There’s some good news for farmers in Bradford’s Holland Marsh.
The province is stepping in to help farmers who lost their entire season after two devastating floods.
The province is allowing the town to being rebuilding the dike system immediately. It’s a huge relief effort for farmers who have helplessly been waiting for answers, and to regain access to their fields.
Now, for the first time in a month, farmer Peter Marques is finally feeling some relief. It’s just a matter of time now before the water is pumped out and he can get back to his field.
“We’re extremely happy,” Marques says. “Just being able to see the land again is going to be a great feeling.”
The water is at least five feet deep and has ended the season for three farming families.
Frank Jonkman is in charge of checking and repairing dikes for the town. He says the government’s news will allow them to move ahead without permits as they work with an engineer to repair the dike. It will be a big job, and the town has to consult with the conservation authority, and design the new dike system first. But the town hopes a new system will prevent another flood from happening again.
“We want to make sure we have the right material,” Jonkman says. “The current dike is at the end of its life.”
The town is planning to begin pumping the water out of the farmers’ fields within three weeks. That’s good news for farmers who are anxious to assess the damage and hope to prepare the fields for next year.
