Ontario Canada Agricultural Policy Framework
Renewal

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Funding: Canada - $24.17 million; Ontario - $5.5 million

Like other sectors of the Canadian economy, agriculture is rapidly becoming more knowledge intensive. Advances in science and technology are providing opportunities to address environmental, food safety and food quality pressures, and to create new products that better address consumer demands. These changes are presenting new management challenges and opportunities, and producers are increasingly having to engage in continuous learning to keep up with the pace of change.

Input from farmers themselves has confirmed the importance of training, skills development and the adoption of best practices in positioning the sector for profitability. In this context, they further recognize that different skills and tools are required by beginning farmers, mid-career farmers and retiring farmers to address their unique needs.

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The implementation agreement has a variety of measures designed to help farmers better understand their situation options, and make informed choices. Governments are proposing to introduce new programs, and enhance existing ones, to provide farmers with the knowledge, skills and tools they need to compete and win in the marketplace, including:

• establishing an Agricultural Management Institute to provide leading-edge management tools and resources to Ontario farmers and, eventually, to other jurisdictions in Canada. Ontario will initially provide $2.5 million and Canada will provide $4.32 million for this initiative, which will be developed with stakeholders.
  
  
• providing access to capital for new technologies and processes for non-traditional agricultural products, new food products, regional sector development and marketing and agri-tourism. Ontario will provide $3 million to the cost-shared Rural Economic Development initiative.

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• The Canadian Farm Business Advisory Service provides financial assistance to individual or groups of farmers to access a network of private advisors offering a range of farm business management planning assistance. Ontario specific information and tools developed through the Agricultural Management Institute will ensure that services meet the unique needs of Ontario. Canada will provide $14.51 million toward this initiative.
  
  
• delivering an Canadian Agricultural Skills Service, designed to help farm operators or their spouses develop on-farm skills or gain other skills in order to increase incomes through off-farm sources. Canada will provide $9.06 million to this initiative.
  
  
• continuing to provide the Farm Debt Mediation Service to farmers who do not qualify for, or are not adequately covered by, risk management programs. Canada will continue its contribution to the FDMS.

For more information:

Clarence Haverson
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food
(519) 826-3285
Clarence.Haverson@omaf.gov.on.ca

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