Education – Urban Ag News https://urbanagnews.com News and information on vertical farming, greenhouse and urban agriculture Wed, 18 Oct 2023 14:52:19 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.2 https://i0.wp.com/urbanagnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/cropped-Urban-ag-news-site-icon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Education – Urban Ag News https://urbanagnews.com 32 32 113561754 Hydroponic Vegetable Production at UF Starts November 13! https://urbanagnews.com/events/hydroponic-vegetable-production-at-uf-starts-november-13/ https://urbanagnews.com/events/hydroponic-vegetable-production-at-uf-starts-november-13/#respond Wed, 18 Oct 2023 14:43:59 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9213 University of Florida Greenhouse Training Online courses

Hydroponic Vegetable Production Starts November 13!

Learn to manage different hydroponics systems, as well as the fundamentals of climate, water, nutrition, and plant health in these systems. Hydroponic Vegetable is part of the award-winning Greenhouse Online Training courses offered by the University of Florida IFAS Extension. This intermediate course is designed for growers with some experience and training. Topics covered include hydroponics growing systems and structures, specific vegetable crop examples, business management, and food safety. The course is offered in English and Spanish. Rated 4.4 out of 5 by grower participants, with an 83% graduation rate last year! Over 190 growers have successfully taken this course.

The course is taught by a team of instructors from the University of Florida and Cornell University led by Bob Hochmuth and Dr. Tatiana Sanchez-Jones at UF/IFAS. Past participants have liked that it was “a well-done course with plenty of relevant information for all aspects of hydroponic growing throughout the industry” and described instructors as “attentive, responsive, and enthusiastic”.

The course runs from November 13 to December 15, 2023. The cost is $US265 per participant, with a 20% discount if you register 5 or more. All course material is completely online and available at any time of the day, and includes pre-recorded videos, an interactive discussion board with PhD professors, and quizzes. Two new modules are activated each week during the course, for a total of 8 learning modules. Instruction is at your own pace and time within the 4 weeks of the course, with a typical time commitment of about 4 hours per week.

Click here to register (http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/).

For more information, go to http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/, or contact Greenhouse Training, Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, USA, Email: greenhousetraining@ifas.ufl.edu.

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University of Florida Weed Management Course begins October 16 https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/university-of-florida-weed-management-course-begins-october-16/ https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/university-of-florida-weed-management-course-begins-october-16/#respond Tue, 03 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9191 University of Florida Greenhouse Training Online courses 

Weed Management Starts October 16!

Understand all aspects of weed management in nurseries and greenhouses including weed identification, developing herbicide programs, and the latest non-chemical methods of weed control that work. Weed Management is part of the award-winning Greenhouse Online Training courses offered by the University of Florida IFAS Extension. This course is intermediate level and designed for people with some experience or entry university level, who are in production, technical, or sales role for greenhouse and nursery crops. Topics covered include weed identification, herbicides, calibration, non-chemical methods of weed control, impact of production practices on weed control and herbicide efficacy and managing difficult and unique weed control issues. The course is offered in English and Spanish. Rated 4.4 out of 5 by grower participants, with an 88% graduation rate last year! Over 230 growers have successfully taken this course.

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The course is taught by Dr. Chris Marble, associate professor of ornamental and landscape weed management in the Department of Environmental Horticulture at the University of Florida. He focuses on teaching horticulture professionals about the importance of identifying weed species before applying treatments. Growers in the course have described him as an instructor who “is very methodical and easy to learn from” who presents “weed management in an in-depth, clear manner.”

The course runs from October 16 to November 10, 2023. The cost is $US265 per participant, with a 20% discount if you register 5 or more. All course material is completely online and available at any time of the day, and includes pre-recorded videos, an interactive discussion board with PhD professors, and quizzes. Two new modules are activated each week during the course, for a total of 8 learning modules. Instruction is at your own pace and time within the 4 weeks of the course, with a typical time commitment of about 6 hours per week. Click here to register (http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/).

Weed Management is one of six courses that counts towards the Plant Health Professional certificate offered by University of Florida UF IFAS Extension (UF Greenhouse Training Online) and the Michigan State University Floriculture Program Extension (MSU Online College of Knowledge) to help greenhouse clientele grow their career in plant health management.

For more information, go to http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/, or contact Greenhouse Training, Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, USA, Email: greenhousetraining@ifas.ufl.edu.

