Agriculture

Agriculture

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe speaks to the media at a meeting of western premiers in Kananaskis, Alta., Monday, May 25, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Premier Moe says new trade deal with India would benefit Saskatchewan despite tariffs

Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Friday, May. 29, 2026

REGINA - As Ottawa appears to inch closer to a trade deal with India, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says he hopes the agreement addresses punishing tariffs on pulse crops.

But Moe says if the deal doesn't remove the duties, it's something his province can work around. 

"The need for pulses in India is not going to go away. (Saskatchewan's) relationship with India is not going to go away," he told reporters Friday. 

"We've had pulse tariffs come on and off over my time in this position … and each and every time, we've been able to rely on our relationship."

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Agriculture

A forest tent caterpillar is shown in this handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout-Olds College of Agriculture & Technology (Mandatory Credit)

‘Just be amazed:’ Alberta is seeing a cyclical outbreak of caterpillars

Fakiha Baig, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

‘Just be amazed:’ Alberta is seeing a cyclical outbreak of caterpillars

Fakiha Baig, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: 9:01 AM CDT

EDMONTON - Forest tent caterpillars are not entomologist Ken Fry's favourite insect but the black-coloured critters with vibrant blue-and-yellow marks do have a soft spot in his heart.

They're why his dad once let him break the house rule of not climbing the two poplar trees in their backyard, so Fry could clamber to the top of one and grab hundreds of caterpillar eggs before they hatched and destroyed leaves.

'I was about seven-years-old ... My dad said, 'Ken, get up that tree, get after those caterpillar eggs," said Fry, who is an instructor at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology in central Alberta.

"This particular species allowed me to climb our tree with wild abandon and absolute endorsement of my parents."

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Updated: 9:01 AM CDT

Agriculture

Curly leaf lettuce is harvested at an urban hydroponic vertical farm in Montreal on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Opposition, unions fear federal cuts could undermine food security

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Opposition, unions fear federal cuts could undermine food security

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Thursday, May. 21, 2026

OTTAWA - New Democrats and several unions are warning that federal job cuts and research facility closures will put food safety and security at risk.

The federal government's website says it's planning to cut more than 650 jobs at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, while the Agriculture Union says the government will cut about 600 more jobs at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada also said earlier this year it planned to close three research and development centres and four satellite research farms to trim costs.

They include the Lacombe Research and Development Centre in Alberta, the Quebec Research and Development Centre and the Nappan Experimental Farm in Nova Scotia.

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Thursday, May. 21, 2026

Agriculture

FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2011, file photo, a mushroom grows at Winslow Park in Freeport, Maine. Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

U.S. slaps duties on fresh Canadian mushrooms over subsidy claims

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

U.S. slaps duties on fresh Canadian mushrooms over subsidy claims

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Tuesday, May. 19, 2026

WASHINGTON - The United States has put countervailing duties on fresh mushrooms grown in Canada following a U.S. Department of Commerce investigation which the Canadian industry has called "deeply flawed."

The change, posted in the federal register on Monday, will slap most fresh mushrooms with tariffs of 2.84 per cent.

Two companies received separate duties: Champ's Fresh Farms Inc. was hit with a tariff rate of 1.62 per cent and Farmers' Fresh Mushrooms Inc. was hit with a tariff rate of 4.97 per cent.

Separate anti-dumping duties are expected to be added later this month.

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Tuesday, May. 19, 2026

Agriculture

Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette in the red room of the National Assembly, May 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Quebec reimbursing farmers for fuel tax, says measure will help competitiveness

Patrice Bergeron, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Quebec reimbursing farmers for fuel tax, says measure will help competitiveness

Patrice Bergeron, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Friday, May. 15, 2026

DRUMMONDVILLE - Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette has responded to pressure from the agriculture sector, promising to reimburse millions of dollars to farmers for fuel taxes linked to the province's carbon market.

Starting in July, more than 15,000 farmers will begin to be reimbursed for the fuel taxes. The government has pledged to transfer a total of $87 million to farmers for the taxes they will pay in 2026 and 2027, with the money coming out of Quebec's climate change fund. 

With Friday's announcement, Fréchette is fulfilling a commitment she had made and addressing the many complaints that had been raised for several years by the province's professional agricultural trade union, Union des producteurs agricoles, or UPA. 

On the sidelines of a biofood industry event in Drummondville, Que., Fréchette told reporters that despite the reimbursements, she didn't think farmers no longer had incentives to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

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Friday, May. 15, 2026

Agriculture

The Statistics Canada offices in Ottawa are seen on Tuesday, May 1, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Controversies and consequences: Five things to know about the census

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Controversies and consequences: Five things to know about the census

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Wednesday, May. 13, 2026

OTTAWA - People across the country completed their census forms this week, sharing details about their lives, which languages they speak and — for those who got the long-form census — information about their social and economic situations and access to housing.

