One of the largest purchasers, processors, and exporters of canola is back as a member of the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) after an eight-year hiatus. Richardson International, the parent company of Richardson Pioneer, formally rejoined the national canola industry group at its annual general meeting on March 12, 2026. Richardson withdrew its funding from... Read More
Category: Canadian Agriculture Policy
The path to renewing the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) appears to be facing stronger headwinds as the renewal timeline winds down. In a fireside chat at the Canadian Crops Convention in Toronto this week, U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, joined Erin Gowriluk of the Canada Grains Council to discuss the status of the Canada–U.S.... Read More
Global agriculture is navigating a period of profound geopolitical, economic, and environmental upheaval, raising urgent questions about how our food systems can remain sustainable, resilient, profitable, and for many, affordable. While politics and conflicts may divide nations and thicken borders, food — and the policies around how it is produced and where it goes —... Read More
Farmers who pay commodity check-off or levy dollars that support research may be eligible for a federal tax credit through the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax incentive program. Administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), the SR&ED program encourages investment in research and development (R&D) by offering tax incentives for eligible work carried... Read More
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
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
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
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