Extremely high fuel and fertilizer prices headline challenges for farmers during stressful year

Farmers have been hit especially hard with some having to pay at least double what they had to last year for the same amount.

Bob Reid, who farms around Smeaton, told paNOW 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.”

He mentioned that he needed 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 farms around 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 their emissions by 2030.

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

Not All Bad

Each of the farmers paNOW spoke with said 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 way more crops than they did last year during the drought-like conditions.

This year’s harvest continues to be very good with the weather being rather ideal over the past couple of months.

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

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow

by Jaryn Vecchio

Extremely high fuel and fertilizer prices headline challenges for farmers during stressful year

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