Here are five things to know about the questionnaire.

The census is more than 350 years old

The federal government's website says the first census in Canada was launched by Jean Talon, colonial administrator for New France, in 1666.

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Wednesday, May. 13, 2026

Agriculture

Saskatchewan crop farmer Jeremy Welter seeds a portion of his approximately 400-hectares of land near Kerrobert, Sask., in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Jeremy Welter (Mandatory Credit)

Saskatchewan seeding delayed by cold temperatures, wet soil but farmers undeterred

Dayne Patterson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Saskatchewan seeding delayed by cold temperatures, wet soil but farmers undeterred

Dayne Patterson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Wednesday, May. 13, 2026

When you ask Brett Halstead what challenges he expects to see with seeding at his farm in Saskatchewan, his answer is simple.

"Everything."

Seeding in Saskatchewan has been delayed because of cold temperatures and stubborn spring snow, particularly in the north and east of the province.

On top of the common issue of moisture, farmers in Canada's breadbasket are dealing with war-driven commodity pricing.

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Wednesday, May. 13, 2026

Agriculture

Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Committee calls for reversal of agricultural research centre closures

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Committee calls for reversal of agricultural research centre closures

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Tuesday, May. 12, 2026

OTTAWA - A House of Commons committee is recommending the government halt its decision to close agricultural research centres and experimental farm sites across Canada as part of its cost-cutting exercise.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada said earlier this year it planned to close three research and development centres and four satellite research farms.

The House of Commons agriculture and agri-food committee studied the impact of closures that include the Lacombe Research and Development Centre in Alberta, the Quebec Research and Development Centre, and the Nappan Experimental Farm in Nova Scotia.

The report said witnesses told the committee about the "significant" economic benefits of investing in agricultural science and innovation.

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Tuesday, May. 12, 2026

Agriculture

An aerial view of carrots being harvested on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Non-profit, union wary of federal plan to amend food inspection, pest control acts

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Non-profit, union wary of federal plan to amend food inspection, pest control acts

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Sunday, May. 3, 2026

OTTAWA - A non-profit says it's concerned about the government's plan to amend food safety laws to take food security and affordability into account, and is arguing Ottawa is prioritizing trade over the health of Canadians.

The government's spring economic update outlined plans to amend the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act and the Pest Control Products Act to "include consideration of food security and cost of food."

A Department of Finance official said the government remains committed to safeguarding the environment and protecting the health and safety of Canadians.

"Further details will be provided as legislative changes are introduced, with timing still to be announced," said the official in an email.

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Sunday, May. 3, 2026

Agriculture

Farmer Bruce Bird walks past his seeding rig on his farm that has been in the family for over 100 years near Cremona, Alta., Friday, April 17, 2026.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

‘I live in Vegas’: Canadian ag producers take gamble with high fuel, fertilizer costs

Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

‘I live in Vegas’: Canadian ag producers take gamble with high fuel, fertilizer costs

Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 21, 2026

CREMONA -  

A sharp jump in fuel and fertilizer prices has Canada's agriculture producers engaged in a pricey game of chance.

Prices for diesel and fertilizer have nearly doubled since the war involving the U.S, Iran and Israel, as the stalemate has choked vital oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

That's impacting commodities down the line, and a shortage of fertilizer could make this upcoming crop year a gamble for farmers.

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Tuesday, Apr. 21, 2026

Agriculture

Dairy cows graze outdoors in Saint-Pie, Que., on Friday, July 11, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Farming groups applaud private member’s bill aimed at speeding up product approvals

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Farming groups applaud private member’s bill aimed at speeding up product approvals

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Saturday, Apr. 18, 2026

OTTAWA - Canadian agriculture groups are applauding a Conservative private member's bill that would allow Canada to rely on scientific reviews of new products conducted in "trusted" countries to speed up approvals of the products here.

Conservative MP David Bexte introduced Bill C-273 on Tuesday, saying farmers in Canada can wait years to get access to products that places like New Zealand, the European Union and the United States already have approved and used safely for years.

"In some cases, these products never come to Canada," he said at a news conference outside the House of Commons.

The bill would allow Canada to give provisional approval to feeds, fertilizers, seeds and pest control products within 90 days of an application if the product has already been approved in at least two "trusted" jurisdictions.

