The Ontario government is supporting grain and oilseed producers by temporarily extending the sector’s Risk Management Program (RMP) pilot for the 2010 crop year.

The program helps farmers offset losses caused by low grain and oilseed commodity prices. In 2010, prices for grain and oilseed have dropped more than 25 per cent – significantly below the cost of production. Participation in the extended program is open to farmers who received assistance in 2008 and/or in 2009, as well as those who began farming on or after January 1, 2008.

Building on discussions at the recent meeting of federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture last month, Ontario will continue to encourage the federal government to work with Ontario farmers to develop stable, predictable, bankable programs that support all agricultural sectors.

Extension of this program supports the Open Ontario plan, designed to create jobs and build stronger rural communities.

“Ontario’s grains and oilseeds farmers have told me quite clearly that this program helped them reduce business risk and provided a sense of longterm stability,” said Carol Mitchell, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “This government has listened and we have responded by extending this program a further year while we continue to work with our federal colleagues to address farmers concerns with the current suite of shared federal provincial business risk management programs.”

“By extending the grains and oilseeds pilot, the McGuinty government is providing farmers with the stability, predictability and bankability they need to succeed,” said Maria Van Bommel, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex.

“RMP is a proven success. It is an example of how complex problems can be solved — or at least managed — when farmers and governments work together,” said Leo Guilbeault, Chair, Ontario Grains & Oilseeds.