Looking to Europe for biomass answers Thursday, February 14, 2013 by BETTER FARMING STAFFThe Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association didn’t want to reinvent the wheel. That’s why it is organizing a trade mission to Europe to explore biomass processing and market development.“We now understand how to grow these crops in Ontario . . . but the market development aspect is still in its infancy here,” says Nick Betts, the association’s applied research coordinator. Ontario growers face a range of challenges from how to process the material and determine what end product is needed to how to approach industry, Betts says. In turn, industry doesn’t necessarily know how to acquire biomass, process it or employ it in the manufacturing stage.The mission will coincide with the AEBIOM’s — European Biomass Association — annual conference in Brussels in June. The trip will include a tour of the Port of Ghent facilities as well as stops in the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, possibly Sweden and Ireland.There will be room for up to 30 people to participate, says Betts. Invitations are being issued. Participants will likely be producers and manufacturers as well as biomass end users and aggregators.The mission is one of several new projects underway to help develop biomass production and markets in Ontario. Other projects include: pyrolysis development to extract bio-oils and explore market opportunities; the establishment of a national biomass communications strategy as well as coordinating a national biomass forum or conference in August in Ottawa; a seed and rhizome certification program for biomass varieties; and a database to provide a standardized way to measure the sustainability of farming biomass.Betts says the funding comes from a $1.2 million surplus in a multi-faceted project to help foster an agricultural biomass sector in the province. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture spearheaded the project and subcontracted the OSCIA to administer some of the related activities. Funding comes from the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program.Much of the funding was intended to support Ontario farmers in growing biomass crops to facilitate the development of a provincial biomass industry. “To solicit growers we had them put in bids on what they thought it would cost to grow the biomass, where they would sell it and basically a comprehensive package on why we should choose them,” Betts says. Growers were selected and given assistance to help cover the costs of growing the new crops. “It turned out that it cost significantly less (to grow the crop) than the farmers budgeted for,” he says. BF Ontario dairy farmers opt for quota exchange Appeal tribunal still silent on why it denied NFU accreditation
Ontario farmers get boost for energy upgrades Friday, July 11, 2025 The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $3 million in the third round of the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (ASI). This funding will help farmers improve the energy efficiency of their operations and support the long-term sustainability of the agriculture... Read this article online
Swede midge and cabbageworm found in Ontario canola Thursday, July 10, 2025 As reported on the OMAFA website fieldcropnews.com, Ontario canola crops are at various growth stages, ranging from seedling to full bloom depending on planting time and region. Winter canola is now fully podded, and harvest is expected to begin soon in Essex and other southern... Read this article online
Early Career Research Award supports two Guelph research initiatives Friday, July 4, 2025 The was presented to two University of Guelph researchers at the recently held Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) symposium. Dr. Kelsey Spence received $40,000 towards her work in on-farm biosecurity research, and Dr. Sam Workenhe was awarded $60,000 to further his... Read this article online
Grape Growers 40th Annual Celebrity Luncheon has Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser Friday, July 4, 2025 The Grape Growers of Ontario’s marks the opening of the by showcasing Canadian personalities and celebrating the annual grape harvest. This year, in partnership with Meridian Credit Union, Ontario’s largest credit union and the third largest in Canada, the Grape Growers of Ontario... Read this article online
Ontario crops respond to summer heat Wednesday, July 2, 2025 According to the OMAFA Field Crop News team, Ontario field crops are showing rapid development as summer-like temperatures have dominated late June early July. The warm spell has accelerated growth and helped reduce the heat unit deficit from a cool spring. Corn fields have seen a burst... Read this article online