New Calgary greenhouse to quadruple farm's production of food for people in need

Jun 24, 2022

With the grand opening of a new greenhouse, an urban farm in southeast Calgary is better positioned to navigate the difficulties of farming in Alberta.

From cold winters to unpredictable seeding seasons and common concerns about draught, it's no secret that farming in the region has its fair share of challenges.

Highfield Farm is now capable of growing at least twice the amount of food it had previously produced annually by expanding its indoor growing capacity. The project was backed by $277,000 in funding through the Local Food Infrastructure Fund, delivered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Highfield Farm currently has about 15,000 square feet of garden space and more than 200 members who volunteer their time to garden and harvest fresh produce.

Almost all of the fresh food grown on the farm is donated to charities including the Calgary Food Bank and the Mustard Seed.

"We should easily be able to quadruple that amount of food harvested for now with this greenhouse," said Heather Ramshaw, operations manager at Highfield Farm, told CTV News in January.

"We're hoping this year and over the years to kind of develop our sales channels, if possible, to try and cover some of the costs of growing the food as well, but we're very happy to be able to provide fresh, whole local foods to food access organizations."

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Video: Fendt Testimonial | Fendt 726 Vario Gen7 | Peter Watson Jones Ltd.

What happens when a farm buys its first Fendt? For Peter Watson Jones Ltd, the Fendt 726 Vario Gen7 has exceeded expectations from day one. For Jack, Farm Manager at Peter Watson Jones Ltd in North Shropshire, UK, the Fendt 726 Vario Gen7 wasn't just another tractor purchase. It was the farm's first experience with the Fendt brand.

Operating across a 1,200-acre arable farm alongside a 250,000-head broiler enterprise, the business has evolved significantly over the last decade, moving to a straight arable system with fewer staff and machines. Since arriving on the farm, the Fendt 726 Vario has established itself as the main drilling and cultivations tractor, earning its place through performance, versatility and efficiency. Whether it's handling large-scale cultivations or working with a new 4.5m strip-till drill, the tractor continues to impress.

Jack highlights its excellent manoeuvrability, operator comfort and ability to deliver strong pulling power at low engine speeds. The result? Outstanding fuel efficiency without compromising performance. Reliability has also been a key factor, with dependable backup from the team at TR Machinery helping to keep the tractor working when it matters most.

?? Watch as Jack shares why the Fendt 726 Vario Gen7, the farm's first Fendt, has made such a strong impression and become an integral part of their operation.