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

Dairy Lobbying Intensifies as CUSMA Review Approaches

February 2026 saw a dramatic surge in lobbying efforts, especially by dairy producers such as Dairy Farmers of Canada, coinciding with high-stakes negotiations to renew the Canada–U.S.–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) in discussions with the House of Commons and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Real-world trade tensions were heightened after the U.S. Trade Representative threatened enforcement actions over Canadian dairy market access, pushing industry organizations like Dairy Farmers of Canada to advocate fiercely for supply management and tariff protections.

📎 Greer gives Canadian dairy ultimatum as CUSMA review nears

Canadian Dairy Groups Respond to U.S. Tariff Threats

Lobbying by BC Dairy and the Canadian Canola Growers Association has escalated as the U.S. announced steep new tariffs targeting dairy and related sectors, with advocacy efforts including engagement with the House of Commons and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). This lobbying activity is likely tied to efforts defending domestic producers in response to tariff hikes, which are cited as a reaction to Canada’s preferential quota allocation and trade barriers.

📎 Trump Adds 50% Tariffs on Canadian Dairy, Alcohol, Plants, Lumber and More

Protein Shift Drives Policy Advocacy

Canadian dairy producers are navigating significant changes driven by a structural pivot to protein-intensive dairy products and related quota reforms. This market shift has triggered lobbying on quota management, innovation, and adaptation funding, coinciding with pressures from both international trade talks and evolving consumer preferences, as Dairy Farmers of Manitoba, Dairy Farmers of Canada, and Alberta Milk engage with House of Commons and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

📎 Canada's Dairy Sector Braces For Massive Protein Shift!

Federal Innovation Funding Targets Surplus Dairy Proteins

Lobbying records from Dairy Farmers of Ontario reflect industry interest in federal support programs for innovation, including grants to expand processing capacity for surplus nonfat solids in dairy, with recent meetings involving Employment and Social Development Canada and the House of Commons. This policy response coincides with U.S. concerns about Canadian dairy protein exports and highlights sector efforts to modernize production amid international trade pressures.

📎 Canadian Dairy Commission: Dairy Innovation and Investment Fund June 2026

Agri-Food Policy Shifts Spark Sector-Wide Lobbying

Major changes in federal funding and program priorities, outlined in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s 2026–27 Departmental Plan, coincide with lobbying by the Canadian Canola Growers Association, Saskatchewan Milk Marketing Board, and Cereals Canada Inc for agricultural research, sector risk management, and trade support in meetings with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). Stakeholders, including Dairy Farmers of Prince Edward Island and Grain Growers of Canada, are responding to departmental shifts toward climate resiliency and innovation as the government adjusts spending and refines strategic priorities.

📎 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's 2026–27 Departmental Plan

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.

↳ 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.

↳ 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 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 → Consumer Issues: 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 → Jean-Denis Garon (House of Commons), Les Producteurs de lait du Québec → Martin Champoux (House of Commons) and Les Producteurs de lait du Québec → Alexis Deschênes (House of Commons).