Barlow Concerned Over Liberal Policies

Dec 23, 2021

The Conservative Shadow Critic for Agriculture, Agri-food and Food Security says 2021 has been a challenging year from the fires and floods in BC to the drought across the Prairies.

In his yearend interview, John Barlow says while it hasn't been a record year for the ag sector, he sees agriculture as being a critical part of the pandemic economic recovery.

"As a country, we have to look at certain industries where we know are going to be productive, can generate jobs, can generate revenue and are going to be producing a commodity or a product that we know is going to have global demand. When food security and affordability are top of mind, not only here in Canada but around the world, Canadian agriculture will play a critical role."

He thinks there's going to be some great opportunities for value-added agri-businesses and processing going forward.

Barlow is also raising concerns about how Liberal Government policies are having a negative impact for producers.

"The big issue that I think we're facing is our relationship with the United States, our most trusted trading partner. We've really seen that start to erode, and we've seen that with softwood lumber, potatoes from Prince Edward Island, but now with the Senate. The Senate of the United States tabeling a bill to bring back Mandatory Country Of Origin Labeling. You know there is an underlying current here, what is going on with our relationship in the United States."

He notes trade is critical to Agriculture, and one of the most important things is having a strong relationship with our key trading partner, the United States.

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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.