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Prairie Farmers Face Delayed Harvest as Rain, Costs Rise
Wet fields and higher diesel and fertilizer costs are slowing Prairie harvests, while industry groups warn crops left longer can lose quality.
Prairie farmers are struggling to harvest crops as frequent rain creates muddy fields and delays. Rick White, head of the Canadian Canola Growers Association, said "Farmers are fighting mud trying to get out on the fields."
Diesel prices have skyrocketed due to Middle East and Ukraine-Russia conflicts disrupting crude oil and energy supplies. Natural Resources Canada reported prices exceeding $2.75 per litre late last week, over 80 per cent higher than last year's $1.50.
Aging infrastructure compounds delays; Bruce Burrows, executive director at Grain Growers of Canada, flagged Vancouver's Second Narrows bridge as a bottleneck. Greg Cherewyk, president of Pulses Canada, warned that uncertainty causes "product sitting" at ports.
While Ottawa secured a suspension of 100 per cent tariffs on canola meal and peas from Beijing until year-end, importers remain reluctant to commit purchases. Cherewyk warned that uncertainty beyond January 1 creates a "very serious time frame."
Despite mounting pressures, Farm Credit Canada executive vice-president J.P. Gervais reported 2026 revenues remain on track to exceed 2025 levels. Yet sentiment is rising as Gervais noted the narrative is "highly volatile and nobody knows really how that's going to look going forward.