War in Iran and blockage of a key global oil shipping route have sent diesel prices sharply higher, creating uncertainty for world energy supply and farmers who rely heavily on diesel. Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, joined RealAg's Shaun Haney to discuss the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the... Read More
Category: Agriculture Policy
The sudden and serious military action in the Middle East is raising new questions about energy markets, trade flows, and input costs — all factors that can quickly ripple into agriculture. In this Frontlines episode recorded Monday, March 9, RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney speaks with Jacob Shapiro of the Bespoke Group to unpack the geopolitical implications... Read More
Editor's note: Alberta Beef Producers announced today, March 5, after this interview was completed that they too were calling for a stop on the proposed regulations as written. Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) says it supports strong livestock traceability in Canada, but believes proposed federal regulatory changes need further refinement to ensure they are practical and... Read More
When Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the first round of nation building projects in late 2025, a new, high-speed rail line linking Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City was high on the list. Called Alto, the proposed high-speed rail corridor is first planned to link Ottawa to Montreal, however during the current 90-day consultation period... Read More
Geopolitics always factor into fertilizer markets, but the week's military escalation involving Iran has quickly added another layer of uncertainty to an already tight global fertilizer supply situation, raising concerns not just about prices, but about availability heading into the North American spring season. In this RealAg Markets discussion, RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney speaks with Josh... Read More
Chinese authorities have formally lowered the country's "anti-dumping" tariff on Canadian canola seed, while also suspending tariffs on canola meal, peas, and lobsters. The final ruling from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, effective March 1, lowers the countervail duty on canola seed from all Canadian exporters to 5.9 per cent from the preliminary rate of... Read More
There's a renewed focus on ideas that could unleash economic growth and productivity in Ottawa, according to the chair of Grain Growers of Canada (GGC). 25 representatives from Grain Growers' member organizations were on Parliament Hill this week for "Grainsweek." They held around 35 meetings with Members of Parliament, Senators, and federal staff, including an... Read More
Canada's biofuel industry is at a real crossroads and needs to decide what it will be when it grows up. There are strong advocates for the value stream, but also detractors and a group that seems overtaken by apathy at a time when the sector has so much potential. From farmers to politicians to processors,... Read More
There's no doubt farm profitability is really strained heading into the 2026 growing season, with stubborn variable- and fixed-cost structures and weak commodity prices. When margins are constricted, financials get squeezed, and it puts pressure on banking relationships. In January, eighty-two per cent of Canadian farmers surveyed through the Canadian Farmer Sentiment Index told RealAgristudies... Read More
The top political figures responsible for agriculture in Canada and the United States quietly met face-to-face for the first time on Friday (Feb. 20). Canada's Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald stopped in Washington, DC on his return from the trade mission in Mexico to meet with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. The pair have spoken previously,... Read More