The Official Newsletter of the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association ©

MARCH 2017

th The 28 Annual Winter Meeting was held last the valuable information that was presented, but week and covered a variety of topics of interest to the depth and breadth of topics was intended to the grower community. Representative Mathew be as relevant as possible. From the goings on at Muratore (R-Plymouth) kicked things off by wel- the CMC, export opportunities, an update from the coming all of us to his district. We were honored CI, particularly with pesticides and foreign MRL to present 2017 Legislative Leadership Awards to work, Zone II, new pesticides, frost tolerance and Representatives (R- calculations, use of soil moisture tools, the Wareham) and Keiko Orrall (R-Lakeville). Their drought outlook, drones, climate change, crop in- tireless and ongoing support of the cranberry in- surance and an impactful presentation on ticks dustry is immensely valuable to the future of cran- and tick-borne diseases – there was something berries in Massachusetts. Their awards are well sure to resonate with each attendee. deserved and a testament to their hard work. Commissioner John Lebeaux of the Massachu- Finally, we had the trade show component. The setts Department of Agricultural Resources was CCCGA sustaining members were there to inter- the recipient of the 2017 Government Service act with the growers about their products and ser- Award. Under Commissioner Lebeaux’s steady vices. They also helped to support the meeting leadership, his department is once again doing all with their sponsorship in the program book, coffee it can to support the cranberry industry during breaks, lunch and overall event sponsorship. these difficult times. The award recognizes his Their support and dedication to the industry can- commitment and responsiveness to Massachu- not be overstated. With a program full of speakers setts cranberry growers. The luncheon keynote and awards, all of which helped to achieve pesti- speaker was the Executive Office of Energy and cide license recertification and to recognize inval- Environmental Affairs Secretary Matt Beaton. uable support by our legislators and state agen- Secretary Beaton spoke about both the existing cies, time spent interacting with our member busi- and future programs that the administration is un- nesses was tight. We will work through our re- dertaking for agriculture in the Commonwealth spective committee structures to insure that future and one’s that will have a direct positive impact meetings can best serve all of the industry’s for cranberries. We were pleased that the Secre- needs. For all those that attended, thank your tary was able to attend our meeting and share his continued support of the industry and the Associa- vision for the future of Massachusetts agriculture. tion and for those that could not make it, we hope to see you next year or better yet, at the CCCGA The presentations delivered to the growers were Annual Meeting this upcoming August in diverse, with some old faces and new ones sprin- Plympton. kled generously throughout. Not to re-live all of

Continued from previous page: PAGE 2

CCCGA Staff CCCGA Board of Directors Brian Wick Executive Director [email protected] President Keith Mann Dawn Gates-Allen Director of Member & Financial Services 1st Vice President [email protected] Roberto Rubini Patti Silvia Executive Assistant / Weather Observer 2nd Vice President [email protected] Jeff Kapell Anne Cote Secretary/Treasurer Frost Coordinator Carolyn DeMoranville [email protected]

DIRECTORS Bonnie Soule Special Projects Coordinator (Part Time) Jack Angley Henry S. Gillet, Jr. Matt Beaton Government Affairs Director Paul Harju Jon Jaffe John Mason Brett Meredith The Bogside© Newsletter is a member Glenn Reid only subscription and is not to be redistributed Michael Wainio without permission. Steve Ward Production & Design: Patti Silvia

“TO WORK TO ENHANCE THE SUSTAINABILITY AND PROFITABILITY OF CCCGA MEMBERS”

FLUMES FOR SALE Concrete & ADS Pipe • Installation Available Johnson Cranberries: 508-277-7035

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Professional Drone Pilot Ground School Course for Growers – March 27th & 28th

We wanted growers to be aware that the UMass Cranberry Station is hosting a Profes- sional Drone Pilot Ground School Course on March 27th and 28th. With a growing inter- est in the use of drones on cranberry farms, it’s important for growers to know that they need to be FAA certified prior to using a drone for any non-hobby use. This includes us- ing a drone on a bog for anything other than recreational use. The FAA certification in- volves passing a test. The 2-day course is designed to help growers understand the ma- terial that is required to pass the test. The course is being conducted by CCCGA sus- taining members, Association of Professional Drone Pilots, Inc., who recently presented at the CCCGA Winter Meeting.

