Thunder Bay-Rainy River Ken Boshcoff met Monday with federal Agriculture minister Chuck Strahl and four of his senior staff to discuss the impact of this year’s drought on the farmers of the Rainy River, Kenora, Thunder Bay, and Algoma districts.
Strahl was receptive and understanding of Boshcoff’s appeal.
He has approached the minister of finance to declare the districts “eligible for drought relief” through a Tax Deferral Designation.
The loss to the cattle industry in Rainy River District alone is more than $3.6 million.
With rainfall at less than half of normal levels, hay production is down 50 percent, resulting in a lack of feed for cattle and requiring farmers to sell their breeding stock.
“Our farming community needs the direct intervention of the minister and I am pleased he responded so positively,” said Boshcoff.
“We need immediate action so that farmers will not be forced out of the business altogether,” he added. “The family farm must be supported and protected, and I will continue to make this case strongly and loudly.
“I have also met with representatives of Farm Credit Canada to ensure their assistance plans are readily available to those in need,” Boshcoff noted.
Boshcoff has raised the issue in both the House of Commons and at the agriculture committee.
He also contacted Leona Dombrowski, the provincial minister of agriculture, who, through the Agricorp insurance program, has paid out $860,000 in forage insurance claim payments to 51 producers.
“I appreciate the provincial minister’s prompt response to the needs of the farmers in Rainy River [District],” said Boshcoff.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
