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
Global Conflict Drives Major Surges in Commodity Markets Monday, March 9, 2026 A major international conflict the war in Iran has disrupted trade flows, pushing energy and grain prices sharply higher. On the weekly Ag Commodity Corner+ Podcast with Commodity Strategist Abhinesh Gopal shared the markets made sharp moves in the week of March 2 to 6, after a rapidly... Read this article online
Alberta Beef Producers forming traceability group Monday, March 9, 2026 A livestock organization in Alberta is forming a working group to explore the federal government’s proposed traceability changes. A March 5 statement from Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) indicates the organization’s delegates passed a resolution at the most recent AGM supporting this group’s... Read this article online
Canada invests in youth ag employment Monday, March 9, 2026 The federal government is investing in the future ag workforce. On March 5 at the Atlantic Council Cereals and Oilseeds conference, Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald announced $27 million over two years in AAFC’s Youth Employment and Skills Program. This program, originally launched... Read this article online
SARM Calling for Stronger Rural Emergency Funding Friday, March 6, 2026 The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) is calling on provincial and federal governments to strengthen funding and partnerships that support emergency response services across rural Saskatchewan. Rural municipalities playa major rolein protecting communities during... Read this article online
Ag included in Carney’s trip to Japan Friday, March 6, 2026 Canada’s ag industry is part of the equation when it comes to the country’s continued relationship with Japan. A March 6 joint statement by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicates establishing a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” which includes... Read this article online