This financial support provided by the Province, part of a new federal-provincial AgriRecovery response, builds on Ontario’s $2 million Northwestern Livestock Emergency Assistance Initiative, recently announced by Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on July 27, 2021.
The initiative was designed to help farmers cover the costs of such necessities as feed and hay, construction of temporary fencing for livestock to graze in alternative locations and the sourcing of water for farm animals. This initiative was an interim measure while the provincial and federal governments worked together to develop this longer term AgriRecovery response.
“Many Ontario farmers in the northwest, as well as farmers across the Prairies, have been hit hard by drought conditions and these severe dry weather conditions pose a significant threat to the livestock sector in Northwestern Ontario,” said Minister Thompson. “The agri-food sector supported Ontario during the pandemic by keeping grocery store shelves full. Now they need help, and our province is ready to step up to get them through hard times. That’s why we are moving forward with the immediate launch of our portion of the national AgriRecovery response along with our neighbours in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, so that our farmers can get the longer-term support they need – now.”
“The Beef Farmers of Ontario would like thank Minister Thompson for her swift response to initiate the AgriRecovery framework. While today’s announcement is a critical step in signaling to farmers that help is on the way, we remain concerned about the hardships the drought has created for those in affected regions, and the health of the province’s cow herd and vital infrastructure that supports Ontario’s economy,” says Rob Lipsett, BFO President.
Source : Ontario