Escalating conflict in the Middle East is raising serious concerns about global energy flows, economic stability, and the broader geopolitical order—issues that could have downstream impacts on Canadian agriculture and trade. In this Frontlines episode, Shaun Haney of RealAgriculture and Jacob Shapiro of Bespoke Group unpack the rapidly evolving situation involving Iran, the United States,... Read More

Proposed changes to Canada’s livestock traceability regulations have faced major pushback from industry, with the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) signalling this week that the government's proposed path forward is not workable for producers. Tyler Fulton, CCA president and Manitoba rancher, says the national cattle producer organization does not support proceeding with the Canadian Food Inspection... Read More

Mental health continues to be a growing focus in agriculture, as farmers face increasing pressure from weather, markets, and the complexities of running multi-generational operations. In Alberta, the Agknow project has taken a closer look at what meaningful, farm-specific mental health support could look like, identifying both gaps and opportunities within the current system. Speaking... Read More

A staggering share of Canada’s food never gets eaten—and Lori Nikkel says that’s a systems problem, not an accident. In this episode of the Ag Policy Connection podcast, Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest, outlines why a national food waste strategy is critical to strengthening Canada’s food system. Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue organization,... Read More

The federal government is extending the higher interest-free portion on cash advances for 2026. Coinciding with the start of the government's new fiscal year on April 1, Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald announced the interest-free limit under the Advance Payments Program (APP) for 2026 will be maintained at $250 thousand for non-canola advances. By default in... Read More

United Farmers of Alberta (UFA) has completed its acquisition of key assets of AgraCity Crop & Nutrition Ltd. after receiving final approval from the Saskatchewan Court of King's Bench on March 31. UFA's $48.2 million bid was the top offer for the Saskatoon-based crop input provider, which entered creditor protection in December 2025. The assets... Read More

As edible bean growers look ahead to the 2026 season, lessons from last year’s crop — and early signals from the marketplace — are shaping management decisions across both Western and Eastern Canada. In this first episode of the 2026 Edible Bean School, RealAgriculture’s Bernard Tobin connects with Manitoba Agriculture pulse and soybean specialist Dennis... Read More