Re: Not just farmers impacted, letter to the editor, Sept. 19
The Delta Farmers' Institute understands the frustration of having roads closed to traffic and can empathize with any commuter that might be affected by the imposition of temporary road closures.
The action taken by Delta was at the urging of our members - not lightly taken, I might add, knowing this might inconvenience others.
But with no other available options, and to avoid suffering financial losses on those crops, there was no other choice but to ask for some temporary measures to ensure farm vehicles could get to processing facilities located further east in the Fraser Valley, or in the case of potatoes, to get their crop into cool storage sheds, a must if we are to have potatoes available until the crop next year.
In some instances, farmers were not able to get out of the fields due to the volume of traffic in the Crescent Island area.
We are positive that most in our municipality understand farm income is achieved only at the time of harvesting and delivering to a processing facility, or to cool storage sheds, in as short a time as possible in order that crops are not degraded due to excessive heat build-up while also waiting in traffic.
It shouldn't be required to state that without those crops arriving timely there would be no requirement for large-scale farming to continue in Delta. Alas, and unfortunately, it is obvious that some are not aware or maybe do not care.
We believe most of the public in Delta understands and will work with us on the temporary restriction.
John L. Savage President Delta Farmers' Institute
