Grain Growers of Canada asked the federal government for a 50-cents per litre diesel subsidy 18 days before United States President Donald Trump announced a $8-billion diesel subsidy for farmers.
Grain Growers said in its letter to federal finance minister Francois-Philippe Champagne that it wants immediate help, but failing that, help when Champagne tables his budget Nov.8.
“This is just highlighting that other countries are recognizing it as an issue as well,” said Kate Sauser, executive director of Grain Growers.
Grain Growers calculated that a Class 8 combine consuming 70 litres of diesel per hour, seven days a week over 30 harvest days, would use 16,800 litres of fuel.
“This calculation excludes fuel used by grain carts, trucks and other equipment supporting harvest,” Grain Growers stated in its letter.
At the proposed rebate of 50 cents per litre would be $8,400 for that one combine.
Farm Credit Canada estimates that a 5,000-acre farm in Saskatchewan
is experiencing an increase in its fuel bill of between $68,000 and $106,000 in 2026, not including the increase in trucking costs and rail freight.