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Saturday, Apr. 18, 2026

Agriculture

A Richardson's ground squirrel looks up from its burrow on Monday, July 14, 2025, in a vacant lot near apartment homes in Minot, N.D. (AP Photo/Jack Dura)

‘Long overdue’: Prairie farmers welcome renewal of poison to target pesky gophers

Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

‘Long overdue’: Prairie farmers welcome renewal of poison to target pesky gophers

Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Tuesday, Mar. 31, 2026

Prairie farmers say a move by Ottawa to temporarily lift a ban on a rodent poison is a good start to address rampant gopher populations that have decimated crops and injured livestock. 

"I suspect maybe if the Bible had been written in Saskatchewan, it wouldn't have been locusts. It would have been gophers," Jeremy Welter, a farmer near Kerrobert, Sask., said Tuesday. 

"I think (lifting the ban) is one of those things that is long overdue."

On Monday, federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel and Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald announced producers can again start using two per cent liquid strychnine until November 2027 to control gophers, also known as Richardson's ground squirrels. 

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Tuesday, Mar. 31, 2026

Agriculture

A Richardson's ground squirrel pokes up from its burrow on Monday, July 14, 2025, in a vacant lot in Minot, N.D. (AP Photo/Jack Dura)

Ottawa allows temporary use of gopher poison in Alberta, Saskatchewan

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Ottawa allows temporary use of gopher poison in Alberta, Saskatchewan

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Monday, Mar. 30, 2026

OTTAWA - Ottawa is temporarily allowing the return of the rodent poison strychnine in Alberta and Saskatchewan as those provinces grapple with gopher infestations.

A statement from the federal ministers of health and agriculture says allowing its use will help farmers address damage caused by Richardson's ground squirrels.

The federal government banned strychnine in 2024 as it posed risks to other wildlife that consume poisoned carcasses.

The Prairie provinces have recently pushed Health Canada to reconsider, arguing gophers are threatening crops and causing millions of dollars' worth of damage.

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Monday, Mar. 30, 2026

Agriculture

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at Verst Logistics on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Hebron, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

Price shocks from Iran war could give Canada leverage in CUSMA talks: experts

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Price shocks from Iran war could give Canada leverage in CUSMA talks: experts

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

WASHINGTON - Countries around the world are grappling with skyrocketing costs for key commodities like oil and fertilizer as the war with Iran continues to upend global trade.

With no end in sight, the war is likely to cast a shadow over trade negotiations ahead of the mandatory review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade — and could ultimately offer Canada more leverage in those talks.

"If you're sitting in Washington and you're seeing what's happening to global markets, you're going to be looking at your secure producers and suppliers perhaps slightly differently from the way you … might've been looking at them before the conflict began, which was solely in tariff terms,” said Fen Osler Hampson, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa and co-chair of the Expert Group on Canada-U.S. Relations.

Crude oil and natural gas prices shot up after Iran essentially closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to the United States-Israel bombing campaign.

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Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

Agriculture

Pork chops are on display at a Sam's Club, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Bentonville, Ark. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Group calls on Health Canada to make labels mandatory for gene-edited pork

Emily Baron Cadloff, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Group calls on Health Canada to make labels mandatory for gene-edited pork

Emily Baron Cadloff, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Sunday, Mar. 1, 2026

HALIFAX - An advocacy group of farmers and environmental organizations wants Health Canada to implement mandatory labelling on pork from gene-edited pigs. 

Earlier this year, the federal agency approved the sale of gene-edited pigs as food. The pigs are resistant to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus, called PRRSV-resistant pigs. 

"It is expected that by addressing PRRSV in pigs, farmers can prevent severe illness and death in their herds, reduce the need for antibiotics, and improve animal welfare," Health Canada said in an email to The Canadian Press.

In January, Health Canada released a statement saying that the pigs do not “pose a greater risk to human health than pigs currently available,” and added that there are “no differences in the nutritional value of the PRRSV-resistant pigs compared to other pigs.” 

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Sunday, Mar. 1, 2026

Agriculture

Three Richardson's ground squirrels appear Monday, July 14, 2025, in a vacant lot near apartment homes in Minot, N.D. (AP Photo/Jack Dura)

Alberta, Saskatchewan urge Ottawa to approve gopher poison following rejection

Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Alberta, Saskatchewan urge Ottawa to approve gopher poison following rejection

Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026

REGINA - The Alberta and Saskatchewan governments are pushing Ottawa to lift a ban on an effective rodent poison as farmers warn of an increase in damaged crops and injuries to livestock. 

The provinces said the Pest Management Regulatory Agency had rejected their proposal to allow the emergency use of two per cent liquid strychnine to control swelling populations of Richardson's ground squirrels, commonly known as gophers. 

The agency had banned strychnine two years ago, arguing that it poses risks to other wildlife species that consume poisoned carcasses.

Don Connick, who farms in southwestern Saskatchewan, said he remembers seeing plenty of gopher mounds last summer protruding from his neighbour's cropland. 

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Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026

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