The provincial and federal government are enhancing their Agri-Insurance coverage for the 2020 growing season to include labour shortages due to COVID-19.
Ontario’s agriculture industry, specifically farms growing fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, melons and peaches, are labour intensive and highly dependent on seasonal agricultural workers.
COVID-19 has interrupted regular flows of worker travel and has resulted in some gaps in labour availability. This could result in some crops being unharvested and financial loss for the agri-food industry.
The added insurance coverage will include: Inability to attract sufficient on-farm labour due to COVID-19; and Illness or quarantine of on-farm labour and the producer due to COVID-19.
