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Better Pork Featured Articles

Better Pork magazine is published bimonthly. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Smithfield moves into gas production

Friday, April 8, 2016

The largest pork-producing company in the world is months away from opening the largest manure-to-energy project of its kind in the United States.

Nine Smithfield Foods farms housing almost two million pigs in Missouri are involved. The US$120 million project, begun in 2014, involves installation of impermeable covers and flare systems on 88 existing lagoons, each capable of holding about 15 million U.S. gallons. The hog manure will produce approximately 2.2 billion cubic feet of pipeline-quality renewable natural gas annually, equal to 17 million gallons of diesel fuel. The equivalent of 850,000 tonnes of CO² will be prevented from entering the atmosphere. Rain will be kept out of the lagoons and odour reduced.

The builders are Missouri-based Roeslein Alternative Energy and ABUTEC (an acronym for Advanced Burner Technologies.), based in Georgia. According to press releases and reports, ABUTEC will install 1.5 megawatt electrical generators to deal with excess methane, letting Smithfield access about US$1 million-worth of carbon credits. Duke Energy in North Carolina will purchase the gas to meet clean energy requirements for power generation. Blake Boxley, Director of Environmental Health and Safety for Smithfield Hog Production, says this project can be replicated across the country.  BP

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Saskatchewan Pulse Research Gets Major Boost

Saturday, January 17, 2026

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Ag community wanted for cover crop survey

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Elyce Simpson Fraser Wins Pulse Promoter Award

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SARM Welcomes Pause on Livestock Traceability Rules

Friday, January 16, 2026

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities has welcomed the federal government’s decision to pause the publication of proposed livestock traceability regulations. The organization says the pause isan important steptoward developing a system that works for cattle producers and rural... Read this article online

RFA Supports Canadas Clean Fuel Regulations Update

Friday, January 16, 2026

The Renewable Fuels Association has shared its comments with Environment and Climate Change Canada in support of Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulations. The organization also offered its views onpossible changesthat could strengthen the program while keeping its main goal of reducing greenhouse gas... Read this article online

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