New financial support for Canadian farmers and food businesses amid fertilizer and energy price shock
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Farm Credit Canada has expanded its Trade Disruption Customer Support Program to help farmers, agribusinesses and food processors facing higher fertilizer and energy costs, as financial pressure builds ahead of Canada’s spring planting season. The move was announced on March 20, 2026, with FCC saying the program, originally introduced to respond to trade disruption and tariffs, now also covers input-price volatility linked to conflict in the Middle East.
Under the program, eligible applicants can access an additional credit line of up to C$500,000, as well as new term loans. Existing FCC customers may also qualify to defer principal payments for up to 12 months on current loans, subject to standard lending due diligence. FCC also says the program has now been extended through March 5, 2027.
The expansion comes as FCC economists warn that Middle East disruption is tightening fertilizer markets, especially for urea and nitrogen products. FCC’s analysis says the region accounts for nearly 25% of global nitrogen fertilizer trade, while U.S. urea futures jumped by about 30% in the first two days after the recent escalation began. The analysis also notes that Canadian fertilizer imports usually peak in April and May, making the market especially vulnerable to price spikes or shipping disruption just before seeding.
The added financing may offer short-term breathing room for producers and food businesses, but it does not remove the broader risk that input costs could stay elevated if disruption in global energy and fertilizer markets continues.
