RICHMOND—Virginia farmers and Canadian diplomats underscored the value of cross-border trade and agricultural relationships during a recent visit hosted by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.
The Canadian delegation included Economic Minister Carlos Vanderloo and two agricultural counselors. During the two-day visit, they met with Virginia government officials, farmers and agricultural leaders.
For the diplomats and Farm Bureau leaders, the visit offered a chance to sustain dialogue and build relationships.
VFBF Vice President Robert J. Mills Jr., who raises tobacco, grains, poultry and beef cattle in Southside Virginia, said farmers cannot control every trade decision, but they can help preserve important relationships.
“The best thing we can do is what we’re doing right now—maintaining the relationships and figuring out what our plan of action is,” Mills said. “If we know what you need and you know what we need, then when that door is open, we won’t miss a beat on getting our trade opportunities back.”
The itinerary combined tours of agricultural businesses and the State Fair of Virginia with a candid discussion before the VFBF board of directors. A Virginia’s Finest reception showcased Virginia-grown food and beverages and gave the diplomats an opportunity to meet producers who trade with Canada or hope to enter the Canadian market. The delegation also met members of Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committees at the state and national levels and Virginia Cooperative Extension director Mike Gutter.
Farm and forestry tours included stops at the Nixon family’s Glenmary Farm LLC, an Orange County beef cattle, poultry and row-crop operation, and Northland Forest Products Inc. in Fluvanna County. There, vice president of international sales Scott Seyler guided the group through a hardwood lumberyard. The visits offered a close look at two of Virginia’s leading private industries and showed how national policy decisions affect family farms and forestry businesses.
A Canadian Embassy presentation on Virginia-Canada trade partnerships prompted a wide-ranging discussion with the VFBF board of directors.
Canada was Virginia’s largest export market in 2025, receiving $2.9 billion in goods, or 15% of the commonwealth’s goods exports. Two-way trade between Virginia and Canada totaled $6.3 billion, according to state figures. Agricultural trade alone generates $395 million annually.
The visit came amid uncertainty surrounding North American trade policy. The U.S. declined to renew the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement in its current form during the pact’s July 1 joint review. The agreement remains in force as the three countries continue discussions, while higher U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods and the prospect of Canadian retaliation have created additional uncertainty for Virginia exporters.
Media: Contact Olivia Gyapong, VFBF national affairs, at 240-483-1932.
