Essex County farmers Clayton Armstrong and Susan Iatonna are recipients of the 2023 Conservation Farm Award.

Lakeshore-area farmers receive conservation award

Couple awarded for their efforts to preserve soil and water

Lakeshore-area farm couple Clayton Armstrong and Susan Iatonna are recipients of the latest Essex Region Conservation Authority Conservation Farm Award. Armstrong and Iatonna were lauded for a number of actions in pursuit of greener production. The award is given to farmers who display a range of environmentally minded farming practices. The award was presented at […] Read more

The concern over the longevity of certain chemicals used in agriculture relates to land-applied sewage sludge from water treatment plants.

The debate over ‘forever chemicals’

Much of the issue revolves around detection versus toxicity

The term “forever chemicals” to describe poly/perfluorinated akyl substances (PFAS) does more to alarm than inform. That’s the contention of Dr. Scott Mabury, which he provided during the Southwest Agricultural Conference at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus earlier this month. Why it matters: PFAS chemicals have generated debate and discussion ranging from demands for […] Read more

A new report commissioned by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute says animal agriculture in Canada produces $90 billion in sales, 164,000 direct jobs and roughly two-and-a-half times that in indirect jobs.

Getting schooled on animal agriculture

CAPI report looks to set firmer animal agriculture background for policymakers

Glacier FarmMedia – A new report commissioned by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) seeks to educate policymakers about the impact of animal agriculture at economic, social and environmental levels. The report, called “Forces Impacting Animal Agriculture In Canada: A Synthesis,” delves into issues surrounding beef, dairy and poultry production in the country and how […] Read more


The livestock industry has already set voluntary emissions reduction targets.

Government looks for ways to cut cattle’s methane emissions

Ottawa announces Agricultural Methane Reduction Challenge

Glacier FarmMedia – Ottawa is making $12 million available to help find ways to reduce methane emissions from cow-calf, dairy and feedlot operations. The Agricultural Methane Reduction Challenge is part of the federal government’s plan to reduce overall methane emissions 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and to be net-zero by […] Read more


The Big River Resources ethanol plant at West Burlington, Iowa, about 120 km southwest of Davenport. (Steven Vaughn photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Biden backs ethanol industry on low-emission aviation fuel tax credits

Aviation is seen as one of the few routes to increase ethanol demand amid rising electric vehicle sales

Reuters - The Biden administration said on Friday it will recognize a methodology favored by the ethanol industry in guidance to companies looking to claim tax credits for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a pivotal win for the politically powerful U.S. corn lobby.

File photo of a desk in Canada’s Senate. (Dougall_Photography/iStock/Getty Images)

Twice-amended Bill C-234 clears Senate

The bill will return to the House of Commons for further debate

A bill to exempt fuel for grain drying from the price on carbon has cleared the Senate and returns to the House of Commons with two amendments.

File photo of steam rising from the top of a grain dryer. (Diane Kuhl/iStock/Getty Images)

Senate votes to shorten sunset clause on beleaguered Bill C-234

NFU calls for bill to be passed, feds to incentivize clean heating technology for farm buildings

Senators voted by a 44-40 margin yesterday to shorten the sunset clause on carbon price exemption bill C-234. Senator Yuen Pau Woo introduced the amendment on Dec. 7, saying it would align it with the deadline on the Liberal government’s heating oil carbon price exemption.


Rashmi Prakash is the founder of Aruna Revolution. The company won the $45,000 Green Pursuit award for its development of menstrual products from compostable fibres.

Turning food and farm byproducts into compostable fibres

Company is using the fibres to create more sustainable menstrual products

A Canadian start-up that makes compostable fibres out of farm and food byproducts has won The Green Pursuit, a national sustainability and innovation challenge hosted by Dairy Farmers of Canada and Bioenterprise Canada. Why it matters: The global menstrual product market, estimated to be a $67.8 billion industry, is an opportunity to provide women with […] Read more

Accurate accounting of nitrous oxide needed: researchers

Accurate accounting of nitrous oxide needed: researchers

Science Notes: Discussion grows on how much nitrous oxide crop residues emit

According to researchers from Aarhus University, among others, there is a need to change the way greenhouse gases from agriculture are accounted. The current inventory of nitrous oxide from plant residues relies solely on the amount of nitrogen in the residues, while crucial factors such as degradability are not included. According to researchers, this leads […] Read more