An archival photo of cattle at the federal research farm at Nappan, N.S. The facility, which dates back to 1887, is one of several AAFC sites marked in January 2026 for closure. Photo: Topley Studio/Library and Archives Canada/PA-026266

Government silence loud on AAFC cuts

Fiscal responsibility should mean owning the responsibility for fiscal decisions

Canada’s federal government trumpets fiscal responsibility; their silence on a day of massive Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada cuts was baffling at best.

a red tractor obscured in dust while working in dry soils. Pic: Alexis Stockford

The double-edged sword of being an agricultural innovator

Canadian agriculture needs innovation and resilience, but being first in line also means taking on risk, sometimes without much of a safety net

A new report suggests Canada’s farmers have been “overly reliant” on business risk management programs such as crop insurance, AgriStability and AgriRecovery as “the only risk management solution.” Should farmers now go out on a limb trying new ways to mitigate those risks?





Male farmer collecting fresh, heirloom chicken eggs from the straw. Photo: Debby Lowe/iStock/Getty Images

Supply management schism still dividing agriculture

Bill C-202, which sought to protect supply management on trade just like its pre-election predecessor, wound up pitting Canadian farmer against Canadian farmer

Bill C-202 wound up pitting farmer against farmer for political reasons at a time when an unwritten law of Canadian politics remains very much in effect anyway.