Federal and Provincial Funding for Beef and Hog Farmers

Wednesday, 17 June 2020 13:16

The Governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $10 million in emergency assistance for beef and hog farmers. The funding will cover increased costs, while redirecting surplus pork to those in need.

WOODSTOCK - The Governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $10 million in emergency assistance for beef and hog farmers.

The funding will help cover the increased costs of feeding market ready cattle and hogs due to COVID-19 related processing delays, while redirecting surplus pork products to help those in need. This program will help ensure the country's food supply chain will remain strong and ready to recover as the economy gradually and safely reopens.

The beef cattle set-aside program will provide beef farmers with up to $5 million in support. Farmers can claim $2 per head of cattle per day to help pay for additional maintenance costs should they have to keep their market-ready animals on their farms for extended periods of time.

The hog sector support program will also provide hog farmers with up to $5 million to help cover additional maintenance costs. Ontario is also providing up to $1.5 million to process and package surplus pork for food banks, to provide those in need with fresh, locally produced pork products. This will assist the pork processing industry with managing capacity while helping those in need.

Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau says we are grateful to our hardworking farmers who are providing Canadians with safe and healthy meat products.

"This investment is another way we are supporting the agricultural sector to ensure a stable meat supply and keep high-quality and affordable Canadian meat products on our grocery store shelves and kitchen tables."

Local MPP and Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ernie Hardeman says the funding will cover increased costs, while redirecting surplus pork to those in need.

"During consultations with the pork and beef sectors, the need for emergency support to help them maintain their operations during COVID-19 was clear. We understand the challenges that our farmers are facing and we are working with our commodity organizations to address their priorities and help our farmers manage through these unprecedented times."

Both the beef cattle set-aside and hog sector support programs are being offered through AgriRecovery initiatives, under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The provincial contributions are part of Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19.

Beef Farmers of Ontario President Rob Lipsett wanted to thank the Governments for responding.