By Paul Maurice, Executive Member, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

With renewed tariff threats from the United States making headlines again, Canadians are getting another reminder that our economy doesn’t operate in a vacuum. That’s especially true for a sector as export-dependent as agriculture, where the decisions made in Washington, Ottawa and provincial capitals can have just as much impact on a farm business as the weather.

That’s why the recent federal-provincial-territorial agriculture ministers’ meetings in Nova Scotia, along with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) summer meeting, were important. They brought together farm leaders, government ministers and officials from across the country to discuss the issues that will shape Canadian agriculture for years to come.

I attended the event as a farmer and Executive Member of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. My biggest takeaway wasn’t any single announcement; rather it was the sense that agriculture is finally moving higher on government priority lists. The recent federal government announcement of the development of a national food security strategy is one of the signs of that shift.

As farmers, we’ve long known how important our sector is to the rest of the national economy. To put it simply, everyone has to eat and we’re in the business of producing food – along with fuel, fibre and flowers – but we don’t usually command the attention that other sectors like automotive, mining or energy do.

The connection seems obvious: there is no national security without food security. A country that can’t reliably produce its own food is vulnerable to global conflicts, trade disputes, supply chain disruptions and extreme weather. Canada has the land, the resources and the expertise to feed its own population and customers around the world, but that capacity can’t be taken for granted.

It was also encouraging to see the growing influence of senators with agricultural backgrounds. Their practical understanding of farming is helping keep agriculture front and centre in national policy discussions, whether the topic is food production, soil health or the long-term competitiveness of Canadian agriculture.

Of course, greater recognition doesn’t eliminate the challenges we face.

Labour shortages remain one of the biggest concerns across the country. Whether it’s seasonal workers, skilled trades or year-round employees, farms and agri-food businesses continue to struggle to find the people they need. Without a reliable workforce, it becomes harder to grow food, invest in new opportunities and keep rural economies strong.

Protecting farmland is another issue that is facing provinces nation-wide. Productive agricultural land continues to disappear to development, and once it’s gone, it rarely comes back into production. Land use planning isn’t just a local issue anymore, it’s a national one.

The same is true for farm business transition. Young farmers continue to face significant barriers to entering the industry or taking over family farms. High land prices, lack of access to capital and rising business costs make transition increasingly difficult. If governments are serious about strengthening Canada’s food security, helping the next generation get established has to be part of the solution.

And of course, trade. While recent tariff threats remind us how important the United States remains as Canada’s largest agricultural trading partner, they also reinforce the need to continue diversifying our export markets. Expanding opportunities around the world makes Canadian agriculture more resilient when one market becomes uncertain.

At the same time, Canada needs to invest at home. More domestic food processing capacity, stronger and more modern transportation networks and better rural infrastructure all help farmers get products to market more efficiently while creating economic opportunities here in Canada.

None of these issues can be solved by one province acting alone. That’s why organizations like the Canadian Federation of Agriculture are so important. They bring together voices from every region of the country so governments hear not just one provincial perspective, but a national one.

I left Nova Scotia optimistic. Not because our work is finished, but because it feels like governments are beginning to understand what farmers have known all along: agriculture isn’t just another sector of the economy. It’s fundamental to Canada’s economy, its resilience and its future.

For more information or to request an interview:

Tyler Brooks
Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations,
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883 or [email protected]