Minister Vandal opens new PrairiesCan service location and announces federal investments in Manitoba's Westman region

Oct 12, 2022

The Westman region is an economically diversified area of southwestern Manitoba. It includes vibrant education, agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, and petroleum industries as well as significant tourism opportunities as a beautiful region of the province. As such, the region is a major contributor to the overall prosperity of Manitoba. Prairie regions like Westman have unique needs and perspectives. The Government of Canada is continuing to enhance a community-based approach to economic development and is responding to the requests of business and community leaders for greater PrairiesCan presence in more places across the Prairies.

Today, the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for PrairiesCan and Minister responsible CanNor Agency officially opened one of seven new PrairiesCan service locations. The new location in Brandon will bring a sharper focus to southwestern Manitoba's unique economic development opportunities. It complements PrairiesCan's long-standing Winnipeg office and new Thompson location, which opened in August to serve economic development needs in northern Manitoba.

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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.