Sarnia

GFO questions carbon tax

Grain Farmers of Ontario responded to questions about the federal government's carbon tax paid by grain farmers to dry grain.

Chair Markus Haerle says the numbers are indisputable. The cost averaged to $5.50 per acre on corn, which means that on a 1,000 acre farm the carbon tax bill would be more than $5,000.

But the group says once transportation inputs and other costs are worked, the carbon tax is as high as $14 per acre.

In April, the carbon tax increased and it will at least double in the next two years.

Grain farmers are worried about the costs needed to dry grains to make them viable, especially if the province has another wet season.

The GFO is calling the Carbon Tax an unnecessary one that costs farmers. And grain farmers are concerned about how they are going to pay the carbon tax on their already expensive drying costs.

Burdening grain farms with this tax means that farmers cannot invest in technologies that can combat climate change.

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