Biomass boilers among projects feds fund to improve grain drying

Canada’s Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food is funding 45 projects that will allow grain farmers to adopt more efficient drying technology, such as biomass boilers.

More than $22.2 million is being provided for the equipment upgrades and fuel switching initiatives through the Agricultural Clean Technology Program – Adoption Stream. To date the program has supported 99 dryer projects across the country.

Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, said in a news release the goal is to help the Canadian agricultural sector innovate and adopt clean technologies.

“This investment in more efficient grain drying technology will help to reduce the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions and leverage technology to be more resilient to climate change,” Bibeau said.

Geerts Farms Ltd., in Kamsack, Sask., is among the program recipients. The 26,000-acre family-operated producer of canola, wheat and oats is receiving up to $2 million to purchase and install a new grain dryer and biomass boiler. The boiler is powered by locally sourced wood waste and will eliminate the farm’s current use of propane.