Agricultural Development Accomplishments

1981 - Provincial R&D project testing the use of plastics for field vegetable crops;

1982 - Federal R&D project commercializing the growing of cantaloupes on plastic for Canada;

1984 - Provincial R&D project testing different colours of plastic for different vegetable crops
          and their responses;

1984 - Provincial R&D project - introduction of drip irrigation and responses to field crops;

1987 - R&D project - fumigant trials for vegetable crops;

1990 - Federal R&D project - seed breeding of eastern type cantaloupes for the eastern seaboard of
          North America.  The 7 season project was shortened to 3-1/2 by growing in Jamaica during the
          winter season;

1993 - R&D project testing and developing infrared photography mapping and imaging for vegetable
          crop growth for nutrient levels;

1994 - R&D project developing new crops for tobacco farmers in transition;

1994 - Plasti-tech, Quebec - developing and testing new technology plastic for field vegetables;

1995 - Plasti-tech, Quebec - IVIS, France - testing, and developing new plastic planting equipment
          for the Ontario market;

1995 - Testing and developing aerial developing infrared photography mapping and imaging for 
          vegetable crop growth for disease pressures;

1996 - Plasti-tech - testing and developing coloured low tunnels for vegetable crops for temperature
          conditions;

1996 - IRAP - R&D - response of coloured low tunnels for field vegetable crops;

2000 - IRAP - improving yields of field crops grown on plastic;

2001 - IRAP - develop, build and implement a self-propelled cantaloupe harvest aid;

2002 - Plasti-tech, Quebec - testing and trials on new plastics and equipment for Ontario;

2002 - Hosted International Horticultural tour of 40 different countries;

2003 - Can Adapt #673 - development of European high tunnels for the Canadian climate (6 yr project);

2004 - IRAP - development of the tomato and other corps for high tunnels in Ontario;

2004 - Hosted International Agricultural tour from Holland;

2004 - Hosted International Labour tour from Jamaica;

2004 - Began research and development in Jamaica for field vegetables imported to Canada during
          our winter season through CIDA feasibility study of agriculture in Jamaica;

2005 - IRAP - introducing honeydew melons as a feasible commercially grown crop for Ontario;

2005 - Federal project testing different tomato varieties and methods under high tunnels for yields and
          quality;

2003 - 2006 - implementation of long term EFP (Environmental Farm Plan);

2006 - Creation of Tunnel Tech high tunnel manufacturing company - 1st in Canada;

2007 - Received the Premiers Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence for the province of Ontario. 
          1st place with the CAN GROW-08 project for Jamaica (100K award).  Honoured at the 2008 Ag
          Summit held in Toronto, Ontario by the Honourable Premier Dalton McGuinty; 

             http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/infores/releases/2008/041608.htm

2007 - Received regional and county award for County and Region for Innovations with R&D from
          Agriculture Minister Leona Dombrowsky;

2008 - IRAP project with covering blueberries with high tunnels to increase yields and wildlife protection;

2008 - Strawberry project - increasing yields with day neutrals under high tunnels with high heat
          temperatures using unconventional methods;

2009 - Government high tunnel project with University of Florida, (Wimauma) USA;

2010 - Government high tunnel project with University of Guelph in New Liskeard, Ontario, Canada;

2010 - Government high tunnel project with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada in Bouctouche, New Brunswick, Canada.