Harvest near Kharkiv, Ukraine. Photo 83219248 © Sergіy Bobok Dreamstime.com

By Curtis Galbraith

Agriculture

GGC President expects Russian invasion of Ukraine to push up grain prices but ‘not in the way we wanted’

Mar 3, 2022 | 2:51 PM

The chair of the Grain Growers of Canada says he “can’t imagine” what is going on in the countryside in Ukraine.

Valhalla farmer Andre Harpe says this will impact world markets, both on the supply side and for what is used to grow crops.

“We saw the canola market shoot up actually quite substantially the day Russia invaded. They have actually since come down,” he explained.

“There is a lot of uncertainty. Definitely, it is going to keep prices are up (but) not in the way we wanted.”

Harpe says there could also be issues with fuel and fertilizer supply.

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“Nobody would want this, nobody needs this. It is going to be interesting to see what happens. It is going to be interesting to see what Russia wants and what it is going to do. We’re going to have to wait and see.”

Harpe tells EverythingGP Russia is attacking cities, but its tanks and other equipment are going across farmers’ fields to get to those cities.

“They’re rutting them up. They’re making a mess is what they’re doing,” he stated. “It may take fields out of production for this year. We are not that far away spring anymore and depending on how long this war lasts, it could have a huge, huge effect.”

“Ukraine is huge in the world market. To me, it is the breadbasket of Europe. We’ll have to wait and see what exactly happens.”

Harpe is hoping the war is resolved soon and the people in Ukraine can go back to their normal lives.