SPERLING, Man. — The data is clear: diesel is hard to beat. Using any metric — cost per litre, energy by weight or energy by volume — diesel is a superior fuel to alternatives like hydrogen or ammonia. “Diesel is an absolutely amazing energy carrier,” said David Layzell, a University of Calgary professor and energy […] Read more
Robert Arnason
Stories by Robert Arnason
VIDEO: How green ammonia could power your next tractor
Glacier FarmMedia – The internal combustion engine has become considerably more efficient since its first use in a tractor in the late 19th century, but it’s always relied on petroleum in one form or another to make it run. At the Western Canada Green Ammonia Workshop on Nov. 26 in Sperling, Man., David Layzell with […] Read more
‘Stealth health’ could be new trend
Hybrid meat may gain ground with consumers if companies market the product for its health benefits, says food expert
WINNIPEG — Hybrid meat may not be a great name for a product category at the grocery store but hybrid products that combine actual meat with veggies or pea protein could become a thing in 2025 and in future years, says a food marketing expert from Toronto. It depends on how food companies present these […] Read more
PMRA accused of ignoring neonic safety data
Environmental groups, scientists say Bayer influenced the federal agency and its reversal on the safety of imidacloprid
WINNIPEG — Environmental groups and scientists are accusing the Pest Management Regulatory Agency of ignoring data and working too closely with the crop protection industry. The claims are detailed in a Nov. 22 letter to federal health minister Mark Holland from the David Suzuki Foundation, the Canadian Wildlife Federation and others. The letter focuses on […] Read more
Potatoes set harvest record
WINNIPEG — It was a fantastic year for potato growers as Canada set another record for potato production. Farmers harvested nearly 127 million hundred weight of spuds in 2024, breaking last year’s record of 126.593 million cwt., says a Statistics Canada report released December 5. Average potato yields dipped slightly, going from 331.7 cwt. per […] Read more
VIDEO: FuelPositive designs system for on-farm ammonia production
Glacier FarmMedia – Ian Clifford with FuelPositive has been working with Curtis Hiebert of R & L Acres to install a modular setup on his farm that will supply it with on-farm produced green ammonia fertilizer. It’s a new technology that’s getting attention from growers and people in the industry, as was seen at a […] Read more
VIDEO: Southern Manitoba farmer prepares for on-farm ammonia production
Glacier FarmMedia – It’s easy to see why Curtis Hiebert of R & L Acres in southern Manitoba feels like he’s on the cusp of something great. If all goes as planned, his farm will soon flick the switch and begin making its own ammonia fertilizer for the 2025 growing season. Other stories in this […] Read more
Trump is disruptive to trade, but so was Biden
In early December, a friend and reporter with another media company shared a story about his workplace. A senior executive with the company admitted something in a meeting, something that is rarely discussed within the mainstream media. Related story: Most journalists are supporters of the political left and are hostile to the political right, the […] Read more
Canola sees drop in oil content
UPDATED: December 4, 2024 1020 CST – added contact info for CGC regional offices and service centres. WINNIPEG — The oil content of the this year’s canola crop is not great. It’s not as bad as 2021, but well below average levels from 2010-20. The mean oil content for canola samples submitted to the Canadian […] Read more
Research into beef quality slips off the menu
The industry says a lack of researchers in Canada with expertise in this area makes it difficult to study meat quality
WINNIPEG — The Beef Cattle Research Council spent $10.6 million on research projects in 2023-24. Of those funds, one per cent was allocated to research on beef quality. That seems like a small amount, considering beef quality is probably important for domestic consumers and countries that import Canadian beef. In comparison, the BCRC spent far […] Read more
