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
Category: Biofuels
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
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
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
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
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
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