How do we Bring Value to Canada’s Seed System?

Jun 13, 2023

Does everything the federal Seed Program does make the seed sector work better? That’s a question Wendy Jahn asks herself every day as she helps guide regulatory reform in the seed world.

Wendy Jahn has a big task in front of her. In an interview in 2018, she told Germination that it’s one of the biggest challenges of her career, and that hasn’t changed.

The manager of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Seed Section is the face of a little something called Seed Regulatory Modernization — or SRM for short. It’s a government-led process that when finished could have profound implications for the seed industry in Canada. But Jahn is no stranger to taking on big tasks and she has a great team working with her.

Jahn and her team are responsible for enforcing the Seeds Act and Regulations and administering federal seed law within Canada. With the entire seed regulatory system currently under the microscope by the SRM process, the next couple of years are going to be crucial for the CFIA, the seed industry and Jahn herself.

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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.