For Immediate Release
February 17, 2009

 

Beginning Farmers Petition for Assistance

QUEEN’S PARK - Today in the Ontario Legislature Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford and PC critic for Agriculture and Food, presented a petition launched by the beginning farmers who were missed by the government’s Ontario Cattle, Hog and Horticulture program.

“Many people who signed this petition are the new and young farmers who should be the future of Ontario agriculture,” said Hardeman. “I want to commend the beginning farmers group for their work to ensure that everyone in this Legislature is aware that new and young farmers are being forced out of farming because of the faulty design of the OCHHP.”

When the program was announced in the 2007 Fall Economic statement Minister Duncan said it was to “to help cattle, hog and horticulture farmers manage current market conditions.” However the reference years used to calculate support payments were 2000-2004 resulting in a lack of support to new farmers and cheques being sent to retired or deceased farmers. There are reports of retired farmers in Florida and British Columbia receiving support cheques for farms they no longer own.

“New farmers generally have high debt levels and are least likely to have the resources to get through difficult times in the market,” said Hardeman. “These are some of the first people the government should be helping, instead the McGuinty government continues to ignore their urgent needs.”

The beginning farmers group is a grassroots organization of new and young farmers that were missed by the OCHHP and are working together to raise awareness about the need for government assistance. Representatives from the group visited the Legislature in October to mark the beginning of Ontario Agriculture Week and express the need for support.

“These farmers are struggling to survive and build a future in agriculture for themselves and their families,” said Hardeman. “The McGuinty government needs to correct the flaws in their program before all of these new and young farmers are forced off the farm.”

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For more information, contact:

Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford

(416) 325-1239