Wet weather hurts N.B.'s peat moss industry
New Brunswick is the second-largest exporter of peat moss in the world, but this summer's wet weather has shut down much of the province's production.
Mid-August is usually a busy time for peat harvesters in the province, but the heavy rain this year means they're waiting for the moss to dry out.
Heveco, a producer in Tabusintac — in northeastern New Brunswick — has been limping by, thanks to a brief period of good weather in July.
But the amount of moss gathered is not even close to where it should be.
"There basically was no season," said Heveco's Rolf Mecking. "The harvest should be completed by 80 per cent by now. And my guess is that it's at between 20 and 30 per cent."
Heveco has not let go any employees yet, but other companies in the area have.
FPM Peat Moss Co. Ltd. in nearby Inkerman let go about 60 seasonal workers, saying there wasn't enough for them to do.
It's hoping that the weather will improve so they don't have to shed any more jobs.
"It all depends on how the weather will react until the end of the year. We still have some time to turn things around. Not a lot, but we still have some time," said FPM's Denis Mallet.
Even if the weather improves, there is likely not enough sunshine left to properly harvest the moss.
