Farmers frustrated by senators’ filibuster of Conservative carbon tax exemption

Nov 22, 2023

A wave of frustration is sweeping through the agricultural industry as partisan politics is interfering with the Senate’s passage of a crucial bill that promises relief from the carbon tax on specific farm expenditures.

The legislation in question, Bill C-234, made its debut in February 2020, courtesy of Conservative MP Philip Lawrence.

Despite being opposed by the minority Liberal government, the bill successfully navigated the House of Commons in March 2021 with support from all opposition parties. However, its progress hit an impasse in the Senate, due to “Independent” Senator Bernadette Clement’s motion to adjourn the debate on the bill last week, just as it was poised for its third and final reading.

The adjournment motion secured backing from 29 senators, with 24 opposing it and 37 abstaining. The Senate’s hiatus until Nov. 21 compounds the frustration for farmers eagerly awaiting relief.

Click here to see more...

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.