Funding Opportunities for Ontario Pork Producers: Take Advantage!

By
Jim Eadie
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Ontario Pork would like to better inform and assist producers in accessing funding opportunities and programs to help you adapt, grow and improve your farm. Growing Forward 2 (GF2) is one program that producers can take advantage of. GF2 can provide producers with funding through cost-sharing for projects under the categories of: animal and plant health, market and business development, assurance programs and environmental adaptations and labour productivity enhancement.

Producers can be reimbursed for up to 50 per cent of the eligible expenses of a project (up to a pre-determined cost-share cap) for projects that involve assessment or auditing, planning, skills development or training and up to 35 per cent of eligible expenses for other project types.

There are two remaining opportunities for Ontario producers to apply for GF2 funding. Applications are due between April 4-18, 2017 or May 12-June 1, 2017. All projects must be completed by December 15, 2017 and all claims with paid invoices submitted by January 15, 2018. Only invoices dated after the letter of funding approval has been issued are eligible for reimbursement under a project.

GF2 Funding Assistance Program is delivered by Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) The GF2 producer application guide can be found at www.ontariosoilcrop.org or by calling or emailing OSCIA at 1-800-265-9751 or emailing gf2@ontariosoilcrop.org. Producers can apply online through GF2 client portal (ontarioprograms.net) or via paper form.

There are a few requirements before you can apply: a valid Farm Business Registration Number or satisfaction of the exemption criteria and a valid and up-to-date Premises Identification Number for the project location. Depending on the category your project fits under, there are additional workshops or plans that must be completed (see the producer guide at www.ontariosoilcrop.org for details).

There are lots of possibilities but a few examples to think about include:

·         Planting of native trees, shrubs and grasses on farms, establishment of wind breaks

·         Upgrades to efficient fans, ventilation or lighting systems in livestock barns

·         Renovations to comply with Code of Practice or other accepted program housing requirements

·         Construction of a new quarantine/isolation facility for sick animals, on-farm health management tools and equipment such as scales

·         Advisory costs to complete a farm financial or cost of production assessment

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