Our partners at the Organic Grain Hub have released a very insightful report that assesses the risks that Canadian organic field crop traders, processors, and producers face now that the United States of America has imposed tariffs on these products.
“This report assesses risks that Canadian organic field crop traders, processors and producers face if the United States of America (U.S.) imposes trade tariffs on these products.
Corn has the highest risk of the field crops we looked at. This is because almost the entire crop, which is produced primarily in Ontario and Quebec, is destined for U.S. markets. Winter and soft white spring wheats from the Canadian Prairie are also at high risk due to lack of market diversification and the fact that the U.S. is largely self-sufficient in these crops. Organic barley is also at risk, partly due to lack of other market options, but mainly because the U.S. can feed livestock using corn stocks instead of imported barley. Organic soybean, oats and flax are at intermediate-to-high risk, with soybean exports from Ontario and Quebec of particular concern because of the high value of these exports. Other crops such as western hard red spring wheat, Durum wheat, lentils and peas are more insulated from a potential trade war because most of these exports are shipped to other global destinations.
Most Canadian organic field crops are grown in the Prairie region. This means that Prairie growers will bear the brunt of economic impacts related to trade disruptions. Producers in Quebec and Ontario who grow corn, and to a lesser extent, soybean, will also be negatively impacted. Organic wheat growers in eastern Canada should be insulated from any negative economic impacts.”
Read the full report via the button below.