Bill C-234 Update (Extending the Carbon Tax Exemption on Farm Fuels)

May 30, 2023

Bill C-234 seeks to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act to extend the exemption for qualifying farming fuel to marketable natural gas and propane. The bill recently moved from the House of Commons, where it received widespread support across party lines, into the Senate chamber. The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) and other agricultural organizations are encouraging its swift passage into law so that farmers and ranchers can benefit from the savings in input costs.

If Bill C-234 is not moved through the Senate before they break for summer in June, farmers won't receive the carbon tax exemption it aims to provide until at least the fall. Some of the activities this bill would exempt from the carbon tax include irrigation, grain drying, feed preparation, heating or cooling of barns, and other necessary on-farm practices that rely on natural gas and propane. In light of rising input costs for farmers and global food insecurity, it is critical that this bill is passed into law as quickly as possible.

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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.