(Twitter/@SKAgriculture)

By Alice McFarlane

APAS AGM

R.M.’s discuss carbon tax at AGM

Dec 3, 2019 | 4:59 PM

Representatives from rural municipalities from across Saskatchewan will gather in Regina starting tomorrow to discuss several issues including the carbon tax on grain drying.

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) are expecting roughly 100 delegates to attend the group’s annual meeting.

APAS President Todd Lewis said one key resolution will be to push the federal government on providing an exemption on the carbon tax on fuel used for grain drying.

“The extra charges on people using propane and natural gas for grain drying are significant and, as well as, the extra cost on electricity,” he said. “There’s literally millions and millions of bushels that went through aeration and farmers are seeing the effect of that on their electrical bills as well.”

“It’s the largest volume of gas that can be used and, you know, we’ve seen monthly charges in the hundreds of dollars, $400 or $500 for a large operation, so it is significant and it’s important to recognize,” he said. “It’s frustrating that one of the major adaptations to climate change is grain drying without it, we’d have millions more acres out in the field right now.”

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Lewis said it will be important to come up with a plan of attack on the carbon tax issue for farmers.

“I want to work towards more exemptions with the federal government and look forward to working with the new Environment Minister Mr. Wilkinson to try and get some more exemptions for agricultural practices,” he added.

Lewis said he expects resolutions on water drainage, seed royalties and rail transportation.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF