A new U.S. sustainability campaign from one of the world’s biggest fast food chains, training its lens on beef cattle passing gas, has “disappointed” some cattle producers while also proposing its own new feedlot ration as a way to help cut emissions. Burger King, owned by Toronto-based Restaurant Brands International, on Tuesday launched the “#CowsMenu” […] Read more
U.S. beef ranchers sour on Burger King lemongrass ration
RBI arm launches '#CowsMenu' program, 'Reduced Methane' Whopper
Cashing in on carbon: It’s coming, says expert
Big multinationals are vowing to reduce their carbon footprint and this will create an opportunity for farmers
Reading Time: 5 minutes Alberta farmers lead the world in reducing greenhouse gas emissions — they just don’t get paid for it, says an expert in the carbon-credit market. But that’s starting to change, said Jon Alcock, sustainability specialist at Viresco Solutions, a company that develops carbon credits and “carbon intensity scores.” “On a global scene, Alberta has been […] Read more
Many sources of greenhouse gases are being ignored
Agriculture is singled out while major contributors receive little or no attention in climate change debate
Reading Time: 3 minutes As the discussion on climate change heats up, I find myself defaulting to facts that may surprise you. Climate change is not a new phenomenon. The definition is basically changes in wind patterns, temperature and precipitation that stretches over several decades. With that definition in mind, climate change has been an ongoing challenge for farmers […] Read more
Innisfail-area teen gives new meaning to ‘horsepower’
4-H Science Fair project generates renewable energy
Reading Time: 2 minutes One Innisfail-area teen has turned horse manure into horsepower, thanks to an innovative 4-H Science Fair project of his own design. “I wanted to see if the average daily manure produced by one horse would be enough to power electric horse fencing using a biodigester,” said 13-year-old Liam Christian. “I found out that, yes, actually, […] Read more
Canada’s ag output seen likely rising under climate change
CNS Canada — A new United Nations report suggests just how climate change will reshape agriculture by 2050 — and that Canada’s production capacity stands to benefit. International trade will play an ever-larger role in helping to feed people in food-deficient regions, as warmer temperatures and less precipitation will damage yields in many tropical areas, […] Read more
Two feed supplements lower methane emissions
Feeding wheat to dairy and beef cattle also lowered emissions but the effect was short lived
Reading Time: 2 minutes A recent study has found feed supplements can reduce methane emissions from dairy and beef cattle. Researchers from Canada and Australia conducted the three-year study. “We need to know how feed affects methane production, but we also need to know how it affects other aspects of the farm operation, like daily gains in animals, milk […] Read more
ONE YEAR LATER: Carbon tax eating into bottom line
There’s no overall figure on what the carbon levy cost farmers, but producers say they are feeling the impact
Reading Time: 4 minutes It’s hard to put exact numbers on it — but Alberta’s carbon tax is taking its toll, say farmers. And that toll increased at the start of the year, when the carbon tax increased to $30 a tonne — a 50 per cent jump from the initial $20-a-tonne tax implemented a year ago. Read more: […] Read more
Government cash makes it a sunny day for solar power
Growing Forward 2 has put extra dollars on the table, but they’re expected to be snapped up in a hurry
Reading Time: 4 minutes If you want to get into solar, there’s now more government cash on the table — but you’ll have to hurry. The On-Farm Solar Photovoltaics Program now offers 75 cents per watt for projects of 100 kilowatts or less, and 56 cents per watt for installations that are between 100 and 150 watts. Both have […] Read more
Last five years were hottest on record
Morocco/Reuters – The past five years were the hottest on record with mounting evidence that heat waves, floods and rising sea levels are stoked by man-made climate change, the United Nations weather agency said on Tuesday. Some freak weather events would have happened naturally but the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said greenhouse gas emissions had […] Read more
Ignoring Trump, UN talks seek to turn climate pledges into action
Morocco/Reuters – Almost 200 nations began work on Monday to turn promises for fighting climate change into action at a UN conference that played down threats to a 2015 global agreement if Republican Donald Trump wins the U.S. presidency. At the start of two-week talks in Morocco, many delegates wore badges with a smiling picture […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
