Read Also
Gene editing digs deeper space in Canadian plant breeding
More Canadian research into crop variety development is incorporating gene editing, and one researcher notes that Canada’s regulatory approach to gene editing will help drive innovation
(WIARTON, ONT.) – From coast to coast, Canada’s dairy industry is trying innovative ways to attract new farmers to the sector by lending them hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of quota.
Bruce Saunders, a Dairy Farmers of Ontario board member, told MPs on the House of Commons agriculture committee May 4 that Ontario, Quebec and the three Maritime provinces are making free, limited-time quota available to select new producers who already have a small stake in the industry and want to expand.
“It is a program offered by DFO to help new entrants who may not otherwise have sufficient financial resources and opportunity to start producing and marketing milk,” he told the committee during a May 4 hearing on young farmer issues.
The program started this year.
In Manitoba, a new entrant program has been in place for more than five years, limited to five producers per year and there has not been full take up during the life of the program.
Dairy Farmers of Manitoba chair David Wiens said the program, while different in detail from the Ontario plan, has the same objective.
He said Ontario dairy officials looked at the Manitoba plan as they developed their own.
“On many farms, you get inter-generational transfer of quota,” said Wiens. “But sometimes, you have someone wanting in but they don’t have a connection to the industry. For these people, and those in the industry who are small and want to top up, we are offering a helping hand rather than a handout.”
British Columbia and Alberta have started programs.
Saskatchewan dairy farmers and the provincial milk board are now in discussions to create a new entrant program.
Although the details differ, at the core of the effort is an offer of free quota for a fixed number of years to allow producers to build cash flow and get established.
