It’s time to be loud and proud

Dec 23, 2025

For a long time, our Canadian food and beverage industry has been in the shadow of the U.S. industry. The U.S. market was 10X bigger and many products developed or produced in the U.S. would make their way to Canadian shelves. When products produced in Canada succeeded, the natural next step was to export to the U.S. The market was relatively easy to access; we had a free trade agreement and logistics were well established.

A lot has changed. 2025 was a tumultuous year, when our biggest trading partner decided to change the relationship. Access to the market is more challenging and the volatility in policies has many people perplexed. Oversight of food production and processing is changing in the U.S. and costs are fluctuating with tariffs going up and down. The future of the Canada United States Mexico (CUSMA) free trade agreement is uncertain, even with dozens of U.S. business associations lobbying for the status quo.

As we shift to develop domestic and new export markets, we should showcase the benefits of Canadian food and beverage to the world. Recently I have had calls from different parts of the world because people want to do business with dependable producers who will produce excellent, safe products.

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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.