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Provincial funding announcement helps
Ontario beef farmers September 27, 2004 (Guelph) – Today’s
announcement by Premier Dalton McGuinty and Minister of Agriculture and
Food Steve Peters of up to $30 million in financial assistance to
Ontario’s beef industry will help to keep Ontario farmers competitive
with their counterparts in other provinces.
Ron Wooddisse, President of the 21,000 member Ontario Cattlemen’s
Association (OCA), was in attendance at today’s announcement in Guelph.
In commenting on the funding, Wooddisse said, “We’re glad that the
Ontario government has agreed to join the federal government in
providing their full 40% share of funding to help our struggling
industry.
The Ontario funds will go to support the two set-aside programs
announced by the federal government – one for market ready cattle and
one for younger cattle. Matching the supply of cattle to the available
capacity is a key component of the national plan. These set aside
programs will give producers the option of retaining their animals for
the short term– and selling them when prices may be stronger. This
should hopefully enhance financial returns to producers.
Wooddisse explained that members of his association have worked hard to
remind the Ontario government that it is crucial that the Ontario
government match programs introduced by other provinces – particularly
Alberta. Today’s announcement will do this. Immediately after the
September 10 announcement by the federal government of $488 million in
assistance to the Canadian beef industry, the Alberta government
announced $230 in provincial funds as its contribution to the program.
Behind Alberta, Ontario is the second largest producer of beef in the
country.
OCA’s Board of Directors has been in discussion with Minister Peters
and his staff, since September 10, on provincial participation in a
60/40 cost-share arrangement similar to the one that was announced in
the west. Application forms are already available to Alberta beef
producers and Wooddisse hopes that with today’s funding announcement,
program details and application forms will soon be available in Ontario.
Said Wooddisse, “It’s crucial that producers know details of the program
so they can make informed marketing decisions this fall.”
All components of the federal program are designed to enhance
profitability for the Canadian beef industry with or without a border
opening and should hopefully enhance financial returns to producers.
Prior to BSE, beef was Ontario’s second largest commodity in terms of
annual farm gate receipts with a value of approximately $1.2 billion.
Beef exports from Ontario to the U.S.A., in 2002 (the last normal year
of trade) were valued at $354 million in live cattle and an additional
$292 million in beef product.
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For further information:
Dave Stewart, OCA Acting Executive Director, 519-824-0334
Ron Wooddisse, OCA President, 519-638-3571
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