Plant health knows no borders: North America shines bright green for International Year of Plant Health

Apr 16, 2021

OTTAWA, ON - Plant health is essential to both human and animal health, as well as our environment and our economy. Canada is committed to preventing the introduction and spread of plant pests through strong partnerships with neighbouring countries and the active participation of Canadians.

Canada, the United States and Mexico are lighting up iconic monuments and landmarks in the colour green for the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH). The "Plant Health Knows No Borders" illumination initiative by the North American Plant Protection Organization is especially poignant in April, Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month.

Plants make up 80 percent of the food we eat and produce 98 percent of the oxygen we breathe. Protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, defend the environment and boost economic development!

The following North American landmarks will shine green for the IYPH:

The Canadian and American sides of Niagara Falls
Canadian Museum of Nature
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Jamie L. Whitten headquarters building on the Washington National Mall
Government Buildings in Mexico City
Mexico Independence Monument
Monument to Cuauhtémoc, last Aztec Emperor
Mexican's Revolution Monument

Across North America, everyone is invited to join the movement on the evenings of April 19 and 20, 2021, through social media and the Niagara Falls webcam. Together, we can raise awareness of the importance of healthy plants by amplifying images and content on our social media.

With a growing world population and increasing global trade, plant health is more important than ever for a steady food supply, a healthy environment and a strong economy in Canada and around the world.

Source : Cision

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.