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 167 meetings in May 2026, down from a 12-month average of 204.1.
• 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

Canada–China Trade Agreement Spurs Cattle Sector Activity

The landmark Canada–China agri-food trade agreement, announced in early 2026 and substantially reducing tariffs on products such as canola and beef, coincides with a surge in lobbying by the Canadian Cattle Association and the National Cattle Feeders' Association with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). This spike in meetings, particularly regarding international trade, suggests robust efforts to secure market gains during the rollout of the agreement. The pattern is consistent with the timing of resumed beef exports and heightened government engagement.

📎 Canada Secures Major Canola and Agriculture Trade Breakthrough in New ... · Report Name: Canada Strikes Deal with China on Canola Seafood Peas and Beef · Canada, China Reach ‘Landmark’ Agri-Trade Agreement

Federal Policy Consultations Intensify Event-Driven Lobbying

The launch of consultations for Canada's next agriculture policy framework in January 2026, seeking input from sector stakeholders such as the Canadian Canola Growers Association, Alberta Sugar Beet Growers, and National Cattle Feeders' Association with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), coincides with volatile but intensive lobbying across crop and cattle sectors. Stakeholder engagement often increases during government consultation periods, as industry groups like Fertilizer Canada and Canadian Cattle Association target strategic initiatives with AAFC, such as business risk management and labour policy.

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

Food Security Strategy Drives Farm Competitiveness Discussions

The federal government’s June 2026 National Food Security Strategy was welcomed by farm groups and is accompanied by notable lobbying from Fertilizer Canada, the Canadian Cattle Association, Fruit & Vegetable Growers of Canada, and the National Cattle Feeders' Association on funding, sector resourcing, and market access with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). This policy rollout comes amid sustained advocacy for strengthening farm competitiveness and aligns closely with observed government interactions from leading industry representatives.

📎 News & Events - Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA)

Crop Sector Lobbying Exhibits Event-Driven Volatility

Lobbying by crop production groups such as Fertilizer Canada, the Canadian Canola Growers Association, and Alberta Sugar Beet Growers in May 2026 registered below average levels but displayed patterns of irregular, event-driven engagement aligned with recent government trade breakthroughs and policy consultations with interlocutors including Global Affairs Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. This fluctuation may reflect strategic responses to new export opportunities and ongoing consultations, rather than steady baseline advocacy.

📎 Canada Secures Major Canola and Agriculture Trade Breakthrough in New ...

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 167 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, 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.

↳ Dairy cattle and milk production has been trending downward in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Dairy cattle and milk production 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.

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%).

↳ TURKEY FARMERS OF CANADA → House of Commons: 7 meetings (avg 1, +950%).

↳ Fruit & Vegetable Growers of Canada → Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC): 6 meetings (avg 2, +260%).

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 → John Barlow (House of Commons), Dairy cattle and milk production → Shelby Kramp-Neuman (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)), Fruit & Vegetable Growers of Canada → Olwyn Parkinson (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)) and Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers → Galen Richardson (Privy Council Office (PCO)).