Groups representing farmers across the province are asking the government to fully fund the Ontario Risk Management Program.
The joint call comes from the Beef Farmers of Ontario, Grain Farmers of Ontario, Veal Farmers of Ontario, and the Ontario Sheep Farmers.
The consortium says COVID-19 impacts have exacerbated the challenges already faced by grain and livestock farmers and immediate support is needed to ensure over 50,000 farmers can continue to deliver local, quality food to Ontarians.
The four groups state that many in the non-supply managed sectors are in crisis without access to sufficient safety net support that programs like RMP provide.
And COVID-19 has amplified financial challenges facing family farms and induced market and production disruptions that threaten the food supply and viability of farm operations.
“Farmers are asking the province of Ontario to share in the risk that it takes for a farmer to grow food for the province and the country – the RMP program is not a bailout,” said Markus Haerle, Chairman of Grain Farmers of Ontario. “Farmers are risking their livelihoods, and a fully funded RMP would only provide support if the cost of growing the crop isn’t covered by the price,” added Haerle.
Representatives from the four groups say Ontario’s response to the broader health and economic crisis has been strong and efficient but the time to act for farmers and Ontario’s food supply is now.
The RMP has an allowance that the Province can make changes to the program “in case of an extraordinary market or production disruption”.
“Farm operations can’t wait any longer for support from our provincial government. It’s absolutely imperative that this safety net be put in place to ensure beef operations and the beef supply chain can continue to provide Ontarians with access to local food,” said Rob Lipsett, Chair of the Beef Farmers of Ontario. “RMP is the right mechanism to provide stability to the sector.”
By making sure the funding is not limited by an arbitrary funding cap put in place by the previous government, an uncapped RMP will give farmers in Ontario confidence to invest in their food production systems.
