Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent mandate letter made no mention of agriculture or food, instead focusing on economic issues and Canadian sovereignty. Some in the Canadian agriculture industry see potential for action while others wish for explicit commitments.
News — page 31

Carney’s mandate letter makes no mention of agriculture or food
Some industry members see opportunity in a drive for economic growth; others wish the government would make specific commitments

Barlow to return as shadow agriculture minister
Jacques Gourde to replace Steinley as associate minister
Foothills MP John Barlow will return to the role of shadow minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food. Lévis—Lotbinière MP Jacques Gourde will take over as associate shadow minister.

Spring seeding entering final stretch in Saskatchewan
Seeding operations are nearing their final stages in Saskatchewan, with 72 per cent of intended acres in the ground as of May 19, according to the latest provincial crop report. That was up 23 points from the previous week and compares with the five-year average of 60 per cent done.

Barlow to return as shadow agriculture minister
Jacques Gourde to replace Steinley as associate minister
Foothills MP John Barlow will return to the role of shadow minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food. Lévis—Lotbinière MP Jacques Gourde will take over as associate shadow minister.

Kiwi startup promises methane vaccine for cattle
New Zealand company in running for investment in emission-reducing treatment for livestock
A New Zealand biotech startup says it has a vaccine that can dramatically lower methane emissions from livestock.

EU lawmakers back huge tariffs for Russia, Belarus fertilizer
The European Parliament voted on Thursday to impose prohibitive tariffs on fertilizers and certain farm produce from Russia and its ally Belarus to prevent a potential threat to EU food security and limit Russian funds for its war against Ukraine.

Pigs can’t fly: U.S. high-end livestock breeders lose millions in China tariff fallout
China has been a key importer of American hog and dairy cattle genetics, but shipments have stalled
China is one of the biggest importers of American breeding pigs and other livestock genetic material such as cattle semen. These lucrative niche export markets had been growing, but dried up since U.S. President Donald Trump started a trade war with Beijing.

IGC raises 2025/26 world corn crop forecast
The International Grains Council (IGC) on Thursday raised its forecast for 2025/26 global corn production, driven partly by a slight upward revision in the outlook for Brazil's crop.

Brazil hopes to be officially free of bird flu in 28 days
Brazil began a 28-day bird flu observation period on Thursday which it hopes will show the country's chicken farms are free of the disease after local authorities said a farm where its first outbreak was detected had been fully disinfected.

AAFC ups canola exports, but leaves ending stocks unchanged
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Canadian canola exports in 2024/25 will be at least a million tonnes above earlier projections, but ending stocks remain to be seen as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada had to make some creative calculations in their latest supply/demand report.