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University of Florida Greenhouse Training Online NEW ONLINE COURSE: Climate Management starts October 16! https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/university-of-florida-greenhouse-training-online-new-online-course-climate-management-starts-october-16/ https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/university-of-florida-greenhouse-training-online-new-online-course-climate-management-starts-october-16/#respond Tue, 26 Sep 2023 12:17:26 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9179 A new Climate Management online course has been added to the award-winning Greenhouse Online Training series offered by the University of Florida IFAS Extension (UF). Climate Management will take your environmental control knowledge to an expert level and help you produce crops under optimal conditions. Topics covered include photoperiod and supplemental lighting, plant energy balance, photosynthesis, controlling growth and flowering, propagation, vapor pressure deficit, and environmental control systems. This course is at an advanced level, designed for experienced, well-trained growers. The course is offered in English and Spanish.

PhD instructors include Paul Fisher from University of Florida, Erik Runkle and Roberto Lopez from Michigan State University, Jim Faust from Clemson University, John Erwin from University of Maryland,
Jennifer Boldt and Kale Harbick from USDA-ARS, Charlie Hall from Texas A&M, as well as environmental control experts from Argus, Priva, and Wadsworth. This well-rounded team will help you select and operate climate control equipment and sensors for ideal crop growth.

The course runs from October 16 to November 10, 2023. The cost is $US265 per participant, with a 20% discount if you register 5 or more. All course material is completely online and available at any time of the day, and includes pre-recorded videos, an interactive discussion board with PhD professors and industry experts, and quizzes. Two new modules are activated each week during the course, for a total of 8 learning modules. Instruction is at your own pace and time within the 4 weeks of the course, with a typical time commitment of about 6 hours per week. Our courses are highly rated by participants with over 80% completion, and your resume will be enhanced with a customized certificate of completion from UF. Click here to register (http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/).

For more information, go to http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/, or contact Greenhouse Training, Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, USA, Email: greenhousetraining@ifas.ufl.edu. The course is supported by the American Floral Endowment and the USDA-ARS Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative.

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IUNU Brings Autonomous Growing to Stichting Wageningen Research, research institute Wageningen Plant Research (WPR) https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/iunu-brings-autonomous-growing-to-stichting-wageningen-research-research-institute-wageningen-plant-research-wpr/ https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/iunu-brings-autonomous-growing-to-stichting-wageningen-research-research-institute-wageningen-plant-research-wpr/#respond Mon, 28 Aug 2023 20:03:20 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9165 Seattle, WA – It was announced today that Stichting Wageningen Research, research institute
Wageningen Plant Research (WPR) and IUNU have entered into an agreement to work on
closed-loop autonomous growing for the most common commercially grown lettuce varietals.

This is the world’s first closed-loop, comprehensive autonomous growing solution developed for
the greenhouse industry. Other solutions focus on smoothing climate and are typically based on
small sampling datasets. The solution developed by IUNU uses computer vision to
comprehensively monitor crop growth for every plant in the greenhouse and autonomously
executes crop strategies based on how crops are performing.

“WPR has long served as a leader in the horticulture industry and we are thrilled to work
together to bring truly autonomous growing to the greenhouse industry. Having exclusive access
to world-class research facilities and talent accelerates our ability to bring products to market and
to drive value for growers around the world,” said Allison Kopf, Chief Growth Officer at IUNU.
IUNU has installed its computer vision system at WPR facilities in Bleiswijk in both traditional
and semi-closed greenhouse compartments with both Moving Gully Systems (MGS) as well as
Deep Water Culture (DWC) pond systems.

IUNU intends to bring this solution first to commercial lettuce growers, then to high wire crops.
To learn more about autonomous growing, visit IUNU’s website at www.iunu.com.

