Governments support projects further safeguarding health of the province’s farmed animals

The Voice of Canada News

The Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario are helping the province’s agri-food sector improve biosecurity measures to further protect locally raised livestock and poultry from diseases and pests.

The governments highlighted this priority commitment today with an announcement of support for Soil Solutions Plus Inc., in St. George, where they are providing funds to install modern and efficient equipment to power-wash vehicles. The project will mitigate the risk of vehicles used by the agri-consulting firm inadvertently transferring materials between farms that could be dangerous to farmed animals. These projects are part of the governments’ biosecurity investments that have totalled more than $2 million for over 90 projects. The cost-share funding is provided through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the Partnership).

Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ernie Hardeman made the announcement at nearby Browndale Farm, in Paris. Through the Partnership, both governments have also contributed to three projects that boost biosecurity at Browndale Farm.

“These investments to enhance biosecurity measures will help the sector adopt the highest standards in risk mitigation and support the sustainability and productivity of Ontario farms,” said the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

“The health and welfare of our farmed animals is a shared responsibility among the government, farmers, the broader agri-food industry, and anyone who visits a farm,” said Minister Hardeman. “Investing in biosecurity projects like this helps protects our farmers, their animals and the economy by reducing the risk of visitors to the farm accidently introducing and spreading diseases and pests.”

The Soil Solutions Plus Inc. project is among more than 40 projects supported in the sector through the Partnership this year to assist a variety of biosecurity improvement projects.

To date, both the federal and provincial governments have committed cost-share support to more than 2,000 projects through the Partnership to help eligible Ontario farmers, processors, businesses and sector organizations innovate and grow.

QUICK FACTS

The Partnership is a five-year, $3-billion commitment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments that supports Canada’s agri-food and agri-products sectors.This cost-share funding will support projects in the following key priority areas:

Economic development in the agri-food and agri-products sectors.

Environmental stewardship to enhance water quality and soil health.

Protection and assurance to reinforce the foundation for public trust in the sector through improved assurance systems in food safety and plant and animal health.

The Soil Solutions Plus Inc. project was approved following a submission of an application in a competitive, merit-based intake that took place earlier this year.

Additional application intakes for cost-share programming for food processors and other businesses will take place during the life of the Partnership, which runs to March 2023. The next application intake will open in late fall 2019.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs delivers the cost-share funding under the Partnership to food processors and other businesses (animal health, commercialization and primary agri-food businesses).

Soil Solutions Plus Inc. provides advisory support and services such as soil sampling and consulting on nutrient management planning in the agri-food sector. The company has been approved for up to $15,343.50 in cost-share funding.

Browndale Farm received a total of $82,836 for its completed projects. The funding supported two biosecurity projects. One saw the creation of an access laneway to clearly define controlled and restricted access zones. The second saw the construction and installation of wash pads with a pressure washing system. It has also received a funding commitment for up to $50,000 to do additional laneway development work to further reduce the risk of transferring diseased materials to its on-site farm animals.

The Ontario agri-food sector supports more than 837,000 jobs in Ontario and contributes more than $47.5 billion each year to the province’s economy.