing techniques and crop varieties. This chart should give you a pretty good idea of the prime harvest season for various fruits and vegetables.
