With increasing interest in renewable energy and as vast solar arrays are installed, farmers are paid considerable lease money for the use of their land, municipalities get a much enhanced tax base, and as livestock and crops are produced under what can be hundreds and sometimes thousands of acres of solar panels, it provides another revenue stream for the farm. And these solar farms can produce renewable energy that can help power aspects of the provincial economy such as the relatively new industry — AI data centres. And with permanent forage production the operations helps to sequester carbon as well — many wins on the agrivoltaics score sheet.

“I believe that agrivoltaics is a diversification opportunity that could be the saviour of many family farms in Canada,” says Patrick Gossage, president and board chair of Agrivoltaics Canada. That is an organization that represents all players involved in a relatively new niche area of farming.

What is agrivoltaics? Agri, refers to agriculture and voltaics (pronounced as vol-tay-icks) refers to producing energy. It is the system of producing crops and livestock under an array of solar panels.

Producing power from solar panels first appeared in Canada on a limited basis during the energy crisis of the 1970s. Fast forward a few decades, and as the cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for electricity generation declined and interest in renewable energy increased, over the past 10 to 15 years there has been greater interest in producing power through solar energy.

But as these solar projects have been proposed on sites ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand acres, there was also criticism they were often taking valuable farmland out of production. “Solar energy is not the boogeyman,” says Gossage. “And that’s the message we want to get across to all levels. Properly managed, these solar power projects can actually enhance and increase agricultural production and become diversification projects that can save family farms.”

Gossage pointed to a research project, organized by Agrivoltaics Canada on an Ontario farm of only 150 acres (fairly typical size in Ontario) that was at risk of being sold. While the “agricultural component” of most agrivoltaics projects involves livestock or honey bees for honey production, for this project the design and layout of the solar array was adjusted to create more room between the rows of solar panels. The plan is for the farm to use its existing equipment to seed and harvest soybeans and grain between the solar panel rows.

“This producer will be earning money from the lease of his land to the solar developer,” says Gossage. “And they’ll also be able to produce a crop on the farm as well. The lease itself will provide four times the return per acre than most commodities and the farmer will still be able to produce a crop.”

Gossage notes while the Ontario provincial government has ruled that solar power projects cannot be developed on prime agricultural land, that does not rule out the value of including agrivoltaics in projects to improve returns to each farm.

While most provinces have some solar power projects, Ontario and Alberta are really the major players in the solar power generation in the country. One report published in 2024, showed there were nearly 100 large commercial solar projects in Canada ranging from 150 to 3,400 acres in size. These were either operational or in development. Alberta had about 54 projects, Ontario about 37 projects with one or two each in Saskatchewan, B.C. and Prince Edward Island. For those projects where acres were cited, a partial list covered well in excess of 200,000 acres.

In Alberta, Jason Bradley, a long-time manager of a 350 head cow-calf operation near Sundre and former farm manager at Olds College is now CEO of a multi-partnered consulting company — Sun Cycle Farms — providing a range of services to the solar energy industry.

He is a strong proponent of regenerative agriculture and extends that philosophy to regenerative agrivoltaics.

“Alberta has a number of solar power projects producing power and several more in the development stage,” says Bradley. “With agrivoltaics there is a tremendous opportunity for farmers to be involved, diversify their operations and still keep agricultural land productive.”

He notes that renewable energy companies will pay at least $700 per acre per year just to lease the land for solar projects. If the producer is also interested in providing vegetation control under and between solar arrays that can be worth another $200 or more per acre. And on top of that the farmer has opportunity to raise different classes of livestock on the solar farm project to further enhance the revenue stream.

As of 2024, Alberta mandated all solar power projects over 10 megawatts (about 60 acres) must have a “farm first” plan for projects developed on Class 1 and 2 agricultural land. That means the project must include a viable agrivoltaic component. Sun Cycle Farms can provide a range of services. They work with companies to design the solar array installation, so it is well suited to accommodate farming activity. They will work with the company or farmers to provide and manage the agrivoltaic component itself. And when possible they welcome the opportunity to operate the solar plant as well as the agrivoltaic component.

