Ag sector set to benefit from feds plan to make it easier to hire temporary foreign workers

Aug 14, 2023

Canada’s agriculture sector is expected to benefit from the federal government’s plan to make it easier to hire temporary foreign workers.

They announced earlier this week the launch of the Recognized Employer Pilot program which will allow companies with a good track record to only have to prove once every three years that they need to hire from outside the country. Previously, they were required to do so every 18 months.

Agriculture producers will be the first to benefit from this new program as applications will start being accepted in September 2023. All other employers can start to apply in January 2024.

The ag sector is getting a head start due to the low number of jobs currently being filled.

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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.