Governments to Help Oxford Farmers Bring High-Quality Products to Market

WOODSTOCK – Our government is helping farmers improve their business operations and bring more safe, high-quality foods to various markets.

Last week, Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and MPP for Oxford announced a commitment of more than $7.9 million in cost-share funding through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the Partnership) to eligible farmers and other agri-food businesses.

Included among the more than 670 projects are 41 projects in Oxford. These local projects will see investments of up to $398,617.

“Our farmers work tirelessly to supply the array of safe, high-quality agricultural products that feed our province, our country and the world,” said Minister Hardeman. “By making these strategic investments we are helping to improve the competitiveness of our agri-food sector and secure it for long-term sustainability, especially during these difficult times.”

Through the Partnership, these initiatives will support improvements in areas such as enhanced traceability systems, upgraded animal-handling equipment, and strengthened biosecurity measures.

Examples of projects supported through this programming include:

  • Improving food safety systems on farms to meet or exceed international certification standards;
  • Planting over-wintering cover crops to improve soil health and reduce soil erosion losses;
  • Actions to help prevent pest damage at greenhouse operations;
  • Developing a product that will open new sales markets for a farm business; and
  • Upgrades to animal-handling equipment and improved biosecurity measures.

The funding is in addition to programming launched this year to assist the sector in meeting challenges related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Such programming includes the launch of a portal to connect farms and other agri-food sector business with labour needs to job seekers; the creation of the  Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection Program; and the recent investment of an additional $50 million into the Risk Management Program for this year, one year earlier than originally promised.

Since June 2018, both the federal and provincial governments have committed cost-share support to more than 2,500 projects through the Partnership to help eligible Ontario farmers, processors, businesses and sector organizations innovate and grow.

-30-

Media inquiries please contact:

Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford

(519) 537-5222