Ontario provides drought support for farmers

The Ontario government is moving quickly with additional supports for livestock farmers impacted by drought conditions in Northwestern Ontario by providing up to $15,000 through the Northwestern Ontario Drought Assistance Initiative for well drilling and pond construction projects.

Ontario will provide up to fifty per cent in cost-share funding for well improvement, pond expansion and/or construction to eligible farmers in the Kenora, Rainy River and Thunder Bay areas, up to a maximum of $15,000 per farm. Funding will be for eligible costs incurred since June 14, 2021. Eligible farmers can apply for the Northwestern Ontario Drought Assistance Initiative through Agricorp. Applications open later this month and run until January 31, 2022.

Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in a statement, “quickly providing this targeted support will help impacted farms access a permanent and much-needed water supply that will ensure the short- and long-term success of the farm’s operation.”

This latest action to support drought-impacted farmers in Northwestern Ontario follows the launch of the Canada-Ontario Transported Feed Initiative on September 16 in which Ontario is providing up to $5 million to help with the cost of caring for livestock through the winter.

These initiatives builds on the up to $2 million in provincial support announced earlier this summer for emergency drought funding through the Northwestern Livestock Emergency Assistance Initiative, which provides assistance for emergency feed, water and fencing. The emergency water and temporary fencing initiative continues to be open to producers through Agricorp until November 1, 2021.