The LineUp
The LineUp content hub features the latest releases and articles as they are distributed by Newsline, and it serves as a central location for the agriculture sector and media professionals to stay informed and up to date.
Budget 2026 strengthens farm investment but leaves key grain-sector pressures unresolved
Nov. 9, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) — Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) welcomes measures in Budget 2026 that will help grain farmers invest in their operations and plan for farm succession, while urging the federal government to address immediate pressures on farm profitability and the reliable movement of grain to market. “Budget 2026 gets important pieces right for grain farmers,” said Kate Sauser, interim executive director of Grain Growers of Canada. “Permanent immediate expensing gives producers more certainty to invest, and the broader rollover provisions recognize the different ways family farms transition. The next test is implementation: clear eligibility rules, accessible programs and infrastructure investments that deliver measurable improvements in farm profitability and market access.” The budget confirms permanent immediate expensing through the Productivity Mega Deduction for a broader range of eligible capital investments acquired on or after Sept. 15, 2026. Eligible farm assets include tractors, combines, seeders, crop sprayers, silos and certain farm buildings. Allowing these investments to be deducted in the year they become available for use can provide earlier tax relief and greater certainty for producers planning major purchases. Budget 2026 also proposes expanding the tax-deferred rollover of qualifying farm property to nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews for …
Canadian Meat Council Launches New Strategic Plan, Quality the World Trusts
Nov. 9, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) — The Canadian Meat Council (CMC) released Quality the World Trusts: Securing the Competitiveness of Canada’s Meat Value Chain, its new strategic plan for 2026 to 2029. Developed through the CMC’s Board of Directors, the plan sets out how the Council will advocate for, support and prepare Canada’s federally licensed red meat packers and processors over the next three years. Canada’s red meat industry is the largest component of the country’s food processing sector, generating $35 billion in annual economic output and supporting more than 250,000 good-paying jobs across the country. The new plan is anchored in the CMC’s vision that Canada is a trusted global leader in providing safe, high-quality meat at home and abroad. “This plan sets a clear direction for the Canadian Meat Council and the work we will do on behalf of Canada’s red meat industry over the next three years,” said Kyle Larkin, President & CEO of the Canadian Meat Council. “Our focus is on strengthening the CMC, ensuring the industry’s story is heard through coordinated advocacy and engagement, and better preparing our members to navigate an increasingly complex policy, regulatory and trade environment. We have an important role to play …
Grain Growers of Canada appoints Kate Sauser as Interim Executive Director
Oct. 20, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) — Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) today announced the appointment of Kate Sauser as Interim Executive Director, effective October 14, 2026. Sauser’s appointment follows the resignation of Bruce Burrows as Executive Director. GGC thanks Burrows for his service and contributions to the organization and wishes him well in his future endeavours. Sauser joined GGC as Policy Manager and has worked closely with members, stakeholders and government to advance policies that support the competitiveness, growth and long-term viability of Canada’s grain sector. “Kate brings a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing grain farmers, along with the policy expertise and relationships needed to represent them effectively in Ottawa,” said Scott Hepworth, Chair of Grain Growers of Canada. “Her firsthand connection to farming, knowledge of the grain sector and commitment to our members make her well positioned to lead GGC during this transition.” “I am honoured to take on this role and continue working on behalf of Canada’s grain farmers,” said Sauser. “Our members have been clear about the need for practical policies that strengthen competitiveness, expand market access and support the long-term viability of family farms. I look forward to working with our members, Board …
Swine Innovation Porc Opens Advancing Swine Research Call for Proposals
National funding initiative targets priority research needs across Canada’s pork sector Sept. 29, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) — Swine Innovation Porc (SIP), with support from the Pork Promotion and Research Agency (PPRA), has opened the Advancing Swine Research Call for Proposals to support high-impact research that strengthens the resilience, sustainability and competitiveness of Canada’s pork sector. The call is designed to use sector investment as a catalyst, bringing in research expertise and funding from partners and other programs to advance solutions to priority challenges facing Canadian pork production. “Advancing Swine Research gives our sector an opportunity to direct research investment toward some of the most important challenges facing Canadian pork producers and processors,” said Mark Ferguson, Chair of Swine Innovation Porc. “By bringing industry priorities together with research expertise from across Canada, we can support practical solutions that strengthen our sector for the future.” For this call, SIP is seeking research in six priority areas. These include endemic animal diseases, antimicrobial use and resistance, biosecurity, barn technology and design, pork safety and quality, and more efficient use of energy and water. Together, these areas reflect key industry needs and opportunities to strengthen Canadian pork production. The call will support two types of …
Canadian Meat Council Raises Concerns Over Proposed Changes to Federal Food Safety Regulations
