Agriculture Financial Services Corporation focused on sustainability in 2021-2022

Oct 19, 2022

Four one-employee branch offices – High Prairie, High River, Rimbey, Smoky Lake – will amalgamate with larger, full-service offices in the same service areas. These one-employee offices provided limited services to a small numbers of clients. The newly amalgamated offices will provide increased support for AFSC clients and staff, while offering a full range of risk management and lending products for Alberta producers.

All impacted clients will be notified of the changes and immediately connected to a branch in close proximity to serve their needs. There will be no impact to client-facing branch staff.

“These are very difficult decisions,” shared AFSC CEO Darryl Kay. “AFSC has an ongoing responsibility to evaluate its operations and determine how we can improve to deliver more value to our clients and all Albertans. We are thankful for the relationships we’ve had in those communities. These decisions will not interrupt the relationship-based service clients expect from AFSC.”

In addition, AFSC announced two program changes, which will help support long term program sustainability. The Spring Price Endorsement will be discontinued effective immediately, and the 20 per cent top up payment for the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program, will be eliminated.

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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.