Wheat Growers Call On Ottawa To Drop The Carbon Tax Increase

Mar 27, 2020

Farmers are calling for more action from the Federal Government given the ongoing and future impact that we could see with COVID-19.

Ottawa increased the lending capacity for Farm Credit Canada this week in an effort to help farmers.

Darryl Fransoo, a director with the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, says it’s absolutely imperative that we keep trucks, trains, and boats rolling.

“I’d like to see something done on that front. Obviously, our inland terminals, our ports are very important. So a little news on how we can keep that rolling I think would be way more beneficial than any handouts they could deliver to farmers right now.”

The Wheat Growers also want to see Ottawa drop its plan to increase the carbon tax as of April 1st.

Fransoo says the Federal Government is looking at increasing the carbon tax from $20 to $30 a tonne noting it’s already a tax that hurts farmers' bottom line, as well as consumers at the grocery store.

“It's going to happen where they're going to raise the tax by 50%. That's detrimental. You know right now with the Canadian economy facing the challenges that we are. We’re really calling on the federal government, to at least not bump it up. A tax increase is foolish right now.

Fransoo says with the economic crisis we are in he would like to see Ottawa eliminate the Carbon Tax.

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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.