Corn being irrigated at Michaud Farm, Bouctouche (FB/Michaud Farm)
Spring arrived early across most of the province which has allowed farmers to get into their fields sooner and to begin planting.
The New Brunswick Agricultural Alliance says some producers with U-Pick operations already have crops in the ground especially in the southeast.
President Lisa Ashworth says the season is looking good so far.
She says most farmers have recovered from a severe drought last year.
“We did have significant rainfall last fall after our horrible, dry summer to replenish a lot of the waterways. We had reasonable amounts of snow although we didn’t have a lot of snow in many areas this winter… but precipitation can change so quickly,” she notes.
Temporary foreign workers have begun arriving in New Brunswick for another season of work in the fields and the fish plants.
The Higgs government introduced new COVID-19 guidelines this spring which requires all workers to quarantine individually as opposed to being in groups.
Lisa Ashworth, president of the New Brunswick Agricultural Alliance, says her group has been lobbying the province to change its mind.
“So we’re quite concerned about mental health as much as physical health with these seasonal employees in a country which is not their home country and the food is different etcetera. And then they are all on their own.”
Group wants temporary foreign farm workers in N.B. to get priority on vaccine list
by The Canadian Press
Last Updated Feb 5, 2021 at 10:14 am EDT
FREDERICTON The head of a group representing New Brunswick farmers wants temporary foreign workers included high on the COVID-19 vaccination list as a way to protect the province’s food supply.
New Brunswick Agriculture Alliance president Lisa Ashworth says seasonal workers in agriculture and seafood processing should be included in the second round of vaccinations after health-care workers and residents of long-term care homes.
She says the 200 foreign agriculture workers who travel to New Brunswick each year help feed several hundred thousand people in the province.