Federal, provincial, and territorial Ministers of Agriculture met virtually on July 17 to discuss concrete ways to support the resilience and competitiveness of Canada’s agriculture sector and agri-food supply chains.
The ministers focused on helping producers and processors navigate trade uncertainties and climate challenges, while also seizing opportunities to increase interprovincial trade. They confirmed their commitment to strengthening business risk management tools that farmers rely on.
To that end, ministers agreed to improve the AgriStability program for the 2025 program year. The compensation rate will rise from 80 percent to 90 percent, and the maximum payment limit will double from $3 million to $6 million. These changes aim to give producers better tools to manage increasing climate and market risks.
The government will introduce further changes to AgriStability in 2026. Provinces and territories will have the option to adopt a new inventory valuation method for on-farm use. Ministers also committed to seeking approval to include feed costs related to rented pasture as allowable expenses before the 2026 program year. They will review these changes at their annual in-person meeting in September and continue examining other eligible AgriStability expenses.
Improving interprovincial trade remains a shared priority. Ministers reviewed options to reduce internal trade barriers and support the growth of food businesses across Canada. They discussed enhancing Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) support for small and medium-sized processors wanting to sell products across provincial lines with a federal food licence. They also considered expanding slaughter capacity in underserved areas and allowing low-risk manufactured food to move between provinces without requiring a federal licence. Two pilot projects on the meat and slaughter trade are being fast-tracked to inform this work.
The ministers reaffirmed their support for securing and diversifying international markets. They reviewed efforts underway through Canada’s Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office. They urged continued engagement with China to improve the overall trade relationship and remove tariffs on Canadian agricultural and seafood products. They also emphasized the importance of existing trade agreements and acknowledged that both new and existing tariffs can have a direct impact on Canadian businesses.
The ministers will meet in person in Winnipeg from September 7 to 9, 2025, to continue these discussions and track progress.
Heath MacDonald, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, praised farmers and food processors for building Canada’s global reputation for excellence. “By working together across governments, we can continue to strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of our sector, drive economic growth, and help to ensure Canadian products continue to lead on quality, safety, and sustainability.”
Ron Kostyshyn, Manitoba’s Agriculture Minister, emphasized the province’s strong support for its producers. “We remain committed to working with other levels of governments, private sector partners, and other provinces to deliver programs that support food security and sustainable practices to ensure the economic viability of farms. We will continue to work tirelessly to advocate for important programs that help producers manage environmental and market risks in a changing global political environment.”
In 2024, Canada’s global exports of agriculture and agri-food products reached $92.2 billion, up from $91.6 billion in 2023. Total global exports of agricultural, food, fish, and seafood products combined reached $100.3 billion in 2024. •
— By Harry Siemens