Latest news with #MargaretRigetti
Hamilton Spectator
27-04-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
‘It feels personal': Canadian farmers cope with Chinese tariffs on canola and peas
MOOSE JAW - Canola runs deep on Margaret Rigetti's farm in southern Saskatchewan. Her grandfather was among the first to grow the bright yellow flowering crop in the 1970s, and it has been a staple ever since. 'For a large part of Saskatchewan, the farm economy has been driven by canola,' Rigetti, a director with SaskOilseeds, says in an interview on her land near Moose Jaw. 'It feels personal when people come after canola, just because it's such a Canadian story, such a western Canadian story, such a Saskatchewan story and such a story that's right here on my farm.' China hit Canadian farmers with 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil, canola meal and peas in retaliation to Canada slapping Beijing with levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel and aluminum. Producers are also caught with uncertainty around U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. Trump has imposed levies on Canadian aluminum, steel and automobiles, while musing about applying additional duties. Products that fall within the Canada-U.S.-Mexico agreement, including agricultural and energy goods, are not subject to U.S. tariffs. Canada has retaliated with countermeasures. Rigetti has the TV news on in her living room. She says she's been watching it more often to keep up with the latest developments. 'We've seen challenges before, but we've never been in the crosshairs between our two biggest trading partners,' she says. She pulls out a book of her family history, flipping to a page with an image of a combine picking up canola swaths. Underneath, an excerpt reads, 'The new crop that changes everything.' Canola is a portmanteau word combining Canada and ola, which means oil. Saskatchewan and Manitoba researchers developed the crop in the 1970s to address erucic acid issues in its predecessor, rapeseed. Canola is used for cooking oil, high-protein animal feed and biodiesel. The crop's development led to the boon it is today for farmers' pocketbooks, with more than half of it grown in Saskatchewan. In Rigetti's yard, there are massive steel bins where her husband and son empty dark brown canola seeds into a truck. They're off to deliver the product to a grain terminal. Rigetti says her son will plant his first field of canola this year. 'We have to be careful to keep things in perspective and not scare our kids,' she says. 'I do try to keep the focus on what we can actually control, which is planting a crop, growing the best crop we can grow, manage our costs and manage our mental health.' At a farm near Fillmore, southeast of Regina, producer Chris Procyk says history is repeating itself. 'We are unfortunately once again caught in the middle of a trade dispute that we didn't cause or we didn't create, and we're left paying the bill,' says Procyk, vice-president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan. He also says there would be greater problems if the U.S. imposes levies on agricultural goods. Canadian crops and potash go south and farm machinery comes up north. Procyk says the federal government should provide financial aid or other supports to farmers who have been affected by the trade war. 'There's not really a place to pivot,' he says. 'The whole farm is under a trade dispute, and we don't have control of how these things play out.' Farms have faced headwinds from China before. In 2019, Beijing blocked Canadian canola imports from two companies, citing contamination issues, though the move was believed to be in response to Canada detaining Meng Wanzhou, a Chinese business executive. Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were also detained in China days after Wanzhou's arrest. Wanzhou and the two Canadians were released to their countries in 2021. China lifted its ban on canola the next year, but it's estimated the Canadian economy lost about $2 billion as a result of the dispute. 'Farms can withstand some short-term pain,' Rigetti says. 'If it goes on longer, it calls things into question.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2025.
Toronto Sun
27-04-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
'It feels personal': Canadian farmers cope with Chinese tariffs on canola and peas
Published Apr 27, 2025 • 3 minute read A canola field is pictured in this file photo. Photo by Ian Kucerak / Edmonton MOOSE JAW — Canola runs deep on Margaret Rigetti's farm in southern Saskatchewan. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Her grandfather was among the first to grow the bright yellow flowering crop in the 1970s, and it has been a staple ever since. 'For a large part of Saskatchewan, the farm economy has been driven by canola,' Rigetti, a director with SaskOilseeds, says in an interview on her land near Moose Jaw. 'It feels personal when people come after canola, just because it's such a Canadian story, such a western Canadian story, such a Saskatchewan story and such a story that's right here on my farm.' China hit Canadian farmers with 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil, canola meal and peas in retaliation to Canada slapping Beijing with levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel and aluminum. Producers are also caught with uncertainty around U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. Trump has imposed levies on Canadian aluminum, steel and automobiles, while musing about applying additional duties. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Products that fall within the Canada-U.S.-Mexico agreement, including agricultural and energy goods, are not subject to U.S. tariffs. Canada has retaliated with countermeasures. Rigetti has the TV news on in her living room. She says she's been watching it more often to keep up with the latest developments. 'We've seen challenges before, but we've never been in the crosshairs between our two biggest trading partners,' she says. She pulls out a book of her family history, flipping to a page with an image of a combine picking up canola swaths. Underneath, an excerpt reads, 'The new crop that changes everything.' Canola is a portmanteau word combining Canada and ola, which means oil. Saskatchewan and Manitoba researchers developed the crop in the 1970s to address erucic acid issues in its predecessor, rapeseed. