Western Canadian Wheat Growers Launch Fertilizer Awareness Campaign

The Western Canadian Wheat Growers have launched an awareness campaign focused on the federal government’s proposed 30% reduction in fertilizer emissions.

“The Federal Government has stated that they want to reduce fertilizer emissions by 30%, but have no plan or details how to accomplish this. They have not consulted with farmers or industry and yet make #fakepolicy announcements. The only way to achieve this is through a reduction in fertilizer use,” said Gunter Jochum, President and Manitoba Director.

Calculations by Fertilizer Canada show that using modeling software, a 30% absolute emission reduction for a farmer with 1,000 acres of canola and 1,000 acres of wheat would have their profit reduced by $38,000 to $40,500 annually.

“The government’s own Barton Report set goals for an enormous increase in agriculture exports. Canadian grain farmers are up for the challenge, but fake policy announcements such as this sets our production goals in question,” added Daryl Fransoo, Chair and Saskatchewan Director.

Higher diesel and fertilizer prices are squeezing farm profit margins ahead of the midterm elections. Farmers in Iowa and Kansas discuss rising harvest costs, the war in Iran and whether those pressures will change their votes. Peter Tubbs reports on the debate over farm input costs and the differing political responses across the Corn Belt.