How to Improve Greenhouse Shading

Use these three pointers that shed light on shading techniques.

May 14, 2018
John W. Bartok Jr.

This article originally appeared in the April 2018 print issue of Cannabis Business Times. To subscribe, click here.

Shading, along with ventilation, reduces the temperature and light levels in a greenhouse. By blocking or reflecting the sun’s radiation, a significant portion of the heat load can be excluded.

This can save energy by reducing fan operation and extending the time that carbon dioxide (CO2) enhancement can be used.

Shading also reduces excessive light levels that may burn or dry plant foliage. For most plants, a photosynthesis saturation level of 4,000 to 5,000 foot-candles (800 to 1,000 µmol/square meter per second) is adequate. Shading also diffuses light in the greenhouse for more uniform and deeper penetration into the lower foliage.

Follow these pointers that shed light on shading techniques:

1. Choose exterior shade for free-standing or hoop houses.

Low-cost shade compounds can be sprayed or rolled on the glazing at different levels to achieve constant light reduction. Select a material specific to your glazing that can be easily removed in late fall to allow for full winter sunlight.

Shade fabrics applied over the greenhouse roof are lightweight, easily applied and available in several materials, shade levels and colors. Most materials are ultraviolet (UV) stabilized, and will last about 10 years and cost roughly $0.25 to $0.50/square foot, depending on the type of material and the shade percentage.

To read the full article in the April 2018 print issue of Cannabis Business Times, click here.

Top photo courtesy of John W. Bartok, Jr.

Texas Grower, Dispensary Compassionate Cultivation Joins Epilepsy Foundation in Funding Partnership

After an initial $10,000 investment, the dispensary will continue to help fund patient access to CBD.

May 10, 2018
Eric Sandy

Dispensary news Medical State by State: Texas

Compassionate Cultivation, a vertically integrated CBD business in Texas, is partnering with state chapters of the Epilepsy Foundation to ease the financial burden for patients. With subsidized health insurance off the table, CEO Morris Denton felt compelled to step up and help those in need.

The funding partnership begins with a $5,000 donation to both Epilepsy Foundation Central & South Texas and Epilepsy Foundation Texas. From there, future investment in this program will come from revenue generated by non-cannabis merchandise sold at Compassionate Cultivation, like branded hats and hoodies. (An online store is forthcoming.) The money will be managed by the Epilepsy Foundation, which will assess patients and qualify them for partial or full coverage of CBD costs, depending on income.

Denton says this partnership stemmed from the conversations he had during the state licensing process. “I had the opportunity to meet with dozens of patients that have epilepsy or dozens of family members that have kids or brothers or sisters with epilepsy,” Denton tells Cannabis Dispensary. “And it really shifted the way that I viewed what it is that we’re doing. It shifted and transformed what our role is this market in Texas.

“When you get to know people and you get to hear their story and see their struggle, it became very apparent very quickly to me that not all of these people that needed access to this medicine were going to be able to afford this medicine.”

Compassionate Cultivation has a 7,200-square-foot facility in Manchaca, Texas (south of Austin), which includes 2,500 square feet of canopy space and 2,500 square feet of processing and packaging. The company produces two sizes of CBD oil: 7.5 mL for $105, and 15 mL for $200 (at 100 milligrams of CBD per milliliter of oil).

“Epilepsy patients need to have options and access to essential anti-seizure medication, including CBD,” said Sindi Rosales, founder and CEO of EFCST. “We're very grateful to CC for partnering with us to create this program.”

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, “roughly 30 percent of patients with epilepsy don’t respond to conventional treatments, … and CBD has emerged as a promising alternative treatment.”

Approximately 1.8 percent of Texans are diagnosed with epilepsy, according to Epilepsy Foundation Central & South Texas.

“It would be a real shame if, after the tireless work of all these advocates and the Epilepsy Foundation and all these moms and all these families that really threw in the effort, someone in Texas wouldn’t be able to get access to this medicine because they couldn’t afford it,” Denton says, “because it’s not covered by insurance.”

Top photo by Maggie Fitz

urban-gro Launches Soleil Technologies Portfolio of High-Density Sense and Control Solutions

The company delivers HD-IoT wireless sensor networks and advanced environmental control platforms for commercial facilities.

