SARM Calls On Politicians To Put More Focus On Agricultural Issues

Aug 31, 2021

With the Federal Election just weeks away, SARM has released its list of Election Priorities.

President Ray Orb says now is the time to be talking to candidates about rural broadband infrastructure, carbon tax and offsets.

"Farmers and ranchers already are sequestering carbon. They're doing their part and have been for some time to sequester carbon to take greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. But, of course, we all know that, but the federal government doesn't recognize this. They have not come forward with a meaningful offset program that would reward farmers rather than penalize them. The current carbon tax structure that we have in place, imposed on us by the federal government, is penalizing farmers."

He notes they also are calling for more infrastructure funding for rural municipalities, and better Ag safety nets.

"You know, we really believe that if we had more effective, more realistic safety net programs that really would reflect, you know, the farmer's cost of production. We probably wouldn't need extra help. As we're asking for now. We're asking for Agri-Recovery, which is a framework that is being developed. We wouldn't need those kinds of things as much if we had a better safety net program."

Orb would like to hear more from the political candidates about agricultural issues.

Voters go to the poll September 20th.

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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.