Minister Bibeau holds First Bilateral Discussion with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack

Ottawa, Ontario - The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, held her first official bilateral dialogue with the United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, in which they reinforced the strength of the Canada-U.S. agricultural trade relationship.

 

Minister Bibeau emphasized the need to work collaboratively on many mutual priorities with a focus on the resiliency of Canada-U.S. food supply chains, climate change and environmental sustainability.

 

Minister Bibeau and Secretary Vilsack also discussed their mutual interest in championing rules- and science-based international trade. Both parties agreed that working together to address these priorities is critical for agriculture to take a leading role in a sustainable recovery that is inclusive, protects workers and supports jobs and businesses on both sides of our border.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how critical Canada-U.S. agricultural supply chains are to food security and to our two economies. By continuing to work together to strengthen and maintain integrated agricultural supply chains throughout the pandemic, we can ensure producers on both sides of the border are finding markets for their quality products, and consumers are getting food at affordable prices.

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.