Agriculture Policy Framework approved

Gary Sliworsky,
Ag. Rep.

Ontario Minister of Agriculture and Food Minister Steve Peters and Federal Minister of Agriculture Lyle Vanclief announced that Ontario signed an agreement to implement the Agriculture Policy Framework on December 11, 2003.
The Agriculture Policy Framework is built on 5 pillars of support for agriculture. These are:
1) Food Safety and Quality
2) Environment
3) Business Risk
Management
4) Renewal
5) Science and Innovation
Although most of the attention has been focused on the Business Risk Management pillar, each of the pillars has elements that will be of interest to the agricultural community.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food will deliver a series of Agriculture Policy Framework information seminars across the province. Primary producers, lenders, accountants and other service suppliers are welcome to attend the northern seminars.
Primary producers should note that the Business Risk Management pillar, which will be known in Ontario as the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization program (CAIS), is designed on a tiered basis to address income losses from 1 to 100% of a farm’s production margin.
Although income from supply managed commodities is not included in the production margin of a farm, many of the other revenues of that farm are included. It is therefore critical for ALL farm operations to become informed about the new Agriculture Policy Framework and the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization program in particular. Information meetings are planned for Northwestern Ontario as follows:

Thunder Bay District - February 24 - Rosslyn Community Center - 7:30 p.m.
Rainy River District - February 25 - Stratton Hall - 7:30 p.m.
Kenora District - February 26 - Best Western, Dryden - 7:30 p.m.
Please confirm your attendance by contacting the Northern Ontario Regional office at 1-800-461-6132 before February 20, 2004
Dates to Remember
Feb. 04 - Farm Safety Committee Annual Meeting, Emo Inn
Feb. 10 - Grower Pesticide Safety Course. Course 8:45 am, Exam only 3:00 pm. Call 1-800-652-8573 to register.