Five-Point Plan Action Plan Needed As Producers Face Delayed Harvest, Soaring Input Costs and Crop-Quality Losses
REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is calling on the Moe government to provide immediate financial relief to farmers dealing with a delayed harvest, deteriorating crop quality, soaring production costs and growing trade uncertainty.
Saskatchewan's latest crop report shows just 32 percent of the crop has been harvested, compared with a five-year average of 71 per cent. Widespread rainfall has stalled harvest operations across the province, while excessive moisture has contributed to quality concerns for several major crops. The report estimates a 6.9 percent drop in crop production.
At the same time, producers are facing significantly higher costs for fuel and crop drying, adding another financial burden at one of the most expensive and stressful times of the farming year. Diesel for example is $2.63/litre, a 168 per cent increase from just nine years ago and almost double the price from last harvest.
“Saskatchewan farmers are in a massive cash-flow crunch right now and they need their government to act,” said Leader Carla Beck. “This is not the time for excuses. Farmers have, and are, doing everything they can to get this crop off, but they can’t control the weather, crop quality or soaring input costs. The Moe government has the ability to provide immediate relief and needs to do it now.”
“Saskatchewan farmers are being asked to absorb sky-high diesel and production costs, and now in addition much higher grain drying costs while watching the quality of their crops deteriorate,” said Trent Wotherspoon, NDP Shadow Finance & Associate Agriculture Shadow Minister. “This isn’t a time for the government to sit on its hands. The Moe Government needs to step up, do its job and support Saskatchewan’s world-class producers who have taken the risk, done the work and are putting food on our tables and driving our economy forward.”
The five-point plan from Beck’s team would provide immediate cost and cash-flow relief while improving access to existing federal programs:
A temporary 12 cents-per-litre rebate on farm diesel along with the elimination of the 3 cents-per-litre provincial fuel tax, offering combined relief of 15 cents-per-litre, for eligible farm fuel purchased between August 1st and December 31, 2026, subject to a reasonable per-operation cap;
A 15 percent rebate on propane, natural gas and electricity used for grain drying and aeration during the same period, subject to a reasonable per-operation cap;
Request an increase 2026 AgriStability interim payments in Saskatchewan increase from the recently announced 75 per cent to 90 per cent of the estimated final benefit;
Request a targeted AgriStability advance for producers facing significant production and crop-quality losses and;
Request that Ottawa expand the $500,000 interest-free Advance Payments Program now limited to canola, to all eligible commodities in 2026.
Detailed eligibility rules and per-farm caps should be developed in consultation with key agricultural organizations to ensure the program is targeted to producers facing the greatest financial pressure.
Beck's team is also calling on the Moe government to act on previous recommendations to:
Ensure a costing review of rail transport through the CTA and act to improve cost and performance of rail transportation for producers;
Address anti-competitive practices in the meat-processing sector; and
Improve transparency throughout the food supply chain so farmers have better information about costs, pricing and market conditions.
“Farmers are the backbone of Saskatchewan, and when they are under pressure, the provincial government should have their backs — it’s time for change,” Wotherspoon said.
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