The course is designed for someone with little to no aviation experience and teaches you everything you need to be a safe, competent and legal drone pilot. The 2-day course will cover all subject matter presented on the FAA exam and is taught by FAA Certified Instructor Pilots. They recommend students take the FAA exam as soon as possible after the course.

The tuition for this course is normally $1,295 per person but since they are members of CCCGA and with the collaborative efforts of the UMass Cranberry Station, they are of- fering a discounted rate of $995 per person. They require at least 6 participants in order to hold the class. If they receive 10 or more the price will be $945 per person. If there is

enough interest, they will hold another course in late April. 5 PAGE

To sign up for the course, send an email to Scott Pitta of the Association of Professional Drone Pilots ( [email protected] )with your name, the names of anyone else from your company who will also attend, company or farm name and address along with a phone number. They will then generate an invoice that can be paid via credit card online, on the phone or by check. For further information, contact Scott Pitta at [email protected].

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Servicing Diesel and Gasoline

BILL’S TRACTOR REPAIR Bill Alger Cell: 617-688-6961 317 Elm Street Kingston, MA 02364

Welcome Bonnie

Bonnie Soule has joined CCCGA as the Special Projects Coordinator, a part-time position to assist in various office tasks. She will be involved in grant management, web site updates, meeting planning and more. Bonnie is from Middleboro. 2417 Cranberry Highway, Wareham, MA 02571 MA Wareham, Highway, Cranberry 2417 Marjie BeatonMarjie PeterBeaton          

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During the close of 2016, I began to read again the and enthusiastic. The conference room was Cranberry Industry Revitalization Task Force jammed packed with various college recruiters, the (CRTF) final report and sort through a compilation armed services, landscapers, stonescapers, of note taking. That took me back to the early part veterinarian offices, and the cranberry industry. The of the year while sitting on the CRTF, where there program lasted from 9:00 am to 1:30, students were were many of our discussions and talking points. I free to meet and greet, ask questions, take would like to focus on one particular issue: Where business cards and simply ask lots of questions is the next cranberry work force coming from? How about the cranberry industry. does this industry capitalize on the rich potential of our Aggie schools, vocational high schools and Clearly we came prepared, but I can honestly say potentially returning veterans? Being able to and Scott Connor can attest, there was such an prioritize my 2017 trajectory was in the making. interest in this industry it was quite overwhelming. Was it our display? The crimson cranberry colors? Just as a reminder, many of you who have read The photo’s? The IPM bug net? The sprinklers? the CRTF Final Report are aware that on page 23 The brass saddles? I honestly think the answer the mention under section VII, General was all of the above. It’s an agriculture that these Recommendations: a. Young Farmer Program, it’s agricultural students haven’t been exposed to. The aim is to help this industry develop relationships students eagerly stopped by to visit the CCCGA with potentially new blood to help support the display, we even got a few to try and swing the bug aging work force, but to also have this opportunity net. There were even an upper classman that came futuristically develop into the potential of ownership prepared with his resume in hand. Honestly these interests. As I began my research I took a SWOT students resonated with my own daughters. What approach, an acronym for: strengths, else was great was that many of these kids do have weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Clearly their driver’s license, several live in upper Plymouth from a high level, this industry has to be cognizant County, a couple are from Carver. We surveyed the of all of the above. We are working farms, multi- geographical locations that these students live and generational and finding the right group of folks to clearly what was evident, they wake up anywhere become our future isn’t an easy task, but clearly I between 4:30-5:30 in the morning to commute to feel attainable in small steps. Norfolk Aggie, what dedication they displayed just to arrive at school. Honestly though, many live in As most of us are aware, we need to plan well and Braintree, Quincy, Norfolk, Weymouth which is far in advance to have anything come to fruition. outside the fringes of our cranberry growing region. During early January, I started reaching out to These students again commute early to school and three schools: Bristol and Norfolk Aggie and Upper those that were interested didn’t seem to have a Cape Regional. All three schools are vocational in problem commuting to cranberry country. nature offering majors that all fit this industry to include in no specific order: Natural Resources, My next stop the following day, March 3, 2017 was Plant Science, Arboriculture, Landscaping, to Upper Cape Regional Vocation High School. Horticulture, Metal Fabrication/Welding, Carpentry Many of you might know that Keith Boyle, cranberry Ag. Mechanics, Plumbing/Heating, Environmental grower from Hanson, is also a former Aggie Alumni Sciences and Future Farmers of America from Norfolk Aggie. Keith received his bachelor’s Programs (FFA). The goal as I began this journey degree from UMass Amherst with a major in was to introduce our industry to the students and Sustainable Food/Plant Science. Keith’s continued faculty. his education and recently received his Master’s degree from Fitchburg State University, in March proved to be successful with Norfolk Aggie curriculum and education leadership. Keith is the hosting their first annual career fair day. Norfolk Horticultural Instruction teacher at Upper Cape. Aggie is located in Walpole, the campus is pristine, Upper Cape students rotate their schedules one and there is an embodiment of young leadership in week in the classroom and one week through their the making. The event was held on March 2, vocation. By designed Keith and I collaborated two 2017, I asked Scott Connor from Oiva Hannula Inc. phases for his students. Phase one have the to join me and we couldn’t have been more student’s watch the Massachusetts cranberry impressed with the caliber of students. Keeping in industry DVD entitled “The Essence of Cranberries, mind that these students ranged from shy, curious prior to my arrival. This 38-minute DVD would thatthere are high schoolagestudents looking for optimism complete me give events two these think I opinion my in industry, our leave this does Where weekto ten days. industry. next the in probably this me, to back communicating be in working will and resumes on working be will students These in interested students CCCGA to back returning havefromemailsreceived twoweek,I past the over Since industry. our the in support of interest sayand work todesire examplemotivation, with students another would is help I here that Again, hesitation without to bogs. our of hand responsibilities 365 our to on attest and conversation Boyle grower having Keith while students 35 before Neighbor horticultural the labin present to able being phase, exciting most the was this me plan,for the of twophase into movedwe As and off employment and Cape Cape growers. on find both for opportunities potentially mentoring their and from learned vocation skills their an hone students to the opportunity to demonstrate to be would goal our My opportunities.employment vast the stakeholders,and growers industry CCCGA, the introduce to able was I students. horticultural Cape Upper the and me with greet and meet a be would two Phase deep while year rooted 200culture farming in theircommunities bogs, theylive. a has the industry this that at resonating happening technologies and sciencepractices, horticultural history, the introduce

