Open for business: AAFC announces new government programs

Feb 14, 2018

The six programs will help farmers manage risks that threaten the viability of their farms

Staff Reporter

Farms.com

Ontario’s producers and processors can look forward to a new suite of programs under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP).

The federal government announced six new programs – AgriScience, AgriInnovate, AgriMarketing, AgriAssurance, AgriCompetitiveness and AgriDiversity – during the Canadian Agriculture Day event yesterday in Ottawa.

“Today, I’m proud to announce that these programs are now open for business,” the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, minister of agriculture and agri-food, said at the event.

The new programs will build on existing success, he said.

The partnership “is a five-year $3-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the agriculture and agri-food sector,” John Fox, a senior official with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), said during yesterday’s technical briefing. “It contains a continued commitment to business risk management programs that help producers manage significant risks which threaten the viability of their farms that are beyond their capacity to manage.”

The CAP will address existing priorities as well as emerging ones, “such as environmental sustainability, public trust and helping diverse groups develop their skills to take a greater leadership role in the sector,” he said.

With the federal support of $686.5 million in funding, the programs will address three key areas of concern:

1. Growing trade and expanding existing markets

2. Supporting innovation and sustainable growth

3. Increasing diversity and the dynamic nature of the sector

Stakeholders addressed each of these points during the consultation periods, Fox said.

And the agricultural industry will have access to additional funding under the partnership as well.

“Outside of the six federal programs, another $467 million will be dedicated to federally funded activities that benefit producers and processors, and address priorities identified during our consultations with the sector,” he said.

Individuals can access the program guides and application forms on the AAFC website.

The partnership officially launches April 1.

Alex Belomlinsky / DigitalVision Vectors / Getty

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.