Portage MLA Jeff Bereza says Manitoba canola farmers are entering a difficult harvest season as new Chinese tariffs tighten global markets.
Bereza, with nearly 30 years of experience in agriculture, highlights the impact on both farm incomes and the broader provincial economy.
“Knowing the impact and the amount of money, the amount of economic spin-offs, the amount of people that are employed in Manitoba and across Western Canada and Canada because of the canola business."
Bereza adds that provincial leadership has not adequately prepared farmers for these challenges.
“All Manitobans and Canadians have known there's tariffs coming and unfortunately our current NDP government and our current ag minister have really not prepared for this,” he says.
He contrasts Manitoba’s approach with Saskatchewan and Alberta, which are actively seeking new customers for their crops.
Economic stakes of falling markets
“If you look at a 1500-acre canola farmer, which is not a big canola farmer in Manitoba here anymore, if that market drops $1.00, an average canola crop in Manitoba is about 40 bushels per acre, that farmer loses $60,000 per day, every day that crop drops by a dollar a bushel.”
Bereza mentions that although some may suggest selling to alternative buyers, global market realities make it nearly impossible.
He also stresses missed local opportunities, pointing to a proposed plant in the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park.
“That plant was supposed to use soybean oil and canola oil for sustainable aircraft fuel. The amount of canola that that plant could have consumed is astronomical. I'm not saying that it could have consumed all of the Manitoba canola that would have went to China, but what I am saying is it was a made-in-Manitoba solution and instead of us always looking to rely on our Big Brother, the federal Government of Canada, we need to work with Manitoba farmers and we need to work to find solutions for Manitoba farmers and the Manitoba economy right here.”
Calls for federal support
The tariffs come as China imposes a preliminary 75 per cent tariff on canola seed, on top of a 100 per cent tariff on canola meal and oil implemented earlier this year. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is calling for immediate federal action, urging Ottawa to provide financial support to farmers and to negotiate an end to the tariffs.
Warren Ellis, chair of the Manitoba Canola Growers Association, adds that with harvest days away, farmers face serious financial strain.
“The maximum amount of money has been spent already by farmers to grow the crop, and on Tuesday morning, we lost our second-largest customer. All the loans that we take out, all the cash flow that we use to finance growing the crop, now paying that back is in jeopardy,” he says.
Finding new markets
Bereza emphasizes that developing alternative markets is critical.
“Finding new markets for canola is so important, there's different types of canola out there. For instance, there's a variety called Nexera canola that has a high oil content. There's different markets for high oil, there's different markets for canola meal. The farmers again get hit with a double whammy because they'll be growing seed canola for next year's seed,” he says.
He adds that Manitoba’s farmers are resilient but need proactive support.
“Our farmers don’t give up, but they need our help. They need the provincial government to be looking for new markets."
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