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Students from Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School are pointing to Keith Boyle's image displayed in the “Rhapsody in Red” screens. Funded by the Cranberry Educational Foundation.

Upcominginternational promotions include: www.uscranberries.com and find a full meeting recap in the CMC full promotional program in India up to $350,000 in the 2017 marketing year. morereceptivea toenvironment ed cranberries.USfor information,this toDue volumes,CAGRgrowth, risingcapitaper income, andconsumer interesthealthy in products contribut-haveall from moved also has India criteria, segmentation market existing Per trade. local from responseoverwhelmingly positive implementreceivedexploratorytoanProgram has(EMP)EmergingfundsMarket projectsandand (GBI) tive voted February, to pull its programs in in Romania end, and thisHungary beginning To with markets. the cranberry 2017 program emerging year. in opportunities explore and sources By:Karen Cahill UpdatesfromCMC the Annual Winter Meeting at meeting winter the from presentations other and marketing international the download can You emergingOneawardedwasexploremarketIndia. CMCthatbegunisGlobaltobothCMChasBased Initia- CMC The Updates from the CMC

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From left to right: Brian Wick, CCCGA Executive Director - Commissioner John Lebeaux, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources - Keith Mann, CCCGA President - Gary Garretson, Chair CCCGA Environmental/Government Affairs Committee

From left to right: Brian Wick, CCCGA Executive Director - From left to right: Keith Mann, CCCGA President - Representative Susan William Gifford - Gary Garretson, Representative Keiko Orrall - Gary Garretson, Chair Chair CCCGA Environmental/Government Affairs CCCGA Environmental/Government Affairs Committee - Keith Mann, CCCGA President Committee - Brian Wick, CCCGA Executive Director ie te, rp rdcin evcs n Jack and Services Production Angley,Flax PondCranberry Company Crop Utley, Mike One of One tablesmany atour MeetinglunchWinter Scholarship recipient ThereseMurray Cranberry Mariah Allen,2017Senator

