Maximum Yield's Industry News | Vol. 18 Issue 05 2019

ROLLING BENCHES: CANNABIS CULTIVATION EFFICIENCY

MAY 2019

LEARNING AND GROWING TOGETHER SINCE 1998

GOLDEN ACRE HOME & GARDEN LIGHT MOVERS ON PPFD AND PHOTO EFFICIENCY

HORTICULTURE LIGHTING GROUP High-Efficiency White-Light LEDs

LOOKING ?

RIGHT WAY

AT YOUR PLANTS THE

ARE YOU

It’s important to know what’s happening below the surface.

RESULTS ABOVE START BELOW.

ACCELERATE YOUR ROOT ZONE

HYGROZYME.COM |

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Feature & Contents

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Horticulture Lighting Group

The Horticultural Lighting Group empowers growers with efficient, quality horticulture lighting products. All their LED modules are custom designed. Find out more about this Ohio-based lighting manufacturer and wholesaler.

First Feed

Groundbreakers

10 From the Editor

32 Golden Acre

12 Good to Grow

38 Rolling Benches

22 Industry Buzz

42 Light Movers and PPFD 46 Four Steps to Fix Your Business

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VOLUME 18 NUMBER 05 May 2019

Maximum Yield Industry News is published monthly by Maximum Yield Inc. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher. The views expressed by columnists are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of Maximum Yield or the editor.

Publication Agreement Number 40739092 Printed in Canada

2339 A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9

Should cannabis be grown on land reserved to grow food?”

Phone: 250.729.2677; Fax 250.729.2687

Do you want to be featured?

from the EDITOR TG Toby Gorman

W

ith cannabis quickly emerging as the world’s most lucrative cash crop, an interesting question has developed: Should cannabis be grown on land reserved to grow food?

In Saanich, British Columbia, the argument has come to a point after a plot of Agricultural Land Reserve (ARL) was approved by Health Canada to house 21 greenhouses designed to grow marijuana. Naturally, petitioners arrived with placards in hand arguing farmland is to grow food, not weed.

Proponents for cannabis say marijuana is a plant, and therefore agricultural land is the perfect place to grow it. Opponents state that growing weed on prime farmland threatens food security.

Opponents to growing cannabis on prime farmland also point out that the environmentcontrolled greenhouses require concrete pads, effectively destroying the farmland. Cannabis proponents say ALR land is commonly used for non-food crops such as hops and barley for beer, grapes for wine, Halloween pumpkins, and flowers. They say farmers also grow tomatoes and cucumbers in greenhouses with concrete pads.

Should those be banned from ALR? Here is something else to consider: A recent study states that one in five deaths around the globe in 2017 was attributed to poor nutrition, specifically a lack of whole grains and fruits and vegetables.

Cannabis operations encroaching on farmland won’t help this.

If Health Canada and other governments are serious about fulfilling their mandates of keeping their citizens healthy, thus reducing health care costs, then food must be a priority when it comes to the utilization of prime farmland and cannabis should be grown in industrial zones.

Connect with us at:

editor@maximumyield.com @maximumyield @max_yield @maximumyield @maximumyield maximumyield

Cover photo courtesy of

The Trichome Lab 10

Maximum Yield

@the_trichome_lab

Photo courtesy of @jackdavis360

HydrofarmCommercial.com

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1 | Wolf Grinders

The Combo Crusher

Combining six devices in one, The Combo Crusher is truly the Swiss Army knife of grinders.

It’s equipped with a grinder, removable pipe, lighter holster, kief catch, pick piece, and bottle opener. Designed for the active cannabis user, this cutting-edge gadget supplies you with everything you need when you’re on the go.

Custom engraving is also available allowing you to make yours completely unique. Made of aircraftgrade aluminum, it’s amazingly durable, and the removable pipe comes with a fitted glass bowl.

—wolfgrinders.com

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2 | CANNA Cannazym

Cannazym is an enzyme complex that maximizes nutrient cycling to unlock the ultimate in plant health and increased bud yields while armor plating the plant rhizosphere by reducing potentially harmful pathogens. This revolutionary CANNA product introduced beneficial enzymes to the green market decades ago. It contains a more diverse suite of enzymes that enhance nutrient availability than the leading enzyme-specific products. It’s safe for use in soil, soilless, and hydroponic systems. Use it as a supplement to any fertilizer program.

—cannagardening.com

3 | Hydrologic EvolutionRO

Hydrologic Purification has made their best-selling water purifier even better.

The EvolutionRO now boasts dry-membrane technology that helps boost pure water output by up to 20 per cent. It delivers up to 1,200 gallons per day (or 43 gallons every hour) with a one-partproduct to one-part waste water ratio while removing 94 per cent of all parts per million from tap water. The new EvolutionRO is among the most efficient highvolume reverse osmosis systems available for less than $1,000.

—hydrologicsystems.com

4 | Trillix Trellis Solutions Trillix is a long-lasting, easy to use, and customizable trellis solution for all growers.

Unlike traditional trellises, Trillix is modular and allows gardeners to configure the trellis to the specifications of any plant. Trillix sells components and piping separately for do-ityourself in a variety of colors or commercial applications. The company sells a complete hydroponic kit designed for Botanicare LT trays for those just starting off.

Design. Build. Grow!

—trillixcompany.com

THE WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED

EXTRACTION EQUIPMENT

MADE WITH PRECISION® #1 in Quality, Customer Service & Tech Support

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OF INPUT M AT E R I A L PE R DAY!

PRECISIONEXTRACTION.COM

855-420-0020 © 2019 PX2 Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved.

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5 | HYR Life FIX

Unfortunately, diseases and pests often find their way into grows. They are airborne and germinate on plants, tools, and people.

What can a cultivator do when an infestation occurs?

In case of emergency, HYR life FIX can be used as a reactive measure to infestation, PM, mites, fungi, and more. If caught in time, FIX will get your grow back on track. FIX is easy to incorporate into existing protocols with its ready-to-use formula.

Optimize your grow and protect your plants with HYR life’s line of 100 per cent non-toxic, pesticide-free, residualfree solutions.

—buyhyrlife.com

6 | Hydrofarm —

Private Reserve Airtight Strongbox

Private Reserve’s Airtight Strongboxes were designed to keep your plant-based products sealed and safe. Airtight, watertight, lightproof, and uncrushable, these Strongboxes are made of food-safe stainless steel to protect the shape and structure of delicate dried plants, with food-safe silicone seals to prevent leaks and contain odors.

All-metal latches on all sides keep your product secure and allow you to remove the entire lid for easy and thorough cleaning, inside and out.

All sizes have a top handle for easier carrying.

—hydrofarm.com

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7 | CANNABOOST Accelerator

CANNABoost can give growers up to a 22 per cent sellable increase in bud yield from fruiting and flowering plants with less flowering time. CANNABOOST Accelerator is scientifically proven to maximize bud growth, increase yield, and enhance plant health. It’s safe for use in soil, soilless, and hydroponic systems.

In a recent research trial on tomatoes, CANNABOOST increased bud yield by 22 per cent. When used in combination with any of the CANNA base fertilizers, the product also has a positive effect on root growth and plant development.

—cannagardening.com

8 | Evolved Extraction

EV Mass Centrifugal Separator

Evolved Extraction’s EV-MASS Centrifugal Separator is a modular solution for ethanol marijuana extraction.

