Statement from the OFVGA on the status of travel restrictions on temporary foreign workers

Statement from the OFVGA on the status of travel restrictions on temporary foreign workers:

 

The OFVGA is pleased to see the statement from provincial Minister Hardeman, and have had discussions with federal Minister Bibeau, which confirm that the federal government is working towards exempting temporary foreign workers from pending travel restrictions due to covid-19. Seasonal agricultural workers are essential to annual food production. Without the support of these workers, domestic food production will be impossible or significantly limited.

 

While we are encouraged that the federal government is supportive of ensuring season agricultural workers arrive in Canada, there are still many logistical challenges and details to resolve. The OFVGA continues to work closely with our national allies, F.A.R.M.S., the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and the Canadian Horticultural Council, and the federal government to find workable solutions to ensure the timely arrival of workers.

 

Further, OFVGA will work closely with government and health officials to ensure that the entry of these essential foreign workers is done in the safest way possible, to protect the health of Canadians, the workers, and maintain a safe and secure domestic food supply.

 

The OFVGA will continue to share details as they become available from the federal government. The continued support of stakeholders and the provincial and federal government is appreciated as we collectively navigate this uncharted territory.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.