New money for farmers a help, but received with 'mixed emotions'

More details are out about how much money P.E.I.farmers will get after having to destroy or move their potatoes to other markets.

The province and federal government will share in paying a total of $40 million, which was announced in a news release Tuesday. The provincial government will provide up to $12.2 million and the federal government, up to $28 million.

According the news release, that translates to farmers getting up to 8.5 cents a pound to destroy their potatoescomparedto anestimated 18-20 cents for table potatoes before the border closure.In 2020, the export of table stock and processing potatoes to the U.S was worth about $103 million.

The border was closed to P.E.I. potatoes in November by order of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, following the discovery of potato wart in two Island fields. Wart was first discovered on the Island in 2000. A management plan was put in place in consultation with the American government, and until November that had kept the border open for 20 years.

Eleven weeks after the closure, there is still no date on when P.E.I. farms will be allowed to ship to the mainland United States but there is hope that the Territory of Puerto Rico may be able to resume accepting Island-grown product soon.

'Mixed emotions'

Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. Potato Board, said farmers are grateful for the assistance, but ultimatelyit's not what they want.

"It will certainly be a help, but received with mixed emotions," Donald said.

"Our farmers, they have a lot of pride in producing a crop, and this year they had an exceptional crop. And under the circumstances, having to face the decision to destroy some of those is just really sad and such a senseless waste."

Under this program, in early details released in December, some potatoes will be diverted to food banks across Canada.

Despite all efforts, the unthinkable is here.- Greg Donald. P.E.I. Potato Board

Donald said the industry has been working to try and divert potatoes to anyone in need, and to other markets as well.

"It's such a large volume," he said.

"The time that we've lost we are now in the 11th week we just can't make up for it."

He said there's also been support from the province to help with the cost of farmers destroying their potatoes.

"Despite all efforts, the unthinkable is here," he said.

'Disheartening' to destroy potatoes

John Visser, chair of the P.E.I. Potato Board, said the money will help but it won't make upfor the losses farmers have incurred.

"It will help with the destruction of potatoes, it's a long ways from paying the cost of production, of what it cost to get these potatoes," he said.

We grew a beautiful crop of potatoes this year. Boyd Rose, P.E.I. farmer

"It's very disheartening to destroy potatoes that there shouldbe a home for, and there's no reason that there is no home for."

Boyd Rose, a potato farmer from North Lake, P.E.I., said it's devastating to destroy the potatoes after seeing one of the best harvest seasons in years.

"We grew a beautiful crop of potatoes this year," he said."Adequate rainfall and sunshine and one of the better crops we've grown in a number of years. To dig them in the fall was just a joy, we grew 12 different varieties."

He's not sure if he'll operate his farm full scale this spring, but will keep planting to sustain his family and keep workers.

P.E.I. Potato Board grateful for support, but not enough to compensate loss of potatoes

3 years ago

Duration 6:46

Chair John Visser says the board is grateful for the $40 million the federal and provincial governments are giving, but it doesn't make up for the losses farmers have faced.

"We have 34 people from the local area here that rely on us for full-time year-round work," Rose said.

Rose is the sixth generation of his family to run the farm and said it's been sad to see how rough things have been throughout the border closure.

"It's hard to get up every morning at 6 and take [my family]here, and I try not to think about [the crisis]."