“It is critical that the power plant and agrivoltaics be in collaboration with each other,” says Bradley. “Depending on the activity, the angle of the solar panels may need to be adjusted from angled, to table top, to cathedral (upright position) to accommodate grazing livestock or field operations with equipment. It helps if we can be in control of both to be able to manage timing as needed.

“Farming with agrivoltaics requires a paradigm shift in thinking for producers. With the solar installation in place, the agriculture component has to be managed within a high voltage, industrial power plant, in the midst of screw piles, cables and transformers. It is a different environment.”

Bradley is a strong advocate that solar power projects should be installed on prime agricultural land, providing farmers the best opportunity to optimize returns through agrivoltaics.

While sheep are commonly used to provide vegetation control, Bradley says projects can also include pigs, or poultry, as well as crops such as fruit and vegetable production. He also noted a research project underway involving a solar power installation owned by the town of Cardston in southern Alberta where cattle are being grazed among the solar panels. Olds College is actively involved in researching agrivoltaic options and practices.

Eric Steeves, part of the family owned Yetwood Farms near Lomond in southern Alberta is part of the Travers Solar Project — the largest solar power development in Canada. Part of their grain farm along with several other nearby family farms have leased a total of 3,400 acres to a development that includes more than 1.3 million solar panels.

Steeves was proactive in the early planning stages and diversified their farming operation to include sheep as the agrivoltaic component of the project. They currently pasture about 2,000 ewes on the solar power site and plan to ramp that up to 8,000 head over the next few years.

“This Travers project has proven to be an excellent diversification for our farm and for several other farms involved in the project,” says Steeves. He says those dryland acres included in the solar project are now earning $900 per acre or more per year just in lease payments and vegetation management fees and that doesn’t include the returns from lambs produced as the agrivoltaics component.

He noted that the County of Vulcan is also reaping the benefits. The 23 quarter sections covered by the Travers Solar Project would have generated about $10,000 in tax revenue for the county strictly as cropland, but now the solar project on that land is providing the country with $3.5 to $4 million per year in tax revenue.

“And as the province is interested in attracting new developments such AI data centres which require a great deal power, these solar energy projects could provide a renewable energy source for those type of industries,” says Steeves.

“Alberta had the foresight more than 100 years ago to develop irrigation for farming in southern Alberta and look at the contribution it is making to the agriculture industry today. We need to dream big in this province. These solar power projects provide a great deal of opportunity to farmers, to communities, and to the provincial economy while keeping agricultural land in production. We need to dream big and encourage more of these projects.”

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It’s “the latest step we are taking to unlock the enormous potential of true free trade within Canada,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford in a news release May 14.

The release heralded a memorandum of understanding signed by Ford and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew. The document states that both provinces will:

• Build on legislation to remove internal barriers hindering the flow of goods, services, investment and workers. Direct-to-consumer alcohol sales and labour mobility were named specifically.
• Encourage other jurisdictions to remove barriers to trade across Canada.
• Encourage labour mobility by finding ways to align rules for regulated occupations and registration.
• Develop a bilateral direct-to-consumer agreement by June 30 to improve market opportunities for goods producers and increase consumer choice.

Interprovincial trade barriers have been a standing topic of debate in Canada. The topic was thrust again into the spotlight this year as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened widespread tariffs on Canadian goods.

In January, Canada’s premiers agreed to take “meaningful action” to improve the flow of goods and services across the country. The next month, the federal government said it would remove 20 out of 39 exceptions to the Canadian Free Trade Agreement—most of which pertained to government procurement. The government said the move would increase businesses’ ability to compete across Canada.

In 2021, the value of trade between Ontario and Manitoba was $19.5 billion, the province of Ontario said in a news release.

Canola oil products and conventional crude oil are among Manitoba’s top exports to Ontario. Ontario’s top exports to Manitoba include household goods, food and beverages.

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Glacier FarmMedia reporters and contributors from Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and Manitoba asked farmers about their election priorities, how represented by the federal government they’ve felt — and finally, if there’s anything they’d like farmers from other regions to understand about the issues they face.

In part three of this series, farmers answer the question, “Do you feel represented by the federal government?”

Read part one and part two of the series, which look at farmers’ views on U.S. President Donald Trump, trade, the economy, and what the federal government can do to build a better business environment.

