The Ontario government is expanding the Risk Management Program a year earlier than planned by $50 million for a total of $150 million annually. This funding supports farmers with unforeseen challenges such as fluctuating market prices, extreme weather events like flooding or drought, and disease.

Details were provided today by Premier Doug Ford, and Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Premier Ford said:

“Our government stands shoulder to shoulder with our farmers during these unprecedented times. As we chart a path to recovery, we will be there for our farmers and their workers to help them continue to put food on our tables. We committed to expanding this program in Year 3 of our mandate, but we are delivering on that commitment a year earlier than promised to provide more stability, income security and peace of mind for farmers, which is long overdue. I’m proud to say promise made, promise kept.”

Approximately 80 percent of eligible commercial production in the cattle, hog, sheep, veal, grains, and oilseeds, and edible horticulture sectors in Ontario is covered by the provincial Risk Management Program.

Minister Hardeman said:

“We know farmers face tremendous pressures and uncertainties including reduced processing capacity, increased costs, and volatile markets. After listening to feedback from the farming sector, that is why we are accelerating our promise to increase the Risk Management Program to $150 million by one year. We’re committed to providing our farmers with added support at this time and advocating on their behalf with the federal government to help them continue doing their critical work of producing safe, nutritious food for our kitchen tables.”

The increased investment in the Risk Management Program is in addition to a $15 million Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection Program. Farmers and other operations have access to cost-share funding to help enhance health and safety measures for employees, such as purchasing personal protective equipment, medical testing equipment, enhanced cleaning and disinfection, and temporary or permanent modifications to enhance physical distancing. Support is also available for farmers who experience unexpected costs for housing and transportation as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak on their farm.

Source: Government of Ontario

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The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $10 million in emergency assistance for beef and hog farmers. The funding will help cover the increased costs of feeding market-ready cattle and hogs due to COVID-19 related processing delays while redirecting surplus pork products to help those in need. This program will help ensure the country’s food supply chain will remain strong and ready to recover as the economy gradually and safely reopens.

The beef cattle set-aside program will provide beef farmers with up to $5 million in support. Farmers can claim $2 per head of cattle per day to help pay for additional maintenance costs should they have to keep their market-ready animals on their farms for extended periods of time.

The hog sector support program will also provide hog farmers with up to $5 million to help
cover additional maintenance costs. Ontario is also providing up to $1.5 million to process
and package surplus pork for food banks, to provide those in need with fresh, locally produced pork products. This will assist the pork processing industry with managing capacity while helping those in need.

Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, said:

“We are grateful to our hardworking farmers who are providing Canadians with safe and healthy meat products. This investment is another way we are supporting the agricultural sector to ensure a stable meat supply and keep high-quality and affordable Canadian meat products on our grocery store shelves and kitchen tables.”

Ernie Hardeman, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said:

“During consultations with the pork and beef sectors, the need for emergency support to help them maintain their operations during COVID-19 was clear. We understand the challenges that our farmers are facing and we are working with our commodity organizations to address their priorities and help our farmers manage through these unprecedented times.”

Both the beef cattle set-aside and hog sector support programs are being offered through AgriRecovery initiatives, under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The provincial contributions are part of Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19.

Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance and Chair of Ontario’s Jobs and Recovery Committee, said:

“Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19 provided $17 billion in relief, including additional resources for the health care system and direct support for people and jobs. Throughout the pandemic, farmers have continued playing their vital role in feeding the province and supporting our economy. We know these are challenging times for our farmers so we are stepping up to help cover some of the increased costs they are facing.”

Beef Farmers of Ontario President Rob Lipsett, said:

“I would like to thank Minister Hardeman, Minister Bibeau and our federal and provincial governments for their investment into the creation of a beef cattle set-aside program for Ontario. This will be an important tool to have available to help manage potential disruptions within our processing sector. Having this safeguard in place, if it is ultimately needed, is critically important.”

