Please Help Livestock Farmers: Donations Needed to Move Hay from Western to Eastern Canada

This video presents ” October 26, 2012″:

  • HayEast Promo: Load of hay goes from Avonlea to Ontario in late October as part of the HayEast efforts

HayEast 2012 is a partnership involving farm organizations across Canada:

  • The program is a follow-up to the HayWest program that saw thousands of eastern Canadian farmers send forages to Western Canada in 2002 to help alleviate the effects of that region’s drought
  • Organizers say western Canadian farmers are eager to reciprocate that goodwill to help Ontario and Quebec farmers who face a hay shortage following record-low rainfall in some areas

Organizers of HayEast 2012 have issued an urgent plea for Canadians and Canadian businesses to provide donations to support the transportation of donated hay from Western to Eastern Canada:

  • Governments will provide, on a cost-shared basis, up to $500,000 for transportation costs to help move donated hay to Ontario farms through HayEast
  • Governments will also match, on a cost-shared basis, monetary donations made to HayEast up to $2.5 million
  • Ontario livestock farmers have requested over 60,000 bales of hay through the HayEast initiative

Donations of financial support or hay will be greatly appreciated:

Ontario farmers in need of forage must apply to the program for consideration:

For more information, please contact:

  • Nial Kuyek
    Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS)
    306-789-7774
  • Neil Currie
    General Manager Ontario Federation of Agriculture
    519-821-8883
Please Help Ontario's Livestock Farmers: Donations Needed to Move Hay from Western to Eastern Canada
Please Help Ontario’s Livestock Farmers: Donations Needed to Move Hay from Western to Eastern Canada

Ontario, Canada: Newsroom

NEWS RELEASE

Helping Livestock Farmers in Need

November 3, 2012

Canada and Ontario Governments Helping Transport Donated Hay from Western Canada

Canada and Ontario are helping transport hay from Western Canada to Ontario farmers in need.

Following record-low rainfall this summer in Eastern Canada, HayEast 2012, an industry-led initiative, was created by farm organizations across Canada to help send hay to farmers in Ontario and Quebec. HayEast is modeled on the HayWest program that saw thousands of Eastern Canadian farmers send hay to Western Canada in 2002.

The Governments of Canada and Ontario will continue to monitor the situation. Donations of hay or financial support may be made online at www.hayeast2012.com/have-hay.

A strong agriculture industry is part of the governments’ plans to create jobs and opportunities that will grow the economy.

QUOTES

“We are pleased to work with the province of Ontario to support this grassroots initiative. Our government has provided targeted tax deferral for livestock producers in Ontario and Quebec. We continue to work with both provinces to assess the need.”

– Gerry Ritz
Minister of Agriculture

“We should all be proud of what HayEast stands for. It reflects the strong co-operative spirit among Canadian farmers – and today, strong co-operative spirit between governments. I am glad we’re able to help get the donated hay moving to the farmers who need it, and I encourage people in the agri-food sector to assist where they can.”

– Ted McMeekin
Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

QUICK FACTS

  • Governments will provide, on a cost-shared basis, up to $500,000 for transportation costs to help move donated hay to Ontario farms through HayEast.
  • Governments will also match, on a cost-shared basis, monetary donations made to HayEast up to $2.5 million.
  • Ontario livestock farmers have requested over 60,000 bales of hay through the HayEast initiative.
  • Ontario farmers in need of hay must apply to the HayEast2012 program for consideration.

LEARN MORE

CONTACT

  • Mark Cripps
    Office of the Honourable Ted McMeekin
    416-326-3069

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
ontario.ca/agriculture

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