Chatham-Kent Leamington MPP Rick Nicholls is welcoming the government’s action to expand the Risk Management Program a year earlier than planned by $50 million for a total of $150 million annually.
The funding is allocated to support farmers with unforeseen challenges such as fluctuating market prices, extreme weather events like flooding or drought, and disease.
Premier Doug Ford, and Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs made the announcement on July 16 from Craven Farms near Chatham.
Nicholls says the provincial Risk Management Program covers approximately 80 per cent of eligible commercial production in the cattle, hog, sheep, veal, grains and oilseeds, and edible horticulture sectors in Ontario.
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.
“I am very glad to see this funding made available to our farmers, and especially thankful to see labour added as an insured risk for the 2020 growing season,” said Rick Nicholls, MPP for Chatham-Kent Leamington. “After speaking with local farmers, it is clear this is a huge relief. Both Chatham-Kent and Leamington will benefit from this funding as it provides our agriculture industries the means necessary to protect their workers and their businesses.”
Applications for the Risk Management Program reopened on July 16 to allow eligible farmers the opportunity to apply to the program. The deadline to apply closes at midnight on July 30th, 2020.
Producers should contact the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ delivery agent, Agricorp, to enroll in the Risk Management Program and AgriStability or to discuss their individual files.
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