Agriculture Roundup for Tuesday September 20, 2022

Sep 21, 2022

MELFORT, Sask. – A rail strike in the United States was averted, much to the relief of the agriculture sector.

Agricultural Retailers Association president Daren Coppock said a strike would have gridlocked commodity supply chains during harvest.

He said farm retailers were already feeling the impact of a potential strike as railroads started to cancel shipments of fertilizer products such as anhydrous ammonia and affecting domestic fertilizer production earlier last week.

A labour deal was brokered by Labour Secretary Marty Walsh who tweeted a deal was reached after roughly 20 hours of talks.Specific details on the agreement were not released. The talks involved 12 unions representing more than 100,000 engineers, conductors, mechanics, and other railroad workers.

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Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.