Cape Cod Cooperative Extension LarryDapsis, Entomologist, xctv Ofc o Eeg and Energy of Office EnvironmentalAffairs Executive Speaker,Beaton,Keynote Matt Secretary

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Farm Credit East

Notes From The UMass Cranberry Station

By: Carolyn DeMoranville 15 PAGE

UMass and the Cranberry Station are holding meetings in March and April for pesticide re-certification and grower education. The Cranberry Station meeting is a half-day (morning) session regarding pesticide safety and use in cranberry and will be held on April 27th. See the Cranberry Station website event section for more information and registration form. The Station's website also has the information for sessions provided by the UMass Pesticide Education Program on March 21st and 29th. The search for the next Station Director is continuing with candidates coming to East Wareham and Amherst to interview over the next three weeks. Once those visits are complete, the search committee will make its recommendations to the UMass administration. If all goes smoothly, the announcement of a new director could come as early as late April. PAGE 16

Notes From The Hill: By: Henry Gillet

Legislative Activity House and Senate clerks are still assigning bill numbers for the 2017-2018 legislative period. To The House and Senate leadership appointments date, only the Healthcare Finance, Transportation, were ratified in mid-February. Committee and Ways and Means have conducted hearings and assignments for legislators, to stranding and joint reported out time sensitive legislation. committees, soon followed. Most Senate appointments stayed the same. One noticeable FY18 State Budget exception was the appointment of Senator Michael

Rodrigues to the position of Majority Whip. By Normally we would have finished budget hearings assuming new responsibilities for this high level by the end of February/first week of March. The leadership position, Senator Rodrigues was forced bleak revenue forecast, and the mounting list of to relinquish his Chairmanship of the Joint federal fiscal concerns, delayed the FY18 budget Committee on Revenue. The new Senate Co-Chair process. Our first budget hearing was held on of the Joint Revenue Committee is Senator Michael Thursday, March 9th, at the State House. Members Brady (D) Brockton. of the House and Senate Ways and Means panels The Joint Committee on environment, natural plan a Wednesday, March 15 hearing at Everett resources, and agriculture saw major changes in High School focused on economic development, the House appointments, Representative Paul labor and housing matters in Gov. Charlie Baker's Schmid was not re-appointed as House Co-Chair. $40.5 billion budget bill. On Thursday, March 16 He was given a different Leadership Committee lawmakers plan to travel to Endicott College in position. Senator Anne Gobi was re-appointed as Beverly for a public hearing on energy, environment Senate Co-Chair, and she will be joined by the and transportation line items and policies in Baker's same five State Senators who served with her in the budget. Worcester State University will be the 2015-2016 legislative cycle. location for a Monday, March 20 public hearing on spending related to public safety agencies, including th The 190 Massachusetts General Court appointees district attorneys and sheriffs. Health and human to the Joint Committee on the environment, natural services spending will be examined during a resources, and agriculture are the following. A lot of Tuesday, March 21 public hearing at the Reggie new faces in very important places. Lewis Center at Roxbury Community College. Baker's call for new employer assessments and  Rep. Gailanne Cariddi – House Chair – of North provider rate caps, aimed at addressing surging Adams * Medicaid enrollment, will likely be discussed. A  Sen. Anne Gobi – Senate Chair – of Spencer second hearing on health and human services  Rep. Roselee Vincent – House Vice Chair – of agency spending, including operations at the Revere * Department of Children and Families, is planned for  Sen. Michael Rush – Senate Vice Chair – of Monday, March 27 at Kuss Middle School in Fall Boston River. Education and local aid accounts are up for  Rep. – of Ludlow * debate Wednesday, March 29 at UMass-Amherst  Rep. Robert Koczera – of New Bedford before a final public hearing, open to anyone who  Rep. – of Worcester wishes to testify, on Friday, March 31 at the State  Rep. John Velis – of Westfield * House.  Rep. – of Somerville  Rep. Dylan Fernandes – of Falmouth * The House is still scheduled to release its  Rep. Jack Lewis – of Framingham * recommendations for a FY18 budget in mid-April,  Sen. James Timilty – of Walpole with debate and ratification during the week  Sen. Jamies Eldridge – of Canton following the April school vacation. The Senate  Sen. Thomas McGee – of Lynn Ways and Means will release its version of a FY18  Rep. Donald Berthiaume – ranking House budget mid-May and debate will begin the week Minority Member – of Spencer before Memorial Day.  Sen. Ryan Fattman – of Sutton Fiscal watchdogs are increasingly more concerned * denotes first time appointees to this with the declining revenue for the current fiscal year Committee. AG Day to keepthe current fiscalyear budget in balance. 3 round possible of list short a preparing are they sources, some to according and spending, Governor benchmarks. Baker revenue of shortfall FY17 1%, nearly projected million, $135 a facing we and are year fiscal the into months 8 now are We budget.FY17 balanced a for benchmarks the below 9.1% or million $117 is which billion, $1.17 totaled collections February that reported officials Revenue February in collections DepartmentState of benchmarks.badlyThe missed Tax FY17. budget, state Massachusetts Agriculture Day atthe State If youIf availableare to join us,please callCCCGA Office so we arrange can your prefor ’ 12:00 pm12:00 10:45am am11:15 am10:00 am10:00 9 fsa ta i vr coey monitoring closely very is team fiscal s :30 am :30