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Canola is used for cooking oil, high-protein animal feed and biodiesel. The crop's development led to the boon it is today for farmers' pocketbooks, with more than half of it grown in Saskatchewan. In Rigetti's yard, there are massive steel bins where her husband and son empty dark brown canola seeds into a truck. They're off to deliver the product to a grain terminal. Rigetti says her son will plant his first field of canola this year. 'We have to be careful to keep things in perspective and not scare our kids,' she says. 'I do try to keep the focus on what we can actually control, which is planting a crop, growing the best crop we can grow, manage our costs and manage our mental health.' At a farm near Fillmore, southeast of Regina, producer Chris Procyk says history is repeating itself. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We are unfortunately once again caught in the middle of a trade dispute that we didn't cause or we didn't create, and we're left paying the bill,' says Procyk, vice-president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan. He also says there would be greater problems if the U.S. imposes levies on agricultural goods. Canadian crops and potash go south and farm machinery comes up north. Procyk says the federal government should provide financial aid or other supports to farmers who have been affected by the trade war. 'There's not really a place to pivot,' he says. 'The whole farm is under a trade dispute, and we don't have control of how these things play out.' Farms have faced headwinds from China before. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In 2019, Beijing blocked Canadian canola imports from two companies, citing contamination issues, though the move was believed to be in response to Canada detaining Meng Wanzhou, a Chinese business executive. Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were also detained in China days after Wanzhou's arrest. Wanzhou and the two Canadians were released to their countries in 2021. China lifted its ban on canola the next year, but it's estimated the Canadian economy lost about $2 billion as a result of the dispute. 'Farms can withstand some short-term pain,' Rigetti says. 'If it goes on longer, it calls things into question.' Canada Sunshine Girls Sports Columnists Columnists
National Post
27-04-2025
- Business
- National Post
Canola's Canadian roots targeted and tested by Chinese tariffs, Saskatchewan farmers say
Canola runs deep on Margaret Rigetti's farm in southern Saskatchewan. Article content Her grandfather was among the first to grow the bright yellow flowering crop in the 1970s, and it has been a staple ever since. Article content 'For a large part of Saskatchewan, the farm economy has been driven by canola,' Rigetti, a director with SaskOilseeds, says in an interview on her land near Moose Jaw. Article content 'It feels personal when people come after canola, just because it's such a Canadian story, such a western Canadian story, such a Saskatchewan story and such a story that's right here on my farm.' Article content Article content China hit Canadian farmers with 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil, canola meal and peas in retaliation to Canada slapping Beijing with levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel and aluminum. Article content Producers are also caught with uncertainty around U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. Trump has imposed levies on Canadian aluminum, steel and automobiles, while musing about applying additional duties. Article content Products that fall within the Canada-U.S.-Mexico agreement, including agricultural and energy goods, are not subject to U.S. tariffs. Canada has retaliated with countermeasures. Article content Article content Rigetti has the TV news on in her living room. She says she's been watching it more often to keep up with the latest developments. Article content Article content 'We've seen challenges before, but we've never been in the crosshairs between our two biggest trading partners,' she says. Article content She pulls out a book of her family history, flipping to a page with an image of a combine picking up canola swaths. Underneath, an excerpt reads, 'The new crop that changes everything.' Article content Canola is a portmanteau word combining Canada and ola, which means oil. Saskatchewan and Manitoba researchers developed the crop in the 1970s to address erucic acid issues in its predecessor, rapeseed. Article content Canola is used for cooking oil, high-protein animal feed and biodiesel. The crop's development led to the boon it is today for farmers' pocketbooks, with more than half of it grown in Saskatchewan. Article content
Global News
27-04-2025
- Business
- Global News
‘It feels personal': Canadian farmers cope with Chinese tariffs on canola and peas
Canola runs deep on Margaret Rigetti's farm in southern Saskatchewan. Her grandfather was among the first to grow the bright yellow flowering crop in the 1970s, and it has been a staple ever since. 'For a large part of Saskatchewan, the farm economy has been driven by canola,' Rigetti, a director with SaskOilseeds, says in an interview on her land near Moose Jaw. 'It feels personal when people come after canola, just because it's such a Canadian story, such a western Canadian story, such a Saskatchewan story and such a story that's right here on my farm.' China hit Canadian farmers with 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil, canola meal and peas in retaliation to Canada slapping Beijing with levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel and aluminum. Producers are also caught with uncertainty around U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. Trump has imposed levies on Canadian aluminum, steel and automobiles, while musing about applying additional duties. Story continues below advertisement Products that fall within the Canada-U.S.-Mexico agreement, including agricultural and energy goods, are not subject to U.S. tariffs. Canada has retaliated with countermeasures. Rigetti has the TV news on in her living room. She says she's been watching it more often to keep up with the latest developments. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We've seen challenges before, but we've never been in the crosshairs between our two biggest trading partners,' she says. She pulls out a book of her family history, flipping to a page with an image of a combine picking up canola swaths. Underneath, an excerpt reads, 'The new crop that changes everything.' Canola is a portmanteau word combining Canada and ola, which means oil. Saskatchewan and Manitoba researchers developed the crop in the 1970s to address erucic acid issues in its predecessor, rapeseed. Canola is used for cooking oil, high-protein animal feed and biodiesel. The crop's development led to the boon it is today for farmers' pocketbooks, with more than half of it grown in Saskatchewan. In Rigetti's yard, there are massive steel bins where her husband and son empty dark brown canola seeds into a truck. They're off to deliver the product to a grain terminal. Rigetti says her son will plant his first field of canola this year. Story continues below advertisement 'We have to be careful to keep things in perspective and not scare our kids,' she says. 