About IUNU
Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Seattle, IUNU aims to close the loop in greenhouse
autonomy and is focused on being the world’s leading controlled environment specialist. IUNU’s
flagship platform, LUNA, combines software with a variety of high-definition cameras — both
fixed and mobile — and environmental sensors to keep track of the minutiae of plant growth and
health in indoor ag settings. LUNA’s goal is to turn commercial greenhouses into precise, predictable, demand-based manufacturers that optimize yield, labor, and product quality.
www.IUNU.com

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University of Florida Greenhouse Training Online courses Disease Management Starts September 11! https://urbanagnews.com/events/university-of-florida-greenhouse-training-online-courses-disease-management-starts-september-11/ https://urbanagnews.com/events/university-of-florida-greenhouse-training-online-courses-disease-management-starts-september-11/#respond Mon, 21 Aug 2023 15:45:18 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9133 Improve your prevention and management of diseases in nurseries and greenhouses by registering for
Disease Management, part of the award-winning Greenhouse Online Training program offered by the
University of Florida IFAS Extension. This course is intermediate level and designed for people with some
experience or entry university level, who are in production, technical, or sales role for greenhouse and nursery crops. Topics covered include how to differentiate between a disease and other issues, disease prevention tips, organic and conventional disease management options, and how to safely apply and handle fungicides.

The course is offered in English and Spanish. Rated 4.2 out of 5 by grower participants, with over 80%
graduation rate last year! Over 480 growers have successfully taken this course.

Dr. Carrie Harmon, Director of the UF/IFAS Plant Diagnostic Center in Gainesville, FL and Co-Director of the National Plant Diagnostic Network, teaches the course. Growers have described the training as “detailed but digestible, with an emphasis on practical, field-applicable knowledge”, and that the course material “is very dynamic, which makes it easy to understand and apply to our day-to-day work in the greenhouse.”

The course runs from September 11 to October 6, 2023. The cost is $US265 per participant, with a 20%
discount if you register 5 or more. All course material is completely online and available at any time of the day, and includes pre-recorded videos, an interactive discussion board with PhD professors, and quizzes. Two new modules are activated each week during the course, for a total of 8 learning modules. Instruction is at your own pace and time within the 4 weeks of the course, with a typical time commitment of about 6 hours per week.

Click here to register (http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/).

Disease Management is one of six courses that counts towards the Plant Health Professional certificate
offered by University of Florida UF IFAS Extension (UF Greenhouse Training Online) and the Michigan State University Floriculture Program Extension (MSU Online College of Knowledge) to help greenhouse clientele grow their career in plant health management.

For more information, go to http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/, or contact Greenhouse Training, Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, USA, Email: greenhousetraining@ifas.ufl.edu.

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Workshop on Water Management and Quality to be held in Ohio on September 8 https://urbanagnews.com/events/workshop-on-water-management-and-quality-to-be-held-in-ohio-on-september-8/ https://urbanagnews.com/events/workshop-on-water-management-and-quality-to-be-held-in-ohio-on-september-8/#respond Thu, 10 Aug 2023 12:13:00 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9123 A full day workshop titled, “Water Management and Quality for Greenhouse and Nursery Crop Production” will be held on September 8, 2023 from 9am to 3pm at the Hamilton County Extension Office (2055 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45202). The workshop will provide growers the most up-to-date information of the key sciences and technologies contributing to water management and quality for greenhouse and nursery crop production. This event will bring internationally and nationally renowned speakers of key areas of irrigation water management, water quality, root-zone substrate sciences, and crop production to advance the sustainability of greenhouse and nursery crop production to Cincinnati.

The speakers and topics are:

Dr. Jim Owen, USDA-ARS, Water in Ohio – nursery use and return including reservoirs

Dr. Sarah White, Clemson, Reservoir water quality and management

Dr. Jeb Fields, LSU, Substrates and water management

Dr. Jake Shreckhise, USDA-ARS, Irrigation frequency and container color affect substrate temperature and controlled-release fertilizer longevity

Dr. Garrett Owen, OSU, Basics of substrate pH and soluble salts sampling and monitoring

Dr. Raul Cabrera, Texas A&M, Managing soluble salts in nursery and greenhouse production

Dr. Amy Fulcher, UT-Knoxville, TBD

Click here to enroll: https://cfaesosu.catalog.instructure.com/courses/water-management-and-quality-for-greenhouse-and-nursery-crop-production

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University of Florida Greenhouse Training Online courses Costing and Profitability Starts August 14! https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/university-of-florida-greenhouse-training-online-courses-costing-and-profitability-starts-august-14/ https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/university-of-florida-greenhouse-training-online-courses-costing-and-profitability-starts-august-14/#respond Fri, 04 Aug 2023 13:07:51 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9120 Develop the skills to accurately estimate production cost and profit for your greenhouse or nursery business. Costing & Profitability is part of the award-winning Greenhouse Training Online program. Lead instructors are the highly respected economist Dr. Charlie Hall from Texas A&M University and horticulture scientist Dr. Paul Fisher from University of Florida IFAS Extension. Topics covered include crop enterprise budgets, income statements, allocation of overhead, seasonality, space use, shrinkage, labor cost, and much more. This course is advanced level and it is designed for experienced, well-trained growers, or people with upper university education. The course is offered in English and Spanish. Rated 4.5 out of 5 by grower participants. This course is not offered every year, so take advantage now!

