Why Changes Proposed By The CFIA Matter To You, The Consumer

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January 19, 2026

The new regulations were scheduled to take effect, but due to pushback (mainly from farmers), they have been paused.

You can read more about the new regulations here if you are so inclined.

If you are interested in some farmers perspectives, here is a video of a meeting in Alberta, which speaks about what the regulations are, the perspective of a farmer who has dealt with the CFIA in the past and others who have looked into it a lot more than I have.

The new regulations essentially put more stringent requirements on farmers to track the movement of cattle (including hefty fines for non compliance). The justification is that this would be used as a tool to track down and deal with any disease outbreaks.

The thing is that there is already a tracking system in place and there hasn't been any issues since its inception.

The new system would add a lot of red tape, time and cost, which will be felt most by smaller producers; while critics of the proposed regulations say the hypothetical benefits aren't worth the cost.

Why should this matter to you, as a consumer?

Regulations (while they do have their place) typically are hardest on the smallest entities involved. A large organization can pay someone to make sure all the paperwork is completed and all the boxes are checked. They can pay for the new equipment that is required and pass the costs on to the consumer. A smaller organization (or farm), does not have the same resources (personnel or cash), but do have to meet the same requirements. It is hardest on the smallest producers.

For an example of the effect of stricter regulations on small businesses, the number of abattoirs and butchers now vs. a few decades ago has significantly reduced - stricter regulation was a big part of it. The relationship between stricter regulations imposed on farming and the reduction in small farms will likely be the same.

I think the rise in popularity of our farm and business and other similar enterprises in recent years is at least in part because people want better food, they want to know where it is from, and they don't necessarily trust the commoditized and standardized food system. More control and regulations will mean fewer viable small farms and less choices for people who want to support those small farms and the food that is produced there.

I think when it comes to food, what it means to people's health and their finances, what it means to the people who produce and work in the food industry and what it means to the rural economies and cultures, we need to be very careful with how policy can affect it.

Blog: On The Farm

CFIA Regulaitons

Small Farms

Wild Meadows Farm

From Pasture to Price Tag: Understanding the Rising Cost of Meat

I consider myself very fortunate that I rarely go to the grocery store (we have one in our backyard, and for the things we don’t have here, Rebecca is usually the one who goes). When I do find myself there, though, I usually linger in the meat aisle to take a look at the prices. For the record, when we set prices for our products, we do not consider prices in stores or those of competitors. We determine prices based on our costs, plus a markup that we know will keep our doors open and the business sustainable. I do, however, find observing grocery store prices interesting and telling of what the commodity meat system produces and how it is priced. Just a few years ago, I often thought to myself how amazingly inexpensive meat was at the grocery store. Products like ground beef, chicken, and many pork cuts were so cheap. More recently, prices in stores are definitely up across the board. While our prices are still higher (and justifiably so, due to the quality of life our animals experience and the quality of meat our customers receive), the difference isn’t as great as it used to be. So why have grocery store prices increased so much? 1) Inflation is affecting everyone.Inflation is affecting everyone, including farmers, butchers, transport companies, and even grocery stores. Out-of-control money printing, higher energy costs, higher taxes, and wages that don’t keep up are a recipe for higher food prices—and for the general public to feel the strain financially. 2) Supply and demand are out of whack.Several factors, such as drought in the West, an aging farmer population, and higher beef prices (which discourage farmers from maintaining breeding stock), are leading to a lower cattle “inventory” in North America. That means fewer calves and a lower overall population, reducing supply. No one really knows when beef prices will come down, but the best-case scenario appears to be early 2028, based on what I’ve heard. Traditionally, chicken and other less expensive proteins have helped replace beef as prices rise. While it’s true that more people are choosing chicken as an alternative, beef demand has remained strong despite higher prices. Additionally, increased demand for chicken, combined with population growth and Canada’s restrictive production system (supply management), is projected to raise chicken prices by 25% in 2026. 3) Demand for meat isn’t slowing down.Experts often claim that more people will turn to “alternative” proteins as prices rise, and perhaps this is true for some. But you can’t beat the real thing, and I believe most people understand this. The public outcry over news that cloned meat could enter the supply chain without labelling is a good indicator that people do not want their food tampered with. So while I believe our products exist on a different playing field than their commodity and mass-produced counterparts, it’s interesting to observe how markets are changing and to track how these shifts may impact our customers and our business. Thanks for following along, and I hope you find my insights into our food system useful.

Why Changes Proposed By The CFIA Matter To You, The Consumer

More from the blog

From Pasture to Price Tag: Understanding the Rising Cost of Meat

Food Debates Are Getting Wild – Here’s Why It's A Good Thing

Cloned Meat? Never on Our Farm!

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