Sask. farmers will struggle as carbon tax increases: APAS

Apr 05, 2023

As of April 1, the federal carbon tax has increased to $65/tonne, marking the first year of an accelerated price on carbon that will continue to rise by $15/tonne carbon dioxide equivalent until it reaches $170 by 2030. However, Saskatchewan's agricultural sector is feeling the brunt of the carbon tax pricing system. The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) is highlighting the disproportionate impact of this increase on farmers.

APAS President Ian Boxall expressed concerns, stating, "These additional costs come off our bottom-line because we're price takers who sell into international markets. The impact of these costs on our farm operations needs to be recognized to ensure we can remain competitive in international markets. Saskatchewan farms are going to pay over $40 million in carbon tax just to get their products to port. This is money that comes right out of rural Saskatchewan."

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Video: Root Exudates, Soil Biology, and How Plants Recruit Microbes | Field Talk Friday

Field Talk Friday | Dr. John Murphy | Root Exudates, Soil Biology, and How Plants Recruit Microbes

Most of us spend our time managing what we can see above ground—plant height, leaf color, stand counts, and yield potential. But the deeper you dig into agronomy, the more you realize that some of the most important processes driving crop performance are happening just millimeters below the surface.

In this episode of Field Talk Friday, Dr. John Murphy continues the soil biology series by diving into one of the most fascinating topics in modern agronomy: root exudates and the role they play in shaping the microbial world around plant roots.

Roots are not passive structures simply pulling nutrients out of the soil. They are active participants in the underground ecosystem. Plants constantly release compounds into the soil—sugars, amino acids, organic acids, and other molecules—that act as both energy sources and signals for soil microbes.