August 24, 2007

Ontario government to help grain and oilseed growers

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has committed to help the Canadian province's grain and oilseed producers in dealing with global pressures and low prices for their products.

The new risk-management program will help 25,000 grain and oilseed farmers at a time when energy prices and unfair foreign subsidies are having a crippling effect on profits, McGuinty said during a visit to farm country in eastern Ontario.

The farmers will pay a premium to ensure they get government help and are not bankrupted in years when commodity prices are low and profits are unattainable.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture said it was thrilled with the news since the new program is exactly what farmers having been requesting for years.