Sustainability index unveiled for agriculture

May 26, 2023

A coalition of 129 organizations, including agri-food companies, non-governmental organizations, commodity groups and government departments are getting close to defining what is sustainable in Canadian agriculture.

In May, the group unveiled a sustainability index for the country’s agriculture and food sector. The index is a pilot, which will likely evolve into something more permanent.

“The initiative addresses one of the most pressing issues facing humanity: producing food more sustainably — and showing it,” says a news release for the National Index on Agri-Food Performance.

“The work also positions Canada as among the very few nations globally that have developed such a comprehensive approach encompassing an entire economic sector.”

David McInnes has led the effort to create the index since 2020.

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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.