International Trade Tension Impacting Homefront

Feb 06, 2020

Some of the ongoing issues Canada has with countries like China, Saudi Arabia and India are starting to impact confidence back here at home.

According to Reuters, trade confidence among Canadian exporters fell to its lowest level in nearly 10 years.

The numbers are from Canada's export credit agency. In the bi-annual survey of 1000 Canadian exporters, the trade confidence index fell to under 70 per cent the lowest levels since 2012 and 6 per cent below the survey's historical average.

A spokesman said trade barriers are now the number 1 challenge bigger than issues like finding skilled talent and financing.

The survey was done between mid-November and mid-December before the US and China signed phase 1 of their new trade agreement which could serve to ease some of those concerns this year.

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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.