Canadian farming groups and the fertilizer sector are calling on the Liberal government to provide compensation, after many have been negatively impacted by government-imposed tariffs on imported Russian fertilizer..Groups representing more than 50,000 Canadian farmers, including the Ontario Agri Business Association, Grain Farmers of Ontario, Québec Grain Farmers, the Atlantic Grains Council, and Fertilizer Canada, have put out press releases condemning the federal government for placing 35% tariffs on Russian imports of fertilizer..“The federal government regulations placed Ontario at a huge price disadvantage for our crops” said Ontario Bean Growers’ Chairman Dave Woods..“We recognize the mistakes the Russian Government made in invading Ukraine, but making farmers, and ultimately Canadian consumers, pay for a tariff during high inflation, and a time of increasing food shortages, is unfair and unwise, especially when most purchases were made prior to the war," he said..On March 3, 2022, the federal government implemented a 35% tariff on all Russian imports, including fertilizer, without consultation with the agriculture sector..The provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada rely heavily on fertilizer imports. Approximately 660,000 to 680,000 tonnes of nitrogen fertilizer is imported from Russia to the Atlantic provinces annually, which represents between 85-90% of the total nitrogen fertilizer used in the region..Woods said farmers are doing "everything they can" to reduce fertilizer usage, but there is only so much that can be done before yields are impacted..“The government does not understand the impact they have on our farmers’ ability to grow food. Whether carbon taxes, import tariffs, diesel taxes, pesticide bans, supply chain disruptions, lingering COVID vaccine mandates, rail strikes, fertilizer reduction regulations the government is constantly making farmers wonder if they can continue to operate and grow food in Canada," he said..Woods said if the federal government does not remove the tariffs and provide assistance to the fertilizer sector, prices will continue to increase for both farmers and consumers. .Brendan Byrne, the chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario, agreed farmers need financial compensation and a "a secure and reliable supply of fertilizer so we can roll up our sleeves and do our part to help the world through this crisis.".Byrne pointed out Canada is the only G7 country that has tariffs on Russian fertilizer, meaning the country's agriculture industry is at a competitive disadvantage compared to other countries.."You cannot grow crops without fertilizer, and you cannot produce food without crops,” said Roy Culberson, chairman of the Atlantic Grains Council..“An additional tariff paid by farmers on a global product such as fertilizer just penalizes the farmer. We look forward to working on a resolution with government.”.Karen Proud, president and CEO of Fertilizer Canada, said fertilizer is the most important for "ensuring strong, hearty yields.".“We need to support our growers and the industry needs predictability for the 2023 growing seasons as the planning is happening now. Now, more than ever, the world needs more Canada.
