New Program Helps Greenhouse Growers Recover

Feb 15, 2023

A new provincial government program will help farmers replace greenhouses damaged during hurricane Fiona.

The $3-million Fiona Greenhouse Replacement Program helps registered farm owners build or buy new greenhouses, grow tunnels and other related infrastructure.

“Producers have worked tirelessly over the last several months to pick up the pieces after the devastating impacts of hurricane Fiona,” said Agriculture Minister Greg Morrow. “We said we would support our farmers, and this program is just one of the ways the provincial government is delivering on that promise.”

Eligible expenses include structures, electrical and heating equipment, tools and technology used to monitor and control climate, and associated labour costs.

Funding amounts vary by structure. Successful applicants will be reimbursed up to $10 per square foot for heated greenhouses, $7.50 per square foot for unheated greenhouses and $5 per square foot for grow tunnels.

Applications are available at https://novascotia.ca/programs/fiona-agricultural-disaster-assistance/ and will be accepted until February 24. Farmers who have previously applied for greenhouse-related assistance through the Fiona Agricultural Disaster Assistance program do not need to apply again; a case manager will reach out directly.

Source : Novascotia .ca

Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.