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Massachusetts Pesticide Disposal Program The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is providing the opportunity to dispose of unwanted and/or unregistered pesticides at NO COST to licensed pesticide applicators. Unfortunately, the pesticide drop-off locations are in Sutton and Westfield. If you are interested, you must pre-register and it will be handled on a “first come first serve basis”. In order to ensure as many people as possible may participate in this program, MDAR reserves the right to limit the amount of materials that can be brought in by any one participant. In order to participate you MUST register by May 15, 2017. This is a CONFIDENTIAL PROGRAM. Your name and the materials you bring in will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed. The goal of this program is to safely dispose of unused pesticides from licensed pesti- cide applicators. This is not an enforcement program. To sign up, go to http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/agr/about/divisions/division-of-crop-and-pest-services- generic.html for the required MDAR registration form.

er Mreig omte srig h idsr fr vr 6 er. A years. on Saturday,March 25th 1:00from 26 Sportsman Beach over Monument the at for held be industry will life of the celebration serving Committee Marketing berry DaveExecutiveof the Cran- was 2017. the day,Marchformer Director 11, Satur- on cancer with battle his lost Pocasset of 71, Farrimond, N. David REMEMBERING OUR CCCGA OUR REMEMBERING MEMBERS AND FAMILIES IN MEMORIAM Office &Warehouse 273 Office (508) www.progressivegrower.com -

