Ag sector watches for fallout from India-Canada spat

Sep 27, 2023

The chief executive officer of a major Canadian pulse buyer and exporter said Sept. 21 he is closely watching political developments between Canada and India.

Murad Al-Katib from AGT Foods told reporters in Regina that waiting and watching is about all the agriculture sector can do right now. He said geopolitical risks are a major part of the industry, but he’s confident that once the political issues are resolved the long-term partnership between the two countries will continue.

“We have arable land and water that India doesn’t have. We have farmers that are able to produce at scale, at the lowest cost and highest quality, and India needs the food, so from that perspective we’re optimistic that politics will remain politics,” he said, adding that ensuring people have access to food is the most relevant political issue.

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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.