American Farmland Trust Kicks Off 17th Annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration With $15,000 in Prizes

Aug 05, 2025

By Michael Shulman

American Farmland Trust (AFT) kicks off the 17^th annual America’s Farmer’s Market Celebration™ (AFMC) today – a celebration of the only annual ranking of the top farmers markets in the United States as voted on by the public.

Since 2008, AFMC has highlighted the critical role farmers markets play in communities across the nation while celebrating the farmers, staff, and volunteers that make them possible. While they have long served as pillars of local food in urban centers and town squares, in recent years, farmers markets have gained the national recognition they deserve as essential businesses that power farmers and communities to thrive.

"Farmers markets represent the backbone of local food systems, providing essential income streams for thousands of farm families across the country,” said John Piotti, AFT President and CEO.

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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.