Good morning! This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly roundup of regulatory developments, legislative discussions, political announcements and other government-related news for farmers, seed-growers, fertilizers, ranchers, cattlemen and cattlewomen, and their upstream suppliers and downstream buyers. Every Monday, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Dates: 2025-06-08 to 2025-06-14

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇨🇦 Canadian Federal GR News
• 🇺🇸 US Federal GR News
• 🗺️ Canadian Provincial GR News
• 📱 Public Officials' Social Media
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Canadian Federal GR News

Canada Advances Creation of Domestic Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank

Canada has moved forward with contracts awarded to Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health and Biogénesis Bagó SA to supply vaccine products and establish the country's first foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine bank. This initiative, led by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), will ensure vaccines are readily available for Canadian livestock producers in the event of an FMD outbreak. The vaccine bank will operate alongside Canada’s current access through the North American Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank. FMD is a highly contagious disease affecting cattle, sheep, swine, and other cloven-hoofed animals, potentially resulting in significant impacts on animal health and farm productivity. The vaccine bank is expected to improve outbreak response capacity and may reduce the number and duration of cases. The program is supported by federal, provincial, and territorial governments, and is underpinned by existing biosecurity measures and disease surveillance protocols.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

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Senate Moves Bill C-202 on Supply Management Protection in Trade to Third Reading

The Senate has agreed to move Bill C-202, which aims to protect Canada’s supply management system during trade negotiations, to third reading. The bill is positioned as a legislative measure to prevent concessions on dairy, poultry, and egg sectors in future trade agreements. The sitting also included discussion of Bill S-230, which proposes a national soil health strategy, and Bill S-201, targeting a national framework for sickle cell disease. Senators addressed ongoing labor shortages in agriculture, referencing the need for workforce stability across the sector. The Senate also heard concerns about innovation barriers and the importance of aligning Canadian laws with constitutional principles. Bill S-229, which seeks to protect Gatineau Park, and Bill S-218, regarding the use of the notwithstanding clause, were also debated.

Sources: Transcripts: senparlvu.parl.gc.ca

Competition Bureau Monitors Loblaw’s Commitment to End Property Controls

The Competition Bureau is actively monitoring Loblaw’s recent pledge to eliminate restrictive property controls, such as exclusivity clauses and restrictive covenants, within its grocery operations. This follows ongoing investigations into anti-competitive practices in the Canadian grocery sector. t.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Federal Agriculture Minister Schedules Multi-Day Stakeholder Visit to Saskatchewan

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald is set to visit Saskatchewan for meetings with agriculture industry stakeholders. Saskatchewan represents over 40% of Canada’s cultivated farmland, making it a central province for national agricultural production. The visit includes joint engagements with Saskatchewan’s Minister of Agriculture, Daryl Harrison, and opportunities for media availability at a farm south of Regina. Outcomes may shape federal-provincial collaboration on producer priorities, rural development, and agri-business competitiveness.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Federal Ministers and Labour Partners Discuss Labour Mobility Provisions in One Canadian Economy Legislation

Ministers Patty Hajdu, Steven MacKinnon, Chrystia Freeland, Melanie Joly, and John Zerucelli met with skilled trades unions and other stakeholders to discuss Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Bill. The proposed legislation aims to facilitate recognition of provincial and territorial licenses at the federal level and to reduce internal trade barriers. Labour market agreements and apprenticeship strategies were also considered as means to promote workforce mobility and support national infrastructure projects.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Statistics Canada Updates Rural and Agri-Food Sector Data Sets

Statistics Canada released updated datasets for April and May 2025, including farm product prices, dairy statistics for Q1, and rural employment metrics. The Business Conditions and Business Counts dashboards have new data for Q2 and December 2024, respectively. The Number and Size of Communities dashboard now contains expanded analysis in the Key Highlights section. These datasets provide industry stakeholders with current metrics on commodity prices, dairy production, workforce trends, and business counts in rural and small town communities.

