New public health measures and opening of offices

We would like to inform our clientele that we are following public health directives and that the regional Federation offices will remain closed until June 1 at the earliest. The same measures will apply at the Confederation offices. However, full services will continue in all our departments.

Mobilization Pays!

The Financière agricole du Québec (FADQ) announced the completion of its review of hay crop insurance files, including those associated with the Mirabel weather station. According to the FADQ, a fourth round of payments will be sent to farmers on April 30, and these will be based on damages as well as adjustments to replacement values.

The review was conducted in response to mobilization by the region’s producers last fall and the rigour with which they documented their losses with supporting photos and invoices. The Federation will continue collecting information about forage crop conditions, both for those covered by FADQ insurance and for those not covered by it. If weather problems go undetected by weather stations, this will enable us to draw an overall portrait of the situation in the region, regardless of producers’ insurance status.

Small farm chat

The region’s small farm representatives met via teleconference on Wednesday to discuss their situation. A number of topics were covered. Although small farms account for over 40 percent of the region’s farm businesses, their realities and specific needs are not well understood.

Having decided to mobilize and organize to make their voices heard, representatives will start a telephone tour in the coming weeks to touch base with farmers who have common interests. A regional action plan will be developed in turn.

The time is ripe to work on a farm

Following the provincial government’s announcement about investing in local labour, 650 people have applied for jobs on farms in the region. Applications of all kinds have been received, and recruitment is chugging along. Teams of 15 to 20 workers have already been placed on a number of farms. Applicants will receive help from the agricultural employment centre (CEA) in the form of an online training session explaining the tasks they will be required to perform. Many producers have shown flexibility and agreed to review their working methods. They report that they are satisfied with the results. In many cases, positive relationships are budding as farmers and workers get to know each other.

Clarification on the program to support farm worker recruitment

In last week’s newsletter, we wrote that the program to support farm worker recruitment applied to food farm workers but not to horticultural workers. We should have specified that it does not apply to ornamental horticultural workers.

Temporary foreign worker updates

About 35 percent of foreign workers have already arrived in Quebec. A cohort of 1,000 Guatemalan workers is expected in the coming days. After the self-isolation period, the workers will be subject to the same travel rules as everyone else. This means they may leave the farm if they wish, and their employers must tell them about the rules for travelling and physical distancing as well as the risks of contamination. Shopping online may prevent the need for much travelling. Note that, even during the pandemic, clamping down on outings after the self-isolation period would be in contravention of the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms!

More information here

Mental health

This week, Écoute agricole des Laurentides discusses how to handle a mental health diagnosis in its sixth video. Sticking to a simple self-management plan can help you in your day-to-day life. Sound like a good idea?

Écoute agricole des Laurentides - 6th video (in French) 

Eating local, now more than ever!

À la demande de la Fédération, huit entreprises agricoles de la région ont accepté de participer à la campagne de promotion « Mangeons local plus que jamais! » en produisant une capsule vidéo sur l’importance d’acheter des produits locaux. Ils font partie de la soixantaine de producteurs qui collaborent au projet. Les capsules vidéo sont publiées quotidiennement sur le site de l’UPA et sur notre page Facebook. Voici le nom des entreprises de la région et la cédule de publication :

• Éric Rochon, Ferme Rochon et frères
• Mathieu Poirier, Jardin Dion
• Caroline Chénier and Patrick Guay, Les Serres Gatineau (May 2)
• Dominique LynchGauthier, Blanc de gris fresh mushrooms (May 4)
• Michel Guérin and Brigitte Maillette, Les Fromages du verger (May 9)
• Éléonore Macle, Intermiel (May 17)
• Ralph Lang, RM Lang Farms (May 20)
• Réal Gauthier, Belvache farm (May 21)

To view the videos

Farmers' markets to open this summer

Farmers’ markets in Quebec will start opening on May 15, but COVID-19 means that the supply will be different this year. Activities, tastings, and loitering will not be allowed in markets, and, as at any other place of business, social distancing of two metres must be respected. Only the sale of food will be permitted at markets.

$50,000 subsidy to fund transactional platforms for farmers' markets

The Quebec government has also granted a $50,000 subsidy to the Association des marchés publics du Québec to develop a transactional platform to make it possible for food to be purchased online, pre-packaged, and picked up at market stalls. This initiative will allow sellers to continue selling at farmers’ markets, to control the flow of customers, and to minimize product handling and hand-to-hand transactions. The new platform is scheduled to be up and running as of May 16.

To view the announcement

Government assistance measures

The weekly update to the guide to government assistance measures and summary table (in French) was done on April 27.

Updated guide to government assistance measures (in French)

Summary table of government assistance programs (in French)