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Ontario targets northwestern farmers for drought assistance

The Ontario government has launched AgriRecovery to support livestock farmers in its northwestern region affected by this year’s drought conditions.

“AgriRecovery support is crucial to help farmers recover from this ongoing drought conditions that has seriously impacted area crops,” said Lisa Thompson, minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs in a statement. “We took action earlier this summer to provide immediate and urgent assistance to help impacted farmers in northwestern Ontario, and I’m pleased that this program is now in place to provide greater assurance and stability in the region’s food security for the coming years.”

AgriRecovery is a federal-provincial-territorial relief framework that sees the federal government cover 60 percent of costs and the provincial or territorial governments cover 40 percent. It was created to specifically address the needs of producers during times of natural disaster. The province will provide up to $5 million to help farmers with the cost of caring for their livestock now and through the winter. The maximum funding available per applicant is $220 per head of cattle (other livestock are eligible).  This is on to of a previously announced $2 million for the Northwestern Livestock Emergency Assistance Initiative.

Drought conditions specifically affected regions including Kenora, Rainy River and Thunder Bay. Similar relief funding has been provided in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.