Mathieu Charbonneau says the timing couldn’t be any worse. The price of diesel has surged in Canada right as farmers are using more fuel as they get the harvest in. “We are literally at the worst time to have these kind of increases,” he told CTV at his farm in Sainte-Anne-des-Pleines, “everything is going up and we are at the peak of the harvesting season right now.” He’s got 1,000 acres of crops, and this week marks the middle of soybean season. “We’ve got seven tractors that are running at the same time using 35 litres of fuel per hour per tractor,” he said, noting that diesel is now 75 cents more expensive per litre than it was six months ago. He estimates he’s spending $1,000 more in fuel costs per day during the harvest and by the end of the year it will represent a $25,000 increase. On top of the added fuel price, the farm is also feeling the effects of the trade war between Canada and the United States. Products like soy meal that is added to cow feed have been hit with tariffs. Even if they are lifted in the near future, it won’t help, he says, as orders for seed and fertilizer need to be placed now to ensure supply in the Spring. “We’re going to have to buy them right now because in Spring they don’t even have any moree stock to sell. We have to reserve our supply right now,” he said. As the combination of tariffs and fuel prices drive food costs for consumers higher, Charbonneau says many farmers like him don’t see any benefit as the price of milk is regulated. “Milk producers don’t have any benefit from the trade war. Even if the consumer pays a lot more, we don’t see the color of that money. We’re just waiting to have an adjustment of the price (of milk) from the Dairy Council of Canada.” According to Petro Canada, in Quebec, diesel fuel prices are around $2.32 per liter. Charbonneau says while his farm is in good shape for now, there are concerns about the trend of higher prices continuing. “We can keep going a little bit longer but at some point it’s going to break.”
