Representatives of Canadian farm groups gathered in Ottawa in late February for the Canadian Federation of Agriculture's 2017 Annual Meeting.

The Annual Meeting included a variety of keynote speeches and discussions centered on the theme, "Canada's 150: Our Farms, Our Food, Our Future." This year's keynote speakers included David Anderson, the Conservative party agriculture critic, Tracey Ramsey, the NDP's international trade critic and Mike Hoffort, the president and CEO of Farm Credit Canada.

One of the keynote speakers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister, Lawrence MacAulay, spoke about the importance of farm organizations and governments working in partnership. He also touched on the Agriculture Policy Framework, which is currently being developed and will be finalized by federal and provincial agriculture ministers this July.

CFA members passed 40 resolutions that will help guide its advocacy efforts in the coming year. The resolutions cover a range of issues, including the following:

• Program funding
• Trade
• Rural infrastructure
• Risk Management
• Transportation
• Tax policy
• Climate change

The annual meeting also included the CFA election results. Members elected Norm Hall, a grain producer from Regina, SK., as First-Vice President. Marcel Groleau, a dairy producer from Thetford Mines, QC was elected Second-Vice President.

Click here to read the full press release from CFA.