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Within the first 5 minutes of Governor Charlie At the end of this article you will be directed to a Baker’s State of the State Address he mentioned glossary of useful terms in solar speak. I will try to just how proud he was of the Massachusetts summarize now in a language spoken by the accomplishment in converting to renewable energy. ‘Council of Grandmothers’: For many cranberry growers it was a stinging reminder of what is becoming the best lost hope to Farming is complicated. The Utility Business is bring a much needed income stream to their farms. also complicated. Most growers are looking for The problem in a word is “gridlock”. ways to introduce a new income stream (or any income stream) to their farms without necessarily Several growers have spent time and money on making life more complicated so we are apt to sign feasibility studies and signed exclusive contracts on with a solar company who promises to take with competitive vendors to be put in the “queue” care of all permitting, contracting with the utility, only to find there is no queue but a bank of selling the SREC, exchanging the tax credits, and landowners to be cherry-picked by investors and oh installing and maintaining the panels. For that, the -by-the-way, growers must sign a clause that forbids land owner gets a predictable rent rate and is them from talking with each other. Other growers delighted NOT to have to send out utility bills to his have gone so far as to have even signed contracts neighbors and try to collect money. They also get a with the power company, navigated the permit long term tenant with sometimes permanent rights process and began site preparations while awaiting to their land including the sale of those rights. the delivery trucks to arrive, any day now … for months. Finally they were told that their ‘grid’ The solar developers want to make money of their needed major and expensive upgrades in order to own by setting these systems up, harvesting the receive their power after all. So why do some tax credits and SRECs (we’ll get to that) and projects on the same grid stall while others seem to selling the systems and leases. Naturally they want breeze through? to reduce or at least control the amount of work that must be done in permitting and site prep that This article attempts to explain “gridlock’ so eats away at their prospective profit margins. that growers will know what to expect and what Changing cranberry bog environments, as WE well remedy may be required. know, requires a good deal more permitting and Map of the Grid review. These open areas are also often located in areas that are a distance from substations and Our power companies don’t make power. They own every mile of conduit adds further cost and review. or lease the system of wires, high tension lines, The changes to a farm or individual property may substations and other parts of the delivery system be put through rigorous reviews with uncertain that brings electricity to our homes and businesses. outcomes that utility people are unfamiliar with They buy power from various sources. (Existing utilities are exempt from these Middleborough for example has a municipal power processes). Solar folks are shocked and surprised company, Middleborough Gas and Electric, and when they enter our world of wetland regulation they purchase the electricity for their town and and limited agricultural exemptions. distribute it on a system of wires they own and maintain. Middleborough doesn’t seem to have a For ease of permitting there is a certain critical size problem adding solar generated from small arrays of installation that still fits a solar companies’ sweet to their grid. If gridlock is the problem Eversource, spot: under 500W (ease of permitting) but probably once known as NStar seems to have the most over 400W (to fund the variable transmission costs difficulty, or do they? which have been estimated at about a million An independent utility consultant explained the grid dollars a mile). Whenever possible, they like to to me and gave home work for me to read. As a bundle for a single application. Now you are disclaimer, he is not responsible that the language beginning to see the ever-changing placement of electrical engineers might as well be in Chinese. I on a moving conveyer belt. To add further to the took copious notes and then painstakingly looked

complexity, each substation has limited space on the transformers. You can do them without its transformers to accept power from ‘outside’ a solar company, and then you will own generation. And, in case you thought, “Just buy them but the process is daunting without more transformers”, they each cost millions. guidance and you should understand , from that point on, YOU are a utility So here is the granny spin on gridlock (and not company even if only a small one. necessarily that of the consultant): The advice of the Council of Grandmothers is : The agents of these companies are each vying for own it yourself BUT HIRE A CONSULTANT to get space on the transformers closest to their clients’ started. Like growing cranberries, this is prospective arrays and at the same time complicated to learn but no more difficult to attempting at least to limit costs of permitting, do. design, construction and transmission, sorting all the time for the best prospects and competing with SOLAR SPEAK - each other. In part this is why the exclusive contract contains a clause that forbids discussion. If the first section on GRIDLOCK didn’t scare you The last thing they need is for landowners to start off and you see real possibilities for your farm by comparing deals offered and shopping out generating solar power for sale, read on: between companies. It is also why no one seems The vocabulary is outrageous. It includes electrical to know where they are in the queue and wait for engineering terms, government acronyms and trucks that never come. finance lingo. I can’t speak it, but here is a glossary Big solar farm projects will be installed because so you can look things up: https://energy.gov/eere/ they generally have the resources to follow sunshot/solar-energy-glossary Don’t bother through. Individual growers’ projects languish learning all the words, you’ll never see them in a when they must navigate on some moving field crossword puzzle but there are some basic words along some imaginary line of other peoples’ you will need to know. interest and even worse, not talk about it. We will start with 6 words and their often used So Let’s talk About It acronyms Questions for the Consultant: Watts (W) and their relatives Megawatt (MW) Kilowatt (KW) and Kilowatt Hours (kwh). Q. Are there good and bad places on the A watt is a measure of power: a megawatt is a grid? million watts and a kilowatt is a thousand. A kwh is A. Yes, closest to a substation with room on the rate per hour in kilowatts that that power is the transformers or sometimes at the end either generated or consumed. When you look at of a line. your electric bill you can see by month how many Q. What is the cost of “hook-up” and how kilowatt hours your house or business is long does it take? consuming. A. There are so many variables and no general rule. It is only natural to pursue Conversion to Kilowatt Hours (Kwh) easy projects over difficult ones so you Solar panel size is expressed in watts but that need to know where you measure on the really doesn’t tell you how much power you can hard to easy meter. That will be determined generate per panel. Hours and intensity of sunlight by the total watts on the application. There are the variables that charge the panels and that are a few breaking points on collective size can be different every day. For planning purposes, 21 PAGE of the application, higher is harder; smaller the technology today applied to our latitude and is easier. How far away from the closest climate conditions produces about 3.5 kwh per day transformer are you with enough space for per Watt. A 500 W system could be expected to the total transmission? What is the extent produce 1,750 kwh per day or 638,750kwh per of permitting required? (wetlands, 61A, year. So you see that there is a big difference local by-law, Endangered Species for between KW and Kwh which is sometimes example). Then consider raising the confusing. required investment for the project. Q. Is there any short-cut? Net Metering: This is a system by which power A. Yes perhaps, on a site by site basis. consumed is charged to us AND excess energy is Submit sma ll projects individually rather fed back to the utility gird. The generator may be than bundling. That may not be cost effective for solar companies to pursue but Continued on page 20: they are easier to permit and find room on

