Bill 7 to Expand Access and Simplify Water Use Rules for Producers

Nov 11, 2025
By Farms.com

Alberta Modernizes Water Act for Farmers

As previously reported by Farms.com, the Government of Alberta is moving forward with important updates to the Water Act through the proposed Bill 7: Water Amendment Act. The legislation aims to make more water available to farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses while improving efficiency and transparency.

The changes under Bill 7 will simplify the process for obtaining licenses and approvals for agricultural water use. It will also make it easier for communities and farms to share water, ensure fairer access for livestock operations, and provide clearer guidelines on regulatory expectations.

“By making these crucial changes, we’re taking an important step toward strengthening and growing our agriculture industry. These changes will help increase access to water, support the expansion of our irrigation districts and ensure farmers and ranchers have the resources they need to keep Alberta’s ag sector strong,” said RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation.

Alberta Pork outlined several key updates that farmers should note, including streamlined licensing, greater flexibility for water sharing, and improved access to irrigation systems.

“Alberta has a growing population and thriving economy. After 25 years without change, Bill 7 will modernize the Water Act so farmers, businesses and communities can better use and share water and keep Alberta’s momentum going,” said Grant Hunter, Associate Minister of Water.

By focusing on modernization and flexibility, Bill 7 is set to enhance Alberta’s water management, benefiting the province’s agricultural producers and rural communities.

Watch the video of Alberta Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schulz when she introduced the amendments to the Water Act.

Photo Credit: Pexels Pixabay

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.