As far as we’ve come over the past 100 years, our progress creates some problems of it’s own. As cities expand and farmland moves into areas previously unpopulated, the natural balance of the local ecosystem is upset. Where natural events and wildlife used to keep things like willow stands from growing unchecked, it’s now up to people to do that work.
The BioBaler is a concept brought forth as an attempt to renovate willows and willow rings in an environmentally friendly way. The effort was initiated by Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada in Indianhead, Saskatchewan. It uses the willow bales to heat the research facility there. I spoke to Agro-Forestry Tecnician Garth Inouye about the project at Canada’s Farm Progress Show in Regina.
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