For more coverage of the 2025 federal election, visit the Western Producer’s election page.

Ontario

Ontario farmers Glacier FarmMedia spoke to felt generally well represented by their MPs. In all cases, those were Conservative MPs elected in ridings where agriculture is a significant economic driver.

“From Ottawa as a whole, though, I don’t feel the current government provides as much support as I would like to see for grain farmers across the country,” said Matt Underwood.

Brayden Older, a dairy farmer near Embro, says he “feel(s) like we’re rudderless right now.” He criticized former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for proroguing Parliament immediately upon announcing his intention to step down as Liberal leader. He also mused about the possibility that the nation could — if Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives win the election — potentially be led by three different prime ministers within a few months.

Pete Overdevest, who is on the Dairy Farmers of Ontario board, says the ruling Liberals made campaign promises in the past but failed to follow through once elected. He expects little better this time.

Overdevest and fellow dairy farmer Braydon Older shared the concern that if the Liberals secure a third successive victory the alienation due to lack of representation for farmers — particularly Prairie farmers — in Ottawa will rise to troubling levels.

Older wants to hear assurances from party leaders this campaign that supply management will be protected in any trade negotiations. But he admitted he worries that putting too much emphasis on poultry, eggs and dairy could leave voters in Western Canadian farm country feeling left out.

“We need to be united over the whole country,” agreed Overdevest.

Quebec

“The strongest element of a society is also its weakest link: its farmers,” said fruit producer and Bloc Québécois candidate Christian Hébert. His comments are translated from French.

“We can’t just pick up tomorrow and go. So, if farmers’ concerns are not prioritized in public policy, then we’ll be the first ones sacrificed. I find this very sad.”

Hébert said Quebecers unanimously support reciprocal norms — that is, that imported products sold in Québec must be subject to the same standards and requirements as Québec products.

“The federal government is not playing an adequate role in terms of control over products coming through the border,” he said.

Hébert said in recent years there have been several demonstrations in Quebec, other provinces and the U.S. about reciprocal norms.

Manitoba

Curtis McCrae said his biggest fear is that eastern voters will forget what has happened in the last ten years.

“We haven’t been represented as part of the country. We’ve just been where everything gets pushed to solve problems,” he said.

He said he’d love to see a government that understands the importance of primary industry, and the growth it can spur in the rest of the economy.

Scott Peters, who sits on the Canadian Pork Council, said representation has been okay at times. It can be difficult to get meetings with officials, but he understands they are very busy.

However, he said AgriStability has been toyed with too much, and programs have been cut — possibly because agriculture is poorly understood or forgotten.

Alberta

Hog and grain farmer Bryan Perkins said agriculture seems to get lost in the mix, while tariffs on other industries receive all the attention from the federal government.

“They’re spending a lot of time working on and being worried about tariffs and whatnot, but we’re here with 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil and canola meal and 25 per cent tariffs on pork going to China, and there just doesn’t seem to be a whisper on that,” he said.

“Yet, when there’s a 25 per cent tariff on automobiles or steel and aluminum — and those are all really important industries, for sure — all of a sudden there’s lots of government attention,” Perkins said.

China placed tariffs on agricultural products in retaliation for those Canada placed on electric vehicles, he said.

The post Canadian farmers’ view of the federal government differs by province — but not by much appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

As for precipitation, ECCC said above-normal amounts are likely to be received over most of Western Canada, Northern Ontario, Northern Quebec as well as Newfoundland and Labrador. ECCC stated it’s unclear at this time how much precipitation during the December to February period is in store for the rest of the country.

One factor guiding the outlook is the La Nina forming in the Pacific Ocean. However, ECCC said the La Nina has yet to officially develop, but when it has done so, the system is expected to be weak during the winter. ECCC noted the La Nina could still generate a more active storm track over the Great Lakes and Atlantic Canada. Officials added the system can lengthen the country’s snow season.

One positive effect of this winter’s snowfall is ECCC forecast more precipitation for those drier areas of Canada that experienced a large number of wildfires over the last few years.

Another factor ECCC accounted for was the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, which when combined with a La Nina could result in a colder than normal temperatures, particularly for Western Canada.

