The Rural Voice, 1987-12, Page 24FARM -START
BANKING ON NEW FARMERS
by Sarah Borowski
Application forms for the Ontario government's new Farm -Start Program are due
to be released at the first of this month. It's a program that hints at some long-term
objectives on the part of the government, and one that will extend into the next
century. Writer Sarah Borowski analyzes the program and its requirements.
It would be precipitous for anyone
to dismiss the provincial govern-
- ment's new $97.5 -million Farm -
Start Program as just another election -
time handout. This project will have a
life span of up to 15 years and give
grants of $38,000 each to an estimated
2,250 new farmers. In determining
who will be the recipients of these
grants, the government is giving
evidence of an agricultural policy and
direction that will extend into the next
century.
Some critics have said the money
would be better used to alleviate some
of the financial problems faced by
existing farmers rather than to encour-
age what is being called "new blood"
to enter the field. But Minister of
Agriculture and Food Jack Riddell is
concerned by statistics showing that
the average age of Ontario farmers has
risen to 49.4 years. And although
Farm -Start, like the Beginning
Farmers Assistance Program it
replaces, does not have an age
qualifier. it is expected that it will
attract much the same group (the
average age of BFAP participants is
26).
Three plans were considered as
BFAP began to wind up: an extension
of BFAP, an equity -based grant
whereby on a percentage basis the
government would match the amount
of money the beginning farmer could
raise, and the plan that became Farm -
Start.
Bill Jongejan, head of the
Christian Farmers Federation of
Ontario, had input into the early
discussions and is pleased with the
government's choice. He finds fault
with BFAP's being tied to interest
rates, which he says encourages debt
22 THE RURAL VOICE