The
National Farmers Union-Ontario (NFU-O) is pleased that OMAFRA (Ontario Ministry
of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) has
listened to farmers regarding compensation for livestock predation and
adjusting the Commodity Loan Guarantee Program (CLGP) for farmers affected by
high levels of Deoxynivalenol (DON) in their corn; both of which issues the
NFU-O has raised directly with the Minister.
“It is rewarding to see that the process works,”
said Emery Huszka, NFU-O president. “Our members raised serious concerns
regarding how livestock predation evidence was assessed and the appeal process.
We brought them forward to the Ministry; they listened and made changes.”
Marshall Buchanan, Renfrew County NFU president, said, “I know that farmers in Renfrew County have been frustrated when claims have been rejected due to a lack of evidence from the actual predators. A well grassed pasture, for example, will not show any footprints from coyotes. The revised program will give farmers more opportunities to prove predation.”
Kinburn sheep farmer and national NFU President
Katie Ward commented, “Farmers need to be fairly compensated when dealing with
issues beyond their control like livestock predation, and these changes, in
particular, the improvements to the appeal process and additional ways to
provide specific evidence are especially welcome.”
Mr. Huszka added, “Recently, we spoke to the
Minister and proposed extending the CLGP for farmers dealing with DON in their
corn. The media has noted that farmers are dealing with mental health concerns,
and financial issues like livestock predation and loss of income due to
vomitoxins can play a large factor. These changes are progress towards
respecting the dignity of farmers to make a sustainable living.”
Mr. Marshall added, “When DON levels reduce the value of grain crops, farmers will have less income to pay back any loans they undertook to establish the crop. If your income depends on the weather, you need an economic system that is flexible.
“It is good news that the repayment deadlines for OMAFRA’s Commodity Loan Guarantee Program have been extended and that the amount of money available for lending has been increased to $200 million for 2019 & 2020 program years,” he stated.
