Orchard has never held political office in Canada, but has been involved in leadership conventions and other political activities.
He is perhaps best known for his campaign to oppose the Canada–United States Free Trade Agreement.
Orchard has become a prominent activist against the Canada-U.S.
free trade agreement arguing it would weaken Canada's sovereignty and control of its resources.
He also campaigned against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas and the proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI).
Orchard is a fourth-generation organic grain farmer, and also the author of the bestselling book The Fight for Canada: Four Centuries of Resistance to American Expansionism.
He was also a co-founder of CCAFT (Citizens Concerned About Free Trade) in 1985.