Industry Statement: Beef Farmers Grateful for Government Response to Devastating Drought Situation in Northwestern Ontario

Jul 27, 2021

Guelph - The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) sincerely appreciate the swift response and immediate financial support for farmers in the Rainy River and Kenora Districts announced today by the Government of Ontario and the province's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Lisa Thompson.

The Ontario government is providing up to $2 million to assist with emergency measures for feed, water and basic livestock needs because of the ongoing drought conditions in the region.

While a number of areas in Ontario have been dealing with dry conditions impacting feed inventories, farmers in the Rainy River and Kenora Districts have been plagued by late frosts, persistent heat and lack of rain throughout this year's growing season, which have decimated their pastures and hay crops. Farmers in the area are currently making difficult herd inventory decisions, which will have a long-term impact on the current infrastructure supporting the regions' livestock sector.

"Over the last several weeks we have been assessing the situation and meeting with government to discuss potential assistance for farmers in drought-stricken regions of the province. We've also been hearing many heart-wrenching stories from our members in the Rainy River and Kenora Districts of the devastating impact the extreme weather conditions have been having on their crops, cattle and mental health," shares Rob Lipsett, BFO President. "BFO is prepared to do what we need to do to administer immediate relief for our farmers who are in desparate need of feed to ensure their animals are well cared for during such a trying time."

The short-term measures announced today are an important step taken by the province as we await the completion of the federal-provincial AgriRecovery assessment that is investigating potential additional assistance for farmers in drought-stricken regions of the province.

Source : BFO

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.