Update, June 29: The Senate adjourned until September 21 on Tuesday, leaving Bill C-206 on the Order Paper. It would die there if a federal election is called this summer. The private member’s bill that would remove the federal carbon tax from natural gas and propane used on farms still has a last-minute chance at… Read More
The federal government held campaign-like events in several provinces this week to announce the opening of the application window for its $165.7-million Agricultural Clean Technology Program. Different Liberal MPs hosted virtual visits in Ontario’s Port of Johnstown, B.C.’s Winecrush Technology Inc., and a Manitoba-based biomass grain dryer manufacturer, all highlighting the same program which will provide farmers and… Read More
You’ve seeded it, sprayed it, watched it grow, harvested it, and now you’re putting the canola in the bin. On paper, storing canola may seem simple, but as per usual, the actuality of storing canola successfully is a lot more complex. There are many factors to consider to properly storing canola and in this episode… Read More
Eligible farmers in Alberta can access funding for grain dryer upgrades from a $2 million fund through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP). The Efficient Grain Dryer Program will be retroactive to April 1, 2018, to accommodate almost 100 applicants who have been waiting since that time, along with those who may not have known about… Read More
By the time harvest ends this season, the Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) estimate Manitoba producers will have paid almost $1.7 million in carbon tax related to the cost of drying the 2019 corn crop. “We are firm in our position that there needs to be an exemption for farmers under the carbon tax framework for… Read More
Even in a good year, a grain dryer can be worth having. In a challenging year, a grain dryer can be worth its weight in gold. “A dryer is basically an insurance policy. You know you’re going to have to dry some of your grain, you’re hoping that you don’t have to dry 100 per… Read More
Grain Farmers of Ontario want the federal government to be more proactive in bringing the CN Rail and teamsters union dispute to an end before it impacts agriculture. It would seem that’s already happening, however, as at least one farmer in the eastern region of Ontario has already reported that they’ve been told that propane… Read More
Many farmers in 2019 will be harvesting late-planted corn that struggled to mature as combines roll through fields this fall. Much of that corn will likely be heading directly to the elevator, but there will be marketing opportunities for growers who are willing to dry and store that grain. On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Corn… Read More
You’ve worked hard and expanded the farm’s land base from about 1,200 acres to 2,400. Where’s your money better spent — a second combine or a grain dryer? Scott Keller, who farms at New Norway, Alta., says the economics are cut-and-dried on that topic. According to Keller —hands down — you’re better off setting up… Read More
A streamlined process for grain dryer inspection and approval should make it easier for farmers in Manitoba to get up and running this upcoming harvest season. As all grain dryers have to be inspected by the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC), the organization has established a central booking process co-ordinated with Manitoba Hydro to streamline… Read More
It’s the middle of October and there is a lot of harvest yet to do in the Prairie Provinces. Many farmers got off to an early start, progress was ahead of schedule, and then things ground to a halt. No one knows for sure, but back of the envelope estimates conservatively put the value of… Read More
Grain Systems, Inc (GSI) is rolling out two new extensions of its Quiet Dryer technology. GSI’s Quiet Dryer fan design was introduced in 2017 in an all-heat portable dryer. The company says it provides a 50 percent noise reduction compared to standard portable grain dryers equipped with vane axial fans without sacrificing drying capacity or efficiency…. Read More
Are you spending too much on energy to power your farm? Do you know the major energy users on your farm? If you don’t know the answers to those questions you have some work to do, says Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs engineer James Dyck. Energy prices have soared in recent years… Read More
Mechanically harvesting, drying and handling grain corn can compromise quality and take a bite out of a grower’s bottom line. Earlier this fall, OMAFRA crop systems and environment engineer James Dyck worked with Dietrich Farms of Lucan, Ontario to study mechanical breakage – the impact it has on dockage and what growers can do to… Read More
The requirement that grain must be dry enough to store without conditioning has been the primary drawback for storing grain in grain bags. The DryloBag is designed to be a solution, enabling aeration and heating of grain for long-term storage in plastic polyethylene bags. The innovation, originally developed for peanuts in South Africa, received the… Read More