In three years, farmers could be using methane produced on their farms to fuel New Holland methane-powered tractors. In the future, farms could be completely energy independent, producing all the fuel and energy required right on the farm. That’s the vision New Holland unveiled on the first day of the 2017 Farm Progress Show in… Read more »
Category: Biofuels
Why the Canadian ethanol industry could be set to grow
In Canada we do not talk about biofuel production like they do in the United States. I attend many farmer meetings across the country and rarely do I hear talk on the agenda or in the hallways about ethanol or biodiesel production in Canada. In the U.S. ethanol production is a major user of the… Read more »
Setting the Stage for 2017 Grain Market Moves
After starting 2017 in the red, the grains market rallied quite well this week, however, corn and oilseeds are still below their highs seen in October and November. A couple of headlines that gained traction over the holidays were the South American weather (especially in Argentina), Egyptian wheat tenders, Black Sea winterkill risks, and continued… Read more »
This Week in the Grain Markets — Languishing Ideas
Grain markets got an American Thanksgiving boost as an unexpected update from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) surprised the oilseed complex, with soyoil leading, up 7.4% for the week. Soybeans weren’t far behind as they continue their run, up 5.1%, while canola held on a bit to climb 2.6%. Corn was supported by the EPA… Read more »
More Questions Than Answers — John Phipps on the Future of the Ethanol Mandate and NAFTA
With a Trump presidency come many questions and really few answers on what is next. During the campaign many promises were made with little clear understanding of which ones will be followed through on. I chatted with Farm Journal’s John Phipps the morning after the surprise election result. First off, Trump promised a collapse of… Read more »
The Next Revolution In The Farm And Food Sector Has Arrived
Pundits have said the leaders of the next agricultural revolution – the digital revolution — will be big data-powered researchers, with a universe of information in hand to help make farming more efficient than ever. But no one said those researchers would be found in the labs, fields, and classrooms of some of Canada’s main… Read more »
Renewable Fuels Association Gets New Name
The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association has adopted a new name that it says reflects the diversity of companies that operate in Canada’s bioeconomy. The former CRFA re-launched under the name Renewable Industries Canada, or RICanada, on Thursday. “Our industry and membership have been hard at work growing their businesses and diversifying their products beyond liquid… Read more »
Ontario Backs Away From Natural Gas Ban
The Ontario government is killing its plan to ban natural gas use as part of its Climate Change Action Plan. Since details of the Action Plan were reported by the Globe and Mail earlier this month, the provincial Liberals have come under heavy criticism for their strategy to phase out natural gas use in the… Read more »
Corn School: Baling Stalks — Can You Harvest Too Much?
Have you tried baling corn stalks? Agronomist Pat Lynch thinks you can’t bale enough. At Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show last month, Lynch helped co-ordinate the Corn Stalk Baling Demonstration. Afterwards he joined the Corn School to share his thoughts on whether Ontario farmers should be jumping on the stalk baling bandwagon. Today’s corn hybrids are… Read more »
What does Ontario’s Commitment to Cap & Trade Mean for Agriculture?
Some call it a tax, others a subsidy, but those selling the carbon cap and trade model for Ontario call it a boon for the economy, agriculture included. Recently, Ontario’s premier, Kathleen Wynne, announced the province was committed to the establishment of a cap and trade system to “address climate change by limiting sources of… Read more »
Ontario Ethanol Plant Gets Tech-Focused Funding Boost
The Government of Canada has announced an investment of $3.7 million to help Integrated Grain Processors Cooperative (IGPC) Ethanol Inc., of Aylmer, Ontario, install Canada’s first Fiber Separation Technology (FST) system. The FST system allows for the early separation of fibre from corn prior to its fermentation, increasing the efficiency of the distillation process and… Read more »
Camelina Approved for Broiler Chicken Feed
There could soon be new demand for the oilseed crop camelina as a feed ingredient for poultry. Camelina seed company Smart Earth Seeds is welcoming the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s approval of feeding cold-pressed non-solvent extracted camelina meal to broiler chickens at up to 12 percent inclusion. “This is a major step forward for camelina in Canada,” said Jack… Read more »
New U of S Feed Research Centre Officially Opened
A grand opening for the University of Saskatchewan’s new Canadian Feed Research Centre in North Battleford was held on Friday. The $13.9 million facility is home to research looking at developing high-value animal feeds from lower-value crops and co-products coming from the biofuel industry. U of S has refurbished the property after purchasing it from Stomp Pork Farms… Read more »
Wind power problems: “What are they talking about?”
I never assume anyone knows where my hometown of Mitchell’s Bay (population: 350) is, unless they like to fish or hunt or boat, or come from deep in southwestern Ontario. So I was quite surprised when, on a plane to western Canada earlier this week, the 30-something man beside me from B.C. nodded in acknowledgement… Read more »
Creating Biofuel with Soil Integrity in Mind — Baling Corn Stalks as a Happy Medium
Technology has brought us leaps and bounds forward in regards to renewable fuel, to the point where the focus is shifting to biomass as a fuel source instead of grain, helping to cool the food vs. fuel debate. But biomass is also critical to soil health and stability, as roots provide much-needed soil anchoring and… Read more »