Farm groups push Ottawa to prioritize agriculture amid uncertainty

Keystone Agricultural Producers and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture want governments to consider agriculture more often when setting priorities.

They are ramping up pressure on governments to prioritize agriculture in trade, regulation and disaster response as farmers face worsening drought and mounting financial strain.

Agriculture needs to be front and centre in Ottawa’s economic strategy under the new Carney-led Liberal government, said Brodie Berrigan, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA)’s director of government relations and farm policy.

“We’re trying to put in the window some low-cost, no-cost initiatives that we think would advance the interests of the sector,” he said, noting Ottawa has indicated there will be little new spending in the fall budget.

The CFA’s pitch to government, which Berrigan shared at the July advisory council meeting of Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) on July 23, highlights regulatory streamlining and legislative changes aimed at boosting productivity and investment without significant cost to government. It also pushes Ottawa to view agriculture as a long-term economic driver, rather than a short-term budgetary expense.

“In terms of GDP growth, we estimate upwards of an additional $100 billion over the next 10 years could come out of the agriculture sector with the right investment, streamlining of regulations and investment in innovation,” Berrigan said.