Valley farmers are still evaluating damage or losses from the torrential rains that fell on August 9. Flooding saw many crops submerged or surrounded by water for an extended period. The leaves on affected soya plants are yellowing, for example.
The Fédération de l’UPA de la Montérégie reports that many producers suffered significant losses. “In several cases, crops spent several days under water, jeopardizing harvests,” says regional president Jérémie Letellier. Other contributing factors include poorly maintained streams and ditches that could not absorb excess rainwater, resulting in fields being flooded.
The UPA points out that waterway maintenance is an MRC responsibility, and while the union acknowledges that this involves other players including the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs, the need remains for municipalities to improve their capacity to absorb or divert water.
According to Dundee producer Benjamin Nieuwenhof, some of the flooding that saw his crops submerged for over 36 hours was unavoidable once the Salmon River spilled its banks. He suggests, however, that a lot of the damage could have been avoided if the ditches running through the Lake Saint-François National Wildlife Area were properly maintained. In this instance it is the federal government’s jurisdiction, and requests have been filed dating back to 1998 – and nothing has been done.
The UPA is calling for a global vision including MRCs, government ministries and departments, and agricultural producers to optimize waterway management. In the meantime, the union is asking producers to document any damages to their crops and submit this information to establish a general picture of the losses experienced by local farmers.
A rare spillover infection of the highly pathogenic avian influenza to a cow has resulted in an outbreak of the disease on dairy farms in nine U.S. states. In response, Quebec has developed a strategy to prevent, monitor, and protect against the spread of the disease.
The United States Department of Agriculture informed the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that a case of pathogenic avian influenza had been confirmed in dairy cattle on March 25. As of May 12, at least 42 cases were confirmed in the United States. Currently, no cases have been detected in Canada.
According to Dr. Luc Bergeron, the head veterinarian at the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation (MAPAQ), avian flu does not cause mortality in cattle, but it can produce negative economic impacts on a farm. There is a possibility that transmission could occur between dairy and poultry farms, where the consequences are much more catastrophic. He cautions there is also a concern the virus could mutate and become more virulent, or more easily transmissible to humans.
The disease impacts older dairy cows and those that have been in milk for over 150 days. In all cases milk production will drop in an infected cow. The milk will also be thicker in consistency, becoming like colostrum. The animal will also have a decreased appetite. Morbidity is around 10 per cent, and clinical signs usually last from 10 to 14 days.
Bergeron said biosecurity measures should now be implemented on farms and the introduction of new cattle should be limited. Any symptoms should be reported to the CFIA and the MAPAQ, which will conduct an epidemiological investigation. Bergeron confirmed that in the event a positive case is identified, the farm will be required to self-quarantine.
A convoy of more than 105 tractors left Saint-Clet for Vaudreuil on April 10, as part of a demonstration staged by more than 250 frustrated producers over the looming crisis in agriculture and government inaction.
Several Valley producers made the trek, most by car or pickup, to add their voices to what became a resounding cry for the government to put a stop to the pressure mounting on farmers.
Protesting producers called on the government for better support, regulatory relief, a reduction in red tape and bureaucracy, a review of agricultural financing, and the introduction of fair environmental, health, and economic standards that will allow farmers to remain competitive in international markets.
PHOTO Sarah Rennie
Jérémie Letellier, the president of the Fédération de l’Union des Producteurs Agricoles (UPA) de la Montérégie, admitted to the crowd that he was taken aback by the number of tractors, while suggesting he had underestimated the level of frustration farmers were experiencing and their support for the growing protest movement.
“Our current governments take us for granted,” said Letellier. “If agriculture were important to our governments, there would be no foreign products on our shelves at a fraction of the cost of production for our producers. There would be true reciprocity of standards. If agriculture were important to our governments, there wouldn’t be a mountain of red tape and bureaucracy, there would be regulatory relief!” he exclaimed, to rousing applause and cheers from the crowd.
Letellier was joined by the presidents from local UPA syndicates, including Beauharnois-Salaberry, the Haut-Saint-Laurent, the Jardins-de-Napierville, Roussillon, and Vaudreuil-Soulanges. He was also flanked by Martin Caron, the general president of the UPA, as well as representatives from the Association de la relève agricole de la Montérégie, and several producers who spoke on behalf of their respective agricultural sectors.
