Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Grain, beef, veal and sheep groups plead for help



Grain, beef, veal and sheep associations have made a joint plea to the provincial government for immediate help to survive the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

They want the province to invoke emergency provisions to increase support through the Risk Management portfolio.

“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 Risk Management Program (RMP) 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,” he said.