APAS releases updated numbers on carbon tax

Jan 12, 2021

Agriculture needs to continue to push for exceptions, says APAS president

Staff Writer

Farms.com

Producers are going to continue to see an increase to their production costs coming from the carbon tax, said a recent release from the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS).

APAS reps released updated numbers that show the cost of producing wheat could go up to more than $12.50 per acre in 2030 because of the carbon tax.

“The costs are very significant on an average wheat crop,” said Todd Lewis, president of APAS. “That's hundreds of millions of dollars out of the western Canadian economy every year, and really there's no way for farmers to recoup those costs because we can't pass them along.”

This estimate used the new numbers announced by the Government of Canada in December 2020 stating the carbon tax will increase to $170 per tonne by 2030. It also used key indirect costs that are not exempt from the carbon taxation such as electricity and grain drying, said the release.

APAS reps plan to continue to fight for exemptions for producers and give them the recognition they deserve, said Lewis.

“In a lot of cases (farmers are) world leaders in carbon management, and that's really what agriculture is all about is in a lot of ways is managing carbon, and we've done a pretty good job of and continue to,” Lewis told Farms.com.

APAS reps are working on developing cost estimates for other crop and livestock commodities. The most recent estimates and calculations can be found here.

Christian Horz/iStock/Getty Images Plus photo

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.