Farm unions amplify call to rescue Bill C-234's original integrity

Nov 03, 2023

Sask Wheat is joining SaskBarley, SaskCanola, SaskFlax, SaskOats and the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers to call on senators to reject the Agriculture and Forestry Committee’s approved amendment to remove the heating and cooling of barns and greenhouses from Bill C-234, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act.

Farmers pay a carbon price on essential farming activities such as irrigation, grain drying, feed preparation, heating or cooling of barns and other agricultural growing structures, Sask Wheat states in a press release.

Bill C-234 would provide an exemption, limited to on-farm fuel use for these necessary farm practises, allowing farmers to invest their money in the efficiency of their operations.

Although grain dryers remain exempt from carbon pricing on natural gas and propane, the recent amendment introduces a troubling double standard within the industry, Sask Wheat asserts. Failure to reject this amendment on the senate floor will lead to substantial delays in passing the legislation, requiring it to be sent back to the House of Commons for additional review.

Bill C-234, as written, recognizes the lack of viable alternatives for grain drying. To safeguard the profitability and sustainability of farmers, as well as to defend our food production and food sovereignty, Sask Wheat is calling on producers to write their senators and urge them to reject the committee’s amendment and uphold the integrity of Bill C-234.

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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.