A weekly press release prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. If you require further information, regarding this press release, please call the Fergus Resource Centre at 519-846-0941. Office hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For technical information, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or visit the OMAFRA Website: www.ontario.ca/omafra
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR FARMERS
Cattle and hog producers and the horticultural sector have experienced steep losses in their returns as a result of a number of economic pressures that have led to higher input costs and lower market prices. These sectors are important contributors to the Ontario economy. In 2006, Ontario farm gate sales from the cattle sector were more than $940 million; from hogs, more than $845 million; and from horticulture, more than $2 billion.
The current situation results from factors such as:
• an unprecedented rise in the Canadian dollar, reducing the competitiveness of exports;
• significant and recent increases in input costs;
• major restructuring in the Ontario pork and beef processing sectors; and
• the long-term impacts and ongoing adaptation by cattle producers to new processing and export requirements relating to the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) situation.
The need for government action in these sectors was identified specifically in the communiqué from the federal-provincial-territorial meeting of agriculture ministers held on November 16 and 17, 2007.
The Ontario government is providing $150 million in 2007-08, with about $100 million going directly to cattle and hog producers and about $30 million going directly to horticulture producers. The Crown agency Agricorp will deliver payments to about 13,000 producers beginning in February, 2008.
The Ontario Cattle, Hog and Horticulture Payment will provide eligible producers with a payment based on their historical allowable net sales. Payments will be generated using the database from the federal Cost of Production Payment and the Ontario Cost Recognition Top-up program. To be eligible, producers must have at least half of their total commodity sales from cattle, hogs or horticulture.
For eligible cattle and hog producers, the payment rate will be 12 per cent of their allowable net sales, while the payment rate for horticulture (edible and non-edible) will be two per cent. The total payment cap per individual farmer under this program is $3 million. There is no application necessary to receive a payment.
The remaining $20 million will go toward a variety of initiatives aimed at creating a more sustainable future for the sector. Details of these will be provided in the New Year.
DON’T FORGET THE WELLINGTON COUNTY CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION AGM
The Wellington County Cattlemen’s Association Annual General Meeting will be held Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at the Alma Bible Chapel, 59 Peel Street, East, Alma. Roast beef dinner served at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.00.
Guest speaker is Neil McGavin of Walton Farm Equipment, with his musings “Smile and the World Smiles with You” followed by the meeting. To reserve your dinner tickets please call Carol Anne Pinkney at 519-846-9557 by January 9th, 2008.
COMING EVENTS: 2008
Jan. 4 Dairy Day at Grey-Bruce Farmers’ Week, Elmwood Community Centre. Please call 519-986-3756.
Jan. 5 Sheep Day and Goat Afternoon at Grey-Bruce Farmers’ Week, Elmwood Community Centre. Please call 519-986-3756 or www.greyagservices.ca for details.
Jan. 6 Horse Day (Adult and Youth) at Grey-Bruce Farmers’ Week, Elmwood Community Centre. Please call 519-986-3756.
Jan. 7 Beef Day and Ecological Evening at Grey-Bruce Farmers’ Week, Elmwood Community Centre. Please call 519-986-3756 or www.greyagservices.ca for details. Please call 519-986-3756 or www.greyagservices.ca for details.
Jan. 8 Crops Day at Grey-Bruce Farmers’ Week, Elmwood Community Centre. Please call 519-986-3756 or www.greyagservices.ca for details.
Jan. 10 Waterloo-Wellington Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association Annual Information Day at the St. Jacobs Community Centre from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission is free to members, $15.00 for non-members. Lunch is available at noon for $12.00. Anyone interested in joining O.M.S.P.A. or in paying their 2008 membership fee of $75.00 may do so at this Information Day. For more information, please contact Bob Richmond at 519-696-3551.
Jan. 19 Farm$mart Conference, University of Guelph. For more details, please check website at: www.uoguelph.ca/farmsmart
Jan. 23 Ag Day in Canada from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Italian Canadian Club, 135 Ferguson Street, Guelph. For more information please check the website: AgCanadainCanada.ca or contact your local FCC office at 1-800-387-3232.
