The key driver behind the frantic expansion in biofuel south of the border is the U.S. government’s willingness to back the fledgling industry, says Gene Sandager, a board member of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. According to the latest figures from the U.S. Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol production stands at 5.2 billion gallons per year. […] Read more
Stories by Daniel Winters
Group harnesses community’s energy
Dan Mazier never liked working in the wind. But in 2005, when he heard that a 99 megawatt, wind-powered generating project in St. Leon, Man., was being built, he started to think about what his community could do to attract similar investment. With three large power lines serving the coal-fired Brandon Generating Station running through […] Read more
Alfalfa field: nothing to fear but fear itself
Fear of bloat costs cattle producers more money than bloat itself, according to Garry Lacefield, a forage specialist at the University of Kentucky, because it robs them of a chance to use their pastures more efficiently. When he first tried grazing his herd on alfalfa 25 years ago, the neighbours couldn’t believe it. “People would […] Read more
Granny’s Poultry seeks site for hatchery, office
The largest chicken and turkey processor in Manitoba is planning to move its corporate headquarters and broiler chick hatchery to a new location in the Transcona neighborhood of Winnipeg. However, the plan has not been finalized. Granny’s Poultry Co-operative (Manitoba) Ltd. still has to meet with city officials and take care of some infrastructure issues […] Read more
Clerical errors found in CAIS changes
Cheques have begun flowing under last spring’s changes to the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization program, in which $900 million in new funding will be sent to producers under the CAIS inventory transition initiative, or CITI. All existing applications for 2003, 2004 and 2005 are being reprocessed using the new criteria for evaluating the value of […] Read more
Politics stifle production of energy from manure
Simple, cheap and proven technology already exists for converting the millions of litres of manure produced by Manitoba hog producers into a valuable source of energy and fertilizer. So what’s holding the industry back? “In my estimation it is a case of political will. The bureaucratic hill is just too high to climb,” said Phil […] Read more
Rancher’s Choice directors OK new financing proposal
Plans to build a $27 million beef slaughtering plant in Dauphin, Man., are coming to fruition, said Bob Munroe, president of the Rancher’s Choice Beef Co-op Ltd. The latest financing proposal received tentative approval from the co-op’s board Nov. 20, but full details will not be released until the financing package is examined by the […] Read more
CFIA not sold on foam to kill chickens
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is resisting the use of firefighting foam to destroy chickens in the event of a bird flu outbreak, even though the method has been approved by the U.S. government. “There’s no question that it can kill birds. But there are a lot of questions from CFIA’s perspective about the humaneness […] Read more
From weeds to riches?
SASKATOON – A new company hopes to develop the weed cow cockle into a commercial crop that can be processed into cosmetics and health-care products. Saponin Inc. was named after a component of the same name found in the plant family that includes cow cockle. Saponins have a host of potential medicinal applications. Saponin Inc. […] Read more
NRC eases way into bio-business
SASKATOON – Anyone who has tried to start a business knows that the first entrepreneurial steps can be onerous. If the product is not well known, or has little research to back it up, the obstacles become even greater. To ease the transition from idea to successful business in Western Canada’s nutraceutical, functional food and […] Read more
