By Josh Boyce, From Blackburn News, http://blackburnews.com/sarnia
With Sarnia-Lambton transitioning toward a “hybrid economy”, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture is exploring ways to replace a portion of our oil consumption with biomass.
OFA Vice President and Inwood Corn Farmer Don McCabe says the group wants to build a $70-million plant locally to process 250,000 tonnes of corn stalk per year. A company is still being sought to build and operate the facility.
He says corn stalks are a viable option in our region adding yields are way up.
McCabe says there are new companies coming along that want the sugar, adding they have an “open door” policy in hopes of bringing new operations to Southwestern Ontario.
McCabe says similar initiatives have been successful in the midwestern United States. He says construction of ethanol plants there have resulted in a 14 per cent improvement in soy bean yields the following year.