May 9, 2018
Press Release

Grower/Agriculture Vendor News

NEW ORLEANS, May 9, 2018 – PRESS RELEASE – urban-gro, a cannabis cultivation technologies company delivering best-in-class systems, solutions, and technologies for large-scale commercial cultivators across North America, today launched the Soleil Sense and Control portfolio of data-driven solutions. Designed exclusively for commercial cultivators, Soleil Sense and Control solutions help cultivators to maximize the quality and quantity of cannabis yields. With real-time, high-definition monitoring of the microclimates throughout a facility, this advanced technology gives cultivators the ability to respond and adapt immediately for optimal results.

“As ROI and optimized yields become increasingly important for commercial cultivators, the need for technologies that deliver rich granular data and real-time insights becomes critical,” said Brad Nattrass, CEO and co-founder of urban-gro. “With the ability to comprehensively sense, monitor, and control the microclimates throughout your facility in real-time, cultivators will be able to make proactive decisions to maximize yields."

The Soleil Sense and Control portfolio of high-density wireless networks and environmental control systems provide the industry's most detailed real-time, data-driven monitoring, as well as complete control over the entire indoor facility. Benefits include:

- Real-time insight from anywhere – Soleil Sense and Control high-density wireless networks give cultivators the ability to see what’s happening within their environment and substrate. It is the only solution that provides comprehensive remote microclimate monitoring of the entire cultivation ecosystem from anywhere with an Internet connection.

- Unparalleled scalability – From sub-10K square feet to millions of square feet, our Soleil Sense and Control portfolio scales to meet your needs. Soleil’s proprietary wireless protocol overcomes the scaling issues associated with other sensor solutions, giving cultivators a true high-density view into the facility. Additionally, the subscription service easily expands with you, adapting to your growing business.

- Data-driven automation – Soleil Sense and Control environmental systems also deliver the ability to control fertigation, lighting, climate, as well as insights into conditions that can inform and direct Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. Together, our environmental systems and high-density wireless networks lay the groundwork for future AI-driven automation and control as well.

- Unique, affordable subscription model – The Soleil Sense and Control platform is delivered via a cost-effective subscription-based model, resulting in reduced investment in capital infrastructure, as well as an easy migration path as technology evolves.

The Soleil Sense and Control portfolio comprises two primary categories of solutions; High-Density Internet-of-Things (HD-IoT) wireless networks by Soleil Sense, and environmental control solutions by Soleil Control.

High-Density Wireless Networks by Soleil Sense

Soleil Sense solutions provide both climate and substrate monitoring in a High-Density Internet-of-Things (HD-IoT) architecture to provide real-time, actionable data on the microclimates within your cultivation facility.

Environmental Sensors:

- Obtain temperature and humidity at a microclimate level to proactively mitigate potential pest issues

- Utilize barometric pressure and implied air flow to ensure intended operation of HVAC and other system

- Scale up to every plant, every bench, every region to fit your cultivation strategies

Substrate Sensors:

- Monitor substrate moisture and EC (electrical conductivity) levels on a per plant basis

- Scale up to every plant, every bench, every region to fit your cultivation strategies

Soleil 360 Platform

- Enables cultivators to monitor data and take action from anywhere with an Internet connection

- Monitor your ideal conditions at bench level, room level, facility level, or enterprise level

- Real-time insights available including actionable user-defined alert parameters, data, and reports

- Standard and customizable dashboards let cultivators make the most of their data

Soleil Control - Soleil Control solutions give cultivators the ability to take action on almost every aspect of their environment, from climate to lighting to fertigation and more.

Soleil Climate Control

- Modern technology to collect more data points with easier API integration

- Powerful, scalable architecture that will grow with your business

- Intuitive, easy-to-use interface that gives you complete control over every aspect of your indoor facility

- Open architecture enables customization to your unique needs, as well as simple integration with any aspect of the grow

- Short-lead times support quick delivery turns

You can find out more about each product line at www.soleiltech.ag.

Together, Soleil Sense and Control solutions represent an unprecedented end-to-end platform for connected agriculture capable of generating new levels of productivity, compliance, and Return-On-Investment (ROI) for large-scale precision horticulture.

Soleil Sense environmental sensors and Soleil Climate Control are available today. Soleil Sense substrate sensors will be available in Q4 2018. urban-gro will be exhibiting these new cultivation technologies in booth #1113 at this week’s MJBizCon NEXT conference, taking place in New Orleans, May 9-11. For a full schedule of upcoming events, visit www.urban-gro.com/events/.