Future of grain
HIGHLIGHTING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN GRAIN PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION
Corn School — new online resource
A new online resource for Canadian corn growers has been launched by RealAgriculture.com in partnership with PRIDE Seeds and BASF. As part of the Corn School, RealAgriculture.com will publish a full schedule of episodes on corn agronomy, markets and end use issues that can be found at CornSchool.com.
According to RealAgriculture.com, this online resource will help as it becomes more challenging for growers to take time away from the farm for field days. The tool is also benefitting from the increase in internet broadband in rural communities and new technology available that allows simpler online learning.
The Corn School segments will feature farmers, researchers and industry people that, according to the company, will provide the highest level of assistance to corn growers.
“This is a great opportunity for corn growers from across Canada, to learn and collaborate on their own time and through the use of the latest in social media tools,” says Shaun Haney, founder of RealAgriculture.com. •
Biobased succinic acid plant comes to Ontario
BioAmber has announced plans to build a biosuccinic acid plant in Sarnia. The plant will have an initial capacity of 17,000 tonnes and will be commissioned in 2013.
Succinic acid is a specialty chemical that can be used to make a range of products including automotive parts, biodegradable coffee cub lids, disposable cutlery, spandex, shoe soles as well as ingredients for food and cosmetics.
Traditionally, this acid is made using petroleum but the BioAmber makes biosuccinic acid using renewable resources including agricultural feedstocks.
The first phase of the plant will generate 150 construction jobs and 40 full time jobs in the region. Additional jobs are expected as the plant grows and the company hopes to invest in additional manufacturing to make value added products on the site as well. •
New corn refuge hybrid selector tool
Refuge management just got simpler with the Canadian Corn Refuge Hybrid Selector. The web-based tool provides all the information you need to comply with current insect resistance management (IRM) requirements for all currently available Bt corn hybrids in Ontario.
Simply select the Bt hybrid or trait being planted and the field size and the Refuge Selector will provide you with a list of eligible refuge hybrids, the refuge size, placement and treatment options along with herbicide tolerance information.
The Refuge Selector has been developed through a collaboration of the Canadian Corn Pest Coalition, the Ontario Corn Committee and the Canadian Seed Trade Association. It can be accessed through the Canadian Corn Pest Coalition website http://www.cornpest.ca/ or through http://www.refugeselector.ca/. •
