Farmland, and more broadly real estate, has been a great investment over the past twenty years, but that has produced some consequences for those on the outside of the price appreciation. In both Canada and the U.S., sky-high land prices have been identified as a barrier to entry or growth for some farmers and ranchers.... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
Canada’s grain sector has a strengthened national advocacy voice today, as Grain Farmers of Ontario formally re-joins Grain Growers of Canada. Grain Growers of Canada represents grain farmers through its now 15 national, provincial, and regional member organizations, bringing a unified national voice to federal discussions on behalf of grain producers on issues of trade,... Read More
With 2025 in the rearview, farmers head into 2026 facing a crowded policy landscape and persistent market pressures. Shaun Haney, host of RealAg Radio, joined RFD-TV’s Market Day Report to outline the major forces shaping the year ahead. Haney points to 2026 as a “collision year,” with overlapping policy files demanding attention—from the stalled U.S.... Read More
As we begin a new year, feedback from farmers, agribusiness leaders, and policy watchers suggests Canada’s agriculture minister is earning something close to a passing grade. Over the New Year's break, I reached out to members of the RealAg audience to get their grade of Agriculture and Agri-food Minister Heath MacDonald. We have kept all... Read More
One of the most consequential economic and political issues for 2026 will be the review of the CUSMA/USMCA agreement. With roughly US$1.6 trillion in trade, this trilateral trade bloc is critical for the economic growth of Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. As we approach the first round of real talks regarding the review, we've seen... Read More
The National Index on Agri-Food Performance provides a consolidated picture of sustainability across Canada’s agri-food system. It brings together the most current national data to show where the system is improving, where it is holding steady, and where challenges remain. Just as importantly, it maps the data gaps and limitations that prevent a complete picture... Read More
Prime Minister Mark Carney has officially confirmed earlier reports that Mark Wiseman will be Canada’s next ambassador to the United States — a key appointment as the Canadian government navigates the Trump administration's tariffs and the upcoming review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement in 2026. Wiseman brings more than 30 years of experience in law,... Read More
Supply management has long provided price stability and income predictability for Canadian dairy and poultry producers, but its sustainability is under growing pressure. That’s the message from Greg Meredith, a retired senior civil servant who served in both federal and provincial agriculture ministries, in a new episode of the Ag Policy Connection podcast. In this... Read More
A New Year usually feels very hopeful: unspoiled, full of potential, ready to be made into whatever it is you're planning for. If you've seen the meme, many of us are not interested in a fresh new 2026, instead we'd prefer maybe a slightly used 2010 or a 1997, if it's been well taken care... Read More
A B.C. Supreme Court decision has raised alarm bells among private landowners, ranchers, and lenders, following a ruling that grants Aboriginal title over 700 acres in the City of Richmond, title that supersedes simple title (fee simple) ownership. For ranchers and others across the province, the implications of this legal precedent are anything but local... Read More