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Wellington Federation of Agriculture opposes battery energy storage on prime ag land

The Wellington Federation of Agriculture believes battery energy storage systems should not be placed on prime agricultural land. 

In a new letter, the Wellington Federation of Agriculture (WFA) is requesting Wellington County implement eight policy and contractual obligations to protect prime ag as some local municipalities begin to debate whether to provide municipal support for several new proposals for local battery energy storage systems (BESS). 

This follows Centre Wellington's decision to support two BESS facilities on prime ag in Belwood and Fergus earlier this week. 

Storing electrical energy in batteries for later use, BESS act as a form of both supply and demand by storing low-cost power during off-peak periods and feeding it back into the grid when the demand for electricity is highest and can be "particularly useful" when integrating renewable resources like wind and solar. 

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How women saved agricultural economics and other ideas for why diversity matters | Jill J. McCluskey

Video: How women saved agricultural economics and other ideas for why diversity matters | Jill J. McCluskey

Dr. Jill J. McCluskey, Regents Professor at Washington State University and Director of the School of Economic Science

Dr. McCluskey documents that women entered agricultural economics in significant numbers starting in the 1980s, and their ranks have increased over time. She argues that women have increased the relevance in the field of agricultural economics through their diverse interests, perspectives, and experiences. In their research, women have expanded the field's treatment of non-traditional topics such as food safety and nutrition and environmental and natural resource economics. In this sense, women saved the Agricultural Economics profession from a future as a specialty narrowly focused on agricultural production and markets. McCluskey will go on to discuss some of her own story and how it has shaped some of her thinking and research. She will present her research on dual-career couples in academia, promotional achievement of women in both Economics and Agricultural Economics, and work-life support programs.

The Daryl F. Kraft Lecture is arranged by the Department of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics, with the support of the Solomon Sinclair Farm Management Institute, and in cooperation with the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.