Ontario beef farmers applaud today’s announcement by the federal government of additional disaster assistance for farmers affected by the BSE crisis. Prime Minister Martin has announced that a $680 million Transitional Industry Support Program will be made available to Canadian beef producers. Beef farmers will also be eligible for some of the $250 million in general transitional funding.
Application forms are to be available on the Agriculture and Agri Food Canada website by the end of the week or by calling 1-866-367-8506. Federal officials have also promised that they will begin issuing cheques in early April.
Ron Wooddisse, president of the 21,000 member Ontario Cattlemen’s Association said that the news couldn’t come at a better time. Said Wooddisse, “The $680 million announced this morning should provide an immediate and necessary cash infusion to farmers struggling to survive this situation.” Wooddisse added that, to date, farmers in Ontario have already lost in excess of $150 million during the crisis which is now into its eleventh month.
Ron Bonnett, President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, hopes that even better news will come after the April cutoff for comment. The United States Department of Agriculture’s comment period on the proposed rules for exporting live cattle to the U.S is scheduled to end on April 7. Industry and Canadian government officials alike are hopeful that the closing of the comment period will soon be followed by news about the border reopening.
Said Bonnett, “While today’s announcement will provide a huge boost to the Canadian livestock sector, everyone realizes that the only real solution to this crisis is to get international borders reopened to Canadian livestock. We must regain access to those export markets if Canadian farmers are to survive.”
Bonnett was also pleased that the Federal Government announcement included an additional $250 million for producers of all eligible commodities across Canada.
~Ron Bonnett~
President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
~Ron Wooddisse~
OCA President