Media Releases

National Farmers Union Opposes Alberta Open-Pit Coal Mines

The National Farmers Union (NFU) opposes the Alberta government’s decision to rescind forty-four-year-old coal policy protections.  With this move, the government is permitting development of open-pit coal mines on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. The government proceeded without public consultation. The NFU supports the ranchers, farmers, and First Nations opposed to this environmentally

National Farmers Union calls on BC Agriculture Minister to Stop Site C

Speaking for the National Farmers Union (NFU), Women’s President and Peace Region farmer Bess Legault has written to BC Agriculture Minister Hon. Lana Popham asking her to stand with farmers in opposing the Site C Dam project. The BC cabinet is expected to consult this week on a recent review by former deputy finance minister

NFU Manitoba troubled by 21 Ag Office Closures

WINNIPEG, MB – The National Farmers Union (NFU) in Manitoba is deeply concerned about drastic cuts to public agriculture services in Manitoba announced on January 6, 2021. The Manitoba Government will close 21 rural offices occupied by Manitoba Agriculture Services Corporation and Rural Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, leaving only 10 rural offices standing. “These

NFU congratulates new CGC leaders on their appointment

The National Farmers Union would like to congratulate Doug Chorney and Patty Rosher on their appointment as the Canadian Grain Commission’s Chief Commissioner and Assistant Chief Commissioner respectively. We are pleased that Minister Bibeau has chosen to appoint these individuals, who both have the deep understanding of agriculture and credibility within the farm community required

NFU says “Seeds Canada” name misleading, asks Minister to disallow

“Using the name “Seeds Canada” while advancing its members’ private interests through lobbying, surveillance and regulatory activities would surely cause confusion about government’s role in seed policy, regulation and enforcement,” said NFU member Cam Goff. “This jeopardizes the government’s reputation, and it calls Canada’s democratic values and public interest into question.

NFU applauds government for taking action on nitrogen fertilizer emissions

Woodlawn, ON—On December 11, the federal government released its plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy: Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan to Create Jobs and Support People, Communities, and the Planet.  As part of that plan, the federal government will: Set a national emission reduction target of 30% below 2020 levels from fertilizers and work with

Backgrounder to NFU statement in solidarity with Indian farmers

Why are India’s farmers protesting? India has 164 million farmers, and many have small farms where they grow food to feed themselves and sell locally to feed their communities. Over half of India’s workforce is involved in the agriculture sector. Hundreds of thousands of farmers are protesting impending changes that will result from three controversial

NFU stands in solidarity with Indian farmers protesting new agricultural laws

The National Farmers Union stands in solidarity with farmers in India, who continue to protest new agricultural laws formally passed in September. This agriculture reform will effectively undermine the guaranteed prices farmers receive through government purchase of staple crops and open them up to exploitation by large corporations. Tens of thousands of Indian farmers are

NFU encouraged by progress on AgriStability

The recent Federal-Provincial-Territorial Conference of Agriculture Ministers made encouraging progress towards reforming AgriStability, one of the key Business Risk Programs under the Canadian Agriculture Partnership agreement. While a final agreement has not yet been reached, Provincial Ministers are now considering federal Agriculture Minister Bibeau’s proposal for two important and significant changes: ending the margin cap

NFU Statement Against Violence and For Life

We, the farmers of the National Farmers Union, rise today and every day to stand with our sisters across the globe as we take Action for Life and Against Violence. We defend our rights to life, seeds, food, land, water, and our own bodies. We defend the right to live free of the violent and