Government invests in industry-led animal welfare activities

Feb 19, 2019

Guelph, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) - The livestock industry strives to continuously improve its capacity to respond to increasing demands by consumers and markets to demonstrate the highest quality of animal care.

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay today announced an investment of up to $4.56 million to the Canadian Animal Health Coalition (CAHC), on behalf of the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC), to help update and develop Codes of Practice for the care and handling of farmed animals. The investment was made through the AgriAssurance program of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

The investment will be divided between four activities including:

Updating the transportation Codes of Practice for the care and handling of farm animals during transport;
Updating the dairy Code of Practice that will address new scientific findings, changes in industry practices and address changes in market and consumer demands;
Updating the goat Code of Practice that will respond to growing buyer and consumer expectations for on-farm animal welfare; and
Developing a new Code of Practice for farmed finfish. Fish welfare is a new and emerging animal welfare concern for which the industry needs to be able to demonstrate its commitment and alignment with public values and consumer expectations.

Source : Government Of Canada

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.