NEW RICHMOND – Agricultural production in 2023 has been the worst in 20 years, according to the outgoing president of the Gaspé Peninsula Magdalen Islands Union of Agricultural Producers.
The poor production doesn’t paint a rosy picture for producers. “The impacts of Mother Nature have really been unfavourable. If we talk about hay, vegetables, potatoes, at all levels, it’s really a disaster,” explains the outgoing president of the Gaspé Peninsula Magdalen Islands Union of Agricultural Producers, Michèle Poirier.
“In the last 20 years, we haven’t seen this disastrous temperature as we have this year,” she adds.
Producers are taking measures to adapt to climate change. “They are moving toward regenerative farming. They are changing the way they farm, the way they nourish their soil. They’re going to try to make it soft so that if there are disasters, the soil reacts less abruptly,” stresses Ms. Poirier.
Stakeholders involved in agriculture in the Gaspé Peninsula are prepared to work together to find solutions.
Another factor that will impact agricultural producers is the significant increase in interest rates in recent months. “What worries me are the interest rates because there will be (loan) renewals. I think it will hurt because the rates are very high and the worst is yet to come. We’re not there yet,” analyzes the outgoing president.
She criticizes the Quebec government and the Minister of Agriculture, André Lamontagne, for seemingly not understanding the difficulty experienced by producers. “I don’t feel listened to enough by Minister Lamontagne. You know, it’s quite different when you sit in an office and when you work on the ground. I think next year will be decisive,” says Ms. Poirier.
At the next UPA congress in Quebec, Ms. Poirier highlights that pressure will be made in hopes of getting the attention of politicians. “Once they have listened, perhaps they can take action,” adds the outgoing president.
After six years at the helm of the organization, Ms. Poirier completed her term as president of the regional UPA.
The word “succession” is frequently mentioned in her interventions and interactions with the presss
“I’m very proud of that. There is a very good team at the UPA which is capable of transitioning with a new president who will bring new blood and new ways of working. I think it will go well,” says the outgoing president who passed the torch to Sylvain Arbor at the October 30 annual general meeting.
Relations with Gaspésie gourmande, the MRCs, the agri-advisory networks, and field workers are also elements mentioned by the outgoing president. “I believe we have the right tools to organize ourselves,” says Ms. Poirier.
The UPA president is a member of the regional Employment Table. “We are trying to advance agriculture so that we can make a good living from it and be able to feed our world.”
A dairy farm and a beef farm will soon be added to the list of Gaspesian producers. “I think we have big gains coming in agriculture,” says Ms. Poirier.