Political uncertainty continues to mount, driving up input costs for growers of cereals, oilseeds, legumes, and tuber crops. Fertilizer prices are climbing sharply, and other production expenses are following suit which is forcing many farmers to tighten the purse strings and reconsider discretionary spending. In this week’s edition of Growing Possibilities, we’ll explore the financial fallout that’s beginning to ripple across the sector, and examine a promising alternative: boosting overall harvest yields as a way to offset rising costs and strengthen the bottom line.
With a 75.8% tariff recently imposed by China on Canadian canola seed, along with a 100% tariff on canola oil and meal, growers are facing potentially difficult times ahead amid international political uncertainty. Prices have already fallen $60–$70 per tonne and are expected to drop further which could potentially reach a $200-per-tonne decline. Prairie provinces like Saskatchewan and Alberta are hardest hit due to their heavy reliance on canola exports. In Ontario, where winter canola is a smaller crop, farmers are still seeing 10% price drops and bracing for further impact (1).
For a typical 45-bushel crop, this could mean $45–$90 per acre in lost income. To help with this uncertainty, the Canadian federal government announced $370 million in support, including increased interest-free loan limits to $500,000. However, farmers and industry leaders say this is short-term relief and doesn’t match the long-term nature of the crisis (2).
There is a solution that can help in troubling times like this. Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) help unlock phosphorus in the soil and improve how plants take up nitrogen. That means the fertilizer farmers already apply can work harder and go further. A recent study found that using PGPR alongside biochar or a full dose of NPK fertilizer led to better canola yields and healthier soil. This was even true when growing conditions weren’t ideal. In short, PGPR can help farmers get more bang for their buck by making existing inputs more efficient (3).
Applying inoculants like XiteBio® Yield+ to cereal, oilseeds or legume crops, and XiteBio® Tuber+ to tuber crops, during early post-emergence (e.g., tank-mixed with herbicide) or during in-furrow (at planting) allows PGPR to colonize the root zone during critical growth stages (4). This method reduces inoculant wastage and maximizes impact with minimal extra cost, making it ideal for tight budgets. PGPRs also enhance drought resistance, root development, and soil microbial balance. This offers long-term resilience without major upfront investment.
An XiteBio product could be the missing link to Healthier Plants and Better Yields. For more information, contact one of our sales agronomists at xitebio.com or call 1-855-XITEBIO (948-3246).
References
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/southwestern-ontario-canola-farmers-brace-for-impact-of-chinese-tariffs-1.7641862
- https://ca.news.yahoo.com/canola-farmers-feel-pinch-tariffs-090000016.html
- https://bmcplantbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12870-025-06062-3
- https://xitebio.ca/are-you-spraying-maybe-consider-using-a-pgpr/