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

Senate votes down C-234 amendments

Changes would have pulled barn and greenhouse heating from carbon price exemptions

The Senate voted today to reject amendments that would have seen barn and greenhouse heating removed from Bill C-234. In a sitting on the afternoon of Nov. 7, senators voted no to the adoption of amendments made by the committee for agriculture and forestry. Twenty-eight voted yes, and four abstained. The Senate then voted to […] Read more




A DryAir central heating system feeds aeration fans for a row of grain bins. (Assie.ca)

Investment firm buys Saskatchewan drying system maker

EIC buys DryAir for $60 million

A Winnipeg investment firm with ownership stakes in Canadian manufacturing and airlines has bought a Saskatchewan company that makes heating and drying systems for grain growers and other sectors. Exchange Income Corp. (EIC) announced Oct. 5 it has bought DryAir Manufacturing of St. Brieux for about $60 million in cash and EIC stock. DryAir, in […] Read more


(LOP.parl.ca)

Carbon exemption bill nearing close of Senate deliberations

Farm groups hoped to see Bill C-234 made law in time for harvest

A bill to exempt propane and natural gas from the carbon price when used for grain drying and barn heating was nearing the end of its winding road through the Senate after an Oct. 5 meeting. Thursday morning the Senate’s committee on agriculture and forestry heard final witnesses speak on Bill C-234, which would amend […] Read more

David Felder, director of business development for Petrolia-based Field Farms Marketing, conducts a tour of the company’s new crop cleaning and conditioning facility during an open house on June 22.

Niche market specialists open new crop-cleaning complex

Felder family launched Field Farms Marketing in 2005

Updated July 13, 2023 Field Farms Marketing (FFM) celebrated the opening of a new HACCP-certified food-grade crop-cleaning and conditioning facility on Lasalle Line on June 22. David Felder, director of business development of the Petrolia-based non-GMO, organic and other niche crops marketing specialist, provided tours for guests during the grower open house. Felder’s parents started […] Read more

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

Adjournments put off ag bills to September at earliest

Farm fuel, supply management, produce trust bills on hold

Federal private members’ bills with potential significant weight for Canada’s grain, livestock, dairy, poultry, egg, fruit and vegetable producers are now on hold until mid-September at least. Members of the House of Commons voted June 21 to adjourn until Sept. 18, while the Senate did likewise June 22, to return Sept. 19. While the two […] Read more


(Flaman Group video screengrab via YouTube)

Farm groups push for Bill C-234 passage

Ag groups concerned that carbon tax exemption bill won’t clear Senate before break

Prairie farm groups are pushing the Senate to prioritize a bill that would exempt propane and natural gas for grain drying and barn heating from carbon tax. In a joint statement June 13, Keystone Agricultural Producers, the Alberta Federation of Agriculture and the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan urged the Senate to pass Bill C-234 […] Read more

Commercial grain elevators lobby for Bill C-234 inclusion

Commercial grain elevators lobby for Bill C-234 inclusion

Private member’s bill offers carbon tax exemption for on-farm use of propane and natural gas

There is quiet optimism across Canada’s agriculture industry as Bill C-234 begins review by the Senate. The bill is seen as potentially providing carbon pricing relief for a vast number of farmers but many Ontario grain farmers will shoulder the burden of exclusion. “People think that because we’re supporting the bill, that GFO put the […] Read more