Clean Fuel Standard To Be Introduced By Federal Government

We don't know many details about what next week's throne speech in Ottawa will contain, but one thing is clear.

 

It will include details about something the federal Liberals have been talking about for years, and are planning to set in motion this fall. It's called the clean fuel standard, or CFS, for short. Federal ag minister Marie Claude Bibeau sent out a tweet on the weekend saying farmers stand to benefit from the CFS by increasing demand for biofuels and create new markets for their crops.

 

Some critics say the clean fuel standard is nothing more than another federal carbon tax, only this time, hidden from view. The National Post reports that instead of charging the user at the pump or when they turn on their furnace, the producer will be charged depending on the level of carbon produced. Companies that purchase that fuel will be dinged and those costs will be passed onto consumers. The prime minister hinted weeks ago, this would be a "green" throne speech. Environmental groups said last week, this is the last chance for Justin Trudeau to prove to them, he's a climate change leader.

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.