PAGE 8 - WEYBURN THIS WEEK
FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2022
Flax straw pellet plant to be opened in Regina
Saskatchewan-based bioenergy company, Prairie Clean Energy (PCE), announced they are opening a production plant in Regina for their patentpending flax straw biomass pellets at Canada’s Farm Show recently. The announcement was made before the first long-term flax straw sales agreement was signed on stage with Saskatchewan flax producer Thomas MacKenzie of Darian Farms Ltd. PCE is a Saskatchewan start-up success story that buys flax straw from prairie producers, pelletizes it using its proprietary process, and transforms it into renewable and sustainable biomass fuel to sell to customers around the world. Prairie Clean Energy President and CEO, Mark Cooper said, “We are thrilled to have made such significant progress this month. With our new flax straw processing plant, long-term deals signed with flax straw producers, and customers around the world eagerly awaiting our flax straw pellets,
things are looking good for Prairie Clean Energy.” Seventy percent of Canada’s flax is grown in Saskatchewan, making Regina the perfect location for PCE’s first flax processing plant. “Interest in our flax straw biomass pellets is growing in Asia, Europe, and across the world. The bioenergy shift happening globally is positioning Saskatchewan to be a world leader in this space,” said Cooper. PCE’s revolutionary flax pellets was on display at Canada’s Farm Show on June 21-23, in Innovation Hall at the International Trade Centre. Prairie Clean Energy is a Saskatchewan-based company that produces a fully sustainable, renewable, superabundant, and environmentally responsible pelletized biomass fuel. Saskatchewan grows 70 per cent of Canada’s flax crop, which made Regina an ideal spot for the processing facility. Operations will be located near McDonald Street and First Avenue East in the city’s northeast.
Lighting up the skies
Photo 7788 — Greg Nikkel
Lightning struck just east of Weyburn late on July 13, as part of a thunderstorm passed by the city, along with another storm to the north. On Monday night, Weyburn was nailed directly by an intense thunderstorm with many more lightning strikes like this one in the city.
Canadian Grain Commission introducing changes for farm sector
With the 2022-23 crop year approaching, a number of changes will be coming into effect by the Canadian Grain Commission for the Canadian agriculture sector on August 1, 2022. Mildew standards for Canadian western red wheats Current mildew standard samples for No. 1 and No. 2 Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheats are being replaced. The mildew standards for Wheat, No. 3 CWRS and Wheat, No. 3 Canada Western Red Winter (CWRW) will no longer be used as grading factors for those grades. The standard samples are being updated after the
Canadian Grain Commission conducted extensive research over multiple years, which found that mildew had minimal impact on flour yield and refinement, dough properties, and baking quality. However, mildew remains a grading factor for other grades as it can provide additional quality protection to accompany sprout tolerances. Mildew can be a useful indicator of elevated alpha-amylase activity before sprouting becomes visible. Splits tolerance for No. 2 Canada Green Peas The splits tolerance in No. 2 Canada Green Peas will be changed from one per cent to three per
cent, effective August 1, 2022 across Canada. This change is in response to the Canadian agriculture sector advising the Canadian Grain Commission that the three per cent splits tolerance better reflects how the sector is handling and exporting No. 2 Canada Green Peas. Tolerance for inconspicuous admixture in canola Effective August 1, 2022 across Canada, the tolerance for inconspicuous admixture in the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 grades of canola will be changed from five per cent to one per cent. This is in response to quality concerns that were discovered with can-
ola samples that contained five per cent admixture and will help to maintain Canada’s reputation for highquality canola. Allowable broken deduction on export shipments of canola The allowable broken deduction on export shipments of canola is changing from 0.75 per cent to 0.8 per cent effective August 1, 2022. Coloured beans will need to be registered to be eligible for the highest grades Effective August 1, 2022, only Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) registered varieties of coloured beans will be eligible for the
highest statutory grades for beans in Canada. Most coloured beans currently being grown in Canada have completed the variety registration process. Coloured beans include but are not limited to black beans, cranberry beans, pinto beans, red kidney beans, red Mexican beans and yellow eye beans. The description for good natural colour in beans in the Official Grain Grading Guide is being changed to “Beans may be slightly dull, slightly immature or have very lightly adhered soil” effective August 1, 2022 in order to more properly differentiate good natural colour from the reasonably good
colour description. Excreta tolerance for domestic mustard seed The tolerance for excreta in the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 grades of domestic mustard seed is being updated from one kernel-size piece per 500 grams to 0.01 per cent, effective August 1, 2022. This change is to bring it in line with excreta tolerances for other official grains while ensuring stringent quality control. Declaration of eligibility As of July 1, 2022, declarations of eligibility have been updated across Canada. Only grains subject to variety registration based on merit requirements will now require a declaration.