The Government of Ontario is helping farmers improve their business operations and bring more safe, high-quality foods to various markets.
Today, David Piccini, MPP for Northumberland-Peterborough South, highlighted the more than $7.9 million in cost-share funding through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the
Partnership) to eligible farmers and other agri-food businesses.
Included among the more than 670 projects are 22 projects in Northumberland-Peterborough South. These local projects will see investments of up to $273, 718.94.
“Through this investment of over $273,000, we are supporting a range of local famer-driven projects to improve on-farm practices,” said MPP David Piccini. “These 22 projects support farmers, rural communities, and the agricultural value chain. It’s about supporting growth at the farm level, which will have positive impacts across Ontario’s agri-food sector.”
“Our farmers work tirelessly to supply the array of safe, high-quality agricultural products that feed our province, our country and the world,” said the Honourable Ernie Hardeman, Ontario
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “By making these strategic investments we are helping to improve the competitiveness of our agri-food sector and secure it for long-term sustainability, especially during these difficult times.”
Through the Partnership, these initiatives will support improvements in areas such as enhanced traceability systems, upgraded animal-handling equipment, and strengthened biosecurity
measures.
Examples of projects supported through this programming include:
· Improving food safety systems on farms to meet or exceed international certification
standards;
· Planting over-wintering cover crops to improve soil health and reduce soil erosion losses;
· Actions to help prevent pest damage at greenhouse operations;
· Developing a product that will open new sales markets for a farm business; and
· Upgrades to animal-handling equipment and improved biosecurity measures.
The funding is in addition to programming launched this year to assist the sector in meeting challenges related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Such programming includes the launch of a portal
to connect farms and other agri-food sector business with labour needs to job seekers; the creation of the Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection Program; and the recent investment
of an additional $50 million into the Risk Management Program for this year, one year earlier than originally promised.
Since June 2018, both the federal and provincial governments have committed cost-share support to more than 2,500 projects through the Partnership to help eligible Ontario farmers, processors,
businesses and sector organizations innovate and grow.
The federal and provincial governments are committing up to $417 million in Ontario through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. This investment will go towards strategic initiatives to
foster economic development, environmental stewardship, and protection and assurance within the sector.
QUICK FACTS
· The Partnership is a five-year, $3 billion investment which includes $1 billion for federal
activities and programs, and $2 billion in cost-shared programs delivered by provinces
and territories on a 60-40 basis.
· This cost-share funding is supporting projects in the following key priority areas:
o Economic development in the agri-food and agri-products sectors.
o Environmental stewardship to enhance water quality and soil health.
o Protection and assurance to reinforce the foundation for public trust in the sector through improved assurance systems in food safety and plant and animal health.
· More than 670 projects were approved following a competitive, merit-based application intake that took place from January 8 to January 29, 2020.
· In Ontario, cost-share programming to support farmers and other businesses through the Partnership
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
