Over the past few weeks, the Niagara Region has experienced numerous unprecedented rainfall events. The severity of these storms has affected many growers, residents, and businesses.

 

Niagara’s farmers are an integral part of the community, contributing to the identity of the region.  Niagara is home to Canada’s largest production of tender fruit, Canada’s largest greenhouse flower-producing region, and Canada’s largest production of grape and wine.  These sectors contribute significantly to local employment, tourism, culture, and the economic prosperity of the region.  Like many others that call Niagara home, these sectors have been heavily impacted by the recent floods.

 

Recovery efforts are underway, but uncertainty and challenges remain for the agricultural community, especially for those dealing with disease pressures, lost plants, and unharvested crops.  Growers have shown remarkable resilience, but resilience alone will not provide the long-term stability needed for recovery and future planning.

 

The road to recovery will not be a short one, with the full extent of damage yet to be determined.  Farmers will need responsive policy to help them recover from the impacts felt today, while positioning them to resume their growth trajectory for the future.  With the continued support of our partners at all levels of government, these key sectors will build back stronger and return to their status as an economic driver for Niagara’s communities, and the province of Ontario.

 

We appreciate the responses from the Town of Lincoln, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and the Government of Ontario. We also recognize and thank the Premier of Ontario and Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, Trevor Jones, for their willingness to help.

 

Challenges and opportunities for government support

• Provincial support for changes to the vine and tree mortality coverage with crop insurance to ensure it is responsive to this emergency situation and longer-term impacts, including replanting

• Provincial and federal support for the immediate expansion of fungicide labels to permit drone application, enabling growers who cannot access flooded vineyards and orchards to protect their crops from disease and pest pressures

• Provide flexibility on deadlines for temporary foreign worker housing inspections to provide time for appropriate repair and remediation

• Support use of AgriRecovery to further assist farms in rebuilding and recovering 

Source:  Grape Growers of Ontario/Ontario Tender Fruit Growers August 11, 2026 news release