Government and Politics in Ontario Agriculture: The Boiler Room (79)

Canola Industry Encouraged by Outcomes from Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference

Canada’s canola industry welcomes the outcomes of last month’s Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference, particularly the Ministers' commitment to strengthening Canada's energy security and expanding domestic biofuel production. With nearly 1 in 3 acres of canola grown in Canada destined for biofuel markets in Canada, the United States and the European Union, it is encouraging to see the Ministers building on future energy security by supporting the production and use of low-carbon fuels from feedstocks we already grow. The Ministers' reference to increasing Canada's domestic biofuel production toward 60 percent of consumption by 2030, signals the important role that Canadian agriculture will continue to play in meeting the country's energy and climate goals. By the end of 2026, Canada is expected to have the capacity to process approximately 15 million tonnes of canola annually, driven by more than $2 billion in investments in new and expanded crushing facilities across the Prairies.

Rooted in Community: Nature's Path Organic Foods Announces 2026 Gardens for Good Grant Winners

North America's largest independent organic breakfast and snack food brand, today announced the grant recipients for its 16th annual Gardens for Good: Plant It Forward™ Program. Now in its 16th year, the program supports organic community gardens and urban farming initiatives working to increase access to fresh organic food, strengthen local food systems and empower communities across North America. Through the 2026 program, Nature's Path will award a total of $45,000 to 15 grassroots organizations, with each garden receiving a $3,000 grant. This year's recipients include 10 non-profit organizations in the United States and 5 in Canada, all selected for their commitment to organic agriculture, community-led leadership, food access and education. Since launching the initiative in 2010, Nature's Path has awarded more than $1 million to nearly 150 organic community gardens across North America. The program reflects the company's long-standing commitment to nourishing people and the plan

CPKC ends 2025-2026 crop year setting annual Canadian grain record

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) (CPKC) said today it has broken its all-time volume record for transporting Canadian grain and grain products by moving 30.66 million metric tonnes (MMT) during the 2025-2026 crop year. This new record annual volume exceeded the previous record set in the 2020–2021 crop year by approximately 72,500 metric tonnes. "Our team of exceptional railroaders reliably delivered the largest Canadian grain crop in history with consistency throughout the crop year," said John Brooks, CPKC Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. "Our dedication to service excellence, paired with solid execution by our customers and terminal operators, led to a crop year that saw more Canadian grain and grain products move on our network than ever before. This performance illustrates our long-standing commitment to the safe and efficient transportation of Canadian grain." The total volume transported in the 2025-2026 crop year was 11 percent higher t

Don’t Give Up Anything. A Forage Driven Rye with Flexibility and a Real Grain Up-Side.

SU Baresi is an exciting new hybrid rye built for forage production, delivering exceptional biomass, aggressive early growth, and high-quality feed for livestock operations. Designed with cattle producers and mixed farms in mind, it offers outstanding fall and spring vigour, excellent winter hardiness, and strong standability for dependable performance across diverse growing conditions. What sets SU Baresi apart is its flexibility. While it’s purpose-built for forage, it also delivers impressive grain yield potential, giving growers the confidence to take it to grain if conditions or market opportunities change, without sacrificing performance. A combination, often rare among true forage-type ryes. There really isn’t another true forage-type rye out there with this kind of grain upside. A strong fit for cattle producers and mixed farming operations, particularly in Alberta where early, high-quality forage and tonnage are key priorities, SU Baresi fills an important gap in our portf

U.S. Farmland Values Hit New Record High but Gains Slow

U.S. agricultural land values reached another record in 2026, although the pace of appreciation continued to ease, according to the latest annual Land Values Summary and cash rent estimates from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Released Friday, the report showed the average value of U.S. farm real estate, including land and buildings, increased by $150, or 3.4%, to $4,500 per acre. It marked the sixth consecutive annual increase but the slowest gain since the current upswing began in 2021. Annual growth has steadily moderated from 11.7% in 2022 to 6.7% in 2023, 5% in 2024 and 4.3% in 2025. Despite the slowdown, average farm real estate values are nearly 44% higher than in 2020, according to an American Farm Bureau Federation market intel article on Tuesday. Cropland values rose 3.3%, or $190, to a record $6,020 per acre. Pasture values increased 4.2% to $2,000 per acre. Since 2020, cropland values have climbed 48%, while pasture values are nearly 43% higher.