Smithfield moves into gas production Friday, April 8, 2016 The largest pork-producing company in the world is months away from opening the largest manure-to-energy project of its kind in the United States.Nine Smithfield Foods farms housing almost two million pigs in Missouri are involved. The US$120 million project, begun in 2014, involves installation of impermeable covers and flare systems on 88 existing lagoons, each capable of holding about 15 million U.S. gallons. The hog manure will produce approximately 2.2 billion cubic feet of pipeline-quality renewable natural gas annually, equal to 17 million gallons of diesel fuel. The equivalent of 850,000 tonnes of CO² will be prevented from entering the atmosphere. Rain will be kept out of the lagoons and odour reduced.The builders are Missouri-based Roeslein Alternative Energy and ABUTEC (an acronym for Advanced Burner Technologies.), based in Georgia. According to press releases and reports, ABUTEC will install 1.5 megawatt electrical generators to deal with excess methane, letting Smithfield access about US$1 million-worth of carbon credits. Duke Energy in North Carolina will purchase the gas to meet clean energy requirements for power generation. Blake Boxley, Director of Environmental Health and Safety for Smithfield Hog Production, says this project can be replicated across the country. BP Ontario's pork industry faces an era of 'accountability and change' That whacky Chinese pork stock market
Driving farm equipment in Saskatchewan Wednesday, April 1, 2026 The start of seeding season across the Prairies means an increased presence of tractors and other pieces of equipment on roads and farms. But for a farmer or equipment operator is it as simple as turning the tractor on and going about his or her day? It depends. With that at top of... Read this article online
Prairie Farmers Get Timely Pest Control Relief Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Canadian farmers are currently facing many challenges, including market uncertainty, trade barriers, and changing environmental conditions. These issues have made farming more difficult, especially in prairie regions like Alberta and Saskatchewan. One major problem is the rapid increase in... Read this article online
CCA opposes CFIA livestock traceability proposal Wednesday, April 1, 2026 The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) doesn’t support the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) proposed livestock traceability regulations. “After extensive producer engagement and input from provincial beef organizations, the Canadian Cattle Association does not support proceeding... Read this article online
A Young Farmer Finds the Perfect Combine Wednesday, April 1, 2026 At Farms.com, nurturing a passion for agriculture starts early, and nothing illustrates that better than a recent heartwarming video featuring young Jared Altmann and the Farms.com Ag Buyer’s Guide. In the video, Jared can be seen carefully combing through the pages of the Ag Buyer’s... Read this article online
Ontario Soybean Acres to Rise in 2026 as Economics and Weather Shape Planting Decisions Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Ontario farmers are planning a modest expansion in total acres for 2026, with soybeans emerging as a key driver of change across the province, according to the 2026 annual Farms.com Risk Management Ontario Planting Intentions Farmer Survey. The survey, conducted between January 12 and... Read this article online