Light pollution: tensions persist in Leamington

Shortly after the original by-law came into effect, the municipality advised that the Ontario Greenhouse and Vegetable Growers Association (Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers) and several greenhouse growers had applied for exemptions from the Normal Farm Practices Protection Board.

The organization’s chief executive, Joseph Sbrocchi, says many of them were unhappy with the rule, which required them to turn off their lights or completely close their curtains between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Closing them completely, as the regulations originally stated, would have literally cooked the tops of these plants in a matter of hours.he explains.

” Heat and humidity, you have to let it out or else the tops of the plants – where the youngest buds are – get cooked, stressed, and then it kills part of your crop or the whole crop in some cases. »

The city council hopes the new bylaw will strike a balance between the concerns of residents and the needs of growers, with the end goal of achieving darker skies.

Supply challenges?

The new regulations also state that greenhouse growers must prove that they purchased blackout curtains before 1^er October 2022 and that they must install them – on the walls and the ceiling – before the 1^er October 2023.

The directive also provides for curtains to be opened by 10% at ceiling level between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., as well as between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m., to allow heat and humidity to escape.

But the ceiling curtains must remain closed between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. and the wall curtains must be fully closed between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m.

We believe this reduces the amount of light emitted while providing a balance with what the industry needsexplains Hilda MacDonald, Mayor of Leamington.

Producers have until October 2032 to install the curtains due to supply chain issues, MacDonald said. According to her, suppliers, installers and industry experts have indicated that it may take some time before materials can be delivered and installed.

Sbrocchi says that while the greenhouse lighting debate has been going on for some time, it hasn’t been a top priority in recent years. It was the pandemic that raised more pressing questions.

A settlement that is not unanimous

Although greenhouse growers have accepted the new regulations, Sbrocchi says not everyone is happy.

The main reason, according to Sbrocchi, is that the installation of ceiling curtains can be difficult to achieve during cultivation.

Is it perfect? No, of course, but nothing is. A compromise is best for everyone and no one is necessarily 100% satisfiedhe explains.

Growers who already have their curtains in place must start following the new regulations and Sbrocchi says the municipality has a list of those who should be in compliance.

As for her, MacDonald says she hopes the new bylaw will improve relations between the municipality and the local greenhouse industry.

Having bad relationships with major employers in your community is no way to do business and this industry which has not been regulated needs to be in order to have a good lifestyle for the people who reside hereshe says.

According to information from CBC