The course runs from August 14 to September 8, 2023. The cost is $US530 per participant, with a 20%
discount if you register 5 or more. All course material is completely online and available at any time of the day, and includes pre-recorded videos, an interactive discussion board with PhD professors, and quizzes. Two new modules are activated each week during the course, for a total of 8 learning modules. Instruction is at your own pace and time within the 4 weeks of the course, with a typical time commitment of about 6 hours per week.
Click here to register (http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/).

For more information, go to http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/, or contact Greenhouse Training, Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, USA, Email: greenhousetraining@ifas.ufl.edu.

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Controlled Environment Agriculture Summit East Conference Announces Graduate Student Poster Competition https://urbanagnews.com/events/controlled-environment-agriculture-summit-east-conference-announces-graduate-student-poster-competition/ https://urbanagnews.com/events/controlled-environment-agriculture-summit-east-conference-announces-graduate-student-poster-competition/#respond Thu, 06 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9066 10 Finalists Will Be Invited To Present Posters At September 19-20, 2023, Edition at IALR Conference Center In Danville, Virginia DANVILLE, VA (JUNE 29 2023 ) – The Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East Conference will host a graduate student poster competition during its 2nd annual edition, September 19-20, 2023, at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research (IALR) Conference Center in Danville, Virginia. Co-hosted by Indoor Ag-Con, the largest gathering of the vertical farming | CEA sector, and the Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Centera joint project between IALR and Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, CEA Summit East offers an ideal platform for aspiring graduate students to showcase their research in the field of CEA-related research.

By encouraging students to showcase their work through poster presentations, the competition seeks to foster collaboration opportunities between individuals in academia and private industry, while also connecting commercial companies with qualified candidates.

“We are proud to co-host the graduate student poster competition at the CEA Summit East Conference,” said Brian Sullivan, CEO, Indoor Ag-Con. “This competition not only provides a great platform for students to share their research, but also enables commercial companies to discover talented individuals who can contribute to the future growth and innovation of the CEA sector.”

The Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center is dedicated to advancing research and development in CEA. The center’s Co-Director and IALR Vice President, Scott Lowman, Ph.D., adds, “The graduate student poster competition is one more way we’re bridging the gap between academia and industry, promoting knowledge exchange, and opening doors to new collaboration in the CEA field.”

Graduate students interested in participating in the competition are invited to learn more and submit abstracts detailing their research by August 1, 2023, via www.ceasummit.com/#poster-competition.

A panel of experts will review the abstracts and select ten finalists to present their work through poster presentations at the conference. Selected candidates will receive a complimentary full access graduate student conference pass ($395 value) to attend the conference/competition. Judging will be held during the event and the winner will be announced at the day two keynote breakfast session on September 20, 2023.

Following its successful debut edition in October 2022, which brought together more than 200 attendees from 28 states, CEA Summit East 2023 will continue to foster connections and collaboration among growers, educators, scientists, extension specialists, suppliers, engineers, tech specialists, architect/developers and other industry members. Throughout the two-day event attendees will have the opportunity to explore the latest innovations from tabletop exhibitors, enjoy networking opportunities, and attend a full roster of keynote, panel presentations and research/industry showcases.