A single operator can easily program custom cycle parameters to process up to 700 lbs of cannabis daily (20-30 lbs per batch, depending on mill size), or run multiple units in parallel to scale up throughput. The EV-MASS Centrifugal Separator is certified and peer-reviewed and rated to -58°F. It has 71 unique pre-sets for operators to set various batch times and agitation timing/speeds.

—evolvedextraction.com

9 | Canarm HAF Circulation Fans

Ideal for greenhouses, these fans feature a 120V motor with grounded cord and plug, OSHA guards available in 14-24-inch sizes for wall mount or hanging mount. Fans are available as oscillating and non-oscilliating. Some non-oscillating models are available with fully enclosed motors suitable for wet locations and variable speed (speed control not included).

When suspended these fans can pivot up and down, side to side, and the hanging fans can swivel 360 degrees for optimal air control.

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—canarm.com

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10 | Aromask Odor Control Products

Aromask has been refreshing the environment since 1985. Initially, the product formulation was designed for indoor gardening and the hydroponic industry as effective solutions to eliminate unwanted odors. Over the years Aromask expanded into other market sectors including; automotive, waste management, and general household use.

Recently, due to the changes in cannabis laws, Aromask has developed unique retail packs which are readily available in cannabis dispensaries throughout Canada. Aromask is very effective in eliminating cannabis odors from clothing and your smoking space. —aromask.com

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11 | HydroLogic

ChloraShield Water Filters

HydroLogic recently announced the ChloraShield line of hydroponic carbon filters.

They are used specifically for 100 per cent removal of chloramines: ChloraShield. These filters are rated at one to four gallons per minute, with a 3,000-24,000-gallon life capacity, depending on size and have a onemicron filtration rating.

They are Made in the USA and designed for use in HydroLogic’s TallBoy, SmallBoy, and Evolution de-chlorinators.

—hydrologicsystems.com

12 | Reiziger

Root Booster

Norwegian sea kelp contains many rootsustaining properties and is a proven organic booster to maximize root function and generate maximum yields. Reiziger Root Booster has been a staple of many professional gardeners and growers for more than 20 years to activate, revive, and stimulate indoor hydroponic plants, outdoor plants, seedlings, trees, flowers, bulbs, natives, and more. This nutrient-rich, organic root stimulator has the power to save, revive, or help newly-potted plants and transplants grow early white healthy roots, give more uniformity, and improve survivability.

—reiziger.com

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13 | CANNA PK13/14

Developed in Holland, CANNA PK 13/14 is a high-end bloom stimulant scientifically developed to increase the size and weight of fruiting and flowering plants.

This ultra-premium Dutch fruiting and flowering stimulant is an industry leader and sets the benchmark for this popular type of additive. Testimonials from countless growers around the globe who use CANNA PK 13/14 report larger, heavier yields of fruits and flowers with an average yield increase of 35 per cent compared to fertilizer alone.

—cannagardening.com

14 | Stealth Box

Cannabis Grow Box

Stealth Box is an organic, four-plant, plug-and-play grow box that comes with everything needed for a full cannabis grow.

The system produces two to four ounces (more than five mason jars) of high quality, organic, cannabis every grow cycle and is light and odor neutral. Stealth Box features a full spectrum/ bright white LED quantum board (100W), fans, soil, nutrients, a hygrometer, lighting timers for each growth stage, and instructions to get growing.

—stealth-box.com

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15 | HYR Life MORPH

If diseases and pest find their way into your growroom, protect your plants with MORPH, a microfoliar that optimizes cellular and root health, strengthens the cell walls of plants, improves resistance to fungal diseases and powdery mildew, and protects against fungi and mite issues. MORPH’s patented technology is easy to incorporate into existing protocols with its readyto-use formula. MORPH is part of HYR life’s line of 100 per cent non-toxic, pesticide-free, residualfree foliage sprays.

Optimize your grow and protect your plants with HYR life.

—buyhyrlife.com

16 | GrowSpan

17 | Hydrofarm —

18 | Left Coast

GrowSpan’s newest product is a cost-effective overthe-top blackout system for light deprivation. The fully automated system provides the same reliability as traditional systems but features a simplified design that growers love. Growers gain complete control over their flowering cycle due to the durable, opaque polyethylene cover that encloses the greenhouse exterior through an automated two-arm mechanism. The system is designed to outfit the GrowSpan Series 500 Greenhouse but can be customized to fit other growing structures upon request.

iHort Q plugs are a lightweight, porous growing medium designed to germinate seedlings and rooting cuttings in a closely populated tray system.

They are made with a proprietary bonded soil and engineered to be transplanted as plants grow. Q plugs, with their stabilized growing media, allow you to inspect, move, and even automate handling of delicate seedlings without disturbing roots or damaging your plants.

Inside the Q plug, its open, porous structure helps maintain an ideal air-to-water balance with superior drainage.

Tribus is a microbial additive designed for growers looking to maximize yields.

Developed alongside Colorado State University faculty and tested on largescale growing operations in the hemp and agricultural spheres, Tribus helps improve yields and promote healthier plants using plant growthpromoting rhizobacteria that help mobilize macro and micronutrients while improving enzymatic activity in the rhizosphere to break down complex fats and carbohydrates. Adding Tribus into your fertilizer regimen (conventional or organic) will result in 14 per cent improved yields and 16 per cent improvement to stem width.

Over-the-Top Blackout System

—growspan.com

iHort Q Plugs

—hydrofarm.com

Wholesale — Tribus

—leftcoastwholesale.com

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1800 4 CANNA (422 662)

canna.com.au

0800 4 CANNA (422 662)

canna.co.nz

Thank you Australia and New Zealand.

We’re celebrating 25 years in the game and we couldn’t have done it without you.

Since 1994 CANNA has been helping Australian and New Zealand retailers grow their business in cities and rural towns across the lands.

Growing and giving has been our vision for the past 25 years. From offering you world class plant technologies to giving your growers the greatest yields possible.

Professional growers in over thirty countries swear by CANNA. The fact that our products are offered in over 95% of all grow shops worldwide is adequate proof that our philosophy bears fruit.

Quality proves itself!

WIN A HARLEY-D 25 Years of Good Times. Ride on.

We’re celebrating 25 years of CANNA in Australasia and we couldn’t have done it without you. To say thank you to all the Australian and New Zealand CANNA Dealers for supporting us we’re giving you and your growers the chance to win an awesome limited-edition CANNA Black Harley-Davidson®.

The winner drawn and the retailer who sold the winning entry will win the major prize.

Quality proves itself!

Terms & Conditions Promotion period is 9:00am (ASWT) on 01/05/2019 to 11:55pm (ASWT) on 31/12/2019. To enter purchase any two participating CANNA products in a single transaction and keep the purchase receipt then go to the website. Entry is open is open to all 18+ Australian and New Zealand residents. Major Prize is a custom CANNA Black Harley-Davidson Iron 883 (motorbike), including all statutory and on-road costs, valued at up to AUD $15,995/NZD $16,495 RRP (inc GST). Total prize pool is AUD $31,990/NZD $32,990. A random prize draw will occur 12:00 PM ASWT on 14 Jan 2020 at Level 2 11 York Street Sydney NSW 2000. Winners will be notified via Email no later than 16 Jan 2020. Promoter is CANNA Australasia (ABN 28 779 708 969) 303 Rokeby Road Subiaco WA 6904. For Full Terms and Conditions please visit www. canna.com.au or www.canna.co.nz. Authorised under NSW Permit No. LTPS/19/33006, SA Permit No. TP 19/02949.1 and ACT Permit No. TP 19/02949.

