Fuel pellet maker to supply Italian market Tuesday, July 3, 2012 by BETTER FARMING STAFFAn Ontario fuel pellet manufacturer has inked a $36 million agreement to supply homes and institutions in northern Italy with biofuel.Ian Moncrieff, president and CEO of Canadian Biofuel, based in Chatham, says the contract is for five years and has been brokered by U.S.-based Greene’s Energy Group LLC. Moncrieff says he cannot reveal the name of the purchaser because of a confidentiality agreement. Other news reports have identified the company as Toronto-based Green Dot Biomass Energy Company Inc. According to its website, Green Dot’s Italian-based parent company is Helios S.R.L.A Green Dot representative did not respond to an emailed request for an interview but did acknowledge during a brief telephone conversation that she was familiar with Canadian Biofuel.Moncrieff says the pellets will be burned in central heating plants serving apartments and institutional residences.“The demand for pellets in Europe is going up exponentially,” he says, noting the demand for pellets in Italy is expected to reach three million tonnes this winter and the country has the capacity to produce only 600,000 tonnes. Previously, Italy turned to northern European countries to make up the difference “however those countries are beginning to use more domestically, which means there’s less to export.”The agreement will mean increasing Canadian Biofuel’s Springford facility’s production capacity to 48,000 tonnes a year. The plant’s current capacity is 27,000 tonnes annually based on operating 24 hours, six days a week. The facility is located in a former Cargill grain elevator and began production in February.Moncrieff says the facility makes the pellets from clean, recycled wood.He’s keen to eventually add pellets made out of energy crops such as miscanthus and switchgrass.The facility currently employs seven people and the contract will require 15 new hires as well as the addition of another pellet machine, he says. “We have to start delivering 1,200 tonnes of pellets by July 15 bulk in shipping containers and, by October 1, 4,000 tonnes per month.” BF Laval prof challenges former MP's supply management report Kitchener dairy farm among finalists for sustainability prize
Corn and Soybean Diseases Spread This Season Wednesday, September 10, 2025 As reported on the OMAFRA website fieldcropnews.com, as well as in previous articles by Farms.com, the 2025 growing season is nearing its end with corn and soybean farmers in Ontario and the U.S. Corn Belt facing disease challenges that reflect changing weather conditions. For corn, two... Read this article online
Wheat Output Decline Projected for 2025 Wednesday, September 10, 2025 Statistics Canada’s latest modelled estimates suggest that wheat production in Canada will decline slightly in 2025, driven primarily by weaker yields across several regions. National output is expected to edge down 1.1% to 35.5 million tonnes, with yields forecast to fall 1.2% to 49.6... Read this article online
Research Projects and Companies Supported Through OAFRI Tuesday, September 9, 2025 The governments of Canada and Ontario have announced an investment of up to $4.77 million to strengthen the province’s agri-food sector. This funding, delivered through the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable... Read this article online
Two-pass Weed Control Critical in Managing Herbicide-Resistant Waterhemp in Ontario Monday, September 8, 2025 Dr. Peter Sikkema of the University of Guelph recently shared insights into the growing challenge of multiple herbicide-resistant water hemp at the 2025 Great Ontario Yield Tour final event in Woodstock Ontario. Dr. Sikkema research highlights both the biology of the weed and practical... Read this article online
First Northern Cohort Joins Ontario Vet Program Thursday, September 4, 2025 This September, the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) at the University of Guelph welcomed its inaugural Northern Cohort of 20 students through the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program (CDVMP). This initiative, created in partnership with Lakehead University, marks a milestone... Read this article online