Skyrocketing diesel prices are adding tens of thousands of dollars to Saskatchewan farm expenses this harvest, prompting the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) to urge producers to reconsider AgriStability before the extended Oct. 1 enrollment deadline.
In a release Friday, APAS said bulk dyed farm diesel prices have nearly doubled from a year ago. Based on fuel-use estimates in the Saskatchewan Crop Planning Guide, the organization estimates the increase is adding roughly $20/acre to production costs. For a 3,600-acre grain farm, that translates to approximately $72,000 in additional expenses.
“Between increased fuel and fertilizer costs, delayed seeding, wet harvest conditions, quality concerns, trade uncertainty, and tariff risks, 2026 has been a challenging year,” APAS President Bill Prybylski said.
Diesel prices have surged globally as wars in Iran and Ukraine have disrupted refinery operations and sharply reduced fuel exports from major suppliers, including Russia and Middle Eastern producers. Global refining capacity has also been constrained, pushing diesel refining margins sharply higher even when crude oil prices have been comparatively weaker.
The APAS release said fuel expenses are fully eligible under AgriStability, which provides whole-farm protection when margins decline because of higher costs, lower revenues or both.
The organization said the program paid about $402 million to Saskatchewan producers in 2025, adding the late enrollment deadline gives farmers an unusual opportunity to assess much of the season’s financial damage before deciding whether to participate.
“AgriStability has a reputation among some producers that may be based on experiences from years ago,” Prybylski said. “But the program has undergone changes, reference margins are historically strong, and the risks facing agriculture today are very different than they were a decade ago.
“Producers owe it to themselves to take another look.”
Producers only need to contact Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation before Oct. 1 to secure late participation; historical financial information and fees can be submitted later.