PAGE 22 Continued from page 19: downward adjusted according to a recently pub- lished plan of the Governors’ office. The proposed paid for excess energy collected over what has adjustments offer income stability from the sale of been consumed. You may also bank the credit for energy and SRECs which is an advantage over future use. On a roof mount, it is not a money gen- time for the owner of the array rather than a ‘get in erator but it heats the house. On a field or canopy and get out’ developer. array, energy generated is intended to be larger than use with excess energy marketed by the own- SREC, SREC Trade: An SREC is a Solar Renewa- er of the array. It is still referred to as energy sold ble Energy Credit. One is issued for every 1,000 “behind the meter”. That means net metering. kWh of electricity produced by a solar generator. Net Excess Generation (NEG): If you don’t have The Massachusetts Department of Energy Re- customers then excess energy is assigned market sources (DOER) maintains a Renewable Portfolio net metering credits equal to 60% of the utility rate. Standard (RPS) that mandates that utilities within Credits can be carried forward to the next month the state produce a minimum amount of renewable indefinitely and credits from net metering facilities solar energy each year. The proof of that is in certif- may be transferred to another customer of the same utility as long as they are within the same ser- icates issued for the credits earned, The SREC. As vice territory and ISO-NE Load Zone. a demonstration of investment in renewable energy, they have market that is variable with demand. However, it is important to remember that your They are available for sale after the the system is electric bill based on metered kwh, includes installed and operational. Right now the price in more than just the “power” portion, it also in- Massachusetts is relatively low however they can cludes transmission, distribution and regulation, be held for better market price. It is not as hard as it and your net-metering credit offsets that total may seem and of course there is a website to offer retail cost, some would say to an unfair ad- assistance track the SREC prices look here: http:// vantage. www.srectrade.com/index. Keep in mind that