For more information about the graduate student poster competition and the September 19-20, 2023, edition of CEA Summit East, visit the conference website at www.ceasummit.com

ABOUT INDOOR AG-CON
Indoor Ag-Con is the premier global event series focused on the future of indoor farming. Since 2013, the trade show and conference, the industry’s largest, has been at the forefront of the rapidly expanding vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture sector, providing a platform for industry leaders, innovators, and researchers to connect, share knowledge, and drive the industry forward. More information- www.indoor.ag

ABOUT THE VIRGINIA TECH-IALR CEA INNOVATION CENTER
The Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center is a joint project between IALR and Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center. By developing strategic partnerships with both industry and academia, the goal of the Innovation Center is to conduct research and educational programming to develop, promote and advance the CEA sector in the U.S. and internationally. More information–www.ialr.org/cea

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University of Florida Nutrient Management Course begins July 10 https://urbanagnews.com/events/university-of-florida-nutrient-management-course-begins-july-10/ https://urbanagnews.com/events/university-of-florida-nutrient-management-course-begins-july-10/#respond Tue, 13 Jun 2023 12:11:00 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9057 University of Florida Greenhouse Training Online courses 

Nutrient Management Level 1 Starts July 10!

One of the biggest factors affecting the success of your crop is correctly managing nutrients in the root zone. Nutrient Management Level 1 is part of the award-winning Greenhouse Online Training program offered by the University of Florida IFAS Extension. This course is intermediate level and designed for people with some experience or entry university level, who are in production, technical, or sales role for greenhouse and nursery crops. Topics covered include common nutrient problems, essential nutrients, fertilizer types, growing media, and testing (soil, nutrient solution and tissue). The course is offered in English and Spanish. Rated 4.4 out of 5 by grower participants, with over 90% graduation rate last year! Over 900 growers have successfully taken this course.

The course runs from July 10 to August 4, 2023. The cost is $US265 per participant, with a 20% discount if you register 5 or more. All course material is completely online and available at any time of the day, and includes pre-recorded videos, an interactive discussion board with PhD professors, and quizzes. Two new modules are activated each week during the course, for a total of 8 learning modules. Instruction is at your own pace and time within the 4 weeks of the course, with a typical time commitment of about 6 hours per week. Click here to register.

Nutrient Management 1 is one of six courses that counts towards the Plant Health Professional certificate offered by University of Florida UF IFAS Extension (UF Greenhouse Training Online) and the Michigan State University Floriculture Program Extension (MSU Online College of Knowledge) to help greenhouse clientele grow their career in plant health management.

For more information, go to http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/, or contact Greenhouse Training, Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, USA, Email: greenhousetraining@ifas.ufl.edu.

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Can leafy greens be profitably grown in indoor farms? https://urbanagnews.com/blog/exclusives/can-leafy-greens-be-profitably-grown-in-indoor-farms/ https://urbanagnews.com/blog/exclusives/can-leafy-greens-be-profitably-grown-in-indoor-farms/#respond Tue, 06 Jun 2023 16:44:00 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9051 OptimIA economic researchers determined on average, a 1 percent increase in wages would reduce an indoor farm’s profit per square meter for a day of production by 6 cents. A 1 percent increase in the price of electricity would reduce profits by 5 cents per square meter per day. Photo courtesy of Murat Kacira, Univ. of Ariz.

More importantly, will consumers pay a higher price for controlled-environment-grown produce?

Over the last five years, leafy greens have been the “it” crop for indoor farm production. Most indoor farms have started with leafy greens, primarily lettuce, and have looked to expand their product offerings to include herbs, microgreens, strawberries and tomatoes.

The OptimIA project, which is funded by USDA, is studying the aerial production environment and economics for growing indoor leafy greens in vertical farms. While much of the research of this four-year project has focused on managing the environment for vertical farm production, the economics related to this production is a major objective of OptimIA researchers. Based on feedback from commercial vertical farm growers, one of the primary areas of research is to develop economic information, including costs, potential profits, and to conduct an economic analysis to determine the strategies to improve profitability based on that information.

OptimIA researchers at Michigan State University who are focused on the economic aspects of vertical farm production include: Simone Valle de Souza, an ag economics professor; Chris Peterson, an emeritus professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics; and PhD student Joseph Seong, who is developing his thesis on the economics of indoor agriculture.

“I was invited by the other OptimIA researchers to use mathematical models that take into consideration the biology and technical parameters to determine the potential revenues and costs,” Valle de Souza said. “My team of economists is looking to identify the economic tradeoffs from the implementation of multiple environmental factors that the other OptimIA researchers were optimizing or planned to optimize as part of the project. Our job is to identify the optimal parameters for profitability in controlled environment production. As part of the OptimIA project, we tackled two aspects of economic analysis: production and resource-use efficiency and consumer preferences.”

