US Government Look To Take Meat Processors To Task

Jan 04, 2022

The US government is preparing to do battle with a handful of companies it says holds too much control when it comes to the price of meat and poultry.

President Joe Biden joined by USDA secretary Tom Vilsack, announced a four point plan to bring back competition to the industry and raise the prices that producers receive for their animals. There are groups on this side of the border that are suggesting the Trudeau government should be doing the same.

The US meat institute was quick to issue its' own statement following Biden's meeting on Monday. It says the US government is ignoring the real issue that packing plants and processors in the states are facing and that's a critical labour shortage. That's also an issue here as some plants in eastern Canada have a 40 percent vacancy rate. It's not quite that bad in Alberta, but it's getting there.

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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.