Sources: Open Government Data Set: www.statcan.gc.ca, Open Government Data Set: www.statcan.gc.ca, Open Government Data Set: www.statcan.gc.ca, Open Government Data Set: www.statcan.gc.ca, Open Government Data Set: www.statcan.gc.ca, Open Government Data Set: www.statcan.gc.ca

US Federal GR News

EPA Finalizes Pesticide Tolerance Actions for Capric, Caprylic, and Pelargonic Acids

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized rule changes to pesticide tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for capric (decanoic) acid, caprylic (octanoic) acid, and pelargonic (nonanoic) acid. The rule removes redundant exemptions, updates commodity definitions, and harmonizes tolerances with Codex standards. The changes follow a registration review and public comment period, with an effective date of June 10, 2025. The previous tolerances for these acids in food-contact surface sanitizing solutions have been revised to reflect current scientific assessments and international regulatory alignment. The updated tolerances affect crop producers, food manufacturers, and pesticide manufacturers.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

USDA Adds El Salvador and Belize to Screwworm-Affected Regions, Implements Livestock Import Restrictions

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has designated El Salvador and Belize as regions affected by New World screwworm, following outbreaks reported in cattle. Import restrictions, effective since December 2024 for El Salvador and January 2025 for Belize, apply to horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs entering the United States from these regions. The measures require pre-embarkation and post-arrival inspections, treatments, and, for horses, a seven-day quarantine. The list of affected regions is maintained on the APHIS website and is updated in response to official reports.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

EPA Proposes Additional Pesticide Tolerance Actions for Multiple Active Ingredients

The EPA has proposed further updates to pesticide tolerances as part of its ongoing registration review process. The proposal, published June 9, 2025, includes changes for hydrogen cyanide, 1-naphthaleneacetic acid, carboxin, 2,4-DB, ethofumesate, thiobencarb, propylene oxide, and flucarbazone-sodium. The updates involve revising tolerance expressions, modifying commodity definitions, updating crop groupings, revoking unneeded tolerances, and harmonizing with international standards. The public comment period runs through August 8, 2025. These actions are intended to ensure that all registered pesticides meet current safety and trade requirements.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

Canadian Provincial GR News

Ontario Invests Over $1.4 Million in Clay Belt Agriculture Projects

Ontario is allocating more than $1.4 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to support five agriculture projects in the Clay Belt region, including tile drainage, barn construction, equipment purchases, and feed storage improvements. The investments are expected to boost crop yields and expand business operations.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca

Saskatchewan Crop Report: Seeding Complete, Rainfall Remains Uneven

The Government of Saskatchewan reports 100% of the 2025 crop has been seeded. Rainfall has been uneven, with some regions experiencing declining topsoil moisture. Crop development varies, and minor to moderate damage from insects and environmental factors has been observed.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.saskatchewan.ca

Alberta Premier Welcomes G7 Leaders, Highlights Province’s Role in Agri-Food and Energy

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith welcomed G7 leaders and outlined Alberta’s contributions to global energy and agri-food exports, citing $17.5 billion in agri-food product exports in the previous year and ongoing investments in agricultural and energy infrastructure.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.alberta.ca

Public Officials' Social Media

Senator Robert Black announced via X that he tabled Bill S-230 in the Senate, which seeks the development of a national strategy for soil health protection, conservation, and enhancement.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

MP Heath MacDonald posted about the establishment of Canada’s first foot-and-mouth disease vaccine bank, emphasizing enhanced protection for the livestock industry.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

MP Lianne Rood expressed appreciation for the work of Canadian grain farmers and organizations such as the Grain Farmers of Ontario, Atlantic Grains Council, and Prodocteurs de Grains du Quebec.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

MP Maninder Sidhu noted on X that with half of Canadian agriculture being exported, maintaining a competitive and reliable trading environment remains a priority for the sector.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

Senator Tony Loffreda posted about encouraging Quebecers to buy local products and raised the possibility of a federal campaign during Senate Question Period.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

What We're Reading This Week

• Farmers divided over bill to enshrine Canada’s supply management system in law: A look at perspectives on legislation to protect supply management in trade.
• As U.S. trade aggression heats up, the push to protect Canada’s dairy, poultry and eggs intensifies: The Star covers mounting trade challenges and sector responses.
• Sask. farmers use drones to hydrate and manage crops: CTV examines how Saskatchewan farmers are adopting drone technology for crop management.
• Trump curbs immigration enforcement at farms, meatpacking plants, hotels and restaurants: CTV News reports on new U.S. federal measures affecting agricultural labor.