Maximizing profits

As part of the economic analysis, Valle de Souza considered the variable costs of labor, electricity, seed, substrates and packaging materials. Based on the information collected from commercial indoor farm growers, labor was the largest cost at 41 percent of total variable operating costs, followed by electricity at 29 percent, seed and substrates at 22 percent and packaging materials at 7 percent.

“We did a sensitivity analysis to determine what would happen to profits if wages increased,” Valle de Souza said. “We conducted a series of simulations and determined on average a 1 percent increase in wages would reduce profit per square meter for a day of production by 6 cents. A 1 percent increase in the price of electricity would reduce profits by 5 cents per square meter per day. The contribution margin to profit is normalized on a per square meter per day of production so that we can make comparisons.”

While many growers might look to lower variable costs to increase profitability, Valle de Souza found that increasing the price of lettuce could be the better way to go.

“A 1 percent increase in the price of a head lettuce could increase profits by 60 cents per square meter per day,” she said. “Our analysis showed a revenue maximizing strategy is superior to a cost minimizing strategy. Reducing variable costs could result in savings of 5-6 cents in profit. However, during simulation scenarios that we tried, a revenue maximizing strategy could proportionately increase profits 10 times more by as much as 60 cents.”

OptimIA economists determined a 1 percent increase in the price of a head of lettuce could increase profits by 60 cents per square meter per day. A 1 percent increase in wages would reduce profit by 6 cents per square meter a day. A 1 percent increase in the price of electricity would reduce profits by 5 cents per square meter per day. Graph courtesy of Simone Valle de Souza, Mich. St. Univ.

Optimal length of production

Another part of the analysis done by the OptimIA economic researchers was to estimate the optimum length of the lettuce production cycle.

“In terms of production cycle length, we compared the trade-off between costs from one extra production day and revenues from yield that could be achieved from one extra day of growth,” Valle de Souza said. “We tried to estimate how long growers could allow lettuce plants to grow to take advantage of the fast growth rate the plants experience at the end of a production cycle. Using estimates of plant growth and plant density under an optimized space usage defined by our OptimIA colleagues at the University of Arizona, we found that under specific environmental conditions, day 19 after transplant, or 33 days from seeding, was the ideal harvesting day.”

Even though maximum revenue could be achieved earlier, at day 15 after transplant, costs per day of growth were higher for shorter production cycles. The contribution margin to profit, which was estimated as the difference between revenue and costs in this partial budget analysis, was larger at 19 days after transplant. After 33 days, profit starts to decline because the speed of plant growth rate is not as fast as the increase in costs associated with growing.

“We have determined the economic results from space optimization, estimated optimal production cycle length under given conditions, and the economic results from alternate scenarios of light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration and temperature,” Valle de Souza said. “In collaboration with our OptimIA colleagues, we are now working on a final optimization model that will associate optimal profitability with resource-use efficiency.”

Opportunity to educate consumers

Another aspect of the OptimIA economics research looked at consumer behavior and preferences in regards to indoor farms and the crops they produce. Using a national survey, the researchers determined whether consumers are willing to buy lettuce produced in indoor farms and how much they would be willing to pay for the enhanced attributes of produce grown in indoor farms.

“The survey showed no consumers rejected the innovative technology being used by indoor farms,” Valle de Souza said. “There was a group of consumers who were very supportive of the technology and completely understood what an indoor farm is. Another group of consumers were engaged, but not very convinced of the technology. Another group was skeptical of the claims of indoor-farm-produced leafy greens and were less willing to consume them. This same group said they had no knowledge about indoor farms and how they work.

“There were no consumers who had knowledge about indoor farms and rejected the leafy greens grown in these operations. Some consumers are still cautious given their little understanding about how the production systems work.”

Based on the survey results, Valle de Souza said the indoor farm industry has an opportunity to educate consumers about its production technology.

“The indoor farm industry could promote information materials that explain the benefits of a fully controlled growth environment,” she said. “Growers could explain how this technology eliminates the use of pesticides, how it can improve crop quality attributes, along with the environmental benefits of significantly lower water consumption, reduced land use, and the ability to deliver fresh produce to consumers in urban areas.”

Consumer willingness to pay more

Consumers surveyed by OptimIA researchers indicated they were willing to pay a premium for lettuce with enhanced attributes.

