Sheep check-off fees up 22 %

Sep 08, 2023

GUELPH — Sheep producers will pay 22 % more in licensing check-off fees after the Ontario Sheep Farmers (OSF) board imposed its first fee hike in 13 years. The new rate, announced at the beginning of August, has been set at $2.20 per live animal sold, an increase of 40 cents.

The hike comes as a result of rising costs, according to the OSF, which pledges to maintain current programs at current levels.

OSF collects the mandatory check-off to support programs and services to the province’s 3,000 sheep farmers, who are required to register with the organization under Ontario law.

“The budget increase will increase our engagement with our members and improve our market knowledge to prepare for future initiatives to grow the sector for all producers,” OSF Chair John Hemsted says.

The organization is carrying out a five-year plan — launched in 2021 — that includes market research, data collection, a wool pilot project and new courses within the Sheep Institute. In addition, a new part-time member relations position will be added to the OSF’s staff roster this fall.

Ontario is the country’s biggest sheep producer, accounting for over 50 % of sheep and lamb processed in Canada.

Source : Farmersforum

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.