Eric Schwindt, Chair, Ontario Pork, said:

“Ontario Pork appreciates the continued dialogue with the government during this worldwide crisis. The announced program is an important first step in helping family pork farms to navigate this stressful situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

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Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said:

“Ontario’s agri-food supply chain is one of the strongest in the world and COVID-19 has just reinforced that fact. The commitment shown by our farmers, food processors, grocery store workers, truck drivers, restaurateurs, and everyone across the agri-food sector during the COVID-19 outbreak is inspiring.”

The 2020 Local Food Report demonstrates the importance of local food for Ontario consumers and communities while recognizing farmers and those who keep food on our plates. Highlights include:

• Breweries and distilleries adapting their production facilities so they can produce hand sanitizer to help address the supply shortage;
• Organizations promoting local food literacy through online resources, virtual experiences, and recipes that focus on locally-sourced ingredients;
• Food banks, industry partners and local communities working together to create and distribute emergency food boxes to those in need;
• Local public health units and agencies, along with industry and community food organizations, collaborating to offer weekly meal packages to families in place of school food programs that aren’t currently

“Over the last two months, we have heard stories of hard-working and dedicated people that have adapted to these challenging times and gone above and beyond to ensure access to local Ontario food, and we are pleased to have an opportunity to celebrate them,”

said Hardeman.

Ontario is home to nearly 49,600 farms and 4,400 food processing facilities that contribute over $47 billion to the provincial GDP, making the agri-food sector a key economic driver of Ontario’s economy. Now more than ever, buying and supporting local food creates jobs and economic growth in communities across the province.

Quick facts

• Ontario celebrates Local Food Week annually during the first week in
• The Local Food Report is a cornerstone of Local Food Week in
• To learn more about Ontario’s local food system, visit the website.
• For more than 40 years, Foodland Ontario has helped consumers identify and purchase all the good things that are grown and made in

Source: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs

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Farming 2020: Adapt and Grow was the event theme that saw more than 300 agri-food industry leaders, volunteers and politicians discuss how to move the industry forward, address issues and concerns, vote on resolutions, vote for leadership and listen to informative guest speakers.

Keith Currie was voted to serve his fourth term as the organization’s 31st president. Voting delegates re-elected Peggy Brekveld and Mark Reusser to the vice president positions. Drew Spoelstra was elected by the board as the fourth executive member. Teresa Van Raay, a hog and crop farmer in Dashwood, was voted by the membership to join the board as a director-at-large for a three-year term. Paul Vickers, a Griersville dairy farmer and Zone 2 director for Bruce and Grey, also joins the OFA board of directors to represent members in his area for a three-year term. Two retiring directors, Pat Jilesen and Don McCabe, were recognized for their contributions. OFA’s Board of Directors is made up of 18 positions representing regions across Ontario.

“It’s been another great year for OFA,” says Currie. “And our AGM is a highlight where we gather together to take stock of where we are at and discuss issues and opportunities for the coming year. Our diverse sector is well represented with grassroots members, industry leaders and politicians sitting down to discuss, listen to each other and prioritize the challenges and opportunities facing Ontario’s agri-food industry.”

Representatives from provincial political parties addressed the crowd at the event, Hon. Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Andrea Horwath, Leader of the New Democrat Party (NDP) and Leader of the Official Opposition and John Vanthof, MPP and NDP critic for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.

The Ontario Young Farmers’ Forum was held in conjunction with OFA’s AGM, welcoming more than 60 young farmers to the event. More support for young farmers was shown at the event with three educational bursaries awarded to Ontario post-secondary students pursuing a career in agriculture.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is the largest general farm organization in Ontario, representing 38,000 farm families across the province. As a dynamic farmer-led organization based in Guelph, the OFA works to represent and champion the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, research, lobby efforts, community representation, media relations and more. OFA is the leading advocate for Ontario’s farmers and is Ontario’s voice of the farmer.

Source: Ontario Federation of Agricolture

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