Preparing for the 2025 Farmland Monitoring Season

Jun 18, 2025

At the heart of OFT’s conservation work is a commitment to preserving lands for today and for future generations to come. Part of this work includes monitoring our protected properties to ensure that the integrity of each conservation easement agreement is upheld. These agreements are designed to last for 999 years and reflect the enduring legacy of the landowners’ conservation goals. OFT is proud to protect 26 properties, totaling over 2700 acres of land.

The monitoring season typically spans from May to September, and is led by OFT’s Farmland Protection and Stewardship Program Manager, Joel Enman. Alongside Joel, OFT hires a Farmland Ecology Assistant to support these monitoring visits. This year, we’re so happy to have Harpreet Opal join us for the summer.

In the beginning of May, Joel trains the Farmland Ecology Assistant on OFT’s monitoring processes and programs, including our mapping software used for capturing photos of the property as well as Species at Risk during the monitoring visit.

Before every monitoring season, the conservation easement agreements for each property are reviewed to ensure both the Farmland Ecology Assistant and the Farmland Protection and Stewardship Program Manager are refamiliarized with the aspects of each unique agreement.

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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.