File photo of an Alberta wheat field. (ImagineGolf/E+/Getty Images)

Fraser: The case against carbon pricing for farmers

The federal government continues to suggest the carbon tax imposed on Prairie farmers is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and may not be causing undue harm to the country’s agricultural sector. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau speaks publicly about “special considerations” for farmers, while at the same time openly questioning carbon pricing’s effect on their […] Read more


A GSI grain drying system at Bashaw, Alta. (Grainews photo courtesy Western General)

Prairie provinces react to Bibeau’s questions on carbon price impact

Ottawa — The Saskatchewan and Manitoba governments continue attempts to convince the federal government’s carbon pricing program puts farmers at a disadvantage. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau recently suggested the carbon pricing system may not be disadvantaging farmers, questioning the impact of carbon pricing on agriculture, but saying she will continue to seek out more […] Read more

The Manitoba government is collecting data on the impact the federal carbon tax is having on grain drying in an effort to get an exemption from the tax, says Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pederson. Federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has asked for the information so she can make the case to her cabinet colleagues.  Photo: Allan Dawson

Manitoba gathering data to press case for exempting grain drying from federal carbon tax

The Manitoba government is gathering data to make the case for exempting grain drying fuels from the federal government’s carbon tax. “So we’ll get the numbers together and then to (federal agriculture) Minister (Marie-Claude) Bibeau and we’ll continue to lobby on behalf of our ag producers,” Manitoba’s Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pederson said […] Read more


Certificate needed to avoid carbon tax on fuel

Certificate needed to avoid carbon tax on fuel

Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Beef Producers is urging farmers to fill out a fuel charge exemption form before Jan. 1, when the federal carbon tax kicks in for the province. The carbon tax (officially called the Federal Fuel Charge) isn’t levied on gasoline and light fuel oil for farm machinery “for the purpose of farming or travelling from […] Read more

Added costs are the last thing farmers need after a hard year, says one farm group leader.

Lift carbon tax on grain drying, say farm groups

Fuels used for drying grain have not been exempted from the federal carbon tax

Reading Time: 2 minutes Farm groups have fired off urgent appeals for government financial help for producers struggling with a weather-disrupted harvest made worse by the imposition of the federal carbon tax on fuel used to dry grain. A coalition of Alberta commodity groups as well as the Grain Farmers of Ontario sent requests directly to Prime Minister Justin […] Read more


Excessive amounts of fall moisture in the form of rain and snow has practically ensured that grain drying will be necessary for any remaining crops to be harvested.  Photo: File

Carbon costs affecting grain drying for Prairie farmers

Opponents say the rebates won't fully cover the additional costs farmers must pay

Glacier FarmMedia – Farmers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta struggling to get their crops harvested will also be paying higher costs for drying thanks to the federal carbon levy. While the federal carbon price offers relief for gasoline and light fuel oil costs used in tractors and trucks, there is no exemption for grain drying […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Rising diesel prices coming

MarketsFarm — Higher diesel prices are on the horizon for Canada and the U.S. in 2019. GasBuddy.com senior petroleum analyst Dan McTeague pointed to an increase in overall demand, combined with a slowdown in heavy oil production and the federal carbon tax as well as pending IMO 2020 regulations — that is, the International Marine […] Read more


Producers can request a tax rebate if they have been charged a tax on propane for on-farm use such as grain drying.

Rebates on fuel taxes and the carbon levy

Reading Time: < 1 minute Most producers know about the fuel tax exemption on farm gasoline and diesel, but may be confused when it comes to propane, says provincial crop specialist Neil Blue. Only motive propane (used for vehicles) should have the 9.4-cent-per-litre Alberta fuel tax on it. If producers have been charged that tax for an on-farm use (such […] Read more

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at a press conference June 9, 2018 at the G7 summit in Charlevoix, Que. (G7.gc.ca via Flickr)

Trudeau vows to impose carbon tax, opponents push back

Ottawa | Reuters – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday said he would fulfill a promise to impose a carbon tax on provinces unwilling to combat climate change, prompting instant protests from a voter-rich part of the country. Trudeau, whose ruling Liberals face an election in October 2019, told a news conference that all the money […] Read more