The protest in Vaudreuil was the second in a trio of demonstrations that took place last week. A convoy of over 220 tractors rolled through the streets of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu on April 5, where over 400 producers gathered in front of the office Louis Lemieux, the MNA for Saint-Jean. Another 160 tractors made their way through the city of Saint-Hyacinthe on April 12, passing by the office of Chantal Soucy, the MNA for Saint-Hyacinthe, before joining a rally staged by over 300 producers and young farmers.
“It is the local unions who are building this movement,” said Éric Leboeuf, the president of the Haut-Saint-Laurent UPA syndicate. “The important thing is to have more recognition from the government. It’s not normal for people to eat three times a day but less than one percent of the budget is allocated to agriculture,” he pointed out.
“We are being asked to be more and more accountable. The administrative tasks are heavy, and they take up a lot of our time and resources when we already know how to feed people,” he said. “We do it well. We take care of the environment. We have ways of doing things that are getting better and better. We are the solution!” he exclaimed, insisting it is not the government putting action into place.
Leboeuf’s words were echoed by Ange-Marie Delforge, the president of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges UPA syndicate, who said she was moved but concerned to see so many producers gathered in protest. “We are professionals in agriculture, but the government does not recognize us as such!” she exclaimed, lamenting, “We are far from a priority.”
Hinchinbrooke-based dairy producer Noel Erskine was among the crowd waving a rally sign demanding more support for young farmers. Having taken over his family’s farm two years ago, he said things are going well, but it’s hard work balancing increased expenses with productivity.
“We are a dairy farm, and as a collective we’ve decided that consumers want us to go in a certain direction in terms of animal welfare and how their food is produced. That doesn’t come without a cost. It requires investment, and with investment comes interest rates,” he sighed. “We are just looking for the government to make sure they have our back, because it feels like they haven’t been helping as much as they should,” Erskine added.
Also waving a sign was Josée Lajeunesse, an outspoken advocate for mental health services for farmers and co-owner of the Domaine du Paysan nursery and garden centre in Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka. “We’ve come to the point where we spend more time in the office than in the field or greenhouses,” she said. “At some point, well, it’s exhausting!” she exclaimed. “And if the farmer is not doing well, their mental health takes a mean hit. And that’s what needs saving too. We must save our farmers,” she added.
The Haut-Saint-Laurent syndicate of the Union des Producteurs Agricoles has selected a new president, following the retirement of long-time president and director Michel Hébert. Hinchinbrooke producer Éric Leboeuf will step into this role after he was formally elected during a gathering for the semi-annual general assembly on February 15 at Le Mangeoir in Saint-Anicet.
All the producers on the 20-member board of directors up for election retained their roles, while Guillaume Asselin, the co-owner of Le Mangeoir, was elected to replace incoming president Éric Leboeuf as the administrator representing direct-to-market farms. The election was presided over by Jérémie Letellier, the president of the UPA federation for the Montérégie, who later spoke about the many issues facing agricultural producers across the region.
At the conclusion of the election period, Hébert received a standing ovation for his dedication to the union which has spanned over 45 years. Vice-president Josiane Carrière spoke about his impact on local agriculture through the local union as well as his work at the provincial level. She also noted the achievements of the local syndicate under his presidency, which has been recognized for its bilingual status, as well as the number of women who sit on the board of directors, and numerous innovative initiatives that have taken place since the Saint-Anicet, Ormstown, and Chateauguay Valley syndicates officially merged in 2012.
Over 40 producers participated in the general assembly, which saw several resolutions pass on subjects relating to the Commission de protection du territoire Agricole du Québec (CPTAQ), the Financière Agricole du Québec and its programs for young farmers and successors, and the amount of administration and paperwork imposed on farmers by the Ministry of Agriculture (MAPAQ). Discussions also took place about fragmentation or dismantling of agricultural land, and the availability of mental health resources for anglophone farmers.
Producers were also informed of the work being done by the local syndicate. Following a resolution passed last February regarding the increase in backfill operations in the Haut-Saint-Laurent, the local UPA’s agri-environment committee has been very active on this file. Correspondences were sent to producers to clarify permitted practices, meetings took place with the regional council of mayors to request better supervision of backfill work at the municipal level, and directors consulted on an MRC interim control bylaw to ensure compatibility between regional land use planning and the regional wetland and water management plan.
