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 307 meetings in February 2026, up from a 12-month average of 164.5.
• The biggest moves were in Dairy cattle and milk production and Cattle ranching and farming.
• Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Dairy Farmers of Manitoba were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in February 2026 Data

CUSMA Dairy Renegotiation Triggers Spike in Lobbying

The sharp rise in agri-food lobbying activity, particularly within the dairy sector, coincides with heightened tensions around the upcoming 2026 CUSMA review. U.S. demands for increased dairy market access and recent Canadian legislative moves have prompted intensive advocacy campaigns by farmer and processor groups such as the Dairy Farmers of Canada and Alberta Milk, especially in provinces most reliant on supply management. These efforts have involved direct engagement with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the House of Commons, as stakeholders seek to influence outcomes related to CUSMA and supply management.

📎 USTR targets Canada’s dairy and digital rules in CUSMA review · Canada’s Dairy Dilemma: Supply Management and the 2026 CUSMA Review

Federal Policy Strategy Sharpens Agri-Food Advocacy

The publication of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s new Departmental Plan in early 2026 provided a fresh policy backdrop as sector organizations, including the Saskatchewan Milk Marketing Board and the Canadian Canola Growers Association, pushed for protection of supply management, pro-innovation initiatives, and favorable trade rules in their meetings with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The plan’s emphasis on international agreements and risk management appears to have intensified calls for targeted support from dairy and crop lobbyists such as Dairy Farmers of Canada and Cereals Canada Inc.

📎 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s 2025–26 Departmental Plan

Industry Braces for Disruptive Dairy Policy Shifts

A combination of new domestic policy—such as revised supply management rules advocated by Dairy Farmers of Manitoba in meetings with the House of Commons and Senate of Canada—and external pressures from trade negotiations raised by Dairy Farmers of Canada before Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), have triggered pronounced shifts in the dairy industry. Industry analyses, including those brought forward by BC Dairy in response to climate events with the House of Commons, highlight that these developments are spurring innovation, sector consolidation, and unrest among producers, aligning with an irregular surge in direct advocacy to federal institutions.

📎 State of the Dairy Industry 2026: What Changed · Canadian Dairy Market Faces Major Shifts In 2026 - EDairy News English

Dairy Export Thresholds Spur Focused Industry Advocacy

Canada’s management of its dairy export thresholds, particularly the opening of the 2026–2027 application period, has prompted lobbying by Dairy Farmers of Canada and the Saskatchewan Milk Marketing Board, including meetings with the House of Commons and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), aimed at maintaining market stability and existing quota allocations. This program, required to comply with CUSMA, often attracts intensive engagement from processors and farm organizations such as Dairy Farmers of Canada during periods of threshold adjustment or uncertainty.

📎 Dairy export thresholds - Affaires mondiales 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 307 meetings in February 2026, up from a 12-month average of 164. The most active industry was Dairy cattle and milk production, while Crop production rose above its recent baseline.

The industries with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include Pork and other animal production logged 2 meetings, up from an average of 1, Agricultural science and products logged 24 meetings, up from an average of 17, and Dairy cattle and milk production logged 155 meetings, up from an average of 20.

Cattle ranching and farming had 15 meetings, down from an average of 22.

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 2026-02

Dairy cattle and milk production saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in February 2026.

↳ 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.

↳ 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.

↳ 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.

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

↳ Poultry and egg production displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ 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.

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 Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Dairy Farmers of Manitoba, Saskatchewan Milk Marketing Board, and Alberta Milk.

On the quieter side, Canola Council of Canada pulled back from its 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:

↳ Dairy cattle and milk production → House of Commons: 165 meetings (avg 15, +970%).

↳ Dairy cattle and milk production → Senate of Canada: 26 meetings (avg 2, +1100%).

↳ Crop production → House of Commons: 22 meetings (avg 28, -20%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Dairy Farmers of Ontario → House of Commons: 68 meetings (avg 6, +1049%).

↳ Les Producteurs de lait du Québec → House of Commons: 40 meetings (avg 3, +1100%).

↳ Dairy Farmers of Manitoba → House of Commons: 16 meetings (avg 1, +1100%).

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:

↳ Dairy cattle and milk production → Agriculture: 200 meetings (avg 21, +864%).

↳ Dairy cattle and milk production → International Trade: 149 meetings (avg 17, +764%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Dairy Farmers of Ontario → Agriculture: 75 meetings (avg 7, +984%).

↳ Dairy Farmers of Ontario → International Trade: 65 meetings (avg 6, +940%).

↳ Dairy Farmers of Manitoba → Labour: 25 meetings (avg 2, +1011%).

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 Dairy cattle and milk production → Jean-Denis Garon (House of Commons), Dairy cattle and milk production → Martin Champoux (House of Commons) and Dairy cattle and milk production → Alexis Deschênes (House of Commons).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Les Producteurs de lait du Québec → Alexis Deschênes (House of Commons), Les Producteurs de lait du Québec → Martin Champoux (House of Commons) and Les Producteurs de lait du Québec → Jean-Denis Garon (House of Commons).