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Government invests in next generation of farmers

Nov. 19, 2012, Toronto, ON - The Canadian Government is helping the agricultural sector to foster a new generation of farm leaders. Member of Parliament Mark Adler (York Centre), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced at the Ontario Young Farmers forum in Toronto an investment for two initiatives that will help to identify opportunities and address issues facing the next generation of farmers.
 
The Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) will receive an investment of $202,000 to conduct an in-depth assessment of current and past agricultural leadership programming to identify where gaps exist and find the best solutions for addressing those gaps. This major review will build on past agricultural leadership programming, such as the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP), and on results from research and pilot projects conducted by the ROI to help them develop a comprehensive strategy that will set the direction for future agricultural leadership programming in Ontario.
 
"This project provides ROI with the opportunity to undertake a full review of the long-running AALP to identify necessary changes to both content and delivery methodologies in order to achieve the greatest impact for the best cost, provide recruiting techniques for future program participants, and provide an estimate of the macro-economic benefit of the program to agriculture and the rural industry," said Rob Black, Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Ontario Institute.
 
The Junior Farmers' Association of Ontario (JFAO) has received an investment of $53,500 to assess issues facing new farmers in the province. This project will look at barriers that restrict the access of new entrants to farming as well as the opportunities that exist for this key demographic group. A steering committee made up of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, FarmStart, TD Canada Trust, Bank of Montreal, and 4-H Ontario provides guidance for this study. Interim results from this study are being presented at the Ontario Young Farmers Forum.
 
This Harper Government investment is being provided through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP), a five-year (2009-2014), $163-million initiative that aims to help the Canadian agricultural sector adapt and remain competitive. In Ontario, the regional component of CAAP is delivered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC).
 
For more information on CAAP and AAC, please visit www.agr.gc.ca/caap and www.adaptcouncil.org.

November 19, 2012  By Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada


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