logo
'Can't be green if you're in the red': Tariff response takes priority over sustainable farming, producers say

'Can't be green if you're in the red': Tariff response takes priority over sustainable farming, producers say

CBC29-03-2025

Social Sharing
Southern Manitoba farmer Alexander Boersch knows that using innovative sustainability measures to improve soil health, water infiltration and nutrient efficiency isn't cheap — and he worries the costs could deter farmers from taking new approaches as tariffs threaten their livelihoods.
Boersch, who runs Abtshof Farms near Elie, about 45 kilometres west of Winnipeg, is focused on regenerative agriculture, which aims to limit the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. He uses methods like cover cropping — planting crops specifically intended to protect soil health.
But 25 per cent tariffs imposed by the U.S. on steel and aluminum imports — and the threat of more levies in the coming week — along with 100 per cent retaliatory tariffs from China on Canadian canola oil and meal are causing uncertainty in the agriculture industry, he said.
Lower profit margins may discourage sustainability practices like crop rotation or cover cropping, which can be costly and may not produce benefits for two to three years, said Boersch, who is also the co-founder of Re-Gen Ag Solutions, a company that helps farmers implement soil and crop health strategies.
"It's such an important industry for Canada in terms of bringing in a lot of economic benefits … and if we want to produce healthy food, you need good farming practices."
Seeding will begin soon, but so far, few crops are expected to turn a profit for most Prairie farmers.
Boersch is convinced sustainable agriculture "is the right thing to do," but said he'll have to be strategic with costs.
While there are some subsidies for sustainability available, for the most part, farmers foot the bill for those initiatives, he said.
That means for farmers who "really like this idea, but aren't 100 per cent sure and they don't want to take too much risk … they're going to drop things like this, because they just see it as an extra cost," he said.
'Scary for farmers right now'
Abtshof Farms has more than 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) and has been certified as a regenerative farm by the U.S. company Regenified. But the trade war between Canada and the U.S. is limiting new partnerships that would let them capitalize on that certification, with some companies reluctant to work with the farm amid the uncertainty, said Boersch.
"It's scary for farmers right now," Boersch said.
"If we don't address these tariffs soon, there's going to be a lot of pain in the agricultural sector going into next year."
Colin Hornby, the general manager with the Manitoba industry association Keystone Agricultural Producers, said while reducing carbon emissions is important, international trade and tariffs are top priorities for farmers right now.
"You can't be green if you're in the red, so we really have a hard time talking about things other than the trade and other financial issues," Hornby said.
With a new government set to be elected April 28, both Hornby and Boersch say finding a resolution with China — after Canada put 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles and a 25 per cent levy on Chinese aluminum and steel products last fall — is a key issue.
Hornby said the government also needs to ensure any new environmental policies won't stymie growth for agricultural producers, which might involve rethinking what "sustainability" means.
"We want to make sure that if somebody's able to grow more with less inputs, that that's considered sustainable, that we're not focusing solely on emissions," he said.
Boersch said the government needs to address the effect of China's tariffs on farmers as canola prices drop. He said farmers in Western Canada haven't felt heard on the issue, and will need support.
Operating costs have soared in the last decade due to inflation, which has been "horrendous in agriculture," he said, emphasizing the need to prioritize the industry's concerns and promote free trade to lessen the burden producers face, he said.
Without that, farmers may have to cut costs, reduce wages and take a step back from opportunities for growth, Boersch said.
"Obviously we have to protect ourselves when we need to, but we're in a position now where we've been painted into a corner by policies against China when our biggest customer, the U.S., is in a battle with us," he said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Market Open: Oil Gains Carry Canada's Main Index Up
Market Open: Oil Gains Carry Canada's Main Index Up

The Market Online

time32 minutes ago

  • The Market Online

Market Open: Oil Gains Carry Canada's Main Index Up

Oil prices just keep rising boosting Canada's main stock index with it this morning. Market Numbers (Futures) TSX :Up ( 0.02%) 26,381.08TSXV: Up (0.60%) 725.90DOW: Up (0.04%) 42,813.00NASDAQ: Up (0.19%) 21,862.00 FTSE: Up (0.56%) 8,881.55 In the Headlines: The U.S. Federal Reserve will keep interest rates on hold for at least another couple of months, as risks linger that inflation may resurge due to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies. And Canada Post has slammed the brakes on arbitration talks, rejecting the union's terms and plunging the contract dispute into a deepening stalemate with no clear path to resolution. Currencies Update: (Futures) The Canadian dollar is up 0.08% to $0.7311, also climbing by 0.02% to $0.6301 against the Euro and Bitcoin grabs a hold of 1.66% to 149,905.36 Commodities: (Futures) Natural Gas: Down (1.30%), 3.59WTI: Up (0.54%), 65.64Gold: Up (0.32%), 3,338.12 Copper: Down (0.20%) 6.12 To stay up-to-date on all of your market news head to Join the discussion: Find out what everybody's saying check out the rest of Stockhouse's stock forums and message boards. The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. For full disclaimer information, please click here

