The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-08-16, Page 10Crossroads 10 Wednesday, August 16, 2006 Exeter Times Advocate Hensall Co-op holds annual Growers Meeting By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF HENSALL — The Hensall District Co-operative (HDC) held its annual Grower Meeting Aug. 9 at the farm of Paul Coldwell, just north of Hensall with a plot tour, barbecue and a variety of speakers. Speaking for HDC commercial grains manager John O'Brien, who was unable to attend, was field marketing manager Derwyn Hodgins who presented a report on dry beans. Hodgins said the dry bean food business continues to evolve and four areas of concern are food safety, transportation, strong grower support and food com- pany consolidation. Hodgins said there are now three major canning companies left in Europe, compared to over six, 10 years ago and that com- panies are concerned about food terrorism. According to Hodgins, the companies are eliminating sup- pliers that don't meet cleanliness standards, docu- mented process- ing standards and don't care about the prod- uct they deliver. Hodgins told the audience HDC remains attractive to customers in Europe and the United States because of the care taken on growers' farms, at the process- ing facility and because of the service from the HDC's in-house logistic facility, Hensall Global Logistics. Hodgins said while there are just enough acres to supply white bean demand, North Dakota and Minnesota are suf- fering from a lack of rain and that the jury is still out on their crops. According to Hodgins, the Manitoba crop has had more rainfall and looks to be an aver- age crop, with Michigan and Ontario appearing to have fan- tastic crops, although he added it wasn't known if the large plants will equate to full pods per plant and yield. "In addition, we do have con- cerns over white mold with this huge canopy, stage of growth and the fact that we've had lots of moisture -so far so good -the hot temperature may have helped us." Hodgins said the black bean crop looks like it will have a sur- plus by year end while the dark red kidney mar- ket will have adequate stocks to meet demand, although there are concerns about dry weather in Minnesota. While the cranberry mar- ket appears to be short of available stocks to meet demand according to Hodgins, he added Argentina has become a bigger supplier and can deliver product to cus- "The reason we're here is because of corn. Any company buys local corn first...we'II use every kernel in the area." —BLISS BAKER, VICE- PRESIDENT OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS FOR GREENFIELD ETHANOL tomers one to two months earli- er than North America. The guest speaker at the meet- ing was Bliss Baker, vice-presi- dent of corporate affairs for GreenField Ethanol (formerly Commercial Alcohols Inc). He provided an overview of the Hensall ethanol plant project, saying discussions have gone on for some time and have gone very well. Baker said the plant will process 200 million litres of ethanol per year and create 40 to 50 jobs. He added the total cost of the plant is expected to be $150 mil- lion with construction expected to take 14 months and create 150 construction jobs as well as spinoff jobs in the community. Baker said the company's rela- tionship with HDC is in early stages and the partners are tak- ing "baby steps." He added GreenField will not be installing drying technology at the new plant and won't be competing with HDC. "There are lots of synergies and both can build their business," he said. As reported in this weeks T -A, Baker told the audience he told Bluewater council Aug. 7 GreenField will be committing $6 million for the pipeline which will bring water to Hensall. "We want to be here," said Baker, who added GreenField will need 20 million bushels of corn a year and the plant will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except for a mainte- nance shutdown for a few days a year. According to Baker, GreenField will be its own corn buyer out of an office in Komoka. It is involved with discussions with the Ministry of Transportation on an access road to prevent trucks from hav- ing to enter Hensall as well as the Ministry of the Environment and Department of Fisheries and Oceans. He added the only issue which can stop the project is the water supply and GreenField would like to break ground in the fall with heavy construction starting in March and completion by June 2008. Demand for ethanol is being driven by the Ontario govern- ment and Bliss said the compa- ny will build as much capacity as possible. In a question and answer ses- sion with the audience, Baker said the amount of distiller's dried grain (DDG's), which is a byproduct of corn -based Ethanol production, produced by the plant will be 150,000 tonnes a year of spent grain with the Chatham plant producing 130,000 tonnes a year. Baker said with the number of ethanol plants being constructed "we'll soon be up to our eyeballs in the stuff...we have to ship it further to find markets and prices are dropping." According to Baker, the nutri- ent value of DDG's is 26 per cent protein and while it is only cattle being fed with it at this time, research is being done on feed- ing it to swine and chickens. Asked about the potential truck traffic, Baker said the Chatham plant has between 40 and 50 trucks a day and the Hensall plant will be about the same. Baker said the trucks will be scheduled during the day and that GreenField is doing a traffic study to see if a turning lane is necessary. Asked if GreenField supports a market revenue program for corn growers, Baker said yes. "We need a profitable agricul- tural sector. Without profitable growers, we're out of business." Baker said the plant will use 2,400 cubic litres of water a day, with 2,000 for cooling that can be drained although Baker said the MOE is concerned about the amount and temperature of the water. The rest of the water will be used for processing, according to Baker and will be recaptured and recirculated. "Nothing leaves but steam," he said. Asked if GreenField will use corn from the United States if it is cheaper, Baker said "the rea- son we're here is because of corn. Any company buys local corn first...we'll use every kernel in the area." He added that while there could be American corn in the elevators GreenField buys from, "you've seen the worst of the years of U.S. corn in Ontario last year." Baker added farmers will be able to sell directly to the plant and that for more information the company has set a website which is at www.hensal- lethanol. com. www.r rn,erschaice un.ca sout, °n1 , The South Huron Trail Run was Sunday.There were 160 runners this year, partici- pants in the 8 km run raised about $1,000 supporting the maintenance of the MacNaughton-Morrison trail. Some of the winners were from left girls 19 and under - first place Romy Scheele (left), second place Laura Godkin (middle) and third place Shelby Oke (right). Women 30-39 win- ners were first place Rachel Weir (right), second place Barb Ledgley (left) and third place Deb Oke (middle). Women 60-69 winners were - first place June Lucas (right) and second place Eleanor Poole (left). (photos/submitted) Justin Hern lets a shot go for the U9 Red team against Grand Bend Saturday in Exeter during the soccer championship tournament. Loolt for more coverage in next week's Times -Advocate. (photo/Nina Van Lieshout)