Parliament Hill, in Ottawa – Ontario, Canada. Photo: Ulysse Pixel

Producers welcome change to cash advance program 

After much lobbying, federal government increases interest-free portion of program to $250,000

The interest-free portion of the federal Advance Payments Program will be $250,000 this year, much to farmers’ relief. The amount had been set to drop back to $100,000 at the end of this month after sitting at $350,000 for 2023.


Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shakes hands following his address to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture general meeting in early March.

Federal leaders vie for farmer support at CFA

Ottawa seems to be sitting up and taking notice of agriculture

The meeting hall was buzzing the afternoon of March 6 as the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s annual meeting awaited the arrival of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. A last-minute addition to the agenda, the prime minister’s participation had been quietly rumoured for several days, but only confirmed on the opening morning of the event. A long-time member of the Parliamentary

Keith Currie. (OFA photo)

Former OFA president to lead CFA

Keith Currie acclaimed to replace Mary Robinson

A former president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture is taking the helm of Canada’s largest general farmers’ organization. Keith Currie of Collingwood, Ont. was acclaimed as the new president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture this week during the CFA’s annual general meeting in Ottawa. As CFA president, Currie replaces Mary Robinson of Albany,





shopping for food in a grocery store

Editor’s Take: A nuanced take on ‘Food Freedom’

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture took a different approach this month when it marked its annual ‘Food Freedom Day’ on February 9, just one day later than last year. Ordinarily, it’s a straightforward affair where they note that by this date, the average Canadian has earned enough to pay their food bill for the year.

Immigration streams need to be revamped to bring in workers who have the skillset and desire to work in agriculture and food, says a co-chair of an immigration and foreign worker group.

National labour strategy to consider foreign worker perspectives

After about a year of meetings, working groups have split into five focus areas

Foreign worker advocacy and Indigenous groups will be consulted as the National Workforce Strategy for Agriculture and Food and Beverage Manufacturing is developed, leaders say. “It’s up to us to look at the world through their eyes and understand what do we have to change to make sure that there’s a place for them at


Apples-to-apples comparisons sustainability program goal

Apples-to-apples comparisons sustainability program goal

CASI project aims to show how Canadian farmers stack up globally

A program to make it easy to compare Canadian sustainability programs against international ones will kick off by comparing Canadian beef sustainability standards against an international carbon certification. “We want to avoid duplication,” said Mary Robinson, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), which leads the project. “We all go through these different qualifying,

Feds fund Hay West to ship another 15 million to 16 million pounds of hay

Feds fund Hay West to ship another 15 million to 16 million pounds of hay

DROUGHT With far more demand than capacity, the CFA is seeking to mitigate as much damage as possible

Federal funding will allow the Hay West relief initiative to ship another 15 million to 16 million pounds of hay through the winter, says the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA). That’s based on an average cost of 15 to 20 cents per pound, a spokesperson told the Co-operator. However, that’s a fraction of the hay