Farm assistance

Council approves funding to help assist young farmers

On Thursday, John Thompson, Chair, and Aaron Armstrong, Vice Chair of the Farming Assistance Ