Update, as of late Feb. 20: President Trump is signing an executive order imposing a new 10 per cent "global tariff" under Section 122 effective Feb. 24 in response to the Supreme Court ruling. The White House says USMCA-compliant imports from Canada and Mexico will be exempt, along with a list of other products, including... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
For many years, Canadian agriculture relied mainly on the United States as its export market. Rail service patterns, highways and port investments grew around that north-south trade. In the last decade, tariff threats, trade disputes and shifting U.S. policy have exposed the risk of relying so heavily on one customer and added urgency to efforts... Read More
Farmers across Canada are facing a dizzying array of incentive programs aimed at promoting sustainable and regenerative agriculture. While tight crop margins are leading farms to consider new ways of adding value, the sheer volume of sustainability-type programs and incentives is creating a mix of confusion and administrative burden, says Shawn Catherwood of Spur Line... Read More
It's no secret that there are challenges in terms of farm profitability in 2026, which is driving critical policy questions to assist producers through the difficult times. Governments have different tools they have engaged, including insurance, business risk management, and the advanced payments program. In the United States, there are similar tools, but on top... Read More
Alberta sees itself not just as a contributor to Canadian agriculture, but as a leader—and it wants the flexibility and infrastructure to match that role. During the RDAR Showcase held in January, Shaun Haney was joined by Alberta Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Jason Hale, to talk about the province’s strengths, trade priorities, and... Read More
Like many farm and commodity groups across Canada, the Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) is trying to figure out what federal government's involvement in agricultural research and plant breeding will look like as cuts are made within Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The organization that represents Manitoba farmers who grow wheat, barley, corn, sunflowers, and flax... Read More
The Alberta Federation of Agriculture (AFA) has outlined two key resolutions it will bring forward to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) annual general meeting later this month, aimed at strengthening Canada’s approach to ag technology and innovation. Aaron Stein, executive director of the AFA, says the organization is calling for a national ag tech... Read More
Strong cattle prices and packed committee rooms set the tone at CattleCon 2026 in Nashville last week, but trade access dominated the conversation. In this interview from the event, Shaun Haney speaks with Kent Bacus, executive director of government affairs with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) about the current state of U.S. beef exports... Read More
With many details yet to be confirmed, the House of Commons' agriculture committee started an emergency study on the impact of the cuts to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada this week. Deputy Minister Lawrence Hanson appeared before the committee, alongside assistant deputy Alain Lagacé and associate assistant deputy Andrew Goldstein, on Tuesday, Jan. 10. As previously... Read More
For this episode of The Truth About Ag podcast, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe joins Evan Shout and Kristjan Hebert for a wide-ranging conversation that connects farming roots, political leadership, and Canada’s place in a rapidly shifting global economy. Moe reflects on growing up on a mixed farm in Saskatchewan, what drew him into politics, and... Read More