Ontario Biomass Producers Co-Op

As switchgrass production continues to expand across Ontario, researchers are working to better understand emerging pests that may affect production. Recent University of Guelph research examined the biology, distribution, and yield impacts of the switchgrass gall midge (SGM), a pest first detected in Ontario in 2020. The study, "The switchgrass gall midge (Chilophaga virgati Gagné, Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in Ontario" focused on understanding the insect's life cycle, its dist

The Ontario Biomass Producers Co-op (OBPC) held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) at The GrandWay in Elora on March 17, 2026. Researchers, biomass producers, and OBPC members gathered to hear the latest in Ontario biomass research and explore emerging opportunities across the sector. There continues to be exciting momentum in biomass research, and this year’s presentations sparked thoughtful discussion around both production and end-use innovation. The work shared not only s

The Ontario Biomass Producers Co-op (OBPC) held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) at The GrandWay in Elora on March 18, 2025. A group of researchers, biomass producers, and OBPC members gathered to hear the latest on Ontario biomass research and OBPC updates. There's so much great work happening in biomass research these days and the presentations at the AGM generated much discussion. This work not only benefits biomass producers and the biomass industry, but other researche

It’s an exciting time to be a switchgrass producer with all the market opportunities that are available. Animal bedding, garden mulch, renewable fuel source, erosion control products, construction materials, and more, there’s growing demand for switchgrass, and now there’s also some financial support to get it in the ground. The Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP), delivered by the Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), provides funding in the Perenn

Norm Richardson (L) and James Fisher (C) from OBPC present Dr. Naresh Thevathasan (R) with a Certificate of Recognition.On March 19, 2024, Ontario Biomass Producers Co-op (OBPC) presented Dr. Naresh Thevathasan with a Certificate of Recognition, in honour of his dedication and contribution to the Ontario Biomass Industry, and his commitment to excellence in research, education, and market development. Naresh recently retired from his position as an Associate Professor at the

Biomass producers and researchers gathered March 19, 2024 for the Ontario Biomass Producers Co-op (OBPC) Annual General Meeting at Country Heritage Park in Milton. Attendees learned about research projects covering topics of carbon sequestration by biomass crops, biomass buffers and silt socks, building organic matter with biomass crops, an update on Switchgrass Midge in Ontario, and scaling up improved switchgrass varieties for the seed market in Ontario. Dr. Naresh Thevatha

The Ontario Biomass Producers Co-operative AGM was held Tuesday, March 21, 2023. The presentations ranged from the role of biomass crops on soil health, to the Switchgass gall midge, a new insect pest in Ontario. Below are the presentations. Biomass Crops and Soil Health- Naresh- OBPC 2023 AGM Harvested Biomass Buffers on Crop Lands- Jake & Charlie- OBPC 2023 AGM Grassland Birds Assessment in Switchgrass- Jenna & Jake- OBPC 2023 AGM Head Smut on Switchgrass - Clyde- OBPC 202

by Marni Ellery, University of California - Berkeley As published by https://phys.org/ on April 12, 2023 Reducing global greenhouse gas emissions is critical to avoiding a climate disaster, but current carbon removal methods are proving to be inadequate and costly. Now researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, have proposed a scalable solution that uses simple, inexpensive technologies to remove carbon from our atmosphere and safely store it for thousands of ye

Tom Venesky, tvenesky@lancasterfarming.com Mar 31, 2023 HUNLOCK CREEK, Pa. — Two years ago, Bruce Trumbower had 50 acres of switchgrass and nowhere to sell it. The Luzerne County farmer had been selling switchgrass for use in sediment control socks during construction of the Keystone XL pipeline in the Midwest. When the permit for the pipeline was canceled by the Biden administration in January 2021, Trumbower’s switchgrass market evaporated. He needed a new outlet, and he fo

Interested in learning more about Miscanthus? Check out the two great articles below! Utililzing Miscanthus Stalks As Raw Material For Particleboards Miscanthus as Raw Materials for Bio-based Products

1-Brandon-GilroyedDownload 2-Atul-BaliDownload 3-Chris-MagwoodDownload 4-Kevin-MacDermid-WattsDownload 5-Lilianne-GeeDownload 6-Fani-GoltsiosDownload

The AGM will take place online. A Zoom link will be forwarded in advance of the meeting. Register now!

Learn more about the carbon benefits of growing miscanthus! Terravesta_miscanthus_carbo-1Download

This year’s EFAO Conference is about recognizing and celebrating the strength that comes from working together. If you share the goal of building resilient and diverse ecological farms and communities, perhaps you would benefit from Cultivating Common Ground with EFAO’s vibrant and growing community. View the conference schedule

Check out the fall issue of OFC's THINKGREEN! newsletter! fALL 2021Fall-2021Download

Carbon is a hot topic these days with individuals, organizations, and entire industries working to better understand the environmental implications of their activities. Terms like “carbon sequestration,” “climate change,” “carbon footprint,” and “greenhouse gas emissions” are often used in the news and on social media. What do these terms mean? What role does beef production play in the carbon cycle?  How can carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions impact beef produ

Press ReleaseFor Immediate Release: Tuesday, May 4, 2021 The Ontario Forage Council, Ontario Hay Listings, Ontario Biomass Producers Co-op, and the Ontario Hay and Forage Co-operative have collaborated websites to bring you the Ontario Forage Network! The new ONForageNetwork.ca website is the online hub for forage, pasture and biomass crop production in the province. Here you can find information on seeding, growing, harvesting, storing, and marketing these crops. The network

Thank you to the Association of Warm Season Grass Producers for bringing this article to our attention Use of switchgrass growing in popularity for ag conservation Will switchgrass, a tall, resilient and fast-growing native plant once familiar to pioneers, become the next cash crop for farmers in states in the Chesapeake Bay drainage? Click here to read the full article Bay Journal, Ad Crable, Oct 19, 2020 Updated

Field Monitoring of Erosion andnSediment Control Practices andnDevelopment of Additional IowanDOT Design Manual GuidancenFinal ReportnApril 2020

News ReleaseFor Immediate Release The Cellulosic Sugar Producers Co-operative plans to cease operations April 27, 2020 SARNIA, Ontario – The Cellulosic Sugar Producers Co-operative (CSPC) was an Ontario farmer-owned co-operative that strived to develop new markets and business opportunities for agricultural crop residues. CSPC was successful in developing a business model for the aggregation, transportation and storage of corn stover and wheat straw and was validated with fie