Agrisoma Biosciences Inc. and PGF Biofuels announced the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s regulatory approval for Brassica carinata to be used in meal today. Specifically, the CIFA approves the high-protein meal in grower and finisher cattle feed. This announcement, combined with international market approvals of similar varieties, will be an important step in carinata’s continued development. “While the primary… Read More
Some people used to think farmers only could grow crops for food. Today, though, some think farmers only should grow crops for food. It’s a great debate, with, I suspect, the answer somewhere in the middle. Philosophical, theoretical, economic and even spiritual debates rage about farmers’ role in feeding the world versus growing crops for… Read More
With concerns around climate change, the availability of non-renewable resources, and increasing the sustainability of industries as a whole, it is not surprising that organizations like the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) are looking at ways to harness energy that is otherwise wasted. I recently spoke to Joy Agnew, project manager at PAMI, about their… Read More
Can we capture the energy from manure that dairy cows produce and use it to fuel the trucks that pick up and deliver milk? The short answer is yes, but we’re not going to see bio-methane pumps around town any time soon. RealAgriculture.com caught up with OMAFRA’s Don Hilborn at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show to… Read More
As far as we’ve come over the past 100 years, our progress creates some problems of it’s own. As cities expand and farmland moves into areas previously unpopulated, the natural balance of the local ecosystem is upset. Where natural events and wildlife used to keep things like willow stands from growing unchecked, it’s now up… Read More
This weeks episode of Saiks AgriTreks continues with Rob’s tour of the agriculture industry in Argentina. This time around, Rob gives us a quick look at the Louis Dreyfus loading facility on the Parana River. The soybean processing facility itself is massive and produces biodiesel, oil, raw soybean and soybean meal for export with most of… Read More
The last time we spoke to Patrick Crampton, we talked about Agrisoma’s research and development of the carinata plant in the area of biofuels. The plant is very similar to canola, but with an industrial oil profile suited well to diesel and jet fuel usage. The agronomics are very similar to canola in the fact… Read More
The area of biofuels is growing every year. The list includes everything from algae to canola to switchgrass to corn. The main problem with most of the list is the difficulty in mass producing those sources or the ethical dilemma created with the food vs fuel debate. Carinata holds the advantage over many of the bio sources in… Read More
Ethanol has been the subject of scrutiny regarding a number of issues, from its impact on corn prices to its effect on food production even its impact on the cattle and hog industries. The Conference Board of Canada released this week the results from its look at the industry. The report focuses on the impact… Read More
This week, RealAgriculture.com brings you the first episode in a new segment we call Agri Treks. Agri Treks is a quarterly segment that chronicles the worldwide travels of Agri-Trend Group Founder Rob Saik. Each episode Rob visits a new and interesting agricultural or ag- related location. In this episode of Agri Treks Rob visits sites… Read More
The food versus fuel debate seems to be alive and well according to Kevin Grier from the George Morris Center. Kevin also believes that some of the people that should be the most update are livestock producers in Canada. As Kevin mention in the below interview, with 40% of the US corn crop being burned… Read More
This week in Winnipeg the Canadian Grain Industry gathered to discuss the Canadian grain market. There is always an update from the Canadian Wheat Board and a full line of speakers over the two day event. I spoke with Kelvin Heppner from Golden West Radio about the conference and what were some of the highlights…. Read More
Earlier this week we ran a story on solar energy project in Ontario taking place on many farms from the perspective of Saturn Power (a manufacturer). In the summer I visited the farm of Steve Twynstra who has invested in solar power and is selling it back to the power grid in Ontario. Steve… Read More
On so many levels solar energy seems to make sense. You would think that this would really be the case on farms as well. In Ontario farmers sell solar power back to the grid while in Western Canada most farmers use the solar panel power to fuel the electricity in shops or for pivots or… Read More
By Megan Oleksyn, It all started as an alternative market for Lanigan, Sk area farmers to sell their grain. It is now a 28,500 head/year feedlot, a 13 million litre ethanol plant and a great asset to the community. Pound-Maker began in 1970, as a 2500 head feedlot so local farmers had an alternative market… Read More
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