Danger from foaming manure pits Tuesday, June 5, 2012 According to the University of Minnesota Extension Service, foaming in swine manure pits "has become a serious safety concern" in the last few years. Foaming fills pits, reducing manure capacity but also trapping explosive methane gases. Farmers are urged to turn off pilot lights and maintain full ventilation during pumping. Fans should run even when pigs are removed.Despite the thousands of pig barns with manure pits in the American Midwest, there have been only six reported explosions since the foam began appearing in 2009. But, though it doesn't happen often, when it does it is a disaster.According to the Minnesota Daily in February, researchers are looking at whether a "new breed of bacteria" in manure pits might be related to the use of Distillers Dried Grains from ethanol production in pig feeds. Organizations opposed to "factory farming" and ethanol use have already jumped to this conclusion in their own reports published on websites.The Minnesota Daily report notes that researchers think the answer is likely not that simple. Chuck Clanton, a University of Minnesota bioproducts and biosystems engineering professor, points out that sometimes there are two identical barns, side by side with the same management, genetics and diet. "One foams and one does not." BP Wild pig 'nonsense' in Michigan Behind the Lines - June 2012
Alberta Crop Harvest Nears Completion with Gains Friday, October 3, 2025 According to the latest AFSC and Alberta Government Crop Reporting Survey, Alberta’s harvest is advancing quickly thanks to warm and dry conditions across much of the province. By September 23, 2025, 77 percent of major crops were harvested, an increase of 18 percent from the previous... Read this article online
Sowing Solutions--Guelph’s Agri-Food Research Gets Federal Spotlight Friday, October 3, 2025 The University of Guelph welcomed two prominent federal representatives for a day of engagement and discovery on Friday, October 3rd. Dominique O’Rourke, Member of Parliament for Guelph, hosted the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, for a comprehensive tour... Read this article online
Downtown Diner Delivers a Taste of Canadian Farming to Ottawa Friday, October 3, 2025 This week, the heart of Canada’s capital was filled with the sights, sounds, and flavors of Canadian agriculture as Sparks Street played host to the Downtown Diner, a pop-up event celebrating Canadian food and the farmers who make it possible. At the center of the conversation was... Read this article online
Peavey Mart Reboot- New Ownership Group Targets 7–12 Stores Thursday, October 2, 2025 For many, Peavey Mart, is a name synonymous with rural retail in Western Canada. As previously reported by Farms.com (read the article Is Peavey Mart Making a Comeback?), the new ownership group that acquired the Peavey Mart name and intellectual property from the now-defunct Peavey... Read this article online
When Cattle Roam--Legal Risks and Road Safety for Rural Drivers Thursday, October 2, 2025 It’s late. A vehicle barrels down a rural highway. Suddenly—impact. A Black Angus steer, nearly invisible against the asphalt, has wandered into the road. The consequences are costly—and potentially litigious. According to attorney Kelsea Eckert, whose firm , PA, has handled numerous... Read this article online