Canadians raised their forks this week for Canada's Agriculture Day.

Among those championing the countries agriculture producers was Foothills MP and Agriculture Shadow Minister John Barlow.

Barlow says this Agriculture Day came after a lot of recent hardship.

"Agriculture has had a tough couple of years. We had a great harvest a couple of years ago, but this year with the drought, the floods in B.C., and COVID, it hasn't been the easiest year. I hope Canadians take a few minutes and just have an understanding of what this industry means to us."

He feels the country's agriculture industry could play a major role in post-COVID economic recovery, especially with talk of food security having become so prominent.

"As we come out of COVID and start to rebuild our economy, countries are going to be looking at industries that they know can generate revenue and generate jobs, and agriculture should be there first and foremost. As we talk about food security and food supply and affordability, Canada can play an incredible role in getting economies back on their feet.

"I'm really excited about the potential in agriculture and Canadian agriculture specifically to play a critical role in our economic recovery as we come out of COVID, certainly no more so than what goes on here in Alberta."

With that said, Barlow believes farmers face some governmental barriers.

He says the federal carbon tax has and continues to act as a hindrance for farmers, and that it will cost the average farmer an estimated $45,000 annually as of next year.

Barlow pointed to a few private member's bills from the Conservatives, two of which have been tabled, that he believes would greatly help the industry.

One would exempt farm fields from the carbon tax, which the Foothills MP sees as a much preferable alternative to rebates, and another focused on bio-security that would prevent protestors from entering farmland, which Barlow tabled himself.

Regardless of the struggles faced by Canada's agriculture producers, Barlow hopes Canadians take some time to celebrate the industry that literally puts food on the table.

"I want them to understand where their food comes from, how we do it, why we do it. We do it better than anyone else on the planet."