GGC Chair Andre Harpe at 15th GTN Conference on Thursday February 23, 2023. Photo courtesy Erika Rolling.

By Erika Rolling

Agriculture

GGC Chair speaks on agricultural challenges at GTN conference

Feb 24, 2024 | 7:00 AM

Vahalla producer and Grain Growers of Canada Chair Andre Harpe was among the speakers at the 15th Growing the North Conference at Evergreen Park on Thursday.

Harpe spoke on the challenges the agriculture world faces today.

He touched on the conflict of profitability and sustainability of farms, supply chain issues, and the increasing cost of production in a breakout session attendees could sit in, listen, and ask questions.

Harpe says for producers in the Peace, sustainability and profitability relies a lot on market value.

“I think one of the things we really need to focus on right now is basically the prices. And we are hearing or I’m hearing that there’s a lot of grain left in the bin because prices are actually quite are down.”

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“It gets back to, if you look at the cost of production or the input costs from last year were extremely high… we need a reasonable return to try and make some money.”

He says it’s not just Peace Country or Western Canada producers that are struggling, it’s the entire nation.

“In Canada, everything is generally down and our costs of buying fertilizer have gone down some, but not not anywhere close to what we’re able to sell canola for or wheat.”

Harpe did put a forewarning out to producers to stock up on their fertilizer now.

“So what we’re hearing right now and what I’ve been told is for nitrogen, which is huge, we use a lot of is basically that supply will probably be all right. But for phosphate which is equally important, we’ve been told to get that on farm as soon as possible because they aren’t going to guarantee that it’s going to be available this spring.

He says there was a shortage last year and knows some farmers in this area weren’t able to get the phosphate they needed for seeding.

Harpe also said it’s hard to predict what the growing season will look like right now, as “we don’t have crop failures in the middle of February.”

“I’m optimistic right now. I’m going to assume that we’re going to get the the rain we need. So as of now yes, it is dry out. But I think we have to enjoy the winter as we have it and at the same time, and we have to hope that we will have the regular rains that usually come.”

He says if worse comes to worse, farmers will be seeding regardless, and suggests everyong gets crop insurance.

The Grain Growers of Canada also are planning to release a sustainability initiative in the spring, called Road to 2050.

Harpe says it will be looking at making fields and farms more sustainable by using practices that are already working.

“I think everybody realizes the better we (producers) do, the better we’re all off. But at the same time, it has to work for farmers, and it’s going to work for farmers.”