Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

The CFFO Commentary: New Compensation for Wildlife Damage a Welcome Update

By Nathan Stevens
August 5, 2011
 
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs recently announced that the 30-year old wildlife damage compensation program has finally been updated. This has been an important issue for members of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario over the last number of years, and as an organization we are pleased that this could finally be updated. This is a solid step forward in balancing the broad number of goals desired by society involving the rural landscape.
 
The fact of the matter is that there is only one rural landscape, but a wide array of wants and needs that must be met. Biodiversity is a valuable goal that society believes is worthy of effort while growing food is an essential goal for everyone. Unfortunately, these two goals are not always in harmony with each other. Therefore, improving the compensation program for farmers helps balance out these goals in a reasonable way.
 
The highlights of the current program include an expanded list of both the wildlife species that cause harm and an increased livestock listing for compensation when the two forces come into contact with one another in a negative way. The amount that producers receive has been updated to be more reflective of today’s prices.
 
In addition, the program addresses some of the other needs that have developed over time, including a $30 reimbursement for each claim a municipality processes, a $50,000 fund for strategic investments with industry to better understand how to prevent agriculture-wildlife conflicts, and a commitment to review the program every two years to ensure it is up-to-date.
 
Moving forward, there are other concerns that need to be addressed regarding the interaction of wildlife with agriculture. Can crop insurance be used as the tool to deal with damage to crops by wildlife or is another tool going to be required? What is the proper balance to find regarding predator controls – a limited hunt of problem animals or a less targeted bounty to meet an overall population target?
 
The CFFO has been strong in its support for farmers in the area of predation over the last number of years. The update of this program is a significant step forward for farmers that have to deal with wildlife damage. It is also a step forward in balancing the wide variety of goals that are being pursued in a limited rural landscape.
 
Nathan Stevens is the Research and Policy Advisor for the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario. The CFFO Commentary represents the opinions of the writer and does not necessarily represent CFFO policy. The CFFO Commentary is heard weekly on CFCO Chatham, CKNX Wingham, and UCB Canada radio stations in Chatham, Belleville, Bancroft, Brockville and Kingston. It is also archived on the CFFO website: www.christianfarmers.org. CFFO is supported by 4,200 family farmers across Ontario.

Views: 43

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

New University of Manitoba research chair to advance beef production sustainability

Thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC), the University of Manitoba (UM), along with its partners at Manitoba Beef Producers, Manitoba Agriculture, and Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives is proud to announce the establishment of the BCRC Chair in Beef Cattle Economic Sustainability. “It’s important for our industry to understand beneficial management practices that boost productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability – including those related to greenhouse gas emissions, land and water use, and biodiversity,” said Craig Lehr, the Beef Cattle Research Council chair and Alberta beef producer. “This new Chair will focus on viable solutions for Canadian beef cattle producers with innovations that improve economic sustainability while reducing environmental footprint.” The beef industry faces mounting challenges, including volatile input costs, climate-related risks, and limited access to equitable risk management tools. These pressure

University of Manitoba honours agricultural leaders with 2025 Certificate of Merit

The University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences celebrated the 45th anniversary of its Certificate of Merit by recognizing three outstanding alumni for their exceptional contributions to Manitoba’s agricultural sector and rural communities. Since its inception in 1981, the Certificate of Merit has honoured over 95 individuals who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in agriculture, agri-food, and community service. This year’s recipients — Cathey Day, Fred Greig, and Kim McConnell — were celebrated at a special ceremony on June 19 for their lasting impact on the province’s farm and food landscape. “We are proud to honour these three remarkable leaders in this milestone year,” said Martin Scanlon, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. “We know that our alumni have deep and lasting impacts – not only within their professions, but also in their communities. These honourees are a true inspiration for young people who are considering studies and career

Saskatchewan government announces support measures for producers amid dry conditions

The federal government, alongside the Saskatchewan government has announced new measures by the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) to support producers facing this year’s challenging dry conditions. SCIC will implement the double low yield appraisal process, encouraging acres of low-yielding eligible crops to be diverted for grazing, baling, or silage to make additional feed available. Under this initiative, severely damaged crops with appraised yields below an established threshold will have their yield reduced to zero for crop insurance claims. SCIC is doubling the low yield appraisal threshold values, allowing producers to salvage their eligible crops as feed without negatively impacting future individual coverage. All qualifying acres for double low yield appraisals must be diverted to livestock feed and cannot be left to harvest. Producers are advised to contact their local SCIC office before putting damaged crops to an approved alternate use. Daryl Harrison, Saskatc

Bioenterprise Canada Announces Round 2 Participants in the Grow Ontario Accelerator Hub

Bioenterprise Canada is pleased to announce the successful applicants from round 2 of the Grow Ontario Accelerator Hub (GOAH). Twenty (20) Ontario-based companies have been selected to receive advisory, mentorship, and support services through our growing national network, Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine. 

AGCO Announces Agreements Reached with TAFE on Key Commercial and Other Issues

AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AGCO), a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology,

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service