“We tested for taste, freshness, nutrient levels and food safety,” Valle de Souza said. “Consumers were willing to pay a premium for these attributes, especially in urban areas.

“Rural dwellers usually have their own backyards in which they can grow vegetables. They are used to seeing vegetables growing in the soil using sunlight. Rural residents were not as convinced about the need for indoor farms to produce leafy greens. Another interesting survey result was that consumers, in general, are not very decided if they prefer produce grown in indoor farms, greenhouses or outdoors.”

For more: Simone Valle de Souza, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics; valledes@msu.edu; http://www.canr.msu.edu/people/simone_valle_de_souza.

OptimIA Ag Science Café #40: Consumer Varieties for Indoor Farm Produced Leafy Greens, https://www.scri-optimia.org/showcafe.php?ID=111156.

This article is property of Urban Ag News and was written by David Kuack, a freelance technical writer in Fort Worth, Texas.

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The Ohio Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (OHCEAC)’s annual conference speaker line-up https://urbanagnews.com/events/the-ohio-controlled-environment-agriculture-center-ohceacs-annual-conference-speaker-line-up/ https://urbanagnews.com/events/the-ohio-controlled-environment-agriculture-center-ohceacs-annual-conference-speaker-line-up/#respond Wed, 10 May 2023 22:47:43 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=9000 The Ohio Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (OHCEAC)’s annual conference will host four internationally and nationally renowned speakers of key areas of plant lighting, root-zone substrate sciences, plant sensing technologies, and crop production physiology to advance the sustainability of controlled environment agriculture (CEA).

Keynote Speakers Photos
  • James Altland (USDA-ARS): “New Concepts for Managing Soilless Substrates for Sustainability & Crop Growth”
  • Bruce Bugbee (Utah State University): “Turning Photons into Food”
  • Murat Kacira (University of Arizona): “Advancement of Plant Sensing Technology for Sustainable Crop Production Under Controlled Environment”
  • Ricardo Hernández (NC State University): “Indoor Precision Propagation of Horticultural and Industrial Crops”

To learn more about our keynote speakers, please check out their bios on our conference page. 


The conference will also feature eight invited research presentations by academic and industry based controlled environment research groups.  

Fadi Al-Daoud (OMAFRA)
Luis Cañas (Ohio State University)
Brendan Higgins (Auburn University)
Michelle Jones (Ohio State University)

Peter Ling (Ohio State University)
Yujin Park (Arizona State University)
Uttara Samarakoon (Ohio State University)
Kellie Walters (University of Tennessee)


REGISTER FOR THE OHCEAC CONFERENCE TODAY!

Join us on July 19th for OHCEAC’s second annual conference Advancement of Sustainable Controlled Environment Crop Production Sciences and Technologies“.

The OHCEAC conference will be accessible in-person at the Controlled Environment Agriculture Research Complex (CEARC) in Columbus, OH or online via Zoom.

Please visit the OHCEAC conference main page to register!


CONFERENCE SPONSORS


CONFERENCE MEDIA PARTNER

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University of Florida Greenhouse Training Online2023 program starts May 29 https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/university-of-florida-greenhouse-training-online2023-program-starts-may-29/ https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/university-of-florida-greenhouse-training-online2023-program-starts-may-29/#respond Fri, 05 May 2023 12:15:00 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=8994 Want to join the growing horticulture industry? Need to freshen up your horticulture knowledge? Do you have employees that would benefit from knowing the why of their day-to-day work? Train yourself or your staff with University of Florida IFAS Extension’s award-winning online program. All Greenhouse Training Online courses are taught in English and Spanish. The first course of the year, Greenhouse 101, starts on May 29, 2023. To register, visit http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/.

Each course is completely online, and includes pre-recorded videos, an interactive discussion board with PhD professors, supporting educational material and quizzes. The course material is available any time of the day, and two new modules are activated each week during the course for the four weeks of each course, for a total of 8 learning modules. Experienced university instructors are available to help, and graduates receive a personalized certificate of completion. There is a course for every level of knowledge and skill. This year features a new advanced course, Environmental Crop Management, that will teach you underlying principles of plant physiology and how concepts such as vapor pressure deficit apply to greenhouse climate control.