'I do try to keep the focus on what we can actually control, which is planting a crop, growing the best crop we can grow, manage our costs and manage our mental health.' At a farm near Fillmore, southeast of Regina, producer Chris Procyk says history is repeating itself. 'We are unfortunately once again caught in the middle of a trade dispute that we didn't cause or we didn't create, and we're left paying the bill,' says Procyk, vice-president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan. He also says there would be greater problems if the U.S. imposes levies on agricultural goods. Canadian crops and potash go south and farm machinery comes up north. Procyk says the federal government should provide financial aid or other supports to farmers who have been affected by the trade war. 'There's not really a place to pivot,' he says. 'The whole farm is under a trade dispute, and we don't have control of how these things play out.' Farms have faced headwinds from China before. In 2019, Beijing blocked Canadian canola imports from two companies, citing contamination issues, though the move was believed to be in response to Canada detaining Meng Wanzhou, a Chinese business executive. Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were also detained in China days after Wanzhou's arrest. Story continues below advertisement Wanzhou and the two Canadians were released to their countries in 2021. China lifted its ban on canola the next year, but it's estimated the Canadian economy lost about $2 billion as a result of the dispute. 'Farms can withstand some short-term pain,' Rigetti says. 'If it goes on longer, it calls things into question.'
Toronto Star
27-04-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
‘It feels personal': Canadian farmers cope with Chinese tariffs on canola and peas
MOOSE JAW - Canola runs deep on Margaret Rigetti's farm in southern Saskatchewan. Her grandfather was among the first to grow the bright yellow flowering crop in the 1970s, and it has been a staple ever since. 'For a large part of Saskatchewan, the farm economy has been driven by canola,' Rigetti, a director with SaskOilseeds, says in an interview on her land near Moose Jaw. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'It feels personal when people come after canola, just because it's such a Canadian story, such a western Canadian story, such a Saskatchewan story and such a story that's right here on my farm.' China hit Canadian farmers with 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil, canola meal and peas in retaliation to Canada slapping Beijing with levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel and aluminum. Producers are also caught with uncertainty around U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. Trump has imposed levies on Canadian aluminum, steel and automobiles, while musing about applying additional duties. Products that fall within the Canada-U.S.-Mexico agreement, including agricultural and energy goods, are not subject to U.S. tariffs. Canada has retaliated with countermeasures. Rigetti has the TV news on in her living room. She says she's been watching it more often to keep up with the latest developments. 'We've seen challenges before, but we've never been in the crosshairs between our two biggest trading partners,' she says. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW She pulls out a book of her family history, flipping to a page with an image of a combine picking up canola swaths. Underneath, an excerpt reads, 'The new crop that changes everything.' Canola is a portmanteau word combining Canada and ola, which means oil. Saskatchewan and Manitoba researchers developed the crop in the 1970s to address erucic acid issues in its predecessor, rapeseed. Canola is used for cooking oil, high-protein animal feed and biodiesel. The crop's development led to the boon it is today for farmers' pocketbooks, with more than half of it grown in Saskatchewan. In Rigetti's yard, there are massive steel bins where her husband and son empty dark brown canola seeds into a truck. They're off to deliver the product to a grain terminal. Rigetti says her son will plant his first field of canola this year. 'We have to be careful to keep things in perspective and not scare our kids,' she says. 'I do try to keep the focus on what we can actually control, which is planting a crop, growing the best crop we can grow, manage our costs and manage our mental health.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW At a farm near Fillmore, southeast of Regina, producer Chris Procyk says history is repeating itself. 'We are unfortunately once again caught in the middle of a trade dispute that we didn't cause or we didn't create, and we're left paying the bill,' says Procyk, vice-president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan. He also says there would be greater problems if the U.S. imposes levies on agricultural goods. Canadian crops and potash go south and farm machinery comes up north. Procyk says the federal government should provide financial aid or other supports to farmers who have been affected by the trade war. 'There's not really a place to pivot,' he says. 'The whole farm is under a trade dispute, and we don't have control of how these things play out.' Farms have faced headwinds from China before. In 2019, Beijing blocked Canadian canola imports from two companies, citing contamination issues, though the move was believed to be in response to Canada detaining Meng Wanzhou, a Chinese business executive. Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were also detained in China days after Wanzhou's arrest. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Wanzhou and the two Canadians were released to their countries in 2021. China lifted its ban on canola the next year, but it's estimated the Canadian economy lost about $2 billion as a result of the dispute. 'Farms can withstand some short-term pain,' Rigetti says. 'If it goes on longer, it calls things into question.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2025.