Overall, officials predicted the 2024/25 to be more like a more seasonal winter as opposed that last year.

On the downside, ECCC stressed that Canada is warming at about double the global rate, especially further to the north. With that in mind, ECCC created the Rapid Extreme Weather Event Attribution system, which will analyze the connections between human-caused climate change and the odds of extreme cold temperatures. The system is expected to come online next year.

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Rob O’Connor, COFS show director, said the show’s dynamic nature is on display this year.

“There’s nothing ‘always the same’ at this show,” he told attendees at the opening ceremony of the thirty-first annual show.

He noted that one of the key changes this year was an expanded “international effort” aimed at attracting international buyers to Canadian farm equipment manufacturers.

“We expect it to continue to grow in the coming years,” he said.

One of the dignitaries speaking at the launch was Senator Rob Black, who chairs the Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee and is author of “Critical Ground”, a recent report on soil health in Canada. He touted the importance of using innovation and technology to meet the sustainability challenges Canadian farmers face. He noted the importance of agriculture and the need to ensure it has the tools it needs to succeed.

“Through innovation, collaboration and strong leadership, agriculture will overcome these challenges and build a bright future for Canadian farmers,” he said.

Next to take the stage was Rob Flack, Ontario minister of agriculture, food and agribusiness, who noted that agriculture in Ontario is an overlooked powerhouse. The long-time agri-business executive called on all attendees to promote the sector, noting it contributed $51 billion to Ontario’s economy last year, and was quickly growing.

He added that the sector employed 871,000 people in 2023, accounts for one in nine jobs in the province, and total employment in food and beverage exceeds that of the auto sector.

“That’s why it is so important to invest — not spend, invest — in our farmers and food industry,” Flack said.

A major focus of the show is farm equipment, and O’Connor noted that Canada is a major player in this industry, and Ontario leads the country in export sales of equipment.

Bob Cochrane, general manager of Highline Manufacturing and CEO of the Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada, said Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show has become an important event for the sector.

“I am very excited to be here today, as both an exhibitor, and as a representative of AMC,” he told attendees. “We’re very excited to showcase our products to producers at this showcase of all things agricultural.”

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According to Stephen Case, chief executive officer and president of Fox River Resources, Canada has become completely reliant on phosphate sourced from other countries like the U.S., Russia and Morocco. He’s advocating to have the Martison Phosphate Project developed at a site northeast of Hearst, Ont. to alleviate Canadian reliance on phosphate from those other jurisdictions.

Dating back to the early 2000s, Canada sourced its own phosphate, most of which came from Redwater, Alta. At the turn of the century, that plant could generate up to 700,000 tonnes of monoammonium phosphate (MAP) per year, part of a near one-million tonne market for MAP across Western Canada. Through the years, it produced under the names Agrium, Sherritt Gordon and Veridian, among others. But with the formation of Nutrien, the phosphoric acid plant was converted to an ammonium-sulphate (AMS) production facility.

Since the mid-2010s, Canadian phosphate usage has pushed the industry into complete dependence on the U.S. and other imports. With the onset of the war in Ukraine, Canadian farmers were forced to pay higher short-term prices for phosphate from that part of the world.

“We’re now a two-million tonne market and two things have happened in the past 20 years,” says Case. “Agrium had a fixed number of tonnes they would produce per year, but the western Canadian market and Ontario’s continued to grow and they have essentially doubled consumption in the past 10 years.”

At the same time, U.S. supply has been declining since the early 1990s, from a high of about 48 million tonnes in 1991 to a little under 20 million in 2022. There is the possibility that Nutrien’s White Springs, Florida facility will close later this decade or earlier, due to a lack of phosphate reserves. That plant has produced 500,000 tonnes of phosphoric acid, but its closure will only worsen the North American shortfall of phosphate.

A solution

Case’s bid is a two-pronged approach. First, get phosphate on the 2024 Critical Mineral List (CML), a move which would help get the Martison Phosphate Project up and running. Projects like Martison require billions of dollars to build and it will need access to government support that comes with being on the critical mineral list.

