Biodiesel rules a boost for farming Thursday, February 10, 2011 by BETTER FARMING STAFFThe Harper government announcement Feb. 10 that it is moving forward with the requirement for an average two per cent renewable content in diesel fuel and heating oil could be a boost for facilities like the biodiesel plant at the Ridgetown College Campus of the University of Guelph.Regulations that require an average of five per cent renewable content in gasoline also contained the provisions to require an average of two per cent renewable content in diesel fuel and heating oil.The proposed regulatory amendment will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I in the coming weeks for a 60-day public comment period. The Government of Canada is proposing a coming into force date of July 1, 2011.Last spring was the launch of production from the Ridgetown facility which was designed to be a template for rural or farm-based biodiesel business producing biodiesel from recycled or new vegetable oils. It has the capacity to produce 800,000 to one million litres of biodiesel a year, although it produced just 60,000 in its first year, 2010, in keeping with demand at that time.Art Schaafsma, director of the Ridgetown Campus, describes their biodiesel facility as a “pilot facility to try and demonstrate a new opportunity for individual producers or a group of producers.” He said a farmer using an existing building could get into the biodiesel business on a scale similar to Ridgetown for about $100,000. For interested producers, the college is more than willing to share the experience it has gained.In a news release issued Friday, Don Kenny, Grain Farmers of Ontario chair, noted the new renewable fuel requirement should have a positive impact on soybean prices, given the impact of the ethanol industry on local corn prices. He estimated that local corn prices have increased $0.10 to $0.25 per bushel “depending on the year and location of the farm” because of ethanol production.The two-per cent mandate translates into a demand for 500 million litres per year of bio-diesel across the country and will also strengthen prices for canola farmers, the news release noted. BF Fort Erie slammed for unsigned report Bill's defeat brings grain farmers relief
Corn and Soybean Crops Fall Short in 2025 Predicts Great Ontario Yield Tour Thursday, August 28, 2025 Ontario’s 2025 corn and soybean harvest is shaping up to be one of the most challenging in recent memory, as persistent drought and heat have pushed yields below the Agricorp 10-year average say experts and master scouts Moe Agostino and Henry Prinzen of the 2025 Great Ontario Yield Tour.... Read this article online
Global grain trade gets a shake-up: What it means for Canadian farmers Thursday, August 28, 2025 The global grain and oilseed trading industry is undergoing a major transformation—and Canadian farmers should take note. A recently published study in the September 2025 issue of discussed how the traditional dominance of a few multinational giants is giving way to a more competitive,... Read this article online
Ontario Farmers Share Yield Strategies Amid Drought Wednesday, August 27, 2025 The Great Ontario Yield Tour held an event at Petersen Custom Farming in Osgood, Ontario, on Thursday, August 21, 2025. The farmer panel during lunch was one of the highlights of the event. Farmers and industry experts gathered to discuss yield strategies and the realities of this season’s... Read this article online
2025 Livestock Tax Deferral Regions Announced Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has published the initial list of prescribed regions eligible for the 2025 Livestock Tax Deferral provision, a key support measure for Canadian livestock producers grappling with the impacts of extreme weather. “As we continue to see the very... Read this article online
Why Pork Producers Should Care About Canada’s Pig Code Update Tuesday, August 26, 2025 As many farmers will know, as part of the normal process for review, the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) has launched a comprehensive review of Canada’s Pig Code of Practice, last updated in 2014. The review was announced in May. The process, expected to span three years,... Read this article online