Some may think that losing a bit of farmland isn’t that big of an issue, but according to the NFU, this couldn’t be farther from the truth.
“The truth of the matter is, less than half a per cent of our total land mass is class 1 farmland,” said Pfenner. “A lot of the negative impacts that are happening are happening in these very areas that we rely on to grow food.”
Another issue plaguing farmers is all the smoke coming from the fires. While many people can just stay inside to avoid breathing in the fumes, farmers don’t have that luxury.
Along with breathing problems, Pfenner noted farmers have also been experiencing burning throats, fatigue, nausea, and headaches.
In her opinion, she believes the federal government should create a program to financially support farmers who need to take time off from work due to the smoke.
“There were programs across the country (during the COVID-19 pandemic) that compensated both businesses and workers for time off that was required to recover from illness or deal with quarantine. I think the same type of program needs to be developed.”
Overall, the NFU is calling on the federal government to protect everyone who has to work outside in the smoke, ensure that plans are in place to properly fight these wildfires and that efforts continue to help combat climate change.
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On Twitter: @princealbertnow
