Ontario pork farmers welcome proposed trespassing legislation

GUELPH, ON – Monday’s announcement regarding the proposed Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2019, was welcomed by Ontario Pork members and their partners in food production across the province.

 

Farmers and others in the livestock industry respect the right to peaceful protest, but increasingly find their homes, property, land and vehicles encroached upon by individuals seeking to end their livelihood. These invasions put the safety of people, animals and our food supply at risk.

 

Together, Ontario’s farming industry brought their concerns to provincial leaders. We thank all of those who took the time to listen carefully, gather information and propose a new way forward that will help ensure Ontario’s food supply remains one of the best in the world.

 

This proposed legislation respects the right to peaceful protest, while restoring balance between the high standards of animal care inherent to pork farming, and protection for farmers, transporters and others involved in food production. It underscores the importance of biosecurity practices that keep animals healthy, help reduce antibiotic use, and ensure that we never have to question what the food we eat might contain. It will reduce workplace harassment of farmers, transporters and processors, and better protect farmers from invasions of their homes and businesses.

 

Most importantly, it will give our judicial system much needed tools to ensure real consequences for those who choose to break the law to disrupt farming and food production.

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.