THUNDER BAY — The provincial agriculture ministry has announced another aid program for Northwestern Ontario farmers affected by this summer's severe drought.
Livestock farmers are now eligible for up to $15,000 for well-drilling and pond construction projects.
The province will cover up to 50 per cent of eligible costs for improvements and/or new construction to farmers in the Thunder Bay, Rainy River and Kenora districts.
Money is available for permanent water projects undertaken after June 14, 2021.
In a statement Wednesday, Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Lisa Thompson said she visited the Northwest last week and saw the need for further assistance.
Rob Lipsett, president of Beef Farmers of Ontario, said the new program is another tool for farmers and will help mitigate the long-term effects of the drought "by ensuring vital infrastructure is in place to support the regrowth of the cow herd as our sector in the Northwest recovers."
The announcement follows last week's launch of the Canada-Ontario Transported Feed Initiative which will help farmers care for their livestock through the winter.
A third program, unveiled in August, offers help for emergency feed, water and fencing.
Thunder Bay-area farmer Peggy Brekveld, the president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, said at that time that she hoped money for new wells would be made available, as a number of farms have seen their wells go dry because the water table is so low.
Across Northwestern Ontario, 2016 census data showed there were 509 farms, including 129 beef farms, 35 dairy farms, and 14 sheep/goat farms.
Farmers had a total of about 31,000 head of cattle.
