Ontario’s Agricrop AgriStability Appeal Process Clarified

Jan 25, 2013

Decisions Are Based on National Rules

An Agricorp spokesperson is providing some clarification into how the AgriStability review process works after an open letter to the Ontario Minister of Agriculture had left some confusion over the appeal process.

The AgriStability review committee is set up to provide recommendations into cases where the farmer may dispute the original calculation provided by Agricorp. While in some cases Agricrop may side with the farmer, their decisions are only weighed in as a recommendation.

In some cases, the recommendations made by the review committee are not followed in order to maintain consistency with the national program.

To date, Agricorp has accepted the committee’s recommendations in five cases and has upheld its original decision in seven cases. There are still eight cases that are pending.

More background on this story can be found by reading previously published Farms.com stories:

Ontario Ag Minister Releases Numbers of Appeals on AgriStability Decisions

PC Agriculture Critic Urges Min. McMeekin to Address Issues Relating to AgriStability

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Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

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