New reports are showing us just how big of an impact the farming world makes on our country.
Ontario farm organizations released results from a new study that looked at how the farm sector influences the provincial economy.
The numbers show farm outputs contributed 22 billion dollars in gross economic stimulus to Ontario in 2009 — with a net value of 10.7 billion dollars and it sustained 164 thousand jobs.
3.4 billion dollars was also paid in taxes which goes to help support our healthcare system, schools and infrastructure.
It’s not all good news though — findings predict a 500 million dollar loss in farm income across Ontario this year, a number that could cost 3 billion in GDP and half billion dollars in tax revenues for the province.
Bette Jean Crews — the President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture — points to a number of factors behind those losses.
Crews points out that the industry has not bounced back since 2003 when the BSE crisis hit the cattle industry.
BSE, H1N1, strict regulations, a high Canadian dollar, the weather, and labour costs, among other things, combine to effect the industry.
Crews says a process needs to be put in place for fair market values nationally and internationally.
New short-term programs are being put into place to help farmers cover their cost of production while the federal government works on a long-term solution.
