Perth-Wellington MPP John Wilkinson says starting this fall, Ontario farmers will benefit from a new Risk Management Program (RMP).
Wilkinson was joined last week by Carol Mitchell, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, to announce the details of the program, which he said will help protect farms and ensure Ontario families continue to enjoy healthy local food.
“Farming and agri-business drive our local economy. When this sector does well, our riding does well,” said Wilkinson.
“Working with our farm leadership, the Risk Management Program has been created as a ‘Made in Ontario’ solution. I want to thank Carol and especially my urban colleagues for securing a brighter future for our local farm families and everyone who works in this vital and growing sector.”
Farmers will be able to apply for support through the new RMP, the first of its kind in Ontario.
The program, working like insurance, helps grain and oilseeds, cattle, hog, veal and sheep farmers manage risks beyond their control, such as fluctuating costs and volatile market prices. Ontario is also providing a self-directed risk management program for the edible horticulture sector.
“On behalf of the Perth Federation of Agriculture I would like to thank both our MPP John Wilkinson and the Minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, Carol Mitchell for their work in confirming the details of the new RMP in such a timely manner,” said Brent Royce.
Mitchell added, “We’ve delivered on our promise to Ontario’s farmers and worked with them to create a made-in-Ontario program by farmers, for farmers. The risk management program will give them the predictability and stability they need to stay on the land and continue to provide us with the good things that grow in Ontario.”
Premiums are being waived for the RMP program’s 2011 transition year. While applications for grains and oilseeds farmers will be available in August, the remainder of the program applications will be available this fall.
Ontario’s agri-food industry contributes $33-billion to the provincial economy every year and provides jobs for 700,000 people.
There are nearly 60,000 farms in Ontario and each farmer produces enough food to feed 120 people every year.
