Staff
The Rainy River Future Development Corp. has received $2 million from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. to clear land and install tile drainage in the west end of Rainy River District.
The province announced today it is investing in Northern Ontario farming projects that will improve agricultural land, diversify crops, and expand business.
The investments will contribute to the northern agricultural economy and provide local farms with essential infrastructure.
NOHFC is investing more than $6 million in eight projects across Northern Ontario.
Among these eight, the RRFDC is receiving $1 million to clear land on 2,423 acres and another $1 million to install tile drainage on 2,114 acres.
“This project will help our participating farms improve their land base to produce crops such as barley, wheat, oats, soybeans, and hay,” noted RRFDC chair Jan Beazley.
“We thank the NOHFC for investing in our land-clearing and tile drainage projects, which will help our area producers improve their operations,” she added.
“The agricultural industry is identified as a key and emerging sector in the Growth Plan for Northern Ontario,” said Northern Development and Mines minister Michael Gravelle, who also chairs the NOHFC.
“By investing in these operations, our government is helping farmers across the north improve their farmland, increase their crop production, and grow the northern economy,” he noted.
The Thunder Bay Agricultural Research Association is receiving $1 million to clear 298 acres and install tile drainage on 1,667 acres.
The West Nipissing East Sudbury Agricultural Support Projects Inc. is receiving $1 million to install tile drainage and clear land on 1,717 acres.
It also received $328,248 to clear land and install tile drainage on 626 acres of land.
The Northeast Community Network is receiving $714,600 to install tile drainage and undertake land-clearing on 1,191 acres.
The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre, meanwhile, is receiving $976,200 to install tile drainage and undertake land-clearing on 1,500 acres on Manitoulin Island.
And the William Riach Farm in Gore Bay received $29,080 to install tile drainage on 60 acres of land.
“Our government recognizes that agriculture is an important contributor to the economy of Thunder Bay and Northern Ontario,” said Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro.
“We are committed to supporting farmers and investing in projects that will enable them to expand their operations,” he remarked.
