Duane Kent of Beiseker, Alta., is 500 kilometres from both his herd near Biggar, Sask., and his solar-powered remote watering system. The producer has integrated cameras and internet controls to make up for the distance.

Watering cattle with solar power

Producers give solar-powered watering systems top marks despite their ups and downs

It’s been five years since Doug Northam traded in his sloughs for solar, and the Rapid City producer gives his remote watering system glowing reviews. “Around here we don’t have any wells or anything, so the cows just drink out of the sloughs and when they dry back a bit they tend to be three

There’s one more year left to run on a farmer-friendly Manitoba Hydro 
solar installation program.

Manitoba sunshine brightens solar power opportunities

Many hours of sunshine make power generation possible even in the dead of winter

Justin Phillips doesn’t mince his words: If you’re a Manitoba farmer, the time to invest in solar power is right now. The Winnipeg-based businessman helped pioneer the solar industry in Manitoba and has watched Manitoba Hydro kick-start the industry to unexpected heights via a farmer-friendly pilot program that has one year left on it. That