Officials estimate water could rise to 6.6 metres above sea level
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Rising water levels in New Brunswick are impacting the province’s agricultural community.
Many communities have begun evacuations and, with water levels projected to rise to 6.6 metres above sea level on the weekend, New Brunswick’s Emergency Response Organization (EMO) is getting prepared.
“Anything from helping farmers move their cattle, helping families move their pets (and) helping people fill sandbags by getting sand,” Geoffrey Downey, a spokesperson with EMO, told CBC today.
Some dairy farmers moved to a safer location.
“I’m sure some are affected by the flood but it’s hard to say how many at this time,” Steve Michaud, general manager of Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick, told Farms.com today.
Around 100 dairy cattle from farms in the Lincoln and Maugerville communities moved into the New Brunswick Provincial Exhibition overnight. Another 50 other farm animals arrived there earlier in the week, CBC reported.
Producers moved as much equipment as they could before water reached their homes.
“Cross your fingers, keep the sunshine out and let that water level peak and then go right back down,” Lori Jones, co-owner of a sod farm and cranberry bog, told CBC on Saturday.
The rising waters also flowed towards an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research facility.
But water damage to the facility is minimal, said Bronwen Mosher, an AAFC communications officer.
“AAFC is closely monitoring the situation however due to the location of the Research Centre in Fredericton the impact of the flooding has been minimal,” she said in an emailed statement today. “Currently, one plot of land has been impacted by the flooding. However, that plot is not being used for research at this time.”
Farms.com reached out to the Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick for details on area conditions.
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