“Policy’s Growing Role in Farming”

Jul 03, 2025

By Collin Cisco

Farmers have always needed to be experts in much more than just growing crops. Weather patterns, global markets and trade dynamics all play a part in determining profitability. But increasingly, public policy, especially legislation not explicitly labeled as agricultural, is shaping how farmers operate and what they earn.

At the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA), our Government Relations team works to ensure Illinois soybean growers are represented when policies are debated and decisions are made. Even policies that might seem far removed from agriculture can have a direct and lasting impact on farmers’ bottom lines.

Ripple Effects Beyond Agriculture

Although agriculture-specific legislation such as the Farm Bill often makes headlines, it is frequently broader policy decisions that affect farmers most. Infrastructure, energy, trade and environmental regulations all influence the cost of doing business and ultimately the price Illinois soybean farmers receive for their crop.

Take transportation as an example. The ability to move soybeans efficiently hinges on a reliable system of roads, railways, locks and dams. When infrastructure policy fails to prioritize repairs or introduces restrictions that slow movement, farmers pay the price through delivery delays, rising freight costs and reduced commodity prices at market.

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Video: Why Invest in Canada’s Seed Future? | On The Brink: Episode 3

Darcy Unger just invested millions to build a brand-new seed plant on his farm in Stonewall, Manitoba so when it’s time for his sons to take over, they have the tools they need to succeed.

Right now, 95% of the genetics they’ll be growing come from Canadian plant breeders.

That number matters.

When fusarium hit Western Canada in the late 90s, it was Canadian breeders who responded, because they understood Canadian conditions. That ability to react quickly to what’s happening on Canadian farms is exactly what’s at risk when breeding programs lose funding.

For farmers like Darcy, who have made generational investments based on the assumption that better genetics will keep coming, the stakes are direct and personal.

We’re on the brink of decisions that will shape our agricultural future for not only our generation, but also the ones to come.

What direction will we choose?

On The Brink is a year-long video series traveling across Canada to meet the researchers, breeders, farmers, seed companies, and policymakers shaping the future of Canadian plant breeding. Each week, a new story. Each story, a piece of the bigger picture.

Episode 3 is above. Follow Seed World Canada to catch every episode, and tell us: Do you think the next generation will have the tools they need to success when they takeover? How is the future going to look?