OMAF Tribunal may see reforms in the future

May 23, 2013

OMAF Tribunal may see reforms in the future

After months of confusion surrounding the accreditation process for Ontario’s General Farm Organizations, the ministry says that it will be conducting a review into the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) Tribunal’s operations.

A spokesperson from the agriculture minister’s office confirmed by email late Wednesday that a broad review of (OMAF) Tribunal process is underway. The review will examine whether the tribunal’s procedural rules reflect the mandate of the adjudicating body. The ministry hopes to have the information necessary to work towards proposing possible reforms by November of this year. The ministry is waiting until the fall since that’s when interim changes expire and come up again for review.

One of the previously recognized general farm groups, the National Farmers Union – Ontario (NFU-O) is still trying to get recognized by the province. This spring, the tribunal released a formal statement outlining its reasons for denying the farm organization accreditation status. The other two main farm groups – Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) are already recognized with the province after a lengthy dispute.

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.