The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) raised concerns on May 8 about disrupted access to cardlocks and rural fuel supplies due to the ongoing labour dispute between Co-op and Unifor. Farmers became alarmed after a recent picket line made it difficult to access a Co-op site in Moose Jaw this week.聽
鈥淥ur members have a very short window in which to seed our 2020 crop and this year many producers are still racing to complete their 2019 harvest,鈥� said APAS President Todd Lewis, who farms near Gray, SK.
鈥淚n the face of COVID-19, we鈥檙e already dealing with a very tenuous food supply situation in Canada and around the world. The very last thing that farmers need right now is to have seeding compromised by not been able to get fuel.鈥澛犅�
Lewis noted that many producers have relied on cardlock stations for their primary source of fuel. 鈥淚n many cases, farmers replenish their fuel supply daily and travelling long distances to avoid picket lines is not an option,鈥� he continued.
鈥淭his is not a matter of convenience. It鈥檚 been a cool wet spring in many areas and producers are watching their window for optimum seeding conditions start to close.鈥澛�
APAS asked that parties on both sides of the dispute work together to ensure that the critical fuel supply to Saskatchewan鈥檚 economic engine be maintained at this crucial moment in the growing season.聽
鈥淪askatchewan producers are not in a position to weigh-in on, or resolve the dispute between union and management,鈥� Lewis determined. 鈥淏ut disrupting our essential fuel supply at a critical, time-sensitive period for agriculture is not to anyone鈥檚 advantage.鈥澛� 聽
