BMO Bank of Montreal Announces Relief Program for Grain Farmers in Western Canada

Mar 08, 2018

BMO Bank of Montreal announced today it is offering a financial relief program to assist customers in the Prairies and Western Canada affected by the current grain handling backlog, amid a larger than expected crop and severe winter weather.

"We stand by our customers through both good and challenging times and hope this program will help to alleviate some of the issues currently being faced by grain producers and other related businesses as a result of the backlog," said Andrew Irvine, Head, Customer Solutions, Canadian Personal & Business Banking, BMO Bank of Montreal.

The program includes:

Deferral of loan payments
Waiver of a new loan application and concessions on renewal fees
Flexible terms on existing and new lines of credit for 2018 are being developed on a case-by-case basis

Source : BMO

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.