The Rural Voice, 2006-04, Page 11Lony-rerns rMakin°
for Today's Issues
Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario
7660 Mill Rd., RR 4 Guelph, ON N1H 6J1
Voice: (519) 837-1620 Fax: (519) 824-1835
Email: cffomail@christianfarmers.org
Web: www.christianfarmers.org
Ontario's grain farmers need an improved safety net
The Christian Farmers Federation
of Ontario supports a proposed
risk management program (RMP)
put forward by Ontario's grain
and oilseed groups.
"The CFFO believes the grain
and oilseed proposal has a
number of encouraging features,"
said John Kikkert, the CFFO's
president. "Federal safety net
programs aren't working well for
our crop producers who have to
compete with the government
treasuries of Quebec and the
United States. We're optimistic
this proposal will help address
those Tong -term problems."
Endorsement of the grain and
oilseed risk management program
took place last year at the CFFO's
Provincial Council, a meeting of
delegates. from the Federation's
22 district associations. But while
they endorsed the risk
management proposal,, de legates
did make their endorsement
dependent on changes to one
main feature of the program ---
the size of a proposed cap on
government payouts.
"The CFFO wants to see no more
than $100,000 of government
money paid out per farm
business or person," said Kikkert.
"Farm businesses also shouldn't
be able to receive more than one
payment annually, and the cap
on those payments needs to be
indexed to the current price of
growing a crop."
The CFFO has found a host of
good reasons for supporting -the
risk management proposal put
forward by Ontario's grain and
oilseed groups. For example,' in
addition to providing support for
the economies of rural
communities, the proposed
program encourages each farmer
to manage his or her own risk in
grain production.
Make a Choice...
... Make a Difference
— Choose the CFFO in 2006 —
Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario
7660 Mill Rd., RR 4, Guelph, ON N1H 6)1
Voice: 519-837-1620 Fax: 824-1835
Email: cffomail@christianfarmers.org
Web: www.christianfarmers.org
"Some of the key design features
of the proposed program either
encourage farmers to enroll in
training programs, or require
them to participate in other
government programs that help
cut their production or price
risk," said Henry Stevens, a CFFO
vice-president. "Those design
features show a real concern for a
responsible use of public financial
support."
But while supportive of the RMP
proposal, the CFFO has also
stated it will give further study to
some of the implications of the
proposed risk management
program.
"Ontario has been a net importer
of grain and oilseed for quite
awhile," noted Clarence
Nywening, a CFFO vice-
president. "One of our key
concerns is how the program will
need to be adjusted if Ontario
ever moves towards an export
position."
For a detailed copy of the CFFO
position statement on the
proposed risk management
program, please visit the CFFO's
website at
www.christianfarmers.org.
You'll find it under a link to
Policies and Issues.
APRIL 2006 7
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