KAP Welcomes MELT Deferral Extension For Class 1 Ag Drivers

Jul 10, 2020

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) has issued the following statement concerning mandatory entry-level training (MELT):

On June 26, the provincial government approved a six-month extension of the deferral of mandatory entry-level training (MELT) for Class 1 truck drivers in the agriculture sector, due to the impacts of COVID-19 on driver’s testing and to allow for completion of the requirements after harvest season.

This means that Class 1 drivers in the agricultural sector now have until March 1, 2021 to complete MELT training.

Drivers who want to upgrade this conditional licence to a full Class 1 licence can do so by completing the MELT course and do not require an additional road test.

After March 1, 2021, existing conditional licences revert to Class 1A (authorized instruction), and these drivers can receive a full Class 1 licence by completing MELT and do not need to re-test.

KAP has lobbied for this extension over the last number of weeks due to concerns raised by our members, and we are pleased to see that the government has recognized the concerns we have raised.

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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.