“It accesses infrastructure funding, tax credits and possibly government guarantees,” says Case. “The federal government’s also involved in streamlining the permitting process to reduce the timelines for critical minerals. It’s all of those things that make it easier to get this developed — and it should be on the list — potash is, and clearly, if you look at the criteria for critical minerals, one of the aspects is food security.”

Getting phosphate on the CML can also affect the level of infrastructure support with Indigenous participation, a jump to 75 per cent compared to 50 per cent for non-Indigenous interests.

One key strategic advantage of the Martison Phosphate Project is that it originates from igneous rock versus sedimentary sources which contain higher levels of cadmium. Within the last 10 years, cadmium has become a trade issue among EU importers of cereals and other foods. Again, with increased demand for production of crops across the country, Case says it’s counterproductive to apply lesser-quality phosphate to farmland when there is a better, made-in-Canada solution.

What’s needed is the drive to get it into production.

Case also says the focus on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for the electric vehicle market could divert attention from food and fertilizer.

The size of the Martison Phosphate Project is unknown at this time and although there may be enough ore to fill both markets, the two are definite competitors.

“Part of what we’re talking about is predicated on the fact that the U.S. is running out of rock and the rock they do have is of poor quality,” adds Case.

“If we don’t do something about this, we’re going to be paying more for something we shouldn’t be.”

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The grocer said in a release that from now on, the CRSB Certified Mass Balance mark will be displayed on all beef products across its Platinum Grill Angus Canadian AAA Beef Program, available in all 131 Metro stores in Ontario.

The CRSB Certified program provides credible assurances for the production, processing and sourcing of beef through certified supply chains in Canada. This means verifying outcomes across five areas of sustainability that include conserving and enhancing natural resources (land, water and air); supporting people and communities; best practices in animal care; food safety and quality, and embracing efficiencies and innovation that foster continual improvement.

Metro Ontario said these focus areas align closely with “multiple elements” of its priorities when it comes to responsible procurement.

Ryan Beierbach, chair of the CRSB and a CRSB Certified rancher from Saskatchewan said in a release that by displaying the CRSB Certified Mass Balance mark on-pack, “Metro shows their customers they are making positive contributions through their food choices.”

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Hepworth was among 78 appointments announced by governor general Mary Simon in late December.

The London, Ont., resident was recognized for his contributions to agriculture and research “which have propelled the sector to new heights,” according to Simon’s office.

He was a farmer and veterinarian in Saskatchewan before entering provincial politics during premier Grant Devine’s Progressive Conservative governments, where he served in several portfolios until 1991.

After his political career, Hepworth moved to Ontario and began working with the Crop Protection Institute and Canadian Agra Group of Companies. He was instrumental in the formation of CropLife Canada and retired as its chief executive officer and president in 2014 after 17 years. He was appointed to the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame that year.

Hepworth has also served as chair of Genome Canada and the Global Institute for Food Security at the University of Saskatchewan. The list of his involvement with other institutions includes the Canadian Council of Academies Expert Panel on Sustainable Management of water in agricultural landscapes, the Scientific Advisory and Governance Committees of the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund, the advisory board of the National Research Council of Canada’s Plant Biotechnology Institute, the Canadian Agri-Food Research Council and the federal pest management and national biotechnology advisory committees.

He was on the board of Input Capital Corp. and a director and chair of Canterra Farmland Holdings LP.

He received the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2020.

—Karen Briere is a reporter for the Western Producer. She writes from Saskatchewan.

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The winter forecast features a mild start to the season, with a delay in the arrival of consistent cold weather for most of the country. However, the forecast adds that January and February could bring a dramatic pattern change.

“The current El Niño event and ocean water temperatures across the Pacific Ocean are giving us a pattern that is unlike anything that we have ever seen before,” said Chris Scott, chief meteorologist at The Weather Network.

“Therefore, we believe that the upcoming season will deliver some curveballs that will set this winter apart from typical El Niño winters. While mild temperatures should continue to dominate across Western Canada, it appears to be a different story for the eastern half of Canada where winter is expected to make more than just a token appearance.”

El Niño is associated with warmer-than-normal ocean water temperatures in the tropical region of the Pacific Ocean to the west of South America. This has an impact on the global jet stream pattern.