Greenhouse 101 teaches the underlying horticultural science of plant growth to growers who lack a formal training in horticulture and is a great introduction to the program. If you are interested in exploring the horticulture industry and have no previous education, this is the course for you! Topics included are plant parts, photosynthesis and growth, greenhouse technology, flowering, compactness, branching, irrigation, nutrition, and plant health.

Join the over 3800 growers who have successfully graduated from Greenhouse Training Online courses. We have an 80% completion rate, and our participants provide positive reviews: “Thanks for the opportunity to continue each of our educations with a realistic and flexible program to successfully complete while working full time”, “Courses are very well crafted by growers for growers.”

Supervisors that have enrolled their employees also said: “The courses helped our team understand a lot of the work we do in a much more holistic way.”

We offer a 20% discount when you register 5 or more. For more information, including discounts for multiple registrations email us at: greenhousetraining@ifas.ufl.edu.

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Ohio State University Greenhouse Strawberry School Online https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/ohio-state-university-greenhouse-strawberry-school-online/ https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/ohio-state-university-greenhouse-strawberry-school-online/#respond Tue, 25 Apr 2023 04:10:01 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=8990 Are you new in strawberry?

The Ohio State’s comprehensive learning opportunity for greenhouse strawberry production is back! Dr. Chieri Kubota & Mark Kroggel, the North American experts of Controlled Environment Agriculture Strawberry Physiology and Technology, are offering this opportunity online.

The self-paced course will consist of previously recorded lectures covering basics on strawberry physiology and production practices in greenhouses – topics include 1) cultivars, 2) transplants and flowering physiology, 3) crop schedule, 4) nutrient solution and rootzone management, 5) environmental conditions and benchmark yields, and 6) IPM and environmental disorders.Students will be given two weeks (May 1st to 11th) to complete all six lectures, followed by an interactive live 2-hour discussion session with instructors on May 12th, 2023. Multiple live sessions will be scheduled to accommodate your availability and time zone. You will continue to have access to the course materials until May 31st, 2023. Course fee is $85 per person.  Registration site will open on April 1st. Please let us know if you have questions.The course is most suitable for those who are new in controlled environment agriculture and interested in strawberry production under protected cultivation conditions.

Deadline to Enroll: April 30th, 2023

Course Accessibility: May 1st, 2023 – May 31st, 2023

Live Discussion Session: May 12th, 2023 (time TBD)

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https://u.osu.edu/indoorberry/

Questions About the Course?

Dr. Chieri Kubota: kubota.10@osu.edu

Ohio Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (OHCEAC)

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Universities inviting you to participate in Produce Safety for Indoor Growers Survey https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/universities-inviting-you-to-participate-in-produce-safety-for-indoor-growers-survey/ https://urbanagnews.com/blog/news/universities-inviting-you-to-participate-in-produce-safety-for-indoor-growers-survey/#respond Sat, 22 Apr 2023 18:42:13 +0000 https://urbanagnews.com/?p=8988 The produce safety teams from Auburn University, Alabama A&M University, and the University of Georgia would like to invite you to participate in this survey to collect information about knowledge gaps in food safety practices among indoor produce growers.  

Who should participate?

You may participate if you are an adult over 18 years of age and are a produce grower, harvester, packer, seller, food safety personnel, or otherwise involved in the production of fresh produce using indoor agriculture methods, including hydroponics and aquaponics. Participants will be asked to complete an online Qualtrics survey, which will take around 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the farmer’s food safety practices. 

This survey is voluntary and anonymous. 

There are no foreseeable risks associated with participation in the survey. There are no costs to complete the survey. Your participation will be used to improve the quality of food safety training and outreach programs for indoor, soilless growing. Additionally, if you choose, you may provide contact information to be entered into a raffle for a $100 prepaid debit card as compensation for completing the survey. Ten participants will be randomly selected to win after the survey is closed. If you do not wish to enter the raffle or provide contact information, you may still complete the survey without doing so. 

Why should you participate?

The purpose of this survey is to improve the quality of food safety educational programs and to develop a targeted food safety educational curriculum for indoor produce growers.  Link to the survey: https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6YEJktzNokeiXxc 

Questions?

If you would like to know more information about this survey, an information letter can be obtained by sending me an email at czr0079@auburn.edu. If you decide to participate after reading the letter, you can access the survey from a link in the letter.

This work is supported by the Food Safety Outreach Program grant no. 22022-70020-37574 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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