Saskatchewan farmers welcome Ottawa’s new aid for producers and processors who bring in temporary foreign workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

APAS president Todd Lewis applauds the $50-million program to provide $1,500 per worker for quarantine costs for temporary foreign workers.

Ottawa says temporary foreign workers are important for Canadian food security, particularly the fruit and vegetable industries.

Lewis says there are transportation issues to bring in temporary foreign workers and farmers and processors may turn to more out of work Canadians for help.

He says temporary foreign workers are used in Saskatchewan for some large farms and beekeeping.