April, 2026 DLI Report

Published on May 12, 2026May 21, 2026 by Fadi Al-Daoud

Summary

DLI data for the last two weeks of April were available for Leamington-Kingsville. Average DLI for the month of April, 2026 for Leamington-Kingsville was 43 moles/m²/day. The maximum DLI was 63.1 recorded on April 20^th, and the minimum DLI was 14.8 recorded on April 29^th.

The average DLI for the month of April for Vineland was 32 moles/m²/day. The maximum DLI was 56.5 recorded on April 22^th, and the minimum DLI was 10.1 recorded on April 29^th.

Leamington-Kingsville received 79% more light in April than March. The monthly DLI average for April, 2026 was similar to 2025, but the last week of April (week 17) received 22% less light in 2026 than 2025.

Vineland received 45% more light in April than March, but it received 26% less light than Leamington-Kingsville.

Listen to the monthly DLI radio report (below) that airs on the second Tuesday of every month on Country 92.9 during the agriculture show at noon.

Continue reading →

IESO’s New Peak Performance Program

Published on April 22, 2026April 22, 2026 by Fadi Al-Daoud

The Independent Energy System Operator (IESO) announced its new Peak Performance Program.

Get paid to save energy this summer.

Continue reading →

March, 2026 DLI Report

Published on April 14, 2026 by Fadi Al-Daoud2 Comments

Summary

DLI values for only the first three weeks of March were available for Leamington-Kingsville. The average DLI for the month of March, 2026 for Leamington-Kingsville was 24 moles/m²/day. The maximum DLI was 41 recorded on March 9^th, and the minimum DLI was 5 recorded on March 5^th.

The average DLI for the month of March for Vineland was 22 moles/m²/day. The maximum DLI was 38.5 recorded on March 27^th, and the minimum DLI was 4.2 recorded on March 22^th.

Leamington-Kingsville received 9% more sunlight in March than in February, but it received 27% less sunlight this March than last March.

Listen to the monthly DLI radio report (below) that airs on the second Tuesday of every month on Country 92.9 during the agriculture show at noon.

Continue reading →

February, 2026 DLI Report

Published on March 10, 2026April 13, 2026 by Fadi Al-Daoud

Summary

Leamington-Kingsville received approximately 57% more sunlight in February than January, 2026, and it received around the same levels as last year with only 5% more sunlight this February than last February.

Vineland received approximately 58% more light in February than January, 2026.

The average DLI for the month of February, 2026 for Leamington-Kingsville was 22 moles/m²/day. The maximum DLI was 32.5 moles/m²/day recorded on February 27^th, and the minimum DLI was 7 recorded on February 20^th.

The average DLI for the month of February, 2026 for Vineland was 19 moles/m²/day. The maximum DLI was 33.3 moles/m²/day recorded on February 26^th, and the minimum DLI was 2.9 moles/m²/day recorded on February 18^th.

Listen to the monthly DLI radio report (below) that airs on the second Tuesday of every month on Country 92.9 during the agriculture show at noon.

Continue reading →

January, 2026 DLI Report

Published on February 10, 2026February 10, 2026 by Fadi Al-Daoud

Summary

Leamington-Kingsville received approximately 40% more light in January, 2026 than December, 2025, but it was around 25% less than last January, 2025.

Vineland received approximately 50% more light in January, 2026 than December, 2025.

The average DLI for the month of January, 2026 for Leamington-Kingsville was 14 moles/m²/day. The maximum DLI was 22 moles/m²/day recorded on January 23^th, and the minimum DLI was 6 recorded on January 9^th.

The average DLI for the month of January, 2026 for Vineland was 12 moles/m²/day. The maximum DLI was 24 moles/m²/day recorded on January 30^th, and the minimum DLI was 4 moles/m²/day recorded on January 12^th.

Listen to the monthly DLI radio report (below) that airs on the second Tuesday of every month on Country 92.9 during the agriculture show at noon.

Continue reading →

New Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency Initiative (intake Feb 17-Mar 17, 2026)

Published on January 27, 2026January 22, 2026 by Fadi Al-Daoud

On January 20, 2026, the Government of Canada and the Ontario Government announced the launch of the new $20 million Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency Initiative to support market diversification and resiliency within domestic and international markets, with an emphasis placed on new and growing markets. This Initiative provides funding opportunities to Primary Producers and Processors and includes three Project Categories:

The Market Development and Diversification Implementation Planning;
Implement Market Development and Diversification; and,
Implementation of Equipment and Technology.

Continue reading →

2026 OMAFA Summer Jobs – Summer Employment Opportunity (SEO) Program (February 10 Application Deadline)

Published on January 20, 2026January 14, 2026 by Fadi Al-Daoud

Are you a student or recent graduate looking for an opportunity to build your career over the summer? Are you passionate about making a difference?

The Summer Employment Opportunities program provides opportunities to obtain valuable work experience, gain transferable skills, and build professional networks.

Continue reading →

December, 2025 DLI and PPFD Data

Published on January 13, 2026January 14, 2026 by Fadi Al-Daoud

Summary

Leamington-Kingsville and Vineland received approximately 1/3 less light in December than November.

The average DLI for the month of December, 2025 for Leamington/Kingsville was 10 moles/m²/day. The maximum DLI was 18.1 recorded on December 4^th, and the minimum DLI was 2 recorded on December 26^th.

The average DLI for the month of December, 2025 for Vineland was 7.9 moles/m²/day. The maximum DLI was 14.7 recorded on December 5^th, and the minimum DLI was 1.8 recorded on December 26^th.

Listen to the monthly DLI radio report (below) that airs on the second Tuesday of every month on Country 92.9 during the agriculture show at noon.

Background

We mounted a daily light integral (DLI) meter on the border of Leamington and Kingsville, Ontario, in 2024, and another DLI meter at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (VRIC) in Vineland, Ontario, in 2025 to give greenhouse producers in those areas access to readily available light data.

Continue reading →

What You Can’t See Can Hurt You and Your Bumblebees!

Published on January 8, 2026April 7, 2026 by Fadi Al-Daoud

The Importance of Monitoring Natural UV Light Levels in Your Greenhouse

Authors: Dr. Fadi Al-Daoud¹, Sharon Kitur¹, and Dr. Caroline Strang²

¹Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA), Harrow, Ontario

² Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario

Summary

Most Ontario greenhouse producers monitor light levels outside and inside their greenhouses to optimize their growing conditions for maximum yield. This article discusses how ultraviolet (UV) light levels inside greenhouses are affected by greenhouse coverings, and how this may impact bumblebees used for pollination of many greenhouse fruit and vegetable crops. It demonstrates how monitoring natural UV light levels inside greenhouses can benefit producers and allow them to make more informed decisions about their production practices.

Continue reading →

November, 2025 DLI and PPFD Data

Published on December 8, 2025January 7, 2026 by Fadi Al-Daoud

Background

Continue reading →