Apollo Sunguard goes beyond shade

You don't have to be a farmer to know plants need sunlight to grow. But one Sarasota company is thinking a little bit of shade might help, too.

Apollo Sunguard Systems Inc. is working with the Sarasota Cooperative Extension Service to test shade's potential impact on crop yields. The idea was inspired by research findings in South Africa, which suggested a shield from ultraviolent rays might help nurture plant growth.

Those findings were indeed significant, says Kevin Connelly, president of Apollo Sunguard, as they showed crop yields increased 35% for farmlands that used shade.