Once a month, we partner up with LobbyIQ to update our readers on recent movements in the federal lobbying landscape in Ottawa. We provide separate coverage for each channel, defined by the most relevant industries, organizations, institutions, and subject matters.

Key Takeaways — Agri-Food

• Lobbying activity totalled 184 meetings in March 2026, up from a 12-month average of 172.0.
• The biggest moves were in Agricultural science and products and Crop production.
• CANADIAN PORK COUNCIL, Fertilizer Canada were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in March 2026 Data

Surge in Lobbying Aligns with Agri-Food Policy Consultations

The spike in lobbying from organizations such as the Canadian Pork Council, Fertilizer Canada, and the Fruit & Vegetable Growers of Canada coincides with federal consultations on the Next Policy Framework, a process engaging stakeholders on programs like AgriStability and SCAP through meetings with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the House of Commons. As the government seeks input on risk management and sector resilience, industry groups are actively lobbying to shape support measures impacting animal production and fertilizer sectors.

📎 Ag minister launches consultations on Canada's next five-year ag policy ... · Join the 2026 Consultation for Canada's Next Agri Policy Framework

Ministers Emphasize Supply Chain Resilience Amid Lobbying Pressure

The Halifax Statement, issued by provincial and federal agriculture ministers, prioritized market diversification and supply chain modernization just as Fertilizer Canada intensified lobbying with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and the House of Commons on transportation and trade-enabling corridors. This ministerial focus overlaps with increased advocacy from Fertilizer Canada and pork industry groups, reflecting industry concerns about reliable supply chains and risk management.

📎 Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers of Agriculture ... - Newswire

FCC’s $1B Fund Coincides with Infrastructure-Focused Advocacy

FCC’s announcement of a $1 billion Finance Fund targeting supply chain and processing capacity came as lobbying efforts intensified around improved infrastructure and transportation corridors, including high-profile meetings between Fertilizer Canada and the House of Commons, as well as interventions with Finance Canada. This government investment aligns with sector demands for enhanced domestic production, especially from organizations such as Fertilizer Canada advocating on fertilizer and pork trade issues.

📎 FCC to support Canada’s Food Security Strategy | FCC

Public Consultations Spur Lobbying on Generational Renewal and Local Food

Young farmer and sustainable agriculture groups, alongside Fertilizer Canada in discussions with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the House of Commons, actively mobilized responses to the public consultation phase for the Next Policy Framework. Their calls for support on succession, local supply chains, and grower access to markets overlap with recent spikes in lobbying focused on supply chain resiliency and the regulatory environment for crop inputs.

📎 Shaping the Future of Agriculture: New Farmers, Local Food Systems and ...

AAFC Policy Reviews Align With Event-Driven Lobbying on Crop and Pest Management

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's 2026 planning documents highlight renewed commitments to innovation, trade, and risk management programs, a direction closely tracked by organizations such as the Fruit & Vegetable Growers of Canada, Canadian Canola Growers Association, Fertilizer Canada, and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association in their recent engagement with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the House of Commons. This top-down focus on program modernization and rapid responses to production threats dovetails with event-driven lobbying for timely access to pest management and support for produce growers.

📎 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Section B: Lobbying Activity by Industry

This section compares, by NAICS industry, the lobbying activity in Ottawa last month to its historical average.

Lobbying activity across this channel totalled 184 meetings in March 2026, up from a 12-month average of 172. The most active industry was Crop production, while Agricultural science and products rose above its recent baseline.

The industries with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include Pork and other animal production logged 29 meetings, up from an average of 3, and Agricultural science and products logged 56 meetings, up from an average of 21.

On the quieter side, Crop production had 58 meetings, down from an average of 86, Poultry and egg production had 13 meetings, down from an average of 20, and Dairy cattle and milk production had 7 meetings, down from an average of 20.

Section C: Lobbying by Industry for the Past Year

To contextualize, we show each industry's lobbying activity over the past 12 months. The combined view from Section B and C shows you whether recent differences are persistent trends or a break from the norm.

Top Industry Residual Trends for 2026-03

Agricultural science and products saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in March 2026.

↳ Agricultural science and products has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Agricultural science and products displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

Crop production saw lobbying run notably below expected levels in March 2026.

↳ Crop production has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Crop production displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

Pork and other animal production saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in March 2026.

↳ Pork and other animal production has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Pork and other animal production displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Dairy cattle and milk production has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Dairy cattle and milk production displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Cattle ranching and farming has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Cattle ranching and farming displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

Section D: Lobbying Activity by Organization

In this section, we see the organizations with the most unusual lobbying behavior last month, defined by either unusually high or unusually low lobbying activity.

The organizations with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include CANADIAN PORK COUNCIL, Fertilizer Canada, and Nutrien Ltd..

On the quieter side, Canola Council of Canada, and Canadian Canola Growers Association all pulled back from their usual pace.

Section E: Lobbying of Government Institutions in the Past Month

Every time an organization lobbies, there is a government official representing a government institution at the other side of the table. This section shows the industry-institutions pairs with the most unusual lobbying behavior last month, defined by either unusually high or unusually low lobbying activity. Below that, we show the corresponding organization-institution pairs.

Industries → Government Institutions

Organizations → Government Institutions

The busiest industry → institution corridors this month:

↳ Agricultural science and products → House of Commons: 27 meetings (avg 7, +290%).

↳ Pork and other animal production → House of Commons: 22 meetings (avg 2, +1000%).

↳ Crop production → Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC): 20 meetings (avg 25, -21%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ CANADIAN PORK COUNCIL → House of Commons: 22 meetings (avg 2, +1000%).

↳ Fertilizer Canada → House of Commons: 18 meetings (avg 4, +391%).

↳ Canadian Cattle Association → House of Commons: 11 meetings (avg 6, +97%).

Section F: Industry and Organization Lobbying by Subject in the Past Month

All lobbying activity is tagged with a "subject matter". This section shows the industry-subject pairs with the most unusual lobbying behavior last month, defined by either unusually high or unusually low lobbying activity, and below it the organization-subject pairs with the most unusual lobbying behavior last month.

Industries → Subjects

Organizations → Subjects

The busiest industry → subject corridors this month:

↳ Crop production → Agriculture: 58 meetings (avg 84, -31%).

↳ Agricultural science and products → International Trade: 52 meetings (avg 16, +217%).

↳ Agricultural science and products → Transportation: 45 meetings (avg 14, +225%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ CANADIAN PORK COUNCIL → Agriculture: 29 meetings (avg 3, +988%).

↳ CANADIAN PORK COUNCIL → International Trade: 29 meetings (avg 3, +988%).

↳ CANADIAN PORK COUNCIL → Immigration: 29 meetings (avg 3, +1023%).

Section G: Last Month's Most Lobbied Politicians and Civil Servants

This section presents a list of the politicians and civil servants who took the most meetings with key industry players last month.

Most Lobbied Individuals by Sector

Most Lobbied Individuals by Organization

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by sector) this month were Agricultural science and products → Amanda Wilson (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)), Crop production → Guy Gallant (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)) and Crop production → David Hunt (Canadian Grain Commission (CGC)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Cereals Canada Inc → David Hunt (Canadian Grain Commission (CGC)), Canadian Cattle Association → Adam Chambers (House of Commons) and Canadian Cattle Association → Aaron Fowler (Global Affairs Canada (GAC)).