Local directors have also consulted on several other key issues. For example, the regional federation recently worked with the union before transmitting its opinion to the CPTAQ about the installation of an asphalt factory on Covey Hill in Havelock. Members also consulted with Huntingdon MNA Carole Mallette on the drafting of a white paper about farming in the Haut-Saint-Laurent and the financial situation facing agricultural producers. Finally, the union demanded the MRC hold more regular meetings of the waterways and agricultural advisory committees to better address issues specific to agricultural businesses.
Along with Letellier, the keynote speaker for the gathering was Ian Ward, who represents other plant producers and sits on the agri-environment committee. He spoke about a zero-carbon farming future and adapting agricultural practices to climate change. UPA president Martin Caron then spoke about union priorities at the provincial level before answering questions from producers in attendance.
Sugar shacks were spouting steam and evaporators were boiling across the Valley on February 10, as producers who were already tapped and ready to go took advantage of a significant sap run.
“It is the earliest we have ever started here,” said Céline Ouimet, who runs the Cabane à Sucre L’Hermine sugar shack in Havelock with her sister Chantal and brother-in-law François Benny. “The conditions were ideal,” she said, referring not only to the above-average temperatures for early February, but also to the sparse snow cover that made tapping and preparing for the season a little easier.
At L’Hermine, the sap ran for over three days without stopping overnight. Normally, the seasoned sugar-makers average one to two barrels of finished syrup during the first boil. As of last Monday, they had already filled over 11. When asked whether the early start to the season is cause for concern, Benny shrugged. “Not really. It can change fast. If it freezes now, it will start to run again when it warms up. But it is possible that the season will be shorter.”
Last year, the boiler at L’Hermine was brought to life on February 18, which seemed early at the time. The owners noted that despite being a full week earlier, this year’s sugar content was surprisingly high from the start. Benny said the region’s producers should now be prepared for a first run around Valentine’s Day, and Ouimet agreed, suggesting the variation in winter temperatures is forcing producers to adapt their practices.
According to the Plan d’adaptation de l’agriculture de la Montérégie aux changements climatiques, winter temperatures will continue to rise, leading to a shortened season with alternating episodes of rain and snow. This could mean less snow cover, leaving soils more vulnerable come spring. “We can’t complain about making syrup in February when the quality is there,” said Ouimet, noting the risk is greater for producers further north, who are facing shortened seasons as temperatures rise more rapidly and over longer periods.
New uses for syrup
Down the road in Rockburn, Denis Rousseau was feeding his boiler every 15 minutes to keep his evaporator rolling. He explained that while his older setup involves more work cutting wood and a has longer boil time, the syrup he produces has a creamier texture. As the owner of Ferme Black Creek, Rousseau is especially interested in the taste, texture, and colour of the syrup he uses to concoct his artisanal acers, or alcoholic beverages made from the fermentation of concentrated maple water or diluted syrup. “I want to have more of a toffee flavour,” he noted, suggesting this involves starting with a darker syrup.
Rousseau tapped early this year, after having missed the first run during the past two seasons. “It’s a nice start,” he said, adding that by the end of this first run, he will already have processed around 10 per cent of his average annual yield. “Now everything has to be emptied and cleaned, and we’ll start from scratch in ten days,” he laughed.
Rousseau is one of around 25 producers who came together late last year to form the Association des producteurs d’acers du Quebec. “When people taste my products, they are always surprised,” he said, while pointing out how customers tend to expect something sweet and are often taken aback by how dry his products can taste.
Reason to celebrate
Alcoholic beverages made from sap or syrup were featured when the Quebec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP) officially toasted the start of the 2024 syrup season, during an event at the National Assembly in Quebec on February 7. The QMSP were also celebrating the allocation of seven million new taps designated for start-up and expansion projects across the province. These additional taps could see Quebec’s annual production of maple syrup increase by 21 million pounds.
“Maple production is the driving force of Quebec agriculture. We’re really proud to be behind the increase in the number of farms,” said QMSP president Luc Goulet following the January 24 lottery. “We are taking steps to produce more syrup. Together, we’re striving to achieve our goals of replenishing the reserve within five years, while continuing to meet the demand for maple syrup here at home and in more than 70 countries around the world,” he declared.
Over one million of those new taps were awarded in the Montérégie, which will eventually bring the total number of taps in the region to 4.8 million by 2026. These numbers include 108 successful applications from the Montérégie-Ouest region, which will see 32 new syrup businesses and 76 existing producers share a total of 280,691 new taps.
