Local Food

Rouge National Urban Park regional impact study good news, says NFU and NFU-O

The NFU/NFU-O is supportive of any government measures that: a) increase existing protections of agricultural and natural heritage lands; b) thwart construction on any land removed from the Greenbelt; and/or c) expand safeguards to any unprotected farmland or ecologically-sensitive areas in danger of development. We are optimistic that Minister Guilbeault’s study will encompass adjacent land currently held by Transport Canada and ideally suited to be included within Rouge National Urban Park.  We commend Minister Guilbeault and the ECCC for proactively initiating a study that will bolster the already substantive evidence that any development within the sensitive Rouge River corridor will only accelerate surface runoff, water and soil pollution, and biodiversity loss. Protecting our remaining natural heritage and agricultural lands is vital to sustaining life for future generations.  Read more

Letter – Protect the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve

On January 10, 2022 the NFU’s National President and NFU Ontario President sent the following letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, calling on the federal government to transfer ownership of Read more

Letter: Budget 2022 – Economic Dignity for Farmers

While global crises multiply and intensify it is clear that we can no longer afford a food and agriculture system designed to maximize the ability of the most powerful to extract value with “just in time” and “lean” approaches while leaving farmers, workers and consumers and our communities to absorb mounting costs and burdens. Budget 2022 is the perfect time to begin building a policy framework that provides the economic dignity and resilience Canadians need to navigate our interdependent future with confidence. Read more

Taking Stock of Abattoir Regulations

How provincial rules help or hinder regional meat production

The NFU's Taking Stock of Abattoir Regulations report reviews provincial regulations on slaughter, meat processing (cut/wrap), and marketing across Canada. It highlights common points and differences among the regulations, and identifies where specific aspects of these regulations (or how they are applied) create barriers to local and regional meat production, as well as those pieces that support thriving local and regional food systems and local producers. Read more

Farmers Can’t Do it Alone. What we need to fight the climate crisis. 

In inspiring numbers, young farmers are taking to the land to act on climate – but we know that our individual zeal, commitment, and fighting spirit will not be enough Read more

From the Frontlines: Notes from young farmers in the face of the climate crisis

The climate crisis is the greatest threat facing agriculture today.  As farmers, our livelihood is the land, and that puts us on the frontlines of the climate crisis.  As young Read more

To Fight the Climate Crisis We Need More Young People On The Land

While it is becoming increasingly precarious to pursue farming as a career, it is also becoming increasingly compelling to do so.  For many young people, farming offers a unique and Read more

A vibrant small-scale meat industry for British Columbians

NFU recommendations to BC Ministry of Agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture has recently released an Intentions Paper on “Rural Slaughter Modernization.” We are very excited to see the MoA tackling the complex issues facing the meat processing Read more

Union Farmer Newsletter: October 2020

Articles in this issue: Seed Canada vote signals farmers can’t be taken for granted; Hairy canola— a big deal!; Solving climate crisis key to saving family farms: NFU has lead role in both struggles; More local, regional abattoir capacity needed; Alberta changes legislation to allow more on-farm slaughtering Read more

Urgent need for support to increase local and regional abattoir capacity

The increase in demand for locally produced food, particularly meat, in response to COVID has been widely reported all across Canada. This has the makings of an economic success story – a silver lining in the pandemic’s very dark cloud – but serious, targeted investment in to create and expand its infrastructure is needed to allow this emerging source of local prosperity to become well established. Read more