Canada's Agricultural Clean Technology Program Moves To The Next Step

Jun 17, 2021

Applications are now being accepted for Ottawa's new $165.7 M Agricultural Clean Technology Program.

The program provides farmers and agri-businesses with access to funding to help develop and adopt the latest clean technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Under the program, $50 million is allocated specifically for the purchase of more efficient grain dryers.

The Agricultural Clean Technology Program focuses on three priority areas: green energy and energy efficiency; precision agriculture; and the bioeconomy.

Along with the money designated to help with the purchase of more efficient grain dryers, $10 million is being allocated towards powering farms with clean energy and moving off diesel.

The program's two-step application process includes first submitting a Project Summary Form, which will determine a project's eligibility and alignment with program criteria and priorities.

Successful applicants will then be invited to submit a full application.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada estimates that this program has the potential to reduce up to 1 megaton of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide equivalent) from the Earth's atmosphere.

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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.