natural gas Archives | Alberta Farmer Express

Grain drying relief moving forward, one way or other

Governing Liberals telegraph plans to introduce their own measure

By D.C. Fraser, GFM Network News February 28, 2021

Despite voting against a bill to exempt certain farm fuels from the carbon tax, the governing federal Liberals say tax relief for grain drying is coming. Conservative MP Philip Lawrence’s private member’s bill C-206, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (qualifying farming fuel), passed second reading in the House of Commons […] Read more

CME March 2021 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Livestock, Markets, Reuters

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures sag as weather stalls slaughter pace

By Julie Ingwersen, GFM Network News February 18, 2021

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle and hog futures declined on Wednesday as wintry weather and power outages hampered meat-packing operations, slowing the pace of slaughter and reducing demand for market-ready animals, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange April live cattle futures settled down 1.65 cents at 124.15 cents/lb., while the spot February contract ended down […] Read more

Crops, Machinery & Shop, Markets, Reuters

Some U.S. ethanol producers cut production to sell natural gas for profit

By Stephanie Kelly, GFM Network News February 17, 2021

New York | Reuters — Sky-high U.S. natural gas prices have prompted some Midwestern ethanol producers to reduce processing in the last week, hoping instead to sell off some of their natural gas to take advantage of current high spot prices caused by the spike in cold weather, industry sources said. Ethanol margins in the […] Read more

An excavator works on Parliament Hill on Oct. 22, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Patrick Doyle)

Crops

Ottawa roundup: Carbon tax, Grain Act review, Horticultural Council AGM

By D.C. Fraser, GFM Network News March 16, 2020

Despite much of the world’s focus being on slumping stock markets and a global pandemic, there are several recent developments out of Ottawa related to agriculture: Canada Grain Act Canada’s Treasury Board has identified the Canada Grain Act as a piece of legislation in need of regulatory reform. This has been on the federal Liberal […] Read more

Crops, Machinery & Shop, Weather

Green Party backs grain drying exemption from carbon tax

By GFM Staff January 20, 2020

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

File photo of an Alberta wheat field. (ImagineGolf/E+/Getty Images)

Crops, Machinery & Shop

Fraser: The case against carbon pricing for farmers

By D.C. Fraser January 9, 2020

The federal government continues to suggest the carbon tax imposed on Prairie farmers is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and may not be causing undue harm to the country’s agricultural sector. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau speaks publicly about “special considerations” for farmers, while at the same time openly questioning carbon pricing’s effect on their […] Read more

A rendition, by Genitique, of the planned biomethanization plant to be built at Warwick, about 65 km southeast of Trois-Rivieres. (Groupe CNW/Energir)

Dairy Cattle, Livestock, Machinery & Shop

Quebec ag co-op to power up on dairy cattle manure

By GFM Staff December 16, 2019

About a dozen Quebec dairy farms will be getting their collective manure together next year for the province’s first-ever ag co-operative devoted to renewable natural gas. Coop Agri-Energie Warwick, launched Monday, plans to start construction this spring on a $12 million biomethanization plant which will take in slurry and manure from dairy cattle mixed with […] Read more

(Video screengrab from BJordan.liberal.ca)

General, Weather

Rural development strategy sought in federal shuffle

By GFM Staff January 17, 2019

Rural economic development has been given a promotion at the federal level in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s latest cabinet shuffle. In the shuffle, following the departure of Treasury Board president Scott Brison from cabinet, Trudeau on Monday called up Bernadette Jordan, MP for the southern Nova Scotia riding of South Shore-St.Margaret’s, to head a newly […] Read more

Your best bang for your energy buck might not be a solar array but some cheap and easy fixes that reduce power or fuel usage, says Lyle Lawrence, an energy outreach officer with the province.

Machinery & Shop, News

Quick steps to better energy efficiency

Energy expert offers some ‘low-hanging fruit’ that can help producers save money on their power or fuel bill

By Jeff Melchior June 30, 2018

Reading Time: 3 minutes Maximizing energy efficiency on farms and ranches saves money, and who likes to spend money when they don’t have to? But there are only so many hours in the day and only so many dollars for these sorts of projects. So the real question for many farmers is: Where to start? What are the ‘low-hanging […] Read more

News

Orphan wells a growing problem for Alberta farmers

There are thousands of abandoned wells, which not only means  lost rents but weed issues and contamination risks

By Alexis Kienlen April 11, 2018

Reading Time: 4 minutes Landowners and farmers could be left holding the bill following the bankruptcy of yet another Alberta energy company. Calgary-based natural gas producer Sequoia Resources Corp. ceased operations last month, abandoning a number of aging oil and gas wells that need to be sealed and cleaned up. “With Sequoia, there are 3,000 wells — 700 abandoned […] Read more

Agriculture, agrifood wish lists pile up ahead of long-delayed budget

Prairie cash wheat: Bids soar after weather events

Grain, oilseed exports at strong pace

GFM Network News