Intelligence Brief
Crop Acreage Swings Meet Livestock Market Volatility
March 8, 2026
Crop Acreage Shifts Livestock Market Volatility Export Tariff Relief Input Supply Constraints Federal Funding Initiatives
Planting intentions indicate a strategic pivot toward oilseeds as wheat acreage contracts under tight margin pressures. Concurrent livestock market volatility and geopolitical input risks challenge producers despite federal funding and trade tariff relief.
Minister MacDonald concludes a successful outreach to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island
This week, the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, met with farmers, processors, industry partners, and provincial agriculture and agri-food stakeholders during his outreach to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island.
Stocks of frozen and chilled meats, January 1, 2026
Stocks of frozen and chilled meats in cold storage facilities totalled 133 588 tonnes as of January 1, 2026, a decrease of 0.8% compared with January 1, 2025.
Governments of Canada and Quebec invest to encourage producers to adopt more sustainable practices
The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Donald Martel, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Minister Responsible for the Centre-du-Québec Region, invite agricultural producers who wish to obtain support in adopting more sustainable agricultural practices…
Principal field crop areas, 2026
Canadian farmers expect to plant more canola, barley, soybeans and corn for grain in 2026, while they anticipate area seeded to wheat, oats, lentils and dry peas to decrease compared with the previous year.
Farm Product Price Index, December 2025
The Farm Product Price Index rose 2.3% in December 2025 compared with the same month one year earlier. This increase was mainly due to an increase in the cattle and calves index, which more than offset the decline in the total crops index.
Livestock estimates, January 1, 2026
On January 1, 2026, Canadian cattle and sheep inventories were up compared with the same date one year earlier, while hog inventories were down.
Beef Market Update: Cattle price yo-yos, herd numbers climb, and volatility shakes futures markets
Volatility and tightening supplies continue to shape the North American cattle market, with new record prices showing up in parts of Canada even as global uncertainty rattles futures markets. In this episode of the Beef Market Update, RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney speaks with Anne Wasko of Gateway L…
Canadian farmers intend to plant more canola, less wheat in 2026
Canadian farmers expect to plant more canola and less wheat in 2026 compared to the previous year, according to the first planting intentions report from Statistics Canada released March 5. Barley, soybeans and corn area are also expected to increase, while oats, lentils and dry peas are forecast to…
China has reduced tariffs on Canadian canola, peas, federal government confirms
China has suspended anti-discrimination tariffs on canola meal and peas until the end of the year and reduced tariffs on canola seed, Canada’s government confirmed today.
RealAg on the Weekend: Livestock traceability, equipment sales & fertilizer fears, Mar 7 & 8, 2026
Welcome to RealAg on the Weekend with your host Shaun Haney! Haney breaks down this week in ag, and is joined by: Carson Callum of Manitoba Beef Producers on prairie cattle associations calling for the scrapping of proposed livestock traceability regulations; Josh Linville of StoneX on fertilizer pr…
Federal gov. funds youth employment in agriculture, agri-food
Companies and non-profits hiring young people for agriculture or agri-food jobs may be able to get federal funding for those workers’ wages.
Iran war to disrupt urea and sulphur supplies
The war in the Middle East will have the biggest impact on urea and sulphur prices, says an Argus analyst.
Hiring? Agriculture Canada announces funds for youth jobs program
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has earmarked $27 million for its Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP) over 2 years (2026-2028), including over $13 million in funding for the current 2026–27 program year. Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced the $27 million in fun…
L’industrie veut une appellation réservée pour le fromage à poutine du Québec
Le fromage en grains du Québec, celui qui est parfait pour la poutine et qui fait « squouik squouik », doit-il être protégé? C’est ce que souhaite le Conseil des industriels du lait du Québec, qui voudrait qu’il soit officiellement et légalement reconnu par une Indication géographique protégée. L’ar…
Acreage 2026: Canola and corn gain ground while wheat takes a breather
Statistics Canada has released the 2026 seeding intentions report and while there are some acreage shifts across rural Canada, tight margins remain the focus for growers as they balance agronomics with economics in their planning. We’re seeing a clear pivot toward canola, barley, and soybeans, while…