Farmers Welcome Extension of HayEast Funding
By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com
The Ontario government announced on Wednesday to extend the popular farmer HayEast program with up to $150,000 of support that will extend the program to June 1, 2013.
The funding will go towards covering the transportation costs of donated hay coming from out-of-province to be delivered to farmers affected by the summer 2012 drought. There are still many Ontario farmers who are in need of hay to feed their livestock until pastures and hay become available later this year.
“We are proud to be part of the strong tradition of co-operation that exists in Canadian agriculture – among farmers, suppliers and government,” says Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario and Minister of Agriculture and Food said in a press release. “These additional dollars for HayEast will help bring hay to Ontario producers over the next several months until pastures are ready.”
The HayEast program runs in partnership with several farm organizations across the country including - Ontario’s largest general farm organization the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.
The program is still accepting private donations at any Scotia bank in Canada or by visiting online at www.hayeast2012.ca.