Washington | Reuters — U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday called on Congress to intervene to avert a potential rail strike that could occur as early as Dec. 9, warning of a catastrophic economic impact if railroad service ground to a halt. Biden asked lawmakers to adopt the tentative deal announced in September “without any […] Read more
Tag Archives fertilizers
Biden asks Congress to avert U.S. rail strike
U.S. president warns of dire economic impact
Black Sea grain export deal extended
Deal's terms unchanged; Moscow to still seek removal of obstacles to grain, fertilizer exports
Reuters — A deal aimed at easing global food shortages by helping Ukraine export its agricultural products from Black Sea ports was extended for four months on Thursday, though Russia said its own demands were yet to be fully addressed. The agreement, initially reached in July, created a protected transit corridor and was designed to […] Read more
Alternative fertility products offer solutions
Biosolids, digestates, composts and other products can be cheaper, high fertility solutions
Could Ontario’s farm sector simultaneously save money, reduce food waste and improve its collective carbon footprint? Representatives for biosolids and other alternative fertilizers think so. While different products bring different considerations and cautions, alternative fertilizers can bring agronomic and environmental benefits. Alternative fertility products offer crop producers a cheaper option to traditional fertility products, says […] Read more
N-inhibitors aid in greenhouse gas reduction
Weather and field conditions impact year-to-year effectiveness
Research from the University of Guelph indicates the application of nitrogen inhibitors can help farmers significantly reduce their emissions. While such products can differ in consistency across various growing conditions, their medium- and long-term impacts can still have a major effect. Why it matters: Governments are pushing the reduction of climate change-inducing gases and inhibiting […] Read more
Better nitrogen efficiency
A soil ecologist discusses nitrogen efficiency products and how they work
Nitrogen loss from leaching, atmospheric exposure, and soil runoff can be costly. However, there are products designed to minimize that loss. And according to Mario Tenuta, professor of applied soil ecology at the University of Manitoba, the stronger the product is, the better. Why it matters: Nitrogen is an expensive input on farms and with […] Read more
Canada to cut speed limits for trains hauling dangerous goods
New curb follows another Saskatchewan crash, fire
Ottawa/Winnipeg | Reuters — The federal government said Thursday it would impose temporary speed limits on trains hauling dangerous goods after a Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) crude oil train derailed and caught fire. The accident, which happened in the early hours of Thursday near Guernsey, Sask., about 40 km south of Humboldt, was the second […] Read more
Trump administration scales back U.S. water protections
Washington | Reuters — The Trump administration finalized a rule on Thursday to pare back the types of waterways protected from pollution under federal law, easing burdens on industries such as agriculture and mining but angering environmental groups. The Navigable Waters Protection Rule could win political points ahead of the November election for Republican President […] Read more
Third-quarter grain handle down for CN, CP
Canada’s Big Two railways both booked reduced traffic but increased their revenue per carload in their grain handling segments for their third fiscal quarters ending Sept. 30. Canadian National Railway on Tuesday reported third-quarter net income of $1.195 billion on $3.83 billion in total revenues, up from $1.134 billion on $3.688 billion in the year-earlier […] Read more
Agricultural plastics not part of federal ban
The federal government’s plan to halt Canada’s consumption of single-use plastics such as shopping bags, straws and stir sticks over the next couple of years won’t extend to farm chemical containers and grain bags. Cleanfarms, the national industry stewardship body operating waste management and recycling programs for agricultural packaging, said Thursday that plastic products such […] Read more
Getting the most efficient nitrogen use
Soil testing is vital to identify where nitrogen is needed
A significant amount of nitrogen applied to fields is never taken up by plants. Understanding how much nitrogen (N) crops actually need can help decrease needless expenses and potential environmental issues. Why it matters: Nitrogen loss to the environment can damage local water sources causing human health concerns and harm to aquatic life. Inefficient fertilizer […] Read more