From the Government Desk: ABP keeping up momentum

Spring is always one of the best times of year in this business. Calving is underway, seed is going into the ground, and there’s a sense of momentum heading into the grazing season. This year, that momentum also includes a few policy wins worth noting.

Strychnine is back in 2026! After its approval was pulled in 2023, producers have been searching for a useful option to control infestations of Richardson’s ground squirrel. If you’re impacted, you’ll know why this is a meaningful development.

The rollout is still underway, with initial access expected toward the end of May. For some, that timing will miss the most effective spring window, which is frustrating. There is expected to be another opportunity later in the summer, but it won’t fully replace what many producers were hoping for this spring.

That said, getting this approval across the line was no small task. This was very much an Alberta-led effort, with strong collaboration between cropping groups and ABP to build the case. After an initial rejection by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), the province reapplied. Minister Sigurdson continued to push the file, and the premier elevated it federally. That second effort ultimately resulted in approval. Big kudos to Minister Sigurdson, Premier Smith and their teams.

There will be requirements tied to its use, including mandatory training, declaration forms saying you have an infestation, treatment planning, and monitoring and reporting obligations. While those steps add some complexity, they are part of ensuring the product can be used responsibly and help support the case for future access.

The current emergency use is in place until November 2027. ABP will continue to advocate for extensions where needed, while also pushing for longer-term solutions and alternatives for managing gopher populations.

Water continues to be another major file. Amendments to the Water Act came into force on March 11, 2026, and there were some positive changes for producers. One of the more practical wins was the exemption for dugouts under 7,500 square metres. In the context of ongoing drought conditions, reducing regulatory barriers to on-farm water storage is a step in the right direction.

However, not all elements of the updated framework are settled. Requirements around water use reporting and the reporting of water licence sale prices are still being developed, and there are real concerns about how these will work in practice.

For many cow-calf operations, and even some feeding operations, water use is not metered. Any reporting would be based on estimates, which raises questions about accuracy and usefulness. Just as importantly, if reporting requirements are too complex or time-consuming, participation and data quality will suffer. ABP is continuing to engage on this file to ensure that any system put in place is practical, low-burden, and actually delivers value.

Looking ahead, one of the biggest priorities is the development of the Next Policy Framework, which will succeed the current Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (S-CAP). These frameworks shape many of the programs producers rely on, from AgriStability and AgriInvest to crop insurance products, research funding, and environmental programming.

Over the past few months, ABP has been actively working with government and industry partners to identify where current programs are falling short and where improvements are needed. This includes ongoing advocacy around risk management programs like AgriStability and Livestock Price Insurance, as well as drought-related tools such as AgriRecovery and Moisture Deficiency Insurance.

Early priorities for the next framework are coming into focus. These include strengthening research capacity, improving risk management programs, addressing wildlife conflict, and building better drought preparedness tools. These are not new issues, but the last few years have reinforced just how critical they are to the long-term sustainability of the industry.

There will be more opportunities for producer input as this work continues through 2026 and 2027, ahead of a finalized framework in 2028. Ensuring that these programs reflect real on-farm needs will depend heavily on that engagement.

On the trade front, this summer will bring an international lens with the review of CUSMA/USMCA. ABP has been working closely with both Canadian and American partners to build support for maintaining a strong, stable agreement.

A lot of that effort has been focused at the state level in the United States, encouraging producers and state officials to speak to the value of integrated supply chains. For the beef industry, cross-border trade is not just important, it’s foundational. Disruptions or uncertainty in that relationship have real impacts on prices, processing, and overall competitiveness.

Finally, following the AGM, ABP has a new set of producer-driven resolutions that will help shape advocacy priorities over the coming year. As always, those resolutions are critical in keeping our work grounded in what matters most at the farm and ranch level.

There’s no shortage of challenges ahead, but there are also signs of progress. Spring tends to bring a sense of reset and opportunity, and that applies just as much on the policy side as it does in the field.

Provide feedback on Canada’s Next Policy Framework

The NPF is a five year (2028–33) federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) investment aimed at strengthening and growing Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector. The NPF will succeed the current Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), which is in effect from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2028. The feedback collected will help guide the vision and priorities for the framework and will inform the policy statement to be announced by FPT Ministers in July 2026.

Provide feedback on Canada’s Next Policy Framework. The NPF is a five year (2028–33) federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) investment aimed at strengthening and growing Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector. The NPF will succeed the current Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), which is in effect from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2028. The feedback collected will help guide the vision and priorities for the framework and will inform the policy statement to be announced by FPT Ministers in July 2026.

This was first published in Volume 6 Issue 2 of ABP Magazine (June 2026). Watch for more digital content from the magazine on ABP Daily.