SRECs are sold separately from the electricity they Lease: produce and can fluctuate wildly. When you lease your space it is referred to as a You should also know that the Baker Administration third party generator. It is still net-metering, and you is negotiating to cut the state incentives for solar will receive a rent for the space provided, but the development (one of the most generous in the excess energy is owned and sold by the solar com- country) for 2018, however bring stability and pre- pany and they market and own the solar incentives: dictability to the SREC market. SREC, the tax credit and the net-metering income. Leases are often sold so don’t assume your tenant ITC (Business Energy Investment Tax credit)-This will be the original developer. Once they stripped off is a rebate of 30% of the cost of the solar installa- the development incentives, they sell your array tion in the form of a tax credit. It is one time and is and move on. awarded after the system has been installed and is operating and represents a 1:1 credit on the tax lia- Own: bility of the owner and/or investing partner in the project. According to Commonwealth Magazine, To install a solar array on your property is an outlay that tax credit is typically sold to off-set the cost. of capital. To provide for a long distance transmis- This credit may be cut in half in the next funding sion, the cost can be frightful. There are however, cycle. incentives and the cost of the panels themselves There is also an accelerated depreciation allowable has dropped dramatically. Add to that the fact that which helps offset the cost of setting up. while people may not always eat cranberries like they should, they will always use electricity. ENERGY AS A NEW CROP To generate money from your solar array you need And Now for the Incentives to have “customers” willing to buy power from you. Massachusetts has had the most generous incen- Currently you can offer attractive rate discounts and tive program to develop renewable energy which is tax credits. Knowing how difficult and competitive why you are getting letters and calls from agents of marketing cranberries has become, the business companies who have found your open spaces on that we know, To turn renewable energy generation Google Earth and have read about the plight into a viable income stream , we might do of the cranberry industry. Those incentives may be debt debt repayment. grower of generation uncertaininto them dragging without farm your onto next the transition to are trying you if attractive particularly be considera- may This whole tion. another is income could farm the that sify But diver- to generator gas. income an as solar and and change Cranberry diesel propane, nately know. youpredomi- been have requirements devil energy Growers the hybrid, ducing one: pro- super to renovate to moneythat using be could scary, is seem may cost upfront The here system, proposed michaelbluejay.com/electricity/solar.html a of cost the determine to you websites for calculators are offer there that and $4.50/Watt about to Watt $2/ between varies it themselves, panels the for As growers. cranberry for system brokerage or mechanism ing market- cooperative new a develop or find to well

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PAGE 23 PAGE 24 Beekeeping in 2016-2017 By: Wyatt Ashley Pudding Stone Farms

One of the many things that affected the hives in 2016 was the drought, which caused a shortage in the nectar flow in late summer. In October we took off the honey supers and started feeding the bee’s sugar syrup to build up the hives’ weight and food supplies before winter, but by the middle of Novem- ber it was too cold and the bees stopped taking the food. Since the temperature was starting to drop in the 20’s at night it was time to wrap the hives in in- sulation and put a candy board on each one. Varroa mites are another challenge that affected hives in 2016. Mites carry a few bad viruses like the Deformed Wing Virus. Some people do not treat for Varroa mites because they don't see a reason to or they don't want to use chemicals in their hives, I think it's all up to the beekeepers’ opinion if they treat or not, as of right now I treat twice a year but eventually I would like to try treatment-free bee- keeping. If the genes in the queen are strong the hive might be resistant to Varroa mites. Some hives are very hygienic and the bees clean the mites off of each other more often. Beekeepers should still watch their hives for mites whether they treat or do not because if you have a hive overrun by mites all you’re doing is breeding mites, and if a neighbor has hives there's a much higher chance of them catching a mite- borne virus if it's a local hive (within 3 miles). Varroa mites are spread from bee to bee when out pollinating and collecting food, or out rob- bing weaker hives.

It was warm the other day so I opened the hives to Wyatt see if they were still alive and if the hives needed more food. I looked through all 6 hives; all of them were still alive and looking excellent, only one of the hives had started to eat its sugar and the pollen never done this before, it seems a little tricky when I substitute that we provide for them. The bees use read about it but I’ll give it a try. Last year there was pollen to feed their young, so if I notice the bees a shortage of local queens so I had to buy them taking a lot of pollen it could mean that the queen long distance and the shipping cost is very expen- has started to lay eggs for the spring. Once I know sive. We had to re-queen 3 of our hives over the the queen is starting to lay eggs I'm going to wait a summer; 2 of the queens were weakened by a Var- few weeks and treat for mites during the first few roa mite treatment; the other queen was lazy and brood cycles. A brood cycle is around 3 weeks and wasn't building up the hive population. during the cycle the Varroa mites start repopulating in the brood. If I wait to do the treatment on the 3rd Overall beekeeping has been a great learning ex- or 4th brood cycle the mites could be too populated perience and I’m having a lot of fun doing it. We for the treatment I use to work, which would allow harvested 122 pounds of honey in 2016 (from 3 of the mites and viruses they carry to weaken the our 6 hives) which we sold and were able to pay for hives. all of our apiary expenses for the year. I will contin- My plans for 2017 are to raise my own queens and ue to broaden my skills with beekeeping and ex- use them in my hives instead of buying them. I've pand my apiary.

Beesunder cover.

Hivessnow. the in

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or [email protected]

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