The farmer in southern Manitoba, Alexander Boersch, knows that the use of innovative sustainability measures to improve soil health, water infiltration and nutrient efficiency is not cheap, and he is concerned that costs can dissuade farmers to adopt new approaches as tariffs threaten their livelihoods.
Boersch, who directs the ABTSHOF farms near Elie, about 45 kilometers west of Winnipeg, focuses on regenerative agriculture, whose objective is to limit the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Use methods such as coverage cultivation, crop plantation specifically destined to protect soil health.
But the 25 percent rates imposed by the US. In steel and aluminum imports, and the threat of more levies next week, along with the 100 percent of China’s retaliation on the Canadian oil and Canadian food of Canola are causing uncertainty in the agricultural industry, he said.
The lowest profit margins can discourage sustainability practices such as crop rotation or coverage cultivation, which can be expensive and cannot produce benefits for two or three years, said Boersch, who is also co -founder of AG reference solutions, a company that helps farmers to implement soil health and crop strategies.
“It is such an important industry for Canada in terms of bringing many economic benefits … and if we want to produce healthy foods, it needs good agricultural practices.”
Sowing will begin soon, but so far, few crops are expected to generate profits for most grass farmers.
Boersch is convinced of sustainable agriculture “is the right thing,” but said it will have to be strategic with costs.
While there are some subsidies for the sustainability available, for the most part, farmers pay the bill of these initiatives, he said.
That means for farmers who “really like this idea, but they are not 100 % safe and do not want to risk too much … they will drop things like this, because they simply see it as an additional cost,” he said.
‘Terriente for farmers at this time’
ABTSHOF Farms has more than 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) and has been certified as a regenerative farm by the US company regenified. But the commercial war between Canada and the United States is limiting new associations that would allow them to capitalize on that certification, with some companies reluctant to work with the farm in the midst of uncertainty, Boersch said.
“It’s fear for farmers at this time,” Boersch said.
“If we do not address these rates soon, there will be a lot of pain in the agricultural sector that will enter next year.”
Colin Hornby, the general manager of the Keystone agricultural producers of the Manitoba Industry Association, said that reducing carbon emissions is important, international trade and rates are the main priorities for farmers at this time.
“You cannot be green if you are in red, so we really find it to talk about other things other than trade and other financial problems,” said Hornby.
With a new government to be chosen on April 28, both Hornby and Boersch say that finding a resolution with China, after Canada put 100 percent of tariffs in electric vehicles made by Chinese and a 25 percent tax on Chinese aluminum and steel products last fall, it is a key issue.
Hornby said the government also needs to ensure that new environmental policies do not hinder growth for agricultural producers, which could involve rethinking what “sustainability” means.
“We want to make sure that if someone can grow more with less contributions, that is considered sustainable, that we are not focusing only on emissions,” he said.
Boersch said the government must address the effect of China’s tariffs on farmers as canola prices fall. He said that farmers in western Canada have not felt heard on the subject and will need support.
Operating costs have shot in the last decade due to inflation, which has been “horrible in agriculture,” he said, emphasizing the need to prioritize industry concerns and promote free trade to reduce the load faced by producers, he said.
Without that, farmers can have to reduce costs, reduce wages and step back from growth opportunities, Boersch said.
“Obviously we have to protect ourselves when we need it, but now we are in a position in which they have painted us in a corner by the policies against China when our largest client, the United States, is in a battle with us,” he said.
