REGINA — Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison is welcoming the start of seeding operations in Saskatchewan.
At a media event at a farm south of Regina, Harrison was buoyant about what was being seen so far. According to the first crop report of the year, seeding progress was at 18 per cent completion.
“That figure is well ahead of the five-year average of 10 per cent and the 10-year average of 12 per cent,” said Harrison. “This even after a stormy condition we experienced in April that delivered significant moisture in some regions of the province.”
He noted that while dry conditions are developing in some regions, topsoil moisture levels overall are mostly adequate at the moment. Harrison said they are “hopeful for some timely moisture in the coming weeks to support crop development across the province.”
Harrison thanked the producers of the province and said their work “is only going to ramp up in the days and weeks ahead in areas around the province, depending on changing conditions.” He pointed to the network of volunteer crop reporters who contribute to the crop report each week.
Concerns about China tariffs
But there are some clouds on the horizon, with the 100 per cent canola tariffs from China still out there as an issue.
Harrison acknowledged “there is concern, certainly.” He said the seeding intentions of producers are “pretty well locked in. They had all their seeds and all input costs kind of wrapped up, their rotations fairly set from season to season.”
Price-wise, they are “not seeing as big a negative impact at the moment. But trade in a province that relies on trade, both ag and other commodities, trade is the utmost priority. And it's always a concern, but we're dealing with that. And we're working with trade and our ag sector. We need to ensure that we have reliable markets to sell into. And being reliable is what we're all about.”
Minister of Trade and Export Development Warren Kaeding was also on hand and noted that himself, Minister Harrison and Premier Scott Moe have “engaged with Chinese officials pretty well since the start of the tariffs were implemented.”
“And the message that we've gotten every time we have engagement with Chinese officials is that your federal government needs to talk to our President to start this discussion. And I would say as early as this morning, again we have the Chinese ambassador to Canada talk to the Premier and myself, as well as other ministers, and reiterating that same message — that that engagement, in order to effect change, has to go on at our Prime Minister's level to the President of China level.
And I understand the Premier has certainly had all indications in his discussions with Prime Minister Carney that that engagement is starting.
“So we're feeling a small amount of comfort that that level of engagement is now starting. And I would say tomorrow will be a good indication as to who the federal Trade minister is and ultimately what their mandate letter is going to say. But I fully expect it will involve engaging with China at the earliest time.”
He indicated the concern about tariffs is that they affect ultimately what producers are going to see for an end value.
“The other sector that we've certainly had a high level of engagement… that's probably even more concerned, is our oil seed processors,” said Kaeding, “because China is the second largest market for canola meal. And it is very, very difficult to transition that volume of canola meal sales to another country. It would literally take 10 small countries to make up what China takes from us.”
Minister Harrison will also be looking closely at the appointment of a new federal cabinet, and in particular a new Ag Minister on Tuesday.
That is of particular importance, with changes announced to AgriStability prior to the federal election. “And our officials will be in touch, and we'll look to ramp up that in quick order,” said Harrison.
On trade, it is also seen by Harrison as “an opportunity for a restart in our negotiations with China, and I'm sure China is expecting the same thing. So, it's a great opportunity. It's happening tomorrow, and hopefully by the end of the week we have some meaningful engagement with China.”
Watching the weather
As for whether weather or tariffs are a bigger concern to producers right now, Kaeding said the weather is the primary concern.
“For about 140 days, the weather will be their primary concern, because ultimately, if they don't have something in the bin, they don't have something to market… Any political or any influence that is out of the hands of the producer is always a concern to the producer.”
In terms of weather conditions, Harrison said there were spots in west central and southern Saskatchewan that could use moisture.
“To quote my late father, he always said we're only ever two weeks away from a drought. So we need those timely rains throughout.”
But the crop report had suggested that “soil conditions were adequate, and the rest were short or extremely short. So those areas are certainly smaller, but doing all right at this time. But rain is most needed as planting wraps up.”
