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By Alice McFarlane

SARM urges action on canola tariffs

Saskatchewan farmers continue to face depressed prices from canola tariffs

Oct 16, 2025 | 12:18 PM

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) said canola farmers are now facing some of the lowest prices in recent years.

SARM President Bill Huber said with harvest nearly complete, and canola sitting in bins across the province, it’s a troubling time from producers. He said this is the time of year they begin marketing their crop to pay bills and sustain their operations. But in 2025, those opportunities are severely limited.

“We just finished harvest, but the bins are full, and the marketplace is closed off. This is not a good situation for farmers right now,” Huber said. “We need access to our markets in order to keep farms financially viable.”

Huber said since the imposition of tariffs stemming from Ottawa’s dispute with China over electric vehicles, not a single shipment of Saskatchewan canola seed, oil, or meal has entered the Chinese market.

In a news release, SARM said farmers are now contending with full storage bins, limited marketing options, and incomes that cannot meet financial obligations such as mortgages, crop input costs, and operating loans—with no clear resolution in sight.

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While the federal government has not yet communicated whether removing EV-related tariffs is under consideration, canola industry leaders—including farmer representatives—met with Prime Minister Carney on Sept. 17 to address the urgent trade issue. During that meeting, stakeholders stressed that resolving the Chinese canola ban will require the removal of tariffs and a political solution.

The issue will be at the top of the meeting agenda as SARM’s Board and Policy Team are in Ottawa next week, including a meeting with the Federal Minister of Agriculture.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com