Farmers’ Market Events promoted by OPMA

Feb 07, 2024

The Ontario Produce Marketing Association (OPMA) is offering turn-key, pop-up farmers’ market events to encourage the purchase and consumption of Ontario produce and other local foods through sampling. A team of trained brand ambassadors will engage with the public outside of a select retail banner targeting customers at the point of purchase and directly impacting sales.
This program allows companies to sample and test new or existing products in key markets for a fraction of the cost.

The event will be fun, eye-catching and will provide a greater ROI than an in-store sampling program alone. It is executed by a team of experienced marketing professionals and well-trained brand ambassadors – all food handling certified.

From working with the participating stores and category managers, ensuring the product is in stock before events, and following up with post-visit reports, OPMA can offer a seamless program to members and interested commodity groups looking to maximize their marketing dollars.

Source : The Grower

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.