Aug. 26, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) — The Canadian Meat Council (CMC) is raising serious concerns about proposed amendments to the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) that would allow certain provincially inspected meat products to enter interprovincial trade. CMC and its members strongly support reducing interprovincial trade barriers. However, the proposed four-year exemption risks creating a regulatory loophole that could weaken Canada’s food safety framework, undermine confidence in the federal inspection system and put international market access at risk. “Most meat processed in Canada already moves across provincial borders. We support efforts to expand that trade, but not by creating different inspection standards for products entering the same market,” said Kyle Larkin, President & CEO of the Canadian Meat Council. “The potential damage to consumer and international confidence in Canada’s food safety system far outweighs the limited benefit of this proposal.” Federal and provincial meat inspection systems serve different purposes and markets. Federally licensed facilities operate under continuous, on-site inspection by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and must meet federal requirements that underpin Canada’s reputation and access as a trusted meat exporter. “Canada needs one federal food safety standard that is applied consistently across the country,” said Larkin. “We should …
Swine Innovation Porc expands Pork Research Hub with new Research in Action video series
Monthly videos showcase the researchers and Swine Cluster 4 projects driving innovation in Canada’s pork sector July 9, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) — Following the recent launch of the Pork Research Hub, Swine Innovation Porc (SIP) is expanding the Research in Action section with the debut of a new video series highlighting the researchers and projects behind Canada’s pork research. The Pork Research Hub is Canada’s bilingual online destination for pork research, bringing together practical resources, research findings and innovation stories in one searchable location. Its Research in Action section showcases how Canadian pork research is delivering real-world value through articles, videos, podcasts and other knowledge transfer resources. The first video in the series features Dr. Aline Remus, Research Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, whose Swine Cluster 4 research explores precision feeding systems that can reduce feed costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve the sustainability of pig production. Watch the first episode: https://porkresearchhub.ca/en/research-action/research-action-video-precision-feeding-dr-aline-remus Each month, a new Research in Action video will introduce viewers to a different Swine Cluster 4 project, providing an inside look at the people, partnerships and innovations shaping the future of Canadian pork production. Episodes will be released on the Swine Innovation Porc YouTube channel, with French-language versions also available, and featured in the Research in …
Canada’s Pork Sector Launches the Pork Research Hub
July 9, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) — Swine Innovation Porc (SIP), Prairie Swine Centre (PSC), the Centre de développement du porc du Québec (CDPQ), and the Canadian Centre for Swine Improvement (CCSI), are proud to launch the Pork Research Hub, a national platform connecting Canada’s pork sector with research, innovation and practical knowledge. The Pork Research Hub consolidates research articles, technical resources, videos, webinars, podcasts and innovation stories from Canada’s swine research community into a single accessible, bilingual platform. Designed to support producers, researchers, industry leaders and partners across the value chain, the Hub helps improve access to Canadian pork research and makes it easier to find practical information that can support decision-making and knowledge transfer. The platform is organized around two core areas: the Resource Library, a searchable collection of research articles, factsheets, tools and technical resources, and Research in Action, a curated section highlighting the real-world impacts of Canadian pork research through articles, videos, podcasts, webinars and innovation stories. The Hub was developed through a collaborative national partnership. It reflects a shared commitment to strengthening coordination and broadening access to research in support of Canada’s pork sector. Its development was supported by contributions from SIP, PSC, CDPQ, CCSI and the …
Meat Processors Welcome National Food Security Strategy but Warn of Export Market Risks and Labour Gaps
June 15, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) – The Canadian Meat Council (CMC) and Canada’s federally licensed red meat processing sector welcome the Government of Canada’s recently announced National Food Security Strategy, particularly its commitment to strengthening domestic food processing capacity. However, the sector is raising concerns about proposed exemptions from federal food safety requirements for non-federally licensed processors, which could create risks for international market access, as well as the absence of measures to address persistent labour shortages in the agri-food sector. “Canada’s meat processors are at the heart of agricultural communities across the country,” said Sylvain Fournaise, Chair of the CMC. “We welcome the initial investments aimed at expanding domestic food processing capacity, especially at a time when many companies— including small and medium-sized beef processors—are facing significant financial pressures driven by high input costs and evolving global market conditions.” The strategy includes $1 billion in Farm Credit Canada financing for food and agriculture businesses, $150 million for small and medium-sized enterprises, and $100 million to support the commercialization of agricultural innovation. However, it also proposes exemptions from the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations for certain non-federally licensed processors. These regulations underpin Canada’s federally inspected meat system and guide Canadian Food …
