STEINBACH, MAN. THE CARILLON n C5
www.thecarillon.com n
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2026
TONI DE GUZMAN THE CARILLON
Jenn Pfenning leads the National Farmers Union representing thousands of farm families across Canada. National Farmers Union hopes for organization accreditation and ag minister meeting
Pfenning, an Ontario farmer. “It can- not be an either we defend ourselves militarily or we feed ourselves one. Without the other (it) doesn’t work. Every army throughout history had to feed itself. This country has to be able to feed itself more, not less.” This comes just after Prime Minis- ter Mark Carney announced a plan to spend $35 billion for defence. Pfenning said if the government doesn’t listen they’re ready to plan the next steps: “rallies, protests, and civil disobedience.”
creditation, the first thing would be to advocate against the Agriculture and Agri-food Canada cuts, and speak with KAP to find common ground. Jenn Pfenning, NFU President, said she’s optimistic about the future of farming despite the cuts, but the government needs to listen. “If that is the path we continue on, the future looks pretty bleak for Canada. We will become beholden, more and more beholden to the rest of the world to feed ourselves,” said
ger producers and export-focused farmers, which are important, but the niche farms who sell at local farmers markets aren’t represented enough. “There isn’t just one kind of farm anymore — and maybe there never was,” said Storey, noting the NFU has been advocating for their ac- creditation since the 1980s. The NFU is hoping to get a meet- ing with the minister of agriculture to plead their case. Storey said if they are given ac-
to the Canada Industrial Relations Board website. The other accredited union is Keystone Agriculture Pro- ducers (KAP). “Many farm voices are being lost when they’re funnelled through one majority organization,” said Kate Storey, a member of the NFU Man- itoba, noting that agriculture poli- cies are geared towards big farms. “It leaves [some] farmers out in the cold.” Storey said that’s because many of the policies are geared towards big-
by TONI DE GUZMAN T he National Farmers Union (NFU) is advocating for ac- creditation to strengthen their advocacy and better represent farms in Canada. The NFU is an organization that advocates for policies and income security for farmers. Gaining accred- itation or certification gives a union a right to negotiate terms and con- ditions of employment, according
WE HAVE FUNDING AVAILABLE Transitioning Cultivated Land to Perennial Grasses Livestock Watering Systems Water storage/Retentions Riparian Fencing Pasture Diversification Rotational Grazing Nitrogen Management
Erosion Control Cover Cropping Shelterbelts
Per Acre Annual Payments Available for the Following Management Practices: Riparian Fencing - Water Retention Transitioning Cultivated Land to Perennial Grasses Wetland Fencing - Erosion Control - Shelterbelts
204-326-1030 www.srrwd.ca info@srrwd.ca Contact us with your project idea
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