By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Monday January 17, 2022

Jan 17, 2022 | 3:59 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – The National Farmers Union (NFU) is calling for a full investigation into skyrocketing fertilizer prices.

Ontario NFU president Don Ciparis said fertilizer prices on his farm have increased 144 to 220 per cent.

“Fertilizer prices have skyrocketed over the past six months, and we want to know why,” Ciparis said. “We believe that the only way to get to the bottom of these price increases is for an independent body like the House of Commons Agriculture Committee to investigate all of the factors that contribute to fertilizer pricing in Canada.”

Doug Scott, NFU Board member from Alberta said the NFU has previously shown fertilizer companies can manipulate their costs and charges to increase their profits at the expense of farmers. The only consistent difference between 2020 to 2021 is that the price of grain went up.

“Fertilizer companies are making windfall profits, while farmers are facing massively increased costs after many did not grow much of a crop in 2021 because of the drought. This unfairness has to change,” Scott said.

Real estate

P.A.'s supply of housing for sale drops to 3 months

4h ago

Bodybuilding

Prince Albert bodybuilder wins top prize at regional competition

7h ago

Riderville

Riders seem confident heading into trading camp

11h ago

–

Health officials in the Windsor, Ont. region have revoked an order that halted the arrival of temporary foreign workers for several weeks due to concerns about COVID-19 outbreaks in the agricultural sector.

The notice told employers to cancel or postpone the arrival of temporary foreign workers until at least Feb. 2.

It warned that those who fail to comply with the order could face charges or fines.

On Friday, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit rescinded the order, which it said was issued in response to rapidly increasing rates of infection and evidence of spread in congregate settings.

Earlier this week, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, a group that advocates for migrant workers, had said the order suggested foreign workers are to blame for outbreaks instead of their living conditions and lack of access to supports.

The health unit said in a release that local leaders in the health care, housing, and social service community in the region have established the level of support necessary to meet isolation requirements for workers who are sick or who have been exposed.

–

alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW