Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition applauds additional support for farmers

Government expanding Risk Management Program

The Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition (OASC) welcomes today’s announcement from Rob Flack, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA); Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance; and John Jordan, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, to provide an additional $100 million investment into Ontario’s Risk Management Program (RMP) and the Self-Directed Risk Management Program (SDRM). The increase will be phased in over three years, starting with a $30 million increase in 2025.  

The OASC, comprised of the Beef Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Pork, Ontario Sheep Farmers, Grain Farmers of Ontario, Veal Farmers of Ontario, and the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association, represents the interests of approximately 50,000 non-supply managed farmers in Ontario that provide the foundation for the province’s multi-billion dollar agri-food sector and contributes $51 billion to the province’s annual GDP.

The RMP and SDRM are cost-shared insurance programs designed to provide stability to Ontario’s farms through partial financial protection against downturns in commodity markets and factors outside of farmers’ control. The programs benefit both farmers and the province, including economic benefits such as added jobs and economic activity within the broader agri-food value chain, and the protection of Ontario’s high quality, safe and affordable domestic food supply. 

Having a strong RMP and SDRM to help farmers weather the effects of potential market disruptions is crucial, and today’s announcement will provide much-needed support for this vital program. OASC commends the Government of Ontario for its acknowledgement of the significant contributions that the agri-food sector makes to Ontario’s economy, and for their ongoing efforts to ensure that Ontario farmers have the necessary supports in place.

Read the full OASC news release here.