Olymel to build state-of-the-art integrated plant in Trois-Rivières Français
Olymel to build state-of-the-art integrated plant in Trois-Rivières Français

Cision Canada

time37 minutes ago

  • Cision Canada

Olymel to build state-of-the-art integrated plant in Trois-Rivières Français

BOUCHERVILLE, QC, June 10, 2025 /CNW/ - Olymel, the Canadian leader in the production, processing and distribution of pork and poultry meats, today announced the construction of a major expansion of its La Fernandière plant in Trois-Rivières, a major investment of $142 million that will allow Olymel to better serve its customers in Canada and abroad. The work will begin in the next few days, with the start of operations scheduled for spring 2026. The project objectives Olymel is pursuing several objectives with this project and significant gains are expected in the first year of operation. The plant, which essentially manufactures sausages at the present time, will expand production to include a wider range of pork and poultry products. It will also be converted into an integrated facility where products can be fully processed and packaged on site, thus reducing the transport of raw materials, better aligning processes, and strengthening the company's productivity. Finally, this new plant will considerably increase Olymel's production capacity at a time when the organization is aiming to strengthen the positioning of its products across Canada. "We're very proud to announce this major expansion of our Trois-Rivières plant. It's a big step forward for Olymel. Having this state-of-the-art plant will create new possibilities for expansion and significantly improve our efficiency, which is central to our company's performance. The project is perfectly aligned with our strategy of capitalizing on the creation of value-added products made with meat of superior quality that's produced by local farmers," declared Yanick Gervais, CEO of Olymel. A technological trailblazer in Quebec's agri-food industry Innovation will be at the core of the project, with new systems optimized by artificial intelligence. The connectivity of all the equipment and components will be used to ensure optimized operations management. The technologies include a unique industrial battery system, a continuous cooking line, completely autonomous operations (slicing, packaging, boxing and palletizing), and autonomous vehicles, all of which are points of innovation for the Canadian agri-food sector. The modernization of operations will result in more consistent production, to better meet the needs of our customers here and abroad. State-of-the-art equipment will allow the plant to utilize the latest packaging technology, for increased flexibility that fosters the use of eco-friendly solutions. By allying these technologies with our workers' expertise, we will maximize our operational efficiency while placing a premium on the knowledge and experience of our teams. Finally, the plant will serve as an innovation hub for new artificial intelligence solutions that Olymel can deploy elsewhere in its network, with the goal of increasing its productivity and optimizing its operations. A comprehensive approach to sustainable development In terms of occupational health and safety, the new ergonomic equipment will reduce the number of physically demanding tasks for employees, improve employee comfort at operating stations, and free up workers so that they can focus on tasks requiring more precision. Everything in the project was designed to optimize energy consumption, with measures that include heat recovery, net–zero water-based cooking, and a heat exchanger to recover heat from wastewater. On-site industrial batteries will be used to store energy and better manage the plant's power consumption when the grid is at peak demand. The ham cooking systems will utilize closed-circuit water management, which saves much more energy and water. In addition, a primary and secondary water treatment plant will be built on site, along with the necessary retention pond, to manage stormwater runoff. Finally, reduced greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and the improved management of natural gas, refrigerants, electricity, and residual materials will all result in environmental gains. A project that drives prosperity in the Mauricie region Locally, the plant will generate new economic opportunities, including the creation of some 50 direct jobs—bringing the total number of employees up to 400—and many indirect jobs. To help power Quebec's economy, the vast majority of building materials chosen will be made in Quebec. The contractor chosen for the construction work, Construction Bertrand Dionne, is from Drummondville, and the palletizing and boxing services will be designed by Premier Tech, a company from Rivière-du-Loup. Parallel to this project, and with a view to optimizing its operations and capturing the full benefit of the new plant, Olymel will permanently close its Anjou facility (140 employees) and its Cap-de-la-Madeleine facility (150 employees) in spring 2026. All personnel will be offered positions in neighbouring Olymel plants, particularly the newly built facility, which will be located a dozen kilometres from the Cap-de-la-Madeleine plant. Olymel is Canada's leader in production, processing and distribution of pork and poultry meats. Its mission is to feed the world with passion and with products of the highest quality. The company has production and processing facilities in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, and employs over 12,000 people. It has annual sales of around $4.5 billion. The company markets its products mainly under the Olymel, Pinty's, La Fernandière, Lafleur and Flamingo brands.