1800 4 CANNA (422 662)

canna.com.au

0800 4 CANNA (422 662)

canna.co.nz

CANNA D AVIDSON

®

industry BUZZ Freight Farms Launches New Hydro Grow Container

Freight Farms recently announced the launch of a new hydroponic container called the Greenery. The design is a successor to the company’s Leafy Green Machine. The Greenery, essentially a small vertical-farm grow container, will have 70 per cent more growing space over the same 320 square foot area. “After years of data collection and development based on the experience of hundreds of farmers in our global network, Freight Farms has again raised the industry bar with a fundamental container farm redesign,” Freight Farms says in a release. In the Greenery, Freight Farms has installed a mobile rack system which will enable farmers to shift grow rows and LED panels into a custom layout for different crops as well as improving workflow. The interior is enhanced to utilize previously unused space and has been optimized by a better arrangement for the LED lights and climate control system for improved water and power consumption.

Fluence Bioengineering Makes Key Leadership Additions

As it continues its aggressive growth trajectory, Fluence Bioengineering has hired Lorrie Schultz as senior vice-president of marketing, Timo Bongartz as general manager of the EMEA region, and Greg Hovagim as global director of controllers, dimmers, and IoT solutions.

The new appointments go towards the company’s commitment to support the worldwide horticulture industry. “Innovations pioneered by Fluence are enabling growers to produce more and virtually eliminate seasonality. These appointments ensure our solutions and support teams are immediately accessible to a global audience,” says Dave Cohen, CEO of Fluence Bioengineering.

Schultz will lead the company’s global marketing efforts. Bongartz will be responsible for the expansion of Fluence in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Hovagim will take care of the dimming and controls technologies for Fluence LED lighting solutions and development of innovative customer solutions. Fluence Bioengineering is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OSRAM and an industry leader in horticulture lighting.

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UL Introduces Horticultural Performance Certification for Lighting Products

UL, a top global safety science company, recently introduced a horticultural performance certification rating for grow lights. The idea behind the program is to develop standard guidelines related to the performance, reliability, and suitability of various horticulture lighting products. Through the program, products are certified to UL S 8000, the first lighting performance specification published by UL. “We are pleased to launch our new Horticulture Lighting Certification program which will aid both specifiers and end-users in the process of selecting high-quality horticultural lighting products for their specific application,” says Todd Straka, director of performance testing at UL. Having the right spectrum and quantity of light at the right point in the plant lifecycle can make a big difference in the quality of the end product and can influence plant-growth characteristics.

The new lighting performance certification provides certified data to help end-users (growers, specifiers, designers, etc.) in selecting the appropriate product for their lighting needs.

Newest Curaleaf Dispensary Includes a Drive-Thru

Curaleaf recently opened its 23rd Florida dispensary which is the first in Miami to have a drive-thru.

Located northwest of Miami International Airport, the dispensary includes the community’s first medical marijuana drive-thru. Curaleaf, a leader in providing patients with access to medical marijuana in Florida, was the first in the state to introduce and pilot the drive-thru concept at its Palm Harbor dispensary last summer. Curaleaf’s drive-thru concept has proven to deliver patients an added benefit — convenience. “As Curaleaf continues to deliver on its expansion strategy, we are well positioned to improve the quality of patients’ lives by providing access to safe, top-quality cannabis products,” says Curaleaf CEO Joe Lusardi. Curaleaf currently owns and operates the most cannabis dispensaries in the US, with 43 locations across the country. Additionally, the state of Florida recently voted to allow smokable medical marijuana for the first time.

Chartwells and The Growcer Partner to Bring Farms to Campuses

Chartwells, Canada’s largest educational foodservice provider, and The Growcer announced an exclusive partnership that will bring vertical farms to college and university campuses across Canada. The Growcer converts shipping containers into state-of-the-art vertical farms, growing fresh produce for food insecure areas. Chartwells will be the first to bring this innovative and exclusive program to the higher education landscape in Canada. “We have made a pledge over the next three years to deliver 1,000,000 meals to tackle food insecurity both domestically and globally, provide 10,000 hours of community support around mental health and social issues facing students, and create 1,000 jobs through a more focused commitment to student employment,” says Ashton Sequeira, president of Chartwells, which will donate 10 per cent of the annual crop grown to tackle local food insecurity. Initially founded in 2016, Growcer technology enables customers to grow fresh vegetables in -61°F to 104°F temperatures.

C-45 Summit Focuses on Cannabis Quality Assurance

Canadian cannabis industry leaders, including licensed producers, labs, and officials from Health Canada, gathered in Winnipeg last month for the first C-45 Summit on quality assurance in the sector. The purpose of the summit was to ensure Canadian marijuana meets the highest standards of quality assurance as the industry grows by leaps and bounds.

Delegates discussed continual quality improvement, what the industry has learned since legalization in October last year, recalls, and trends in lab analysis. The summit saw the formation of the C-45 Quality Association which will help ensure quality assurance and standards across the Canadian cannabis industry.

Bonify, a Canadian producer, had two of its strains recalled in December over concerns about contaminants. Bonify’s license was suspended over the concerns and allegations it sold illegally obtained cannabis. Another company, Agrima Botanicals (Ascent’s licensed producer), had its license suspended last year.

There are 163 licensed producers in Canada.

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industry BUZZ Square Roots Expands with Gordon Food Service Partnership

Urban indoor farming start-up Square Roots recently announced plans to expand across America through a joint venture with Gordon Food Service. Gordon is a North American food distributor with several distribution centers and 175 retail locations. The idea is for Square Roots to build more of its indoor farms at or near Gordon distribution centers and stores across the U.S., thus providing fresher produce for the retail outlets. Additionally, Square Roots, which uses shipping containers as its vertical-farm grow space, will also bring its Next-Gen Farmer Training Program to more locations across the country, teaching young adults about the company’s farming technology platform and training them as employees. By growing indoors, Square Roots can grow in any weather and at almost any location, so it can grow year-round and provide the freshest produce. A recent report projects the vertical farm industry becoming a $3-billion market in five years.

Canopy Growth Partners with Actor Seth Rogen in New Canna Company

Canopy Growth and actor Seth Rogen, along with screenwriter Evan Goldberg, have joined forces to launch a new cannabis and hemp company called Houseplant. Houseplant will focus on superior product quality and consumer education with strains for both new and experienced users. “Houseplant is a passion we’ve brought to life through drive and dedication,” says Rogen. “Every decision we’ve made for the business reflects the years of education, first-hand experience, and respect we have for cannabis.” Over the next few months, Houseplant will launch three high-end strains: Houseplant Sativa, Houseplant Indica, and Houseplant Hybrid. Canopy Growth will contribute its cannabis growing expertise and research. “We have been getting to know the Houseplant team for quite a while now and continue to be impressed by their understanding of the cannabis consumer, attention to detail, and drive towards their vision,” says Mark Zekulin, president of Canopy Growth.

