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High fuel and fertilizer prices challenge farmers in 2022. (Photo: ID 157952542 © Nancy Anderson Dreamstime.com)

High fuel and fertilizer prices challenge farmers in 2022

Oct 15, 2022 | 7:00 AM

PRINCE ALBERT, SK – Harvest is close to being done across the prairies, putting an end to one of the most challenging years for farmers.

The biggest issue during seeding and harvest has been skyrocketing prices.

Fuel Costs

High fuel prices have affected drivers across the country, but farmers have been hit especially hard, with some having to pay at least double what they paid last year.

Bob Reid, who farms near Smeaton, Saskatchewan, says his fuel bill for the year is well into the six figures.

“It cost me, in the spring, $2,200 every day-and-a-half to fill one tractor.”

Reid also says he paid more for some construction work done on his farm. Due to the high fuel costs, Reid claims he was forced to pay $150 every day as travel expenses for the crew; a price he hasn’t come close to paying before.

The high costs also forced at least one farmer to get a bit creative to help with their bottom line.

Tim Oleksyn, who farms around Prince Albert, shared some of the ways he and his workers have saved a bit of funds. This included turning off all vehicles, even if they were just stepping out for a couple of seconds, and not using air conditioning when they can just roll down their windows.

He noted they also hired outside work, so they didn’t have to use any of their own fuel.

“Not that you don’t pay for it that way, but sometimes you can balance it a little bit differently,” Oleksyn explained.

Fertilizer Prices

Fuel prices weren’t the only cost to skyrocket, as farmers were forced to pay much more for fertilizer.

Fertilizers replace the nutrients that crops would normally remove from the soil after they’ve been harvested. Without it, crops could potentially die.

“The bill, to be totally honest, was double of what we paid the year prior,” said Don Blocka, who also farms near Prince Albert.

His comment isn’t unique, as Kerry Peterson, whose farm is in the Shellbrook area, claims he paid at least double for fertilizer compared to last year.

Peterson is also concerned about what’s going to happen with fertilizer moving forward, as the federal government wants to cut 30 per cent of fertilizer emissions by 2030.

“I don’t understand how that helps, to lessen our food supply when we’re in an inflationary period like this and everybody’s having trouble putting groceries on the table,” says Peterson.

Not All Bad

Each of the farmers say the year had some positive takeaways.

Prices for their crops were much higher, though not every farmer in the province was fortunate enough to make a profit.

Each also added they were able to grow more crops this year than they did last year during the drought-like conditions.

“The crop was much better than last year, thanks to having timely rains,” adds Blocka.

In a time of a lot of uncertainty, Oleksyn noted the harvest, and the price of their crops did provide them a “bit of comfort.”

Read more agricultural news at Lethbridge News Now.

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