Weather and international trade top the list of concerns for grain, oilseed and pulse crop producers heading into 2025.

Unfortunately, both issues are out of farmer control making it difficult to develop a risk management plan.

Likely the biggest unknown is the United States and incoming President Donald Trump, who is already promising to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports unless the two countries tighten border security for drugs and illegal immigrants.

A steep tariff would be especially harmful for canola oil, durum, oats and mustard, which heavily rely on the US market.

Chuck Penner with LeftField Commodity Research is a market analyst who spoke Thursday at the Saskatchewan Canary Seed Development Commission annual meeting in Saskatoon.

Number two on the list of trade concerns is the ongoing Chinese investigation into Canadian canola imports. It was announced in retaliation for Canada placing tariffs on EV vehicles. China has been buying a lot of canola in advance of potential trade action which could occur next year. Penner hopes that if China restricts Canadian canola, it will reopen the door to Australian canola which has been restricted due to blackleg concerns.

Then there is the ongoing issue of Indian tariffs on pulse crop imports.