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CANNA Australasia Marks 25 Years in Australia, New Zealand

2019 is a milestone year for CANNA Australasia as it celebrates 25 years of providing products YEARS throughout Australia and New Zealand, and the company thanks its loyal customers in those countries. In 1994, Australians and New Zealanders embraced a set of humble Dutch hydroponic nutrients and they’ve been loved ever since through successive generations.

CANNA Vega and CANNA Flores nutrients had arrived a few years after their domestic debut as pioneers of the global basic hydroponic nutrient system — a highly nutritious, grow and bloom formula combining macro and micro elements in an A and B system (rather than the three-part system common to hydroponic American nutrients of the time). Although it had been a response to the commercial struggles of a Dutch coffeeshop grower, its introduction to growland coincided with new cultivation methods using stonewool and the subsequent grower rush towards growing smaller plants taken from cuttings.

US Food Safety Technology Company Expands to Europe

SmartWash Solutions, a developer of food safety technologies, has expanded into Europe. The company uses a combination of science, technology, and engineering to food-processing wash water systems, which it says mitigates cross contamination while helping to improve the management of food safety systems. “When we saw the revolutionary impact of our products in the United States, it became clear the technology was essential to be shared across Europe,” says Steven Swarts, director of business development.

From their location in Nijverdal, Netherlands, SmartWash provides the level of service necessary to support the European fresh-cut industry. According to the company, by its presence in Europe, it has reduced lead time and transportation costs for its European customers. SmartWash products are currently available for use in most European countries. The company’s systems provide a higher level of process control to water chemistry, mitigating cross contamination in fresh-cut foods.

industry BUZZ Ed Rosenthal Issues Revised and Updated Marijuana Garden Saver Book

Cannabis guru Ed Rosenthal has released up updated and revised version of his book Marijuana Garden Saver which was written as an aid for marijuana cultivators to diagnose problems and help their plants flourish.

The book focuses on pests, diseases, nutrient deficiencies, and environmental stresses that can negatively impact a cannabis grow. The updated edition provides extra coverage of mite problems for home and commercial cultivators. Clear photographs help you to quickly identify pest and disease damage indoors and out. The book provides easy-to-follow instructions and suggests a variety of products and techniques to keep your garden or commercial farm healthy. Products and solutions have all been vetted by professionals whose job it is to ensure that harvests test clean. Rosenthal has written several books on cannabis, including Ed Rosenthal’s Marijuana Grower’s Handbook, which is considered the definitive guide to good cannabis growing practices.

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Maximum Yield Welcomes New Sales Staff

Maximum Yield Publishing is excited to announce the additions of Chantal Richard and Austin White to the account management team. With the cannabis industry growing by leaps and bounds, Chantal and Austin will be valuable in ensuring current and future advertisers are able to get their brands out in front of a vast audience using Maximum Yield’s digital and print platforms. Chantal has more than 20 years experience in account management, including five years working in print sales.

In her spare time, she is a professional singer and songwriter.

Austin is another savvy sales veteran, having previously founded and operated a retail store. He has 25 years of direct sales experience, including 15 years in the action sports industry and cannabis nutrient segment. Austin is interested in the holistic aspect of the marijuana industry and looks forward to meeting people at future trade shows.

752 North State St, #208, Westerville, OH 43082, USA 865-770-1231 • 3 years in business • horticulturelightinggroup.com

EMPOWER GROWERS

with efficient and quality horticulture lighting products.

The Horticulture Lighting Groups sells LED lighting products for the horticulture lighting industry. The company sells LED lamps, modules, and heatsinks. All their LED modules are custom designed. Their latest QB 288 V2 LED module is made by Samsung in South Korea.

Horticulture Lighting Group uses high-efficiency white light LEDs for its products. Co-founders Amit Chandna and Stephen Johnson took the time to answer our questions.

What prompted the merge between Johnson and Northern Grow Lights?

Johnson Grow Lights and Northern Grow Lights where both startup companies that were going on their second year as lighting companies. These startups gave Amit and myself a great exposure to the industry, helped us understand LED technology, efficiency, and what the customers are looking for. We saw an opportunity to work together on research and development of a new revolutionary lighting source for horticulture. We decided that it would be mutually beneficial to merge our resources and started Horticulture Lighting Group in 2016.

Was it a smooth merge or were there some growing pains?

Transition to working together was easy as we had been collaborating for the previous six months. We shared similar values and goals, and that helped us overcome the problem of living in different states.

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“ These startups gave Amit and myself a great exposure to the industry, helped us understand LED technology, efficiency, and what the customers are looking for.�

How many people were employed by Horticulture Lighting Group at the beginning?

What were their roles?

In the beginning, it was only the two of us (Amit and Steve) working eighteen hours a day on finishing the Quantum BoardTM QB304 LED module design.

What did you first produce?

After the merger, we continued to sell the old product line together. Over time, we slowly replaced the old products with newer, higher-quality, higher-efficiency, and lower-priced products.

The first fixture Horticulture Lighting Group produced was the HLG 550. The first product produced was the QB304 Quantum BoardTM LED module design.

What were some of your struggles as you started the business? How did you overcome them?

Being self-funded was a big challenge.

We insisted on the company staying privately owned while we concentrated on what we felt was most important.

When we launched the QB304 Quantum BoardTM, the adoption rate was very low and it was a unique new product. Over time, we were able to convince customers to try our products through our exceptional price, efficiency, and reviews. We started retailing our LED modules and that helped us fund the company.

What are you doing to gain market share and recognition?

Innovation, exceptional customer service, exhibitions, and advertising.

Horticulture lighting is a fast-growing market. We are one of the top companies in the industry and have always faced a risk of copied products. We love

to innovate and bring newer, better products to market to lead the way.

Currently, most of our customers are from word of mouth. We appreciate all our customers that have stood behind us and shared their success stories with others. We have plans to start selling Horticulture Lighting Group clothing on our website. We recently had an exhibition at MJBizCon 2018 in Las Vegas. In 2018 we also exhibited in Cultivate 2018, NECANN, and Indo Expo. We also advertise with social media, Google, and in magazines.

Has Horticulture Lighting Group moved or expanded since the beginning?

Our company started with operations just in Ohio. We now have an account manager, customer support manager, shipping manager, production manager, and a small team of help production.

We currently work directly with Samsung to make our most popular LED module, QB 288V2. We recently invested $500,000 in an SMT production line in Tennessee. This line will help us reduce lead times, allow more flexibility, and enable us to overcome limitations of the machines our suppliers currently use.

What are some of your bestselling products?

Our best-selling product is the HLG 550 V2 lamp. We also sell a lot of small lamps and LED components like the QB 288V2.

What product(s) are you most proud of?

We take pride in all the products designed at Horticulture Lighting Group. We are most proud of HLG 550 V2 as it is the first ETL/ CSA-certified fixture we make.

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“ Our strengths lie in innovation in LED tech as well as our understanding of light and its effects on plants.”

How good is the HLG 550 V2?

The HLG 550 V2 set a new record for horticulture lighting. It tested at 2.5 μmol/joule, making it one of the most efficient lights currently available.

Through its simplistic design we are able to offer a high-efficiency lamp at a very competitive price. It covers up to a 4x5-foot space for flowering, is ETL/ CSA-certified, and offers an exceptional value to commercial and home growers.

Are you partnered with Samsung?

