The federal government today announced some $97 million in funding for farms and agri-businesses to adopt cleaner technologies like more efficient grain dryers, solar power and precision agriculture technology.
Feds spend $97 million on agricultural clean tech projects
Cash splashed on 162 projects including grain dryers and solar panels
Carbon exemption bill nearing close of Senate deliberations
Farm groups hoped to see Bill C-234 made law in time for harvest
A bill to exempt propane and natural gas from the carbon price when used for grain drying and barn heating was nearing the end of its winding road through the Senate after an Oct. 5 meeting. Thursday morning the Senate’s committee on agriculture and forestry heard final witnesses speak on Bill C-234, which would amend […] Read more
New farm fuel carbon tax rule to return to Commons
Further carbon pricing exemptions clear ag committee, with sunset clause added
A bill that would exempt more farm fuels from Canada’s federal carbon pricing scheme has cleared the Commons’ ag committee and returned to the House of Commons to seek a third and final vote. C-234, a private member’s bill sponsored by southwestern Ontario Conservative MP Ben Lobb, appeared before the Commons’ standing committee on agriculture […] Read more
New federal grain dryer grant program about to launch
Indications are the new $50-million program will look a lot like one launched in Alberta last year
Reading Time: 2 minutes Farmers can start submitting applications this month for a federal program that will cover half of the cost of more energy-efficient grain dryers. Ottawa has set aside $50 million for the so-called “adoption stream” of its $166-million Agricultural Clean Technology Program. Another $10 million will be offered for “powering farms with clean energy and moving off […] Read more
Don’t let your grain dryer become a grain fryer
A few quick, simple measures can prevent your dryer — and your grain — from going up in smoke
Reading Time: 5 minutes Every harvest — and especially in recent years — grain dryers across Alberta are put into action. But the busy season doesn’t leave time for the care and maintenance to reduce the risk of fire when these units are working flat out. Although it’s impossible to completely eliminate fire risk with anything that creates heat, […] Read more
Green Party backs grain drying exemption from carbon tax
One of the federal opposition parties in full favour of carbon pricing is lending its support to calls by farm groups for a carbon tax break for grain drying. Vancouver Island MP Paul Manly, the Green Party’s caucus critic for agriculture, announced the party’s position Monday. “We support the grain producers of Canada in their […] Read more
Union says propane shortfalls may be CN’s own making
Propane shortages for grain dryers and heating fuel in the wake of a strike by Canadian National Railway (CN) conductors and yard workers appear to be “largely manufactured” by the railway, according to the union for the striking workers. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC-CTY), which represents over 3,000 CN staff in Canada who walked […] Read more
U.S. propane bottlenecks not affecting Canada
MarketsFarm — Despite ongoing shortfalls of propane in some areas of the U.S. Midwest, the situation doesn’t appear to be adversely affecting Canada, according to the Canadian Propane Association. The late harvest in the Midwest has been further hampered by wet conditions, forcing farmers to dry their grain before putting it in the bin. As […] Read more
U.S. books latest end to soy harvest in a decade
MarketsFarm —The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in its oilseed crops outlook issued Wednesday, said the country’s 2019 soybean harvest will wind up the latest in 10 years. As of Sunday, the overall U.S. soybean harvest stood at 85 per cent complete, according to USDA’s weekly crop progress report. The pace was two points behind […] Read more
Provincial funding available for grain dryer upgrades
Program covers costs of high-efficiency components in existing or new models, and is retroactive
Reading Time: < 1 minute Grants are still available for upgrading components of grain dryers to high-efficiency models. The Farm Energy and Agri-Processors (FEAP) Program shares costs for components of a new dryer or when retrofitting components of an existing dryer, said Katherine Rogers, energy extension co-ordinator with Alberta Agriculture. “For retrofit grain dryer components, eligibility is determined on a […] Read more
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