Temporary Foreign Worker quarantine costs continue to climb while federal support programs wind down, leaving farmers on the financial hook. “This is costing midsize family farms anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 to $150,000 and upwards of that for the real large producers,” said Bill George, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (OFVGA) chair. “There is […] Read more
Tag Archives COVID-19 — page 18
Vegetable group lobbies for TFW quarantine fund
Quarantine requirements have added significant costs to farm operations
COVID-19 underscores the labour shortage impact
Study shows sector vulnerability to labour shocks like a pandemic
COVID-19 has pushed the already-dire labour shortage in agriculture into sharp relief, and the numbers aren’t promising for the future. The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council’s (CAHRC) recent survey, Understanding the Effects of COVID-19 on Canada’s Agriculture Workforce, took the pulse of how COVID-19 has impacted agriculture. Why it matters: The pandemic has accelerated the […] Read more
Federal budget brings few farm tax changes
Main points include wage subsidies, closing loopholes, and front-loading equipment write-offs
The 2021 federal budget included provisions designed to garner more revenues from high-level sources such as digital media companies and absentee homeowners. On the farm side, however, analysts say tax changes appear light by comparison. Why it matters: Some anticipated tax increases for small business were not included in the 2021 federal budget. What wasn’t […] Read more
Editorial: There’s hope ahead
I recently had my COVID-19 vaccination. It was one of the best and most hopeful days I’ve had in a while. I’ve still got some time to go before the first vaccination kicks in and I’m mostly covered, and then a while to wait until a second vaccination before I’m fully covered, but it’s a […] Read more
JBS able to pass on higher grain costs in North America
Sao Paulo | Reuters — JBS SA, the world’s largest meatpacker, has been able to pass higher grain costs on to consumer prices because food demand is strong in markets such as the U.S. and Canada, executives said in an earnings call Thursday. In Brazil, where higher feed prices have dented margins of the company’s […] Read more
Testing delays prevent TFWs from getting to work
Lost tests and longer-than expected results create farmer and worker stress
[UPDATED: May 13, 2021] The road to getting Temporary Foreign Workers from their flight to the field is fraught with COVID-19 challenges this season. Workers arriving at Pearson International Airport are offered a COVID-19 vaccine and receive the first of a two-step remote COVID-19 swab test. Why it matters: Producers depend on temporary foreign workers […] Read more
Vaccinations come to Ontario farm country
The local health unit interpretation of provincial guidelines determines local access
The agriculture sector isn’t needling the province to organize vaccine clinics for workers. Many employers are stepping up to make sure it gets done. Agriculture sector workers, including those in processing, temporary foreign workers (TFWs) and those in food production, including farmers, were eligible for Phase Two pre-registration in early March. By mid-April, many still […] Read more
Bolstering the food system is about people, regulations
Managing risk has taken on new meaning during the pandemic
Farm sector representatives say greater investment in public outreach and improved risk management programs are needed to propel the sector beyond the pandemic. Industry representatives who were part of the launch of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s (OCC) report on the province’s food system and COVID-19, also mentioned more agriculture-oriented education opportunities for young adults […] Read more
Opinion: Officials should follow advice of migrant advocates
Glacier FarmMedia – Reports of vaccinations for seasonal farm employees and workers at processing plants are encouraging, but more attention must be paid to the needs of international farm workers. Despite federal government failure to adopt more assertive measures dictating when these essential workers will receive their shots, many provinces are starting to report COVID-19 […] Read more
Agriculture workplaces grapple with change
Flexible hybrid work options and managing a return to face-to-face interactions top the trends
A worldwide pandemic, technology and the ability to adapt on the fly have catapulted agriculture-based business into a new hybrid dimension that will likely continue. In rapid succession, the agriculture workplace landscape morphed from a hands-on, in-person machine to one of virtual meetings, touchless billing and payment systems and greater demand for accessible and reliable […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
