Farms.com Home  › News

Conservative's Call For Rapid Testing Pilot For Agriculture

There's a renewed push on Ottawa to do more when it comes to streamlining the process for international farm workers when it comes to COVID.
 
The Conservative Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Lianne Rood feels more needs to be done to reduce the isolation times for workers when they arrive.
 
"Something I've been asking the Federal Health Minister for, and also Provincial Health Ministers, is a rapid testing pilot project for instance for workers. Particularly in fruit and vegetables who are coming into greenhouses and starting the season in January."
 
Rood says we can't have a repeat of last year when a farmer lost his entire crop of cucumbers because the entire group of workers he had there had to isolate for two weeks and no one was allowed into the green houses.
 
She notes international farm workers designated to help in greenhouses are starting to arrive now.
 
The Liberals have issued a blanket requirement for all international travellers, including farm workers, to test negative for COVID before boarding a flight to Canada, but she says they've done nothing to reduce the isolation times for workers when they arrive.
Click here to see more...

Trending Video

Will USDA 'Save the Day' in Corn + U S Post Midterm Election Ag Impact

Video: Will USDA 'Save the Day' + U S Post Midterm Election Ag Impact

Will the 2026 USDA November crop report redeem itself after a shocking higher U.S. 2026 corn yield in October?
The Democrats taking control of Congress and the Senate was not on anyone’s bingo card except ours!
The AI stock selloff knee jerk reaction over Dem’s looking to slow done the AI build out is a gift!
The Dems will now try to reign in Trump on the Iran war, tariffs (first 100 days tariffs on Canada could be removed), immigration and the corruption in the Trump administration. E15 and a new farm bill in 2027 may struggle with gridlock in Washington.
Does China walk away with U.S. ag trade as Trump has lost leverage? China to buy more U.S. ag but hinges on U.S. tariff reductions? Hang Tung Resources signs $600 million China agreement of U.S. wheat and sorghum.
Crude oil plunges 8%.
U.S. Midwest soil moisture profile is a concern.
Brazil looks wet in the next 10 days.
Hogs to new contract lows.
+ CFTC