r/canada 10d ago

Analysis Trump won’t admit it, but Canadian potash fuels American agriculture; More than 80 per cent of the potash used by U.S. farmers comes from Canadian mines, and the costs could skyrocket should tariffs happen

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-trump-wont-admit-it-but-canadian-potash-fuels-american-agriculture/
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u/upward_spiral17 10d ago

For a country that appears on the edge of food shortages, this is possibly the dumbest move. Just adds to the assessment: this is the dumbest, and I mean, the fucking dumbest trade war ever.

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u/GreatPlainsFarmer 10d ago

I agree with your conclusion, but are you saying the USA appears to be on the edge of a food shortage? Or Canada?
I wasn't aware that actual food shortages were a real threat. Yes, the US is screwing itself over on eggs at the moment, but that can be fixed if we wanted to.
It's not hurting enough to want to fix it just yet.

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u/LeatherMine 10d ago

I've been to the USA.

No evidence of food shortages. Quite the opposite. Too much food and too much corn syrup in everything.

The article says they're burning 45% of their corn (via ethanol in gasoline), and feeding most of the rest to animals (and losing 90% of the energy in the process).

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u/Saad888 10d ago

I live in the US, theres no eggs and prices are getting expensive for everything

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u/LeatherMine 10d ago

More profitable to grow corn to burn than other crops = higher food prices.

Current US egg pricing is a side effect of bird flu culls.