Perth-Wellington farmers to share nearly $700,000 in government funding

PERTH-WELLINGTON - Farmers in this riding will benefit from new funding to improve business operations and enhance product quality.

Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ernie Hardeman, announced a commitment of more than $7.9 million in cost-share funding through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to eligible farmers and other agri-food businesses.

“Farms in Perth-Wellington are already among the very best in quality and innovation,” stated local MPP Randy Pettapiece in a Sept. 11 press release.

“This funding will further strengthen local agriculture.”

Included among the more than 670 projects across the province are 64 projects in Perth-Wellington, with investments of up to $688,559.

“Our farmers work tirelessly to supply the array of safe, high-quality agricultural products that feed our province, our country and the world,” said Hardeman.

“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.”

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 programs launched this year to assist the sector in meeting challenges related to the COVID-19 outbreak, the release states.

Such programs 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, the federal and provincial governments have committed cost-share support to more than 2,500 projects through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to help eligible Ontario farmers, processors, businesses and sector organizations innovate and grow.