Fuel Subsidies Australia

[malleefarmer]

Been a fair bit of talk about subsidies and insurance etc etc which the working are all a bit hard for me to comprhend.

We do have one handout from the govt here, Agriculture Fishing and Mining get 38.5 cents per litre. Our fuel price is about $1.35/$1.40 per litre on farm which has about a 60 cents tax component for roads,accidnent victims,govt insurance etc.

So its basically the diesel isnt used on road so dont pay the taxes scenario and also 18 cent per litre back on gasoline.

Get some tax breaks from govt if you wish to use them most dont, have to spend mega bucks on new steel to save bugger all on tax.

You guys have similar fuel tax setup?

Change of topic some of the drought map of canada show its seriously dry or there absolutley no reason to worry as its only march?

Long term yearly forecasts here are basically average from here on in those with subsoil moisture to excess may fair better if a dry spell occurs.

And re viterra good or bad for aust farmers well we lost any control of our farmer co-op controlled storage and handling system years ago, when sold to abb then viterra, so its a publicly owned company whos job is to return profits to shareholders not farmers. I dont like but zero i can do about so life goes on but will paste some articles from our rural papers if anyone is interested or go to www.stockjournal.com.au

[charliep]

Western Canada farmers do get tax breaks on purple/marked fuel for agricultural use. Will let the farmers here let you know the cost reduction.

A dry summer/fall in many regions of the prairies. Limited snow this winter. Much of western Canada is going into the spring top soil dry. Sub soil should be okay (others will comment). An early spring (most will comment a good thing to allow seeding in late April/early May) but will need timely rains end of May to June. Too early to call for disaster but will need to be monitored.

[charliep]

Just for interest, you can use purple gas in vehicles with farm plates including pickup trucks (don't know what you call them in Australia but 1/2 tons here) and in some cases sport utility vehicles (Landrover type vehicles). That is Alberta by the way - rules may vary in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Interesting in that you have to be carefull going to Montana with any vehicle using purple gas. Montana restricts purple gas (marked fuel if you like) to on farm use vehicles only so pickup trucks, large grain trucks, etc use regular fuel. My understanding is you can get charged in Montana if you are caught using marked fuel. Something that farmers will have to follow here if they plan on delivering grain across the border in the new world.

[malleefarmer]

all unleaded here is puprle.

[checking]

Farm fuel program details for sask. is at www.finance.gov.sk.ca/programs-services/farmfuel/

Our diesel is dyed, gasoline is not. Last diesel $0.94/litre plus 5% GST which can be recovered quarterly. Last gasoline $0.996/litre plus 5% GST recoverable.