More money for Ontario agri-food processors

Aug 02, 2022

The second round of the Ontario Agri-Careers Support Initiative, is now open and closes on September 8, 2022. The federal/provincial program of $4 million funds pilot projects that address employee needs at a local level.

Eligible food processing businesses with 50 or more employees can apply for up to $80,000 in funding, or up to $200,000 for collaborations between two or more businesses, to cover up to 70 per cent of eligible project costs. Selected projects will aim to help the sector attract, support and retain the workers it needs to continue producing the safe and high-quality food made in Ontario, strengthen the local supply chain and promote greater food security.

Examples of pilot projects that could be eligible for funding include:

- Transportation initiatives for employees to commute to the job site

- Childcare options for working parents

- Language proficiency solutions for workers with English as a second language

- Improving workspace environments

The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council estimates an agri-food workforce shortfall of 123,000 by 2029 in Canada. Ontario is expected to represent the largest share of the shortfall

Source : The Grower

Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.