We have been working with Samsung for over a year. We currently buy most of our LEDs from Samsung and they also help us make one of our LED modules.

LEDs are constantly improving and this relationship with Samsung helps us ensure we can get the most recent and highest quality LED products to our customer. Recently, Samsung visited our facility and we are working towards strengthening our partnership.

Where do you distribute?

We currently sell our products at several online and brick and mortar stores in the US. We also have distributors in the EU, UK, Australia, and Canada.

How many people now work for the company?

We currently employ five employees at our new warehouse and three other employees who assemble our lamps. We hope to employ more local people soon.

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What are your company’s strengths?

Our strengths lie in innovation in LED tech as well as our understanding of light and its effects on plants (especially cannabis and hemp). Innovation and a very committed and hard-working team of employees.

What are some of your proudest moments?

Turning a profit. We had been working on getting our HLG 550 lamp ETL/CSA certified for months and when that happened in November 2018, it was one of our proudest moments. We also look forward to the moment when we get our SMT production line going (was scheduled for December 2018).

What significant things have you learned so far about the industry?

The horticulture lighting industry is fast growing. There are a few bad players in the industry who have given LEDs a bad name and it has been an uphill battle to convince some customers to give our LEDs a try. As this industry is new and not regulated, we see a lot of companies making false claims and advertising. We believe in science and transparency.

We share independent lab reports on our website for our products.

We report our efficiency numbers in horticulture metric PPF or Îźmol of photons, and not the traditional lighting metrics (like lumens).

What words of wisdom can you share about the business, the industry, or the future of the industry?

The truest words of wisdom I can offer are the ones that lead me in both business and life: Treat

others the way you would want to be treated. We strive to provide a superior customer experience and offer a great product at a fair price.

What makes your employees so awesome? How does your team bond?

We carefully choose the employees we work with. We do not micromanage our employees. We take a few employees to exhibitions when we travel. This helps them talk directly with customers and understand the industry. Our most recent exhibition was in Las Vegas and it was a great bonding experience for the team as we set up our booth and explored the local area.

Does your company participate in any community service?

Our company is transitioning from a small to a medium-size business. Given the 10- to 12-hour workdays and family commitments, we currently do not participate in any community service.

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What did you and your partners do before buying Golden Acre?

The owners are locals who grew up minutes from the store and are childhood friends. Before buying Golden Acre in 2008, they owned and operated their own landscape property maintenance company.

How did you get into the retail garden and hydroponic industry?

I got into the industry by accident.

As a horticulturist, I progressed through landscaping to a purchaser position and one department we were lacking in was indoor growing. We worked hard with industry experts to fully develop the department and I even took a course through Kwantlen Polytechnic in cannabis management to be able to help our customers become successful in growing cannabis.

The owners saw an opportunity when the business was for sale to segue into a part of the fabric of the community they grew up in. Both have a strong entrepreneurial spirit and this was a harmonious blend of operating a business literally close to home.

When and where did you open Golden Acre Home & Garden?

“READY, SET, GROW” 620 Goddard Avenue N.E., Calgary, Alta. T2K 5X3 1-403-274-4286 • 52 years in business

goldenacre.ca

Golden Acre is the biggest, fully operational garden supply store in Alberta. Staffed by experts across a wide array of departments, the store is locally owned and operated.

This mom-and-pop store has been doing business continually for 52 years in the same location. Situated in north Calgary, minutes from downtown, it has become a mecca for everything growing related. Hydroponics and hard goods manager Colin Hayles answered our questions about Golden Acre, the indoor grow department, and the company’s longevity in the Calgary market.

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The store has been in the same location since it opened its doors in 1967, located in north Calgary off the Deerfoot Trail; it is easy to find. The indoor growing department has been open for six years.

How many people were employed by the store at the beginning?

What were their roles?

When the department first opened there was one staff member to purchase and be on the floor.

What did Golden Acre start off selling?

In our indoor growing department, we carried a very basic, rudimentary line, including General Hydroponics and basic lighting as well as growing mediums. Very simple, well-known lines as we figured it out ourselves.

What were some of your struggles as you started the business?

The main struggles were getting word out with what we were doing along with learning all about it ourselves.

Our customers were a massive benefit to us in helping figure out what they wanted to see and what we should look at carrying. We believe education is key, which is why we provide seminars. The last one we did in October 2018 was a huge success. We had Tracy, a lighting expert, Chris, a head grower from a local LP, and Remo of Remo Nutrients come and speak. The event was free and was a massive success for everyone involved.

What did you have to learn about indoor growing?

We had a lot to learn, with the primary focus on being what our customer base wanted. We also had to get experienced ourselves as our mantra, regardless of department, is that we want people to be successful in what they grow. With the help of our customers, suppliers, and formal and informal education, we learned a ton and still have a lot more to learn.

How did you gain market share and recognition? What did you do to market your store? What made your store unique?

Gaining market share and recognition was tricky for us. As we are an established garden center with established customers, we had to be careful to not offend anyone. Whilst cannabis was still illegal, we had

to walk a tightrope between having a fully stocked department, letting people know we existed as this entity, but not offend anyone. We focused a lot on successful indoor gardening; this allowed us to bridge the gap, and indeed we have some very successful indoor food growers who love what we offer. We were uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between successful growing techniques and the social stigma of supplying goods for a (then) illegal plant. We crossed that gap by allowing people to help educate us, working with people who were ACMPR approved, and by being passionate, regardless if the client was growing cannabis or cucumbers.

including LED and HPS, various meters, all sizes and shapes and textures of pots, growing tents, and all the filters and ventilation needed, as well as a number of sundry items such as LED and HPS glasses, scalpels, pumps, airstones, rooting hormones, etc.

Two of our favorite lines are Remo Nutrients and GrowTronic LED lighting.

Remo has been a great friend and an invaluable asset to us. The support from the company is only equal to the high quality and amazing results his nutrients provide. It is the number one choice of our customers and staff alike.

And Tracy from GrowTronic is a lighting expert, based in Calgary. He has developed incredible LEDs that provide

“ We had a lot to learn, with the primary focus on being what our customer base wanted. We also had to get experienced ourselves as our mantra, regardless of department, is that we want people to be successful in what they grow.�

What product lines do you carry and why?

We carry a diverse range of products for the grower. We have seven lines of nutrients, a wide variety of growing mediums, specific and general lighting

proven results; the fact they are all CSA approved and at an amazing price is an immeasurable benefit to us and our clients. We are also blessed to have an amazing relationship with nearly all of our vendors and lean on them heavily to be able to provide special orders and on-time deliveries.

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How many people now work at Golden Acre?

We are now staffed with four people including myself, but overall during peak hours we hire over 120 people.

Our staff have various strengths and all have growing experience. We also utilize our friends and experts freely.

If a customer stumps us, we don’t fabricate knowledge for sales; we simply reach out to our ever-growing list of professional experts and find the answers our customers need.

What are your company’s strengths?

Our biggest strength are the people who support us. Our customers, suppliers and vendors, and staff. By all of us working together we are uniquely poised to be able to give answers as needed. We also count amongst our strengths our established locale, our diverse product range, and our ability to offer some of the most competitive prices both in the store and online.

users, it crosses all lines of creed, race, religion, and gender and it is wonderful to see. We are advocates for equal rights and we love the diversity that seems so prevalent in this industry.

