As Canada navigates trade disruptions, geopolitical uncertainty, and growing concerns about food security, agriculture is increasingly being viewed as a strategic national asset. That shift in thinking is creating new conversations about how policy tools—including tax incentives—can help drive investment, innovation, and long-term growth across the sector. In this episode of the Ag Policy Connection... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
Health Canada’s recent letter of "no objection" on drone pesticide application marks a significant step forward for the technology in Canadian agriculture. While the decision allows products with aerial registrations to be applied by drone under existing label directions, questions remain around provincial requirements, operator compliance, and best management practices. In a conversation with RealAgriculture’s... Read More
Canada’s seafood farmers are angling for a bigger say in the agricultural trade conversation. The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) has signed on as a "Friend" of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA), the groups announced last week. The move brings Canada's finfish, shellfish, and aquatic plant producers into the national group focused on growing... Read More
While the Canadian cattle sector remains strongly opposed to any trade deal that could increase South American beef imports, Canada's fertilizer industry is urging the Carney government to sign a Mercosur agreement as soon as possible. Fertilizer Canada is calling on the federal government to fast-track negotiations with the trading bloc—which includes Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil,... Read More
How do we define and measure soil health across Canada's diverse agricultural regions? That's the topic of this latest Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) and RealAgriculture webinar examining the findings of a new CSA Group report on soil health measurement and reporting. The discussion explores why standardization matters, where current gaps exist, and how consistent... Read More
When margins tighten, farm management decisions become even more important. Yet some of the toughest decisions producers face aren't driven by markets, weather, or policy—they're shaped by human behaviour. On this episode of the Mind Your Farm Business podcast, host Shaun Haney speaks with Ben Brown, agricultural economist at the University of Missouri, about the... Read More
The greatest threat to beekeepers' bottom lines currently is not biological, but economic, according to the executive director of the Canadian Honey Council. Fraudulent or adulterated imports of honey remain a major challenge, driving down domestic honey prices and threatening the financial viability of beekeeping in Canada alongside rising input and labour costs, says Rod... Read More
As Canada navigates a period of economic uncertainty, attention is increasingly turning to trade policy, investment decisions, and the upcoming CUSMA review. While concerns about inflation and slowing growth remain, the bigger question may be whether businesses have enough confidence to invest and expand. Speaking with RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney at the FCC Horizon event last... Read More
Farm and agriculture organizations are offering a mix of optimism and conditional support following the federal government's unveiling of its new National Food Security Strategy last week. Announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald, the strategy promises substantial federal investments to increase grocery supply chain competition, domestic food processing capacity, and... Read More
Not only is the Canadian government's new national food security strategy "the largest single investment" in the agriculture department's history, it should serve as a platform for driving much-needed changes around agriculture in the federal government, according to the federal agriculture minister. A day after standing alongside Prime Minister Carney at the Ontario Food Terminal... Read More