Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker says $300,532 will be used by local farmers to enhance biosecurity, improve traceability and upgrade animal handling equipment.
The money is coming from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
The joint federal and provincial funding is a five-year $3 billion commitment that started in 2018 with a goal of growing Canada’s food and ag exports to $75 billion by 2025.
According to the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, food and ag exports were on the increase, going from about $56 billion in 2016 (not counting seafood), to about $60 billion in 2019.
Walker says, “The funding for these projects is extremely important for our local farmers as they continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
He notes, included among the more than 670 projects to be funded this year, are 30 projects in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound which will see a total of $300,532.
Walker says the money will support improvements in areas like traceability systems, upgraded animal-handling equipment, and strengthened biosecurity measures.
In a statement, Ontario Agriculture Minister Ernie Hardeman says, “Our farmers work tirelessly to supply the array of safe, high-quality agricultural products that feed our province, our country and the world,” he adds, “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.”
Bill Walker’s office says, 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.
Since June 2018, the federal and provincial governments helped support more than 2,500 projects through the Partnership.