How has your company philosophy changed over the years?

The main philosophy shift for us has to been to normalize the indoor grow department. As perceptions of the general public shift, so do our means of spreading the word. We loved attending the YYC cannabis shows, putting on seminars, and talking freely about it on social media. We look forward to when all the barriers are down and we can focus on simply the joy of growing something.

What words of wisdom can you share about the business, the industry, or the future of the industry?

When I think of words of wisdom for this industry it would have to be “never think you know it all, never rest on your

“ We can supply everything any avid grower or gardener needs, and we care about your success be it cannabis, spider plant, rose bush, or tomato plant.”

What are some of Golden Acre’s successes?

Our biggest success has been watching this department grow organically and with support. For the last few years we have consistently doubled in size with our customer base and the department footprint has more than doubled. The feedback we have received regarding our cannabis show presence, our prices, and our seminars has been nothing short of humbling and flattering. It shows us we are on the right track and allows us to continue to look to the future and always progress with the industry. We never want to rest on our laurels.

What significant things have you learned so far about the industry?

If I reflect upon it, I think the most significant things I have learned about this industry include the willingness of people to share their success and also their horror stories. The encouragement and support are second to none. On par with that is how exciting this industry is. Constantly pushing the envelope on what is available and what is doable, and the opportunities that are springing up — from employment, to growing, to networking — it is a very exciting time to be involved. Also, the people involved, from medical patients to recreational

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Seeing their concerns and worries turn to hope and determination will stay with me for a very long time.

What makes your employees so awesome? How does your team bond?

What makes our employees so awesome is their passion. They love what they do and they love trying new things. They love to talk to people in the industry and community and are amazing at providing me with ideas, feedback, and concerns; without them we’d be lost.

What’s one off-the-wall or surprising way that Golden Acre is different from other gardening stores?

“ Our customers were a massive benefit to us in helping figure out what they wanted to see and what we should look at carrying.”

laurels” and also “enjoy what you’re doing.” There is simply too much to learn and too many exciting things coming down the pike to ever think you are good in this industry. And the people you meet, the stories they share, the joy of people succeeding at something, and all the new opportunities mean we are blessed to be in this unique and special industry.

Share your favorite story from a day on the job.

A favorite story of mine was just a few weeks ago when, by fluke, I had the opportunity to meet a person who had been diagnosed with Stage 2 lung cancer. Obviously, she and her husband were devastated, and they were exploring options. They were convinced cannabis was too hard and too expensive to grow. I was lucky enough to be able to spend a few hours in their company and by the time we had explored all the options, they left smiling. Between our knowledge, prices, and home delivery options, they were ready to try growing. I also assured her that we provide advice through all stages of plant growth and that we had a community behind us.

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I think the most surprising thing we experienced when we first opened the indoor grow department six years ago was how many young people were growing tomatoes indoors, and how much they were willing to spend on their tomatoes, not to mention how much they cared about their tomatoes. This underground world of secretive tomato growers was wondrous to behold.

We are not just a cannabis supply store. We are a garden center sitting on 13 acres of land in the heart of Calgary.

We can supply everything any avid grower or gardener needs, and we care about your success be it cannabis, spider plant, rose bush, or tomato plant.

Truly one-stop shopping for every level and type of grower and gardener. We are also not limited to an 18+ rating.

As we don’t sell seeds or clones or any paraphernalia, families are always welcome to shop in our location and they do. Due to it being a greenhouse, it is naturally lit and bright and airy, giving it a welcoming, friendly atmosphere.

If you could wish one thing for your company, what would it be?

I think the biggest wish for our company would be to reach more people. To help us remove the stigma of cannabis growing and to show people how accessible it is. Every day we achieve new goals and set new ones but reaching people and working with new customers is a goal we will never give up or consider done.

How did you come up with your motto “Ready, Set, Grow”? Why did you choose it?

We came up with our motto by finding something playful, well known that can encapsulate us. When you are ready, we will help get you set and then all there is left is to grow, and we’ll help with that too.

you

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Rolling Benches

ESSENTIAL FOR CANNABIS CULTIVATION EFFICIENCY by Jeremy Corrao Cannabis is a valuable crop, so it makes sense to make use of all available space in your growroom.

GrowGeneration’s vice-president Jeremy Corrao explains the benefits of investing in multi-tiered rolling benches to maximize revenue.

I

f there’s one thing I’ve learned over two decades of cannabis cultivation experience, it’s this: maximize your flower canopy, and you’ll maximize ROI. And in a commercial grow, if you’re not using a rolling bench system, the fact is you’re just not making the most of your flower room’s potential.

WHAT ARE ROLLING BENCHES AND HOW DO THEY MAXIMIZE FLOWER CANOPY? Imagine a room full of standard, stationary production benches.

Naturally, the space on either side of each bench allows access up and down the rows. The problem is that those rows of empty space add up; if you have, say, 10 rows at two feet by 20 feet each, that’s 400 total square feet of your room that’s essentially wasted.

Rolling benches are a means of bridging that gap. Rather than having a dedicated row of space between each production bench, rolling benches roll back and forth, closing off the space between other rows while opening space in the row you need to access.

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“Maximize your flower canopy, and you’ll

maximize ROI.”

This concept is not new to cannabis cultivation; rolling benches have been used in the agricultural world for decades. With stationary benches, you’re typically only utilizing 40 to 60 per cent of the room’s total area — but rolling benches can net you up to 80 per cent or more of usable space in the same size room.

suddenly at 2,400 square feet. Go just one level higher to a fourtier racking system, and you’re now pulling 3,200 square feet of product out of a 1,000 square-feet room. That type of efficiency sells itself, and it pays for itself, too — especially when we’re talking about a crop as valuable as cannabis.

SINGLE-TIER VS. MULTI-TIER BENCHING SYSTEMS

INVESTING IN ROLLING BENCHES

A single-tier rolling bench setup is exactly what it sounds like: a room of rolling benches that are one level high. But when it comes to truly maximizing the efficiency of your cultivation space, the best bang for your buck is going to come from a multi-tiered system.

Multi-tier benching systems — also called rolling racks — allow you to maximize not just the square footage of your room, but the cubic footage as well. These racks can climb as high as 17 feet, providing up to six layers of production benching. This dramatically increases your overall canopy without having to increase the size of the actual room.

Of course, rolling benches are an investment, and should be viewed as such. But when we compare the cost of purchase and installation against the return, a benching system is an undeniably worthwhile expense.

Let’s say that for a single-tier system, you spend $15 per square foot of benching. If you’re producing 50 grams of product per square foot and selling at $4 per gram, you’re pulling $200 per square foot of flower space. That means after just one harvest, you’ve paid for the benching system and still grossed $185 per square foot.

Now, a multi-tiered system will cost a little more at the outset, and there will be some other associated cost increases, most notably in risk mitigation and labor. Your staff will need to undergo additional training and follow a higher level of SOPs. But, at the end of the day, none of these costs will outweigh your return on investment.

At a new cultivation facility that I’m currently consulting with in Michigan, the numbers look like this: at a $6 million build including a single-tier benching system, projected annual revenue is around $10 million. An upgrade to a second-tier costs $2 million more — but the revenue generated off that second tier is another $10 million. Going up yet another tier costs, again, $2 million, but will gross another $10 million annually.

