More support is coming for northwestern Ontario livestock farmers enduring severe drought conditions and feed shortages.
Queen's Park is committing up to $5 million as part of its 40 per cent share of a federal-provincial AgriRecovery program.
This money is on top of the $2 million committed by the province at the end of July through the Northwestern Livestock Emergency Assistance Initiative, earmarked to cover the costs of feed and hay and the construction of temporary fencing when moving cattle to new grazing locations.
The government said this is only an interim measure while the two top levels of government work on long-term agriculture recovery response.
Last week, Ottawa announced it was setting aside $100 million in support cattle producers in drought-stricken and forest fire-threatened areas of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.
The AgriRecovery framework, a federal-provincial-territorial program, provides farmers with funding for things like feed, water, or other necessities.
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The province wants the feds to also include the cost of transporting animals and feed, measures taken to provide animals with water, temporary fencing costs and other "extraordinary costs" stemming from the drought. These costs are estimated at approximately $200 per head for cattle.
Rob Lipsett, Beef Farmers of Ontario president, thanked the Ontario government for the "swift response" in initiating this 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."
“The agri-food sector supported Ontario during the pandemic by keeping grocery store shelves full," said Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Lisa Thompson.
"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.”
