Just as in wartime and other political upheaval, devastating plagues, polio outbreaks, SARS, and smallpox, all through this worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, farms and farmers continue to carry on their job as in normal times.
Crops must be planted and harvested on time and animals must be cared for 24/7 to produce everything that we eat and expect to be on the shelves when we want it. Just as in other times of world upheaval, there have been . . .
times of shortages for a thousand different reasons. Sometimes a little milk had to be dumped, or because very efficient processing industries couldn’t switch packaging from those used in restaurants and schools, etc. (or as quick as they were forced to shut down) and switch to packaging which consumers normally purchase in the stores.
Some huge efficient meat packing plants had to stop production completely because line workers who worked shoulder to shoulder contracted and spread COVID-19 to fellow workers.
Many of our favourite sit-down restaurants had to close their doors and some will never again open. Some of the small take-out restaurants, coffee bars, etc. had to take on extra shifts of employees to supply the sudden increased demand.
Meanwhile on the farms, farmers got back to dealing with non-COVID-19 problems like land too wet to plant, a late spring frost that killed thousands of acres of corn that was up past that critical four leaf stage. Grape producers all across North America (except California) experienced two or more killing frosts close to the last full moon. Many grapevines will not produce this year.
New diseases appear in animals just as in people and new vaccines have to be purchased to vaccinate animals and keep the herd healthy.
If you have tried to buy or bought lumber or building supplies lately you have personally experienced the huge increase in prices. This was partially caused by homeowners getting their homes, decks or outbuildings fixed up rather than using their extra money on expensive vacations a plane trip away. It was also caused by many, many sawmills shutting down or going bankrupt a couple decades ago when a bad deal was signed with the US which resulted in the devastation of Canada’s softwood lumber industry. It’s impossible to divert lumber exports to domestic supply when the loggers, truckers, lumber mills and our superior Canadian lumber just aren’t there anymore.
Vaccination of our population is progressing and some have received second booster vaccinations. Most of our families, children, grandchildren, friends and neighbours have taken the time to ensure their future health.
It’s sad that some of our neighbours (just like some farmers who refuse to vaccinate their animals) may pay the ultimate price. It is the terrible after effects of COVID-19 even if you recover, that scares me. As many as one in five people who survive COVID-19 have life-altering after effects. Some can affect the brain in ways that the person cannot live with and suicide results. I have watched animals die with rabies and even when an animal has to die like that, it affects my life forever. If you love your family, please get vaccinated.
With this late frost, you may pay a few cents more for your corn flakes or not be able to buy your favorite wine but that is minor compared to what could happen.
Chris Judd is a farmer in Clarendon on land that has been in his family for generations. gladcrest@gmail.com
