The Haut-Saint-Laurent syndicate of the Union des Producteurs Agricoles (UPA) launched a new reference guide for local producers during its biennial general meeting on February 19 in Ormstown.
The guide, which is the first of its kind, was designed to address a frequent need among area producers who regularly reach out to the union for information and links to various programs or resources. The goal was to provide farmers with as much information as possible in a single, easy-to-use document.
“Farmers are often too busy to read everything or remember all the information they may be exposed to, but when something comes up, we need to be able to quickly find the name of a resource or program that can take care of it,” said local president Éric Leboeuf.
The guide was produced in collaboration with the Fédération de l’UPA de la Montérégie and local syndicate advisors Catherine Turgeon and Anna Potapova.
“It is a living document,” said Potapova, who explained that the 15-page guide will be updated continuously with the addition of new information or relevant links as programs are announced or evolve.
The document includes region-specific information on sources of grants and funding from different programs at all levels of government that are often overlooked, as well as consultation services and agricultural help initiatives like legal counseling, group insurance programs, and access to health and well-being services.
Information is also available on different agricultural and farm business management workshops and training programs, as well as specific references for issues involving waterway management, the environment, land use planning, road security and circulation, and the sharing of agricultural equipment.
Another section focuses on workforce management, including information on recruiting employees, human resources, training programs, and health and safety workshops. Important resources on Agri-environment issues, as well as climate change and wildlife are also included, as are links to succession support organizations such as Arterre, and information on the Agricultural social utility trust (FUSA), which preserves agricultural land.
The guide is available to producers in both English and French. Leboeuf said it was important to ensure the document would be accessible to all members. “Unlike other government information sources that are not allowed by law to provide information in English, we decided to make the guide bilingual,” he explained.
Leboeuf confirmed that the local union hopes to nominate the innovative guide for an award at the annual Agristars Gala. The event is hosted annually by the federation in celebration of the region’s local syndicates and their achievements and actions over the past year.
The guide can be accessed online at monteregie.upa.qc.ca/producteur/a-propos/haut-saint-laurent.