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 164 meetings in May 2026, down from a 12-month average of 203.8.
• The biggest moves were in Crop production and Cattle ranching and farming.
• Canadian Cattle Association, TURKEY FARMERS OF CANADA were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in May 2026 Data

National Agricultural Policy Consultations Spark Advocacy

In early 2026, federal consultations for Canada's Next Agri-Food Policy Framework prompted widespread lobbying by groups such as the Canadian Cattle Association, National Cattle Feeders' Association, and Canadian Canola Growers Association in meetings with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the House of Commons. Organizations focused on influencing priorities including business risk management, sustainability, and market access—themes underpinning many spring advocacy meetings. This surge in activity coincided with the sector’s engagement until the consultation’s first phase deadline in June.

📎 Join the 2026 Consultation for Canada's Next Agri Policy Framework

Spending Cuts Heighten Sector Concerns

The release of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s 2026–27 Departmental Plan signaled tightening operational budgets, prompting heightened lobbying from groups such as the Canadian Canola Growers Association, National Cattle Feeders' Association, and Alberta Sugar Beet Growers for continued funding of food safety, research, and trade support programs. Producer and commodity groups, including Fertilizer Canada, expressed concern over program reductions, likely driving the increased engagement reflected in May 2026’s lobbying activity, especially among industries trending downward.

📎 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Trade Volatility Drives Policy Engagement

Amid global uncertainties and new trade tensions, Canadian agri-food groups such as the National Cattle Feeders' Association and Fertilizer Canada engaged Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) to ramp up advocacy on export, border inspection, and harmonization issues. Sector forums highlighted 2026 as a high-risk year for trade, aligning with increased lobbying by cattle and crop organizations including the Canadian Cattle Association, seeking solutions for market unpredictability and modernization of trade agreements.

📎 CAPI - Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute

Labour Policy Changes Fuel Advocacy Efforts

Adjustments to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and continued federal consultations on agricultural labour policy spurred lobbying from the National Cattle Feeders' Association, particularly in meetings with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the House of Commons, focused on updating occupational codes and program supports. These shifts come amid sector-wide concerns about workforce shortages and regulatory uncertainty, closely reflected in lobbying records across multiple producer organizations during May.

📎 Ag Policy Exchange: 2026 outlook on Canadian agriculture and agri-food

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 164 meetings in May 2026, down from a 12-month average of 204. The most active industry was Crop production, while Cattle ranching and farming fell below its recent baseline.

Cattle ranching and farming logged 42 meetings, up from an average of 27.

On the quieter side, Crop production had 67 meetings, down from an average of 100, Pork and other animal production had no lobbying meetings this month, down from an average of 4, Poultry and egg production had 17 meetings, down from an average of 25, and Dairy cattle and milk production had 13 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 2026-05

Poultry and egg production saw lobbying run notably below expected levels in May 2026.

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

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

↳ Crop production has been trending downward in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Crop 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.

↳ 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.

↳ 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 Cattle Association, and TURKEY FARMERS OF CANADA.

On the quieter side, Canola Council of Canada, Chicken Farmers 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:

↳ Cattle ranching and farming → House of Commons: 24 meetings (avg 15, +64%).

↳ Crop production → Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC): 20 meetings (avg 28, -29%).

↳ Crop production → Global Affairs Canada (GAC): 14 meetings (avg 9, +63%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Canadian Cattle Association → House of Commons: 20 meetings (avg 8, +150%).

↳ Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers → Prime Minister's Office (PMO): 6 meetings (avg 1, +700%).

↳ TURKEY FARMERS OF CANADA → House of Commons: 6 meetings (avg 1, +929%).

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: 66 meetings (avg 98, -33%).

↳ Crop production → International Trade: 57 meetings (avg 76, -25%).

↳ Cattle ranching and farming → International Trade: 42 meetings (avg 21, +97%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Canadian Cattle Association → International Trade: 34 meetings (avg 12, +178%).

↳ Canadian Cattle Association → Agriculture: 22 meetings (avg 11, +93%).

↳ Canadian Biogas Association → Agriculture: 17 meetings (avg 4, +374%).

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 → Shelby Kramp-Neuman (House of Commons), Dairy cattle and milk production → John Barlow (House of Commons) and Dairy cattle and milk production → Luc Berthold (House of Commons).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers → Zachary Nixon (Prime Minister's Office (PMO)), Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers → Galen Richardson (Privy Council Office (PCO)) and Fruit & Vegetable Growers of Canada → Olwyn Parkinson (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)).