Alberta

A relatively mild winter is expected across Alberta, including Edmonton and Calgary, with above-normal temperatures and below-normal snow totals, according to The Weather Network. There will still be periods of high-impact winter weather, but mild Pacific air is expected to be more prevalent than arctic air.

During mid- to late winter, a cold pattern is forecast to develop well to the east of Alberta. If the focus of the cold weather shifts further west than currently expected, then Alberta could end up seeing a more active pattern (potentially more snow) and periods of more significant cold weather.

Saskatchewan and Manitoba

A milder than normal winter is also expected across the region, especially across western Saskatchewan, as Pacific air will spread into the region from the west. However, there will still be periods of severe cold, especially during January and February across eastern parts of the region, including Winnipeg. However, frigid conditions are not expected to be as persistent as they are during a typical winter.

Below-normal snowfall is expected across western Saskatchewan, but eastern parts of the province and Manitoba are expected to see near-normal snow totals.

Ontario

A mild start to winter is expected in Ontario, with less snow than normal during the weeks leading up to the holidays, especially in southern parts of the province including London, Hamilton, Toronto and Ottawa.

While a strong El Niño would typically result in a milder pattern in the province for most of January, The Weather Network expects a colder scenario is more likely this year. When the colder weather arrives, the Great Lakes will be wide open, so the traditional snowbelt areas should eventually see an abundance of lake-effect snow.

The primary storm track for the season is expected to be well south of the border but close enough to bring near-normal snow totals to the southernmost parts of Ontario. However, a slight shift north or south would have a major impact on the final totals.

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The Ontario and federal governments on Thursday opened the intake for applications under what they’re calling the Increasing Deadstock Capacity Initiative, budgeted for $1.5 million over two years.

The program, to be delivered by Ontario’s Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC), is meant to “help improve the removal handling, and disposal of deadstock” through cost-shared funding of projects that address “immediate and short-term deadstock capacity needs at businesses and municipalities in Ontario.”

Funding is available to:

• new and existing deadstock service providers, including collectors, carriers, renderers, composting facilities, transfer stations and service brokers, among others;
• commercial operations that either “provide or require” deadstock services, such as slaughter plants or livestock sales barns;
• waste management companies such as Waste Management of Canada Corp. that offer “mass carcass emergency” services;
• commodity associations, including Ontario’s three accredited farm organizations as well as livestock producer groups, meat industry groups, animal product groups and county federations of agriculture; and
• municipalities, including both “upper-tier” and “lower-tier,” that either have or are setting up an approved waste disposal site that allows for disposal of dead animals.

Work eligible to be funded under the program includes construction or modifications that increase deadstock disposal and rendering capacity; retrofitting or modifying sites for such facilities; buying, retrofitting, and/or modifying collection, handling and storage equipment; and planning and assessments.

Through the initiative, an eligible applicant can get up to 40 per cent of total eligible project costs, to a maximum of $100,000 per project — and can be approved for no more than three projects, for up to no more than $300,000.

The program’s first intake opened Thursday (Sept. 21) and will remain open until Sept. 15, 2024 or whenever the funding is fully allocated. The deadline to apply for funding just for the 2023-24 program year (Sept. 21, 2023 to March 31, 2024) will be Feb. 1, 2024.

Approved projects can start on Sept. 21, 2023 or on the agreed-upon date in a given funding agreement. The earliest project start date will be April 1 next year for applications submitted after Feb. 1 next year.

To file claims for approved costs incurred between now and next March 31, the deadline will be March 28, 2024, while for costs incurred between April 1, 2024 and Feb. 1, 2025, the deadline will be Feb. 14, 2025. Any eligible projects approved under the program must be completed no later than Feb. 1, 2025.

Funding for the initiative will flow through the federal/provincial Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (S-CAP).

“Ontario’s livestock farmers are increasingly challenged with the disposal of deadstock in a manner that is economical, sustainable and that safeguards the integrity of our food system” AAC chair Doug Alexander said in Thursday’s release.

“Access to deadstock services is an essential part of livestock management,” provincial Ag Minister Lisa Thompson said in the same release. “This initiative will enable eligible businesses to streamline their operations and improve access to deadstock management solutions across the province.” — Glacier FarmMedia Network

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