Photo by Shaun Penner

By Curtis Galbraith

Agriculture

Input costs, seed supplies concerns for 2022 growing season

Oct 21, 2021 | 2:39 PM

Now that a lot of farmers have finished harvest, they are looking towards next year.

Valhalla producer and Grain Growers of Canada chair Andre Harpe says rising input costs are a concern.

“Fertilizer, some of the prices I’m hearing now, has doubled or more than doubled from last year or what we would have bought fertilizer for last year,” he explained.

“Seed has gone up a little bit, but I guess the really big concern right now is the cost of fertilizer or the cost of producing our crop next year. I guess everybody is starting to focus on that right now.”

Some commodity groups say another concern is a possible shortage of seed.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

Harpe says while canola seed comes from companies, seed for cereal crops and peas comes from pedigreed seed growers.

“They were hit just as hard as the rest of us. So, all of a sudden, yeah, there could be quite a concern for buying seed next year also.”

Harpe says lobbying efforts to get federal and provincial government help for farmers continues.

“We talked to them in July. That’s partly where this (AgriRecovery) for the cattle producers came in. I think what they (governments) were doing was they were taking a wait-and-see attitude where the crop comes in and see what the shortage is,” Harpe said.

“At the same time, there’s been nothing for the grain producers.”

Harpe says a lack of help from the government and the rising input costs mean it could “be a very interesting year next year.”