This article is an update on our Emerging Ag-Tech series focused on solar energy technology. We include an agrovoltaic overview and new agrovoltaic installations and technology examples. We have also included a spotlight on new solar-powered farm vehicles.

Located near Tillsonburg, Ontario, Heritage Grown embodies a deep-rooted farming legacy. Officially incorporated in 2019, the family business stems from generations of agricultural experience. Farmers John and Tina Dyck joined forces with their sons, Ivan and Jonathan, merging three family farms into a thriving enterprise. This collaboration fosters growth for the entire family and extends to other regional farms who lease land to Heritage Grown.

As an Ag Tech company, Croptracker is keenly aware of the barriers that growers face in adopting new technologies. No matter the ‘ground-breaking’ features and promises from tech companies, the benefits and motivation to spend money and change processes is not clear for many growers. Not all ag tech advancements are created equal and not all are suited for every farm.

Operating a farm is complicated and being an Ag employer complicates it further, bringing unique and ongoing challenges that have little to do with growing food. The work needed to grow, package and sell high-quality produce is already never-ending, making the burden of HR administrative overhead tasks much more formidable. Many growers and ag industry employers echo complaints about the daunting task of organizing labour efficiently including: documenting work done, handling complicated payroll processes, fielding worker disputes, and meeting labor reporting demands.