VFO STATEMENT: VFO applauds investment of additional $50 million in RMP

Pascal Bouilly, VFO Chair, joined Premier Ford, Minister Hardeman and our commodity organization colleagues for an important announcement that will see an additional $50 million invested into the Risk Management Program (RMP) in 2020, bringing forward the Premier’s campaign promise by one year. This brings the total annual investment into RMP to $150 million. This funding will support farmers with unforeseen challenges such as fluctuating market prices, extreme weather events like flooding or drought, and disease. Approximately 80 per cent of eligible commercial production in the cattle, hog, sheep, veal, grains and oilseeds and edible horticulture sectors in Ontario is covered by the provincial Risk Management Program.

“On behalf of Ontario’s veal farmers, thank you Premier Ford and Minister Hardeman for listening to us and bringing these funds forward when we need them most,” stated Pascal Bouilly, VFO Chair. “Bringing forward these funds ahead one year and into 2020 is perhaps one of the most important investments to be made to the Ontario livestock industry and specifically the veal sector. With the economic uncertainty of the markets looking forward, rising costs of production and navigating the supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19, veal farmers depend on the RMP program as part of their business risk management strategy.”

For those producers already enrolled in RMP—there is nothing additional you need to do. There are no changes to premiums.

For those wishing to enrol in RMP, deadlines have been extended to July 30th, 2020. Producers are encouraged to contact Agricorp directly. For more info see here.

Find the full statement here.