The President of the Grey County Federation of Agriculture says she believes the $68 million announced to support agricultural lands will be beneficial to local farmers.
Dianne Booker spoke to the recent announcement of the federal and provincial government committing millions of dollars to the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Initiative to fund three programs designed to support farmers.
She says the three programs include the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program, a $56.7 million five-year program, which will be available to eligible farmers to complete projects like reducing tillage, creating water retention ponds and other projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Agricultural Stewardship Initiative will provide a supplemental $5 million for farmers to modify and adapt their equipment and operating practices.
The third program is the On-Farm Applied Research and Monitoring program, which will be expanded and enhanced by an additional $7 million over five years, and will help farmers understand and communicate best on-farm practices to address and improve their soil health and water quality.
When asked how needed these programs are among the farming community, she says these programs, particularly the Resilient Agricultural Landscape program, will help address carbon emissions.
“That’s helping all of Canada and all of Ontario and that is our contribution with the carbon,” says Booker. “It is just improving things on your farm and it will help investing in your business and your operation.”
MPP for Huron-Bruce and Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson says, “this initiative will be a critical component in giving our farmers the tools they need to make decisions that will enable safe, top-quality food production and agricultural sustainability goals.”
The programs will be delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association and more information can be found on its website here.
