NDP calls on Ford government to move quickly to help farmers

NDP Deputy Leader John Vanthof is calling on the Ford government to act now to help farmers whose crops have been impacted by vomitoxin.
“Grain farmers experienced a really tough spring, and they’re experiencing a really tough fall to get the crops off because they’ve been impacted by vomitoxin,” said Vanthof. “Now, all of a sudden, part, or a majority, or all of their corn crop is unsaleable.
“That should be covered by production insurance, but this is an emergency for farmers who thought they had a crop they could sell, and they need help now.
“If you have part of your crop infected with vomitoxin, you can’t store it with the rest of your crop. You have a storing facility or you take it to the elevator and they don’t want it. So unless you know you’re going to get compensated, what do you do with it?”
Vanthof stressed that time is running short for farmers, and the Ford government cannot delay any support.
“This isn’t something we can take a lot of time to study. If the majority of your crop is impacted by vomitoxin, it could be the end of your farm.
“I urge this government to act as quickly as possible to make sure farmers who have worked so hard are somehow, compensated so that they’re still there to farm next year.”