It could be good news for Grey Bruce farmers when dealing with Agricorp in the future, the Provincial Agency that administers farm support programs for Ontario farmers.
Ontario’s Auditor General has just completed an audit of the agency and has made numerous recommendations to Agriculture Minister on how to make it more responsive to the needs of Ontario Farmers.
Speaking with Bayshore Broadcasting news, Jim McCarter says his examination showed over the past few years Agricorp has had troubles coping with the substantial increase inthe number of farm support programs and a doubling of payments to farmers.
McCarter says as a result it has been unable to deliver these programs in an efficient effective manner.
He says his report recommends Agricorp upgrade its computer system so it can better process payments to farmers.
McCarter says his audit also examined Agricorp largest support program, the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization Program, or CAIS for short.
He says they found that the program is too complicated and makes it difficult for farmers to estimate any potential payments they may be getting.
However, he says despite these and other problems with the CAIS program, Agricorp should continue to administer it rather than transfer it back to the federal government.
McCarter says allowing it to continue delivering the CAIS program means lower administrative costs and a greater flexibility to respond to unique needs of Ontario farmers.
He also says Agricorp should consider using field agents to meet and explain the support programs to farmers, rather than have them deal with call centre operators.
It is known how long it will take the Agriculture Minister to begin to implement some of the changes recommended by the Auditor General.
