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.


trudeau at cfa

Federal leaders vie for farmer support at CFA

Ottawa seems to be sitting up and taking notice of agriculture

Reading Time: 3 minutes Ottawa —The meeting hall was buzzing March 6 as those at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s annual meeting awaited the arrival of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The last-minute addition to the agenda had been quietly rumoured for several days but only confirmed on the opening morning of the event. A longtime member of the Parliamentary […] Read more

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, […] Read more





Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland appears at a news conference in Ottawa on Sept. 24, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Blair Gable)

CFA seeks continued ag support in next federal budget

Federation also presses for Buy Canadian campaign, processing support

Federal budget consultations are underway, with agricultural groups lobbying the government to support the industry further in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Jan. 25 launched pre-budget consultations and since then, her schedule has involved several meetings with stakeholders. “We want to hear ideas from Canadians, from all walks of […] Read more

Nationally, farm net cash income was $12.95 billion, up six per cent overall

Not the best of times, but farm income rose in 2019

After a big drop two years ago, net income rose last year — and cannabis became a major crop

Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta farm income more than doubled last year. But it’s not as good as it sounds, even if you have been indulging in some of what is suddenly the province’s third-largest cash crop. Net farm income in Alberta in 2019 was just north of $671 million — which is well above the 2018 figure of […] Read more


(Lightguard/E+/Getty Images)

CFA seeks $2.6 billion in support for producers

Federal officials sought specific numbers from ag industry

Ottawa — Canada’s agriculture industry is seeking an initial $2.6 billion in COVID-19-related emergency relief funding from the federal government. Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) officials put in the ask to the federal government on Thursday. According to second vice-president Chris van den Heuvel, federal officials asked the CFA “to go and put hard numbers […] Read more

File photo of a small greenhouse operation in Quebec. (ManonAllard/E+/Getty Images)

Increased federal support for TFWs welcomed

Ottawa — The Canadian Horticultural Council says Monday’s federal announcement offering $50 million to help cover the extra costs associated with importing foreign workers this year is welcomed support. “We are finding that there are a lot of increased costs this year with COVID-19 and bringing in the employees, so having the extra money will […] Read more