Winter Webinar: Balancing Farmland Protection & Housing Supply

Sep 27, 2023

The increasing demand for housing supply and affordability in Ontario is leading to pressure on municipalities to develop their shrinking agricultural land base. At the same time, the need to preserve these food-producing landscapes is becoming increasingly critical in the face of climate change. This session explores the challenges and opportunities faced in balancing the need for housing with farmland protection while contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies for municipalities.

Webinar attendees will learn about the current policies and practices in Ontario and other jurisdictions that have been successful in protecting farmland. By the end of the session, participants will have a deeper understanding of the complex issues at play, leaving with practical and innovative strategies for balancing these competing demands and ways to get involved in locally.

This webinar series will run from October to April.

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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.