A few vegetable growers from Lavaltrois are in despair because the floods and rains of the past few days have devastated their land almost everything their harvests for the year.
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“We no longer know what to do, we no longer know where to turn […] We look at the long-term weather forecast and for the next two weeks there is nothing to encourage us,” explains Maxime Vaes, owner of Farm Des jardins Vaes in Lavaltrie.
More than 400 millimeters of rain has fallen in Lanaudière since June 13. Quantities between 80 and 120 millimeters were only received last week.
Maxime Vaes on the celery fields yellowed by the rain. decency
It is a real “disaster” for agricultural producers, which has resulted in losses in several regions of Quebec.
“Damage was reported in Estrie, in the Capitale-Nationale and in Chaudière-Appalaches, nobody was spared,” explains Catherine Lessard, general director of the Quebec Vegetable Gardeners Association.
Aside from floods that inundate the fields, downpours can cause the fruit to rot and the wet soil makes them more susceptible to fungal diseases and weeds.
record amount
On the 450 hectares of land divided into three cultivation areas, all of the farming couple’s fields were affected by the flooding caused by the rain and the overflow of the river L’Assomption.
Water from the L’Assomption River flooded the fields. decency
“We’ve never experienced this before, it’s the worst catastrophe we’ve ever experienced […] We don’t even know the full extent of the damage,” said Marie-Hélène Martel, Mr Vaes’ wife.
With only 15% harvest, half of their customers can source lettuce, celery and cultivated onions.
“We still plant and care for it and don’t even know if we’re doing it for free. “We hope that autumn will be better,” regrets the gardener.
alarm signal
Despite the challenges, there is no question of giving up for Maxime Vaes and his wife, who are looking for solutions to ensure the sustainability of the profession.
“When you’re a producer, you’re a fighter […] Who is going to feed the people when the farmers stop growing fruit and vegetables?” he asks.
The couple are trying to raise awareness among the various agricultural associations and to involve other producers in their efforts in order to receive better support in the event of hardship.
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