OFA attends announcement for new biosecurity initiative

Aug 08, 2023

OFA was in attendance at Walker Farms in Aylmer earlier this week for the announcement of a new support program aimed at enhancing biosecurity and risk preparedness in the agri-food sector.

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $7.5 million through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership to help eligible agri-food businesses improve animal health and welfare, plant health, and food safety in their sector.

The Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative is a new, cost-share offering that is designed to help farmers, processors, and other farm-supporting agri-food businesses enhance operational resilience and improve public trust in the food supply system.

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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.