As planters and air seeders begin to roll, a different kind of groundwork is being laid in Ottawa. Bill C-273, the Facilitating Agricultural Regulatory Modernization Act—or simply, the FARM Act, is a new private member's bill aimed at speeding up approvals of new seed, feed, pest control, fertilizer, and veterinary products in Canada. The bill... Read More
Category: News
The chill in the North American agricultural economy is being felt acutely on dealership lots this spring. According to data released by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), March 2026 saw a significant pullback in tractor and combine sales as producers grapple with tightening margins and a cautious capital environment. According to the AEM data,... Read More
The Canadian government expects to reduce annual spending on operations by $27 million following the closure of seven Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research facilities. New financial details were disclosed in a letter from Deputy Minister Lawrence Hanson to members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food earlier this week. The... Read More
There's a renewed push in the House of Commons for quicker approvals of agricultural products that are available in other countries with similar scientific standards as Canada. Southern Alberta Conservative MP David Bexte introduced a private member's bill on April 14 that would require 90-day approval for feed, seed, pest control, fertilizer, and veterinary products... Read More
The public comment period for the draft Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle has opened. Stakeholders, including producers, consumers, and others with an interest in the welfare of beef cattle, are invited to review the draft Code and provide input that will inform the final version, recognizing that perspectives and... Read More
Drew and Heather Spoelstra of Binbrook, Ont., have been named Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) for 2026, following the regional competition held April 7 to 9 in St. Jacobs, Ont. Based at Binbrook, the Spoelstras operate Roy-A-Lea Farms Ltd., a diversified family farm producing grains, hay, dairy, and beef. Heather Spoelstra leads the Roy-A-Lea Clydesdales... Read More
Saskatchewan has announced the Emergency Use Registration for two per cent liquid strychnine has been expanded to allow a broader range of Saskatchewan rural municipalities (RMs) access management of Richardson's ground squirrels (a.k.a. gophers) until November 2027. Last week, the Saskatchewan and Alberta governments announced areas where the emergency use registration would apply. Saskatchewan's initial... Read More
Rising costs, shifting consumer habits, and global uncertainty are creating a challenging environment for Canada’s food and beverage manufacturers—pressures that are increasingly working their way back to the farm gate. In this interview, Shaun Haney speaks with Craig Johnston, chief economist with Farm Credit Canada (FCC), about the 2026 Food and Beverage Report and what... Read More
I know better than to ask a farmer when they plan to retire. Most will tell you....they don't. But many more do have ideas about things they'd like to do and see when they're maybe not so busy (ahem). The question of "retirement" is two-fold: what will you do with your time, but, more importantly,... Read More
Herbicide-resistant weeds continue to spread across Ontario, but agronomists warn that two species — waterhemp and Palmer amaranth — are raising the most concern as the 2026 growing season approaches. At this week’s Ridgetown Agribusiness breakfast meeting, agronomists, scientists, and ag retailers highlighted the rapid expansion of waterhemp, the emerging presence of Palmer amaranth, and... Read More