Trade is a hot topic for agriculture in Ontario

Jan 11, 2019

January seems a suitable time to recap on the events from the 2018 season.

I have been on the road and covered a lot of ground across the province over the last couple months, and it’s evident it’s been a challenging year.

A lot of work needs to be done in all sectors including, infrastructure, energy, risk management, sustainability, and climate change to keep Ontario competitive in agriculture.

Trade remains a hot topic and rightfully so, as it is vital for many sectors in our industry.

The USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) and the US/China tariff war has put tremendous pressure on all producers and commodity groups. Foreign investment, interest rates and inflation threaten the value of the land we live off. Furthermore, the public trust and knowledge in food and agriculture continues to be a challenge.

But it’s hard to be negative. We are in fact Canadian agriculture; we offer the best products in the world, we are safe, we are sustainable, we are agricultural now more than ever.

New trade agreements like the CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) and USMCA offer a great trade diversity.

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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.