Ontario farmers appreciate risk management program funding increase

Ontario farmers are expressing their support for today’s announcement that the provincial government is expanding risk management funding for farmers.

Over the next three years, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness is phasing-in a $100 million increase to the Risk Management Program (RMP) for beef, pork, sheep, veal and grain farmers and the Self-Directed Risk Management Program (SDRM) for fruit and vegetable growers.

RMP and SDRM help provide financial protection for farmers against unprecedented challenges beyond their control, including inflation, supply chain disruptions, market downturns and climate risks.

“This additional investment by the government comes at a critical time for Ontario farmers as we are making key decisions for the coming growing season,” says Drew Spoelstra, president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. “This increased funding will provide Ontario farmers with confidence to continuing making critical investments in our farm businesses and in Ontario’s agri-food sector in such uncertain times.”

Increased funding for risk management has long been a key advocacy priority for the OFA, and it was one of the organization’s top three budget asks of the provincial government for 2025. This ask also supported efforts by the Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition (OASC), who have long been urging the province to enhance its investment into RMP and SDRM.

Ontario’s agri-food sector is a key part of the provincial economy, contributing more than $50 billion in annual economic activity, $26.2 billion in agri-food exports, and employing 11% of Ontario’s workforce by supporting more than 870,000 jobs.

“We appreciate the government’s recognition of the importance of our sector to the provincial economy and we thank Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, Rob Flack, for his leadership strengthening this critical risk management tool for our sector,” adds Spoelstra.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) represents 38,000 farm families across the province and serves as the leading advocate and strongest voice of Ontario’s farmers. As a dynamic farmer-led organization, the OFA represents and champions the interests of Ontario farmers through advocacy and government relations, research and farm policy recommendations, media and public relations, community representation, and more.