So, in this particular situation, the additional $4 million to go from one to three tiers will end up boosting annual revenue by $20 million.

ROLLING BENCH RISKS It’s true that a benching system can skyrocket cultivation efficiency and maximize your flower canopy. However, it’s critical to account for the environmental impacts that come into play with a multi-tiered system. Achieving homeostasis in a single-tier situation is one thing; achieving it in a multilayered rack is quite another.

As you start layering your grow upward on a racking system, microclimates become much more prevalent. Racking systems require different ventilation schemes than traditional setups, in order to mitigate stagnant areas, humidity buildup, and other potentially harmful environmental factors.

This is why it’s important to work with a knowledgeable consultant when designing or retrofitting your growroom with a racking system. Without the proper microclimate analyzation and mitigation technology in place, your bench or rack system could actually end up decreasing productivity.

For example: take a 1,000 square-foot cultivation room.

With a single-tier rolling bench setup, you utilize 80 per cent of the room’s total area, or 800 square feet. Now, you start stacking layers upward. With two tiers, you’re now at 1,600 square feet of canopy; add another tier, and you’re 40

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I’ve worked with several clients in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and the Northeastern corner, helping them retrofit their growrooms and increase production rates by 20 per cent or more. Using multi-tiered systems, we’ve minimized total veg space while improving efficiency — and we’ve increased flower canopy for maximum ROI.

THE EFFECTS OF

LIGHT MOVERS ON GROW LIGHT PPFD AND PHOTO EFFICIENCY

by Nancy Hamilton For hydroponic growers to get the most yield as well as energy efficiency from a crop, Nancy Hamilton recommends getting a grow light with excellent PPFD and photon efficiency and use it with a light mover for better canopy coverage.

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G

row light numbers, including lumens, LUX, watts, photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), photosynthetic photon flux (PPF), photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), and photon efficiency, are all useful terms for lighting, but they are not equally weighted when it comes to their importance to growers and their grow lights.

Photosynthetic photon flux density is the grow light term that gives us the most information and the PPFD chart tells the story of how these numbers are significantly affected by distance to the canopy, and by movement. With the PPFD chart, look at the readouts (both for the stationary grow light and the light mover grow light), and that’s at 15 inches (38 cm) and at 20 inches (50 cm). This was charted for a double-ended 1,000W grow light. The PPFD chart demonstrates that when a grow light moves along the canopy and on a light mover, an even and predictable PPFD output can be realized. And the grow lights can be positioned closer to the canopy for more maximized grow light interaction. Grow lights can be placed even closer still, so as the canopy gets taller, there is no stress or burn because those grow lights are moving. Conversely, stationary grow lights are limited and there is no sweet spot.

To understand this on another level, stationary grow lights are always at a reduced strength because of the limitations of stationary grow light rules. It’s a paradox of having a beautifully strong, quality grow light that is forced to be positioned up high so that it is safely diluted, so as not to cause harm. Then, as a strategy to get some degree of grow light strength back, a grower is forced to place their grow lights in a tighter formation, resulting in more grow lights in use. Beyond the logical conclusion that this is wrong for cost and for practicality, it is also wrong for efficiency of electrical usage. With light movers, the grow lights can be positioned much closer and they can cover about 30 per cent more area — and that’s per grow light. That’s with each light mover consuming only about five to nine watts. In a time when electrical savings and energy efficiency are as important as yield numbers, moving grow lights is a way to have both variables significantly improved.

The PPFD chart tells the story of an even canopy, along with faster growth and yield increases due to the moving grow light. A side story is the effect of the optimized moving grow light that moves off-side slightly and then back intensely overhead, again and again. This ongoing action reduces shadow patterns and is how more of the leaves interact with the grow light. It mimics how plants have evolved over millions of years to best receive light. Plant receptors will open more when the light is intense but intermittent. So, the light mover’s effect on PPFD readouts is perhaps the most important grow light variable to know. It’s a story of better coverage and the effect goes even beyond the chart numbers.

But, grow lights have their own input and there are many grow light numbers beyond PPFD to decipher.

“This is how to best maximize PPFD with stronger/better coverage while creating better efficiency than with a stationary grow light.”

60”

height

15”

720

878

858

878

720

20”

460

616

614

616

460

25”

228

447

484

447

338

30”

263

334

370

334

263

Fig. a PPFD readings for a moving grow light.

60”

height

15”

90

590

2815

590

90

20”

122

602

1472

602

122

25”

148

512

942

512

148

30”

166

419

638

419

166

35”

170

339

456

339

170

40”

163

280

353

280

163

45”

151

230

275

239

151

Fig. b PPFD readings for a stationary grow light.

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“With light movers, the grow lights can be positioned much closer and they can cover about 30 per cent more area — and that’s per grow light.”

PAR, PPF, PPFD Fig. b

Fig. c Light movement ensures more of the leaf surface interacts with the grow light.

This mimics how plants naturally receive light (Fig. b). This reduces shadow patterns and hot spots associated with stationary lights (Fig. c).

Breaking Down Grow Light Numbers The following breaks down some of the most common grow light numbers used, along with the ones to pay particular attention to.

Lumens and LUX Lumens are actually an eye measurement, so these are numbers strictly from a human perspective. It revolves around a photopic bell curve where humans are sensitive more in the middle for green light and less sensitive on the ends for blue and red light. LUX is simply a measurement of lumens in feet as lumens/ft squared. Because lumens and LUX deal in human terms for light, they are somewhat weak in the far ends of the spectrum. Humans don’t need the far-end colors to see well but plants absolutely use the reds/blues as the fuel for photosynthesis. Because of this, we need those far-spectrum numbers represented. Lumens and LUX don’t give us grow light numbers at the plant’s perspective and because of this, they are not really useful terms for grow light output.

Watts Watts is a term used for an overview only and is not used for accuracy. In other words, our general acquired knowledge might be to know which wattage is ideal for what we grow and at what stage.

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PAR is the wavelength of light in the range of 400-700 nanometers and this is the range for photosynthesis. For the acronym components, it is photosynthetic active radiation which is important in a conceptual way, but it is without true measurement because it lacks time and space. We can, however, dilute it with distance from the light source, or we can concentrate it by positioning the light source closer. That’s an example of Inverse Square Law which is also highlighted in the PPFD chart, with the PPFD numbers hugely diminished, and that’s geometrically diminished, with distance. Photosynthetic photon flux gives one more piece of information for PAR, which is time.

We can see photon output per second. A quality grow light emits a continuous strong output, and PPF tells that story.

The measurement is micromoles per second (μmol/s). The best grow light number to know, however, is PPFD because it incorporates space and time into the calculation.

Basically, it is PPF plus micromoles per meter. It is the measurement of PPFD. Photosynthetic photon flux density readings must be done properly and include distance to grow light, horizontal coverage, and the number of readings taken over a period of time. For the PPFD chart, the distance and the horizontal coverage are listed. For other needed information, the meter took a reading every 30 seconds, so 120 readings per hour and every 30 minutes, calculated for the average, and that was per area.

Photon Efficiency: This is all about how efficient a grow light is in converting electricity into PAR. It’s important to know because we are not just thinking of electrical input but are now having the added information of realized output. For the math and knowing PPF (µmol/s) plus knowing wattage (Joules or J/s), the formula is µmol/J because the “s” for seconds cancels out on both sides of the equation. The higher this number, the more energy efficient a grow light is at converting electricity, which is input, into photons of PAR, which is output.

