Adam Bramburger
Beaver Staff
Nine Lennox and Addington County dairy farmers will be receiving funding from the federal government to upgrade their facilities, MP Mike Bossio announced Tuesday.
The recipients are among 11 operations in Bossio’s Hastings-Lennox and Addington riding making successful applications under the government’s five-year $250-million Dairy Farm Investment Program. In the riding alone, the commitment was for $861,362.
The money will help Canadian producers prepare for the implementation of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, which will allow European cheese producers greater access to the Canadian market.
“Our government continues to stand in support of our supply managed industries and we will continue to defender the interest of our dairy farmers,” Bossio said in a release. “A strong dairy industry is vital to supporting rural, middle class jobs and rural community sustainability.”
He said through this investment, which provides up to $250,000 per eligible farm for upgrades in barn technology and equipment, the government is supporting the local economy and also ensuring the benefits of a continued supply of locally produced, well-regulated dairy products.
Among the projects supported are significant investments in technology such as robotic milking and automated feeding systems and smaller investments in herd management, and barn operations equipment.
Four Napanee operators — William DeVries, Kevin Maclean, Wayne Milligan, and Robert Vermilyea, two Selby operators — Kisa Cuthill and Matt Jarmin, Stella’s R. Bruce Caughey, Roblin’s Rob McCutcheon, and Tamworth’s John and Angus MacLaughlin had projects supported through the fund, which is administered through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Bossio indicated applications continue to be assessed and additional grants could come to the riding.
Nationally, the dairy industry is responsible for $19.9 billion in gross domestic product and 221,000 jobs. To date, the Dairy Farm Investment Program has contributed $36 million in funding to over 750 producers in support of the sector. Locally, Bossio’s office estimates that dairy producers in his riding are responsible for $116 million in economic activity and the equivalent of 1,400 full-time jobs.