Sask. farmers hope for rain, relief from tariffs as seeding continues

CBC News

· Posted: May 12, 2025 7:01 PM EDT | Last Updated: 9 minutes ago

With seeding good underway, Saskatchewan farmers are present looking astatine ungraded moisture levels and tariffs to spot what this twelvemonth volition hold.

"The upwind is sucking the moisture retired of the crushed astatine an exceptional rate. Things are drying up very, precise quickly," said Jeremy Welter, who farms northeast of Kerrobert and is simply a vice-president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS).

According to the province's astir caller harvest report, astir 18 per cent of the harvest has been planted.

That aforesaid study said topsoil moisture levels are capable successful overmuch of the province, but noted producers successful the southwest whitethorn not person capable outpouring runoff to replenish dugouts.

"The moisture concern is changing rapidly. I deliberation it is precise overmuch a question of wherever you go," Welter said.

The advancement successful outpouring seeding prompted the state to merchandise a connection reminding radical to dilatory down and springiness farmers abstraction erstwhile they are moving instrumentality connected the roads.

Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison said ungraded moisture levels are presently bully successful overmuch of the province, but that rainfall is needed soon to assistance get crops growing.

Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding said farmers are besides looking to spot China's tariff connected Canadian canola products lifted, but that it's not farmers' apical concern.

"The upwind is the superior interest for producers. For astir 140 days the upwind volition beryllium their superior concern, due to the fact that if they don't person thing successful the bin they don't person thing to market."

China imposed a 100 per cent retaliatory tariff connected Canadian canola lipid and repast successful March.

Both Kaeding and Harrison said they expect Ottawa volition commencement moving to get the tariff connected canola products lifted after a caller furniture is announced this week.