In the last federal election, Saskatchewan and Alberta sent zero Liberals to Ottawa, leaving the Prairie Provinces under-represented in cabinet. The government’s answer to the issue was to name Manitoba MP Jim Carr as Special Representative for the Prairies. So, what does that actually mean? Jim Carr explains that it’s his role to not only… Read More
The growth of biofuels, the focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and the Clean Fuel Standard could cost farmers more, but could also provide farmers with an opportunity to cash in on off-sets and expand markets for some crops. But the entire industry, regulations, and predicting the winners and losers is complex. To help navigate… Read More
Rob McKinlay runs a 70-cow dairy near Woodstock, Ont., and has fully incorporated biogas capture into the farm’s feeding and energy system. Using manure and refused or spoiled feed as a feedstock, McKinlay’s biogas digester fully captures the energy produced on farm and uses it to keep the lights on and dairy farm humming with… Read More
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has consistently moved environmental considerations into nearly every policy it has brought forward, regardless of what sector of the economy the policy is directed towards. For example, the recent environmental roadmap set out by the Liberals links the environmental policy directly with economic results, to the positive. As the countdown… Read More
The federal government’s Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) could create a new market equal in size to that of Japan’s for Canadian canola, according to the Canola Council of Canada. The draft regulations supporting the new fuel standard, which would require fuel companies reduce the lifecycle carbon intensity of their fuels, were published in Canada Gazette… Read More
Details of the Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) are expected this coming Friday, as it is scheduled to be published in the upcoming Canada Gazette. The opportunity for farmers as it pertains to producing biofuel stocks came up a few months ago, and as it stands now is still positive overall. But Andrea Kent, spokesperson for… Read More
Western Canada’s largest ethanol producer could soon be operating under a different banner, following the announcement of Cenovus Energy’s $3.8 billion acquisition of Husky Energy on Sunday. The deal will see the two Canadian energy industry rivals join forces and operate as Cenovus Energy Inc., with headquarters in Calgary, Alta. In addition to its oil… Read More
The U.S. Canola Association (USCA) has written a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump asking that he encourage the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish “pathways for renewable diesel derived from canola oil to generate Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) as ‘advanced biofuel’ under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program.” The letter, dated September 30, 2020,… Read More
Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau says her government’s proposed Clean Fuel Standard will be “a great opportunity” for farmers, but she acknowledges the policy needs further consultation. The government is planning to introduce regulations to support the policy, which is designed to incentivize the use of lower carbon fuels such as ethanol or biodiesel, this… Read More
The news cycle has picked up on the Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) issue recently, but the topic isn’t all that new. The policy has been developed over the past couple of years — since about 2016 — according to the CFS website under the government of Canada’s environment and natural resources arm. “I think the… Read More
Canada’s biofuel industry is very optimistic about the federal government’s proposed Clean Fuel Standard (CFS), which could potentially create significant new domestic demand for Canadian crops depending on how the regulations are drawn up. The goal of the policy, which has been in the works for several years, is to reduce the intensity of carbon… Read More
Farmers across Canada are beginning to hear more and more about the Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) being proposed by the federal government. But what on earth is it? The government is aiming to reward low carbon fuel in the Canadian fuel system, potentially offering a lot of opportunity for biofuels — fuels made from things… Read More
Just how important is the European Union canola (rapeseed) market? According to LeftField Commodity Research, the region had more than doubled its year-over-year canola imports up to mid-March of this year, offsetting nearly half of the Canadian tonnage that would have been sold to China. That’s a significant increase, says Jonathan Driedger with LeftField, driven… Read More
As of now, there haven’t been any ethanol plants closed in Ontario, but there are reports that many plants are dialing back production amid the COVID-19 pandemic. What does that mean for overall corn demand and, of course, price? Crosby Devitt, the new CEO of Grain Farmers of Ontario, says that as of right now,… Read More
Whether it is the drop in oil prices due to a major spat between Russia and Saudi Arabia or the COVID-19 outbreak, the ethanol industry is dealing with massive challenges in the short term. Ethanol plants in Canada and the U.S. are reportedly scaling back production as a result, which is creating concern for corn… Read More
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