Alberta investing $10 million to help producers

Oct 25, 2016

Money will be used to help reduce carbon emissions

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

Alberta’s provincial government is spending $10 million to encourage farmers to employ strategies that help to reduce carbon emissions.

“In my discussions with agricultural producers, I have heard the importance of supporting greenhouses, dairy and livestock sectors in the transition to a lower carbon future,” Alberta Minister of Agriculture Oneil Carlier said in a release. “That’s why, in addition to our farm fuel rebate, we are putting additional funding in programs that will help producers become more efficient and reduce consumption, emissions and costs.”

The funding will allow for the expansion of some current programs.

When it comes to the On-Farm Energy Management Program, farmers can increase the percentage of capital purchases covered to 70 per cent from 35 per cent.

Alberta Minister of Agriculture Oneil Carlier

The funding will also allow for the expansion of the Irrigation Efficiency Program. Farmers will be able to submit more than one project and the funding cap can also rise to $15,000 from $5,000 depending on the project.

Industry representatives say the funding expansion will allow farmers to comply with the changing climate landscape.

“By expanding the cap on the irrigation-efficiency programs we will be able to do more to make our operations more efficient, which will reduce our energy costs and make better use of our water resources,” Richard Stamp, president, business development and risk management, Stamp Seeds, said in a release.

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.