Ontario Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal says he’s going to use diplomacy in a positive way to get the feds on board with the provincial risk management program.
Leal says he raised the issue in discussions with the federal agriculture minister at last week’s ag ministers meeting in Winnipeg.
He didn’t come away with any commitments from Gerry Ritz – but says he’ll continue to use what he considers a positive relationship with the federal minister to pursue the issue.
Leal says the recent sharp downturn in corn prices underscores the importance of a program that can help farmers manage the risk of market fluctuations.
He met recently with a number of Ontario farm leaders and says they also emphasized the importance of the risk management programs for the non-supply-managed sector to the province’s farmers.
Federal officials continue to shy away from the provincial program, citing concerns about possible international trade implications if Ottawa provides it’s traditional 60 per cent funding.
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