DANONE CANADA INVESTS IN ITS BOUCHERVILLE PLANT TO DEVELOP MORE SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING
DANONE CANADA INVESTS IN ITS BOUCHERVILLE PLANT TO DEVELOP MORE SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING

Cision Canada

timean hour ago

  • Cision Canada

DANONE CANADA INVESTS IN ITS BOUCHERVILLE PLANT TO DEVELOP MORE SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING

The company announces a $9 million investment in partnership with the Gouvernement du Québec BOUCHERVILLE, QC, June 10, 2025 /CNW/ - Danone Canada is proud to announce a strategic investment of $9 million in its Boucherville plant to launch production of new individual yogurt cups made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin. The company is also aiming to integrate recycled PET (rPET), with an ambition of 30% of the content. This represents a first for Danone's activities in the country, made possible thanks to the support of the Gouvernement du Québec. This initiative, supported by Danone's Oikos brand – the country's leading high-protein Greek yogurt – marks a major step forward in the agri-food industry and in Danone's commitment to recyclability for its packaging. This major project is being carried out with the support of the Gouvernement du Québec, notably through Investissement Québec, which is providing a $3 million loan, and RECYC-QUÉBEC, which is contributing a direct grant of $400,000. This initiative is in line with Québec's efforts to reduce plastic pollution and promote innovative, more sustainable packaging strategies. This project illustrates Danone Canada's capacity for innovation within the Québec industry, and the importance of supporting concrete initiatives for a more durable future. The new Oikos PET cups are already being deployed at points of sale across the country. Quotes "At Danone, innovation is the driving force behind our sustainable development approach. These new yogurt cups from Oikos, the number one brand in Canada *, represent an important milestone in our ambition to reduce the environmental footprint of our packaging and inspire other companies to follow suit towards more sustainable solutions." Frédéric Guichard, President, Danone Canada "The Québec population is increasingly aware of the impact of their food consumption on their health and the environment. Danone Canada understands this! Our government is proud to support Danone in this important stage of its development. Established in our region for nearly one hundred years, this company continues to reinvent itself to contribute ever more to the economic vitality of Montérégie and the dynamism of our community." Suzanne Roy, MNA for Verchères, Minister for the Family and Minister responsible for Montérégie "I congratulate the Danone Canada team on this innovative and ambitious project. In addition to generating environmental benefits, our $3.4 million investment will help the company remain competitive in a fast-growing, competitive sector and consolidate its presence in the Canadian market. Supporting our companies as they go green helps us build a prosperous, sustainable economy in Québec." Christine Fréchette, Minister of the Economy, Innovation and Energy and Minister responsible for Regional Economic Development "To promote better management of our residual materials and increase their circularity, we need to review our practices and innovate in all sectors of activity, including agri-food. I'm delighted to see Danone Canada actively committed to reducing its ecological footprint and contributing to a more circular economy in Québec. It's with initiatives like this that we will stimulate the growth of a green economy in all our regions." Benoit Charette, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks "Danone Canada is an example to follow when it comes to putting down roots in Québec. This new investment not only reaffirms their commitment to the Québec market, but also illustrates Québec's ability to attract quality foreign direct investment in our strategic sectors. We are proud to accompany Danone in this new phase, which combines innovation, sustainability and tangible economic benefits." Hubert Bolduc, President, Investissement Québec International "As RECYC-QUÉBEC aims to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, it was only natural for us to be involved in making this project a reality. This effort also reinforces our dedication to supporting innovations that address problematic materials, like plastic packaging. Ecodesign is a pivotal strategy in the circular economy and is also a very important path forward that we absolutely must collectively invest in to reduce our footprint." Emmanuelle Géhin, President and CEO, RECYC-QUÉBEC About Danone Canada Danone Canada is part of Danone, a leading global food and beverage company, with head offices in Toronto (ON) and Boucherville (QC). With a long-standing mission of bringing health through food to as many people as possible, Danone aims to inspire healthier and more sustainable eating and drinking practices while committing to achieve measurable nutritional, social, societal and environment impact. As the country's largest consumer-facing certified B Corp, Danone Canada's portfolio includes iconic pioneering brands in dairy yogurt, plant-based products, coffee creamers and beverages including: Activia, Oikos, Silk, Danone, Two Good, International Delight, evian and more. For more information about Danone Canada and its brands, visit or LinkedIn. * NIQ Markettrack, yogurt, Grocery Banners, Drugs and Mass Merchandise, Year-to-date April 19, 2025.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store