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 Ontario's pork industry faces an era of 'accountability and change' That whacky Chinese pork stock market
Prairie Swine Centre celebrates 35 years of driving innovation Friday, April 17, 2026 Over that time, the centre has evolved into one of Canada's premier swine research facilities, delivering practical, industry-focused research that strengthens the financial position of pork producers while advancing animal welfare and environmental sustainability across the Saskatchewan and... Read this article online
Claas Expands Midwest Presence to Support Farmers Friday, April 17, 2026 Global equipment maker grows dealer and service network across the Dakotas Claas, a global agricultural equipment company, is expanding its operations in the Midwest to better serve farmers and ranchers. Although the brand is not always part of common “red or green” equipment... Read this article online
Canadian Farmland Values Rise Faster Than US Thursday, April 16, 2026 FCC analysis highlights rising land costs and growing affordability pressure Farm Credit Canada has released a new economic analysis that sheds light on changing farmland value trends in Canada and the United States. The study shows that cultivated farmland values in Canada are... Read this article online
Conservative MP wants faster ag product approvals Thursday, April 16, 2026 An Alberta Conservative MP introduced a bill designed to speed up approvals to give farmers access to the tools they need. David Bexte, the MP for Bow River, introduced Bill C-273, the Facilitating Agricultural Regulatory Modernization (FARM) Act on April 14. If passed, the law would... Read this article online
Bill 21 Pause Sparks Rural Water Debate in Manitoba Thursday, April 16, 2026 Opposition requests more consultation on water rules affecting farms Manitoba Progressive Conservatives have decided to delay consideration of Bill 21 a provincial proposal focused on water systems and safety. The decision keeps the bill from moving forward until the fall legislative... Read this article online