Lawrence Macaulay, seen here in a 2018 photo, is taking the ag minister post for the second time. Photo: supplied/minister’s office.

Ag leaders welcome MacAulay’s appointment as AAFC Minister   

The minister’s new role was part of the Liberal government’s recent cabinet shuffle 

Industry leaders and organizations are welcoming the July 26 announcement that veteran MP Lawrence McAulay will be taking over the post of Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food–and wasting no time calling him to action. It is the P.E.I. MP’s second time in the role, having previously held it between 2015 and 2019. MacAulay took over

Veteran minister and MP Lawrence Macaulay was appointed minister of agriculture and agri-food on July 26. Photo: Canada.ca

Bibeau out, MacAulay in as AAFC Minister 

Veteran P.E.I minister to take over Canada’s top ag role as Trudeau shuffles cabinet

Lawrence MacAulay will be replacing Marie-Claude Bibeau as Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. It will be his second turn in the role, having previously served between 2015 and 2019. The announcement came at a Wednesday swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall, where Prime Minister Trudeau’s anticipated cabinet re-shuffle was unveiled. MacAulay, who represents the


(Dragos Cojocari/iStock/Getty Images)

Pork sector calls for essential service status amid B.C. port strike

Council says pork should receive same consideration as grains

Leaders in Canada’s pork sector are calling on the federal government to give perishable agriculture products the same consideration and protection as grain. The call comes as a longshore workers’ strike at British Columbia’s West Coast ports nears its second week, blocking the shipment of Canadian meat and most other exports. Canadian Pork Council (CPC)

Do More Agriculture executive director Megz Reynolds onstage at Canada’s Farm Show in Regina June 20.

Platform promises anonymous, farm-based mental health help

The AgTalk peer support platform has been unveiled by Do More Agriculture

Farmers who tap into a new mental health service will get relatable, anonymous support for their struggles, according to the organization behind the initiative. The Do More Agriculture Foundation has launched AgTalk, a platform for those in the Canadian agriculture industry. It is a partnership between the foundation, RBC, BASF and the McCain Foundation and


"It’s been a long
time coming," said Nadine Frost, senior director of scientific and regulatory affairs at Fertilizer Canada.

Fertilizer industry commends CFIA extension

Applicable businesses will have longer to get their labels in line with new framework

Fertilizer manufacturers and retailers are being given a slight reprieve from new incoming regulations for fertilizer labeling. A transition period for the sector to adjust labels was set to end Oct. 26, but the Canadian Food Inspection Agency now says that pandemic-driven supply chain disruptions have made that target difficult to meet. The agency says

Preproduction 2023 models of Ford’s F-series Super Duty pickup trucks. (Ford.com)

Ford to keep AM radio, CEO says

Amid rising concerns, Canada's premier automaker will not drop AM

Ford Motor Co. has gone back on its plan to phase AM radio out of its vehicles. Ford CEO Jim Farley made the announcement Tuesday via Twitter, after company officials said last month that AM would be dropped from new non-commercial vehicles. “After speaking with policy leaders about the importance of AM broadcast radio as


(Photo courtesy Elections Alberta)

Pre-election reports analyze Alberta’s ag issues

Three reports focus on party histories, ag sector concerns, current platforms

Alberta farmers’ concerns with provincial policy, and the two major parties’ stances on those concerns, are the subjects of a three-part analysis leading up to a provincial election on Monday. The Simpson Centre for Food and Agricultural Policy, a think tank operating out of the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy, says its three

(Zachary Thomas/iStock/Getty Images)

Potential loss of AM radio in vehicles a concern for farmers

Many farmers rely on AM range, signal; U.S. lawmakers launch legislation

Canadian farmers are expressing concern about the possibility of their access to AM radio disappearing. Ford, which has been Canada’s best-selling auto brand since 2009, has stated it plans to stop putting AM radios in non-commercial vehicles by 2024. The automaker’s decision follows those of companies such as Tesla, Mazda and Volkswagen, which have removed


The issue of access to U.S. bees has been frustrating and divisive in Manitoba.

Time for another look at U.S. bees

Industry groups say it’s time to re-evaluate bee imports from the U.S.

Canadian beekeepers are calling on the federal government to re-examine the risks that have blocked U.S. packaged bees from Canada since the 1980s. Honeybee health decline and bee mortality took the stage at an April 26 meeting of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. Representatives from the honey sector presented on

(Stephen Ausmus photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

New report shows poultry sector burdened by expectations

Simpson Centre paper calls for increased research, financial sustainability for sector

Updated, May 17 — The Simpson Centre for Food and Agricultural Policy has released a report detailing its findings on challenges now facing Canada’s poultry sector. The report, co-authored by research assistant Shawn Wiskar and centre director Guillaume Lhermie and released Thursday, used a focus group of six stakeholders in the Canadian poultry industry. It