The two most important grow light numbers to know are PPFD and photon efficiency. A quality grow light will be outstanding for PPFD and should be noticeably better than most for photon efficiency. Then, placing that grow light on a light mover and getting it closer than would be recommended in a stationary setting is ideal for optimized results. This is how to best maximize PPFD with stronger/better coverage while creating better efficiency than with a stationary grow light. And, that’s by covering 30 per cent more area as a moving grow light.

Grow lights can be powerfully effective while being energy efficient, and light movers are the single best way to maximize this. So, know a grow light’s PPFD, know the photon efficiency and, just as importantly, know the possibility of those grow light numbers when maximized on light movers.

Four Steps to Fix What’s

B R O K E N IN YOUR BUSINESS

Is your business in a funk? Is your business not where you want it to be?

If so, Donald Cooper has four key things to focus on that will help turn things around.

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Reach your growing goals with educational articles, the latest products and technologies, how-tos, tips and tricks, and more from our team of cannabis pros.

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by Donald Cooper

A

s I work with clients around the world to rethink and refocus their business, I’ve found that there are four clear steps to the process of fixing what needs fixing. Here they are:

STEP 1 — Awareness

Awareness is simply knowing that some part of your business isn’t “right” yet. You’re not yet where you want to be — or need to be — to be a profitable market leader, to be a sustainable business in a fast-changing market, or to become your vision for the business in three to five years. The opposite of awareness "THE OPPOSITE OF denial… and that’s a AWARENESS IS DENIAL… is killer in any business.

Perhaps your AND THAT’S A KILLER products or services IN ANY BUSINESS." aren’t the best they could be. Or, you’re falling short on delivering the customer experience that you’ve promised. Perhaps you’ve not created the internal business environment required to attract and keep the best people at every level of your organization. Perhaps you’re falling short in planning and budgeting, control, accountability, profitability, or implementation and follow up. Your shortfall could be in technology, systems, communication, or culture.

It could be that you’ve not yet met your commitments to your community or the environment.

Are you aware of the specific areas in your business that aren’t “right” yet? Can you list them and prioritize them?

Without “awareness,” there will be no improvement. But “awareness” alone will get you nowhere. Which brings us to the next step.

STEP 2 — A Passionate Commitment to Fix It

Many businesses know something’s wrong… but they really don’t give a damn. They’re tired or burnt out; they’ve lost their passion and they’re not prepared to do the work required to fix what needs fixing.

Years ago, my father had a Jaguar XJ6 with the world’s most unreliable windshield wipers (which he thought a bit odd given that it rains most of the time where Jaguars are produced). By chance, my dad met the chairman of Jaguar at some big-shot business event and when he mentioned that he was a Jag owner the chairman enquired, “And how do you like your Jag?” Not wanting to miss an opportunity to go right to the top with his problem, father told him about his huge frustration with the wipers, to which the chairman of Jaguar offhandedly replied, “Oh Jack, we don’t seem to have that one quite right yet, do we!” Clearly, the chairman was aware of the problem. He had arrived at Step 1. But, judging by his offhand remark, there was no passionate commitment to fix it. Are you passionately committed to fixing the things that need fixing in your business?

STEP 3 — Analysis, Creativity, Decision, & Making a Plan Here’s where the real work starts. For each thing that you’re committed to fixing or creating in your business, work through the stages of analysis/creativity/decision making/and documenting an action plan.

• ANALYSIS: Get the facts. Remember, the beginning of wisdom is the recognition of reality. If it’s a problem you’re solving,

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F I X I N G WHAT NEEDS FIXING

No other retailer in the world did any of this stuff. It takes creativity and courage and asking ‘the wonderful question.’

There’s lots of talk about innovation and creativity in business today but very little conversation about courage. There’s no point in being creative if you’re not also courageous because you’ll never have the guts to implement the extraordinary creative stuff that you come up with.

So, get creative and be courageous. Look for possibilities and big ideas. Big ideas grab your target customers, clearly differentiate you from your competitors, make you famous, and grow your bottom line. Remember, mediocrity is no longer an option.

What has never been done? What ideas, when implemented, would blow your customers away or give you an operational advantage that would transform your bottom line? Finally, what are the costs and the benefits of each of your ideas?

• DECISION: Don’t analyze and create forever. Commit to a course of action in a reasonable time. There’s more money lost through indecision than wrong decision. Nike’s slogan is not, “Just talk it to death!”

• THE ACTION PLAN: For each decision that’s taken and every action that’s agreed on, document specifically what will be done, by whom, by when, at what cost, measured how, and rewarded how. Involve all those whose support you need in the implementation process and get their commitment to specific deadlines. Communicate the action plan to everyone involved. Make sure that they know the purpose, objectives, deadlines, and expected results. Make sure that they know why their role is important and get their commitment to specific outcomes.

Determine from your team what additional information or resources they’ll need to be successful, and make sure that they get what they need.

STEP 4 — Effective Implementation and Follow-Up

get to the real root cause. If it’s an opportunity you’re pursuing, make sure that you have all the important facts.

Either way, if your ‘size-up’ is wrong, your action will likely be wrong, and your outcome will be wrong.

• CREATIVITY: Encourage creativity within your organization and know when to ‘rent’ creativity from the outside. Ask your team, your suppliers, and your customers what they think. Find out who the real experts are on what you’re trying to fix or create. The good ones will save you a bundle and the bad ones will cost you a fortune.

Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. What are other successful businesses doing about this problem or opportunity… and then figure out how to do it even better.

Ask ‘the wonderful question’ which is, “What would be the most wonderful thing that we could do here?” In our famous Alive & Well lady’s fashion store in Markham, Ont., back in the 1990s, we came up with ‘wonderful’ in the form of a choice of seven free beverages, four hooks in the change rooms, electric massage chairs for husbands, a pirate ship play area for kids, free diapers, diaper wipes, and cream on the change tables, instant birthday parties for customers, and an invitation to “Please take as many items in the change room as you wish.”

We also had a big sign just inside the front door saying, “Our staff are not on commission. They treat you this well because they love what they do.”

Get it done. Businesses don’t die from a single shot to the head — they die, slowly but surely, from a thousand uncompleted tasks. Effective implementation is one of the biggest challenges in most businesses today. Here’s the simple solution. Every time you assign a task, agree on a specific date by which it will be completed, document that commitment, and always follow up.

The world is run by "BUSINESSES DON’T DIE those who follow-up.

BONUS TIP

FROM A SINGLE SHOT TO THE HEAD — THEY DIE, SLOWLY BUT SURELY, FROM A THOUSAND UNCOMPLETED TASKS."

The 10 simple words: “By when can we agree that this will be completed?” change everything. They ensure commitment, urgency, and accountability. Then, celebrate success, reward performance and deal firmly but quickly with non-performance.

So, there they are — four simple but powerful steps to fix what needs fixing in your business. Where are you in the process?

First, are you aware of what needs fixing or doing, or are you in denial? Are you passionately committed to getting on with it? Is it the analysis, creativity, decision making, or planning where you need more focus? Or, is it implementation and follow-up that need improvement? How will you use these insights to fix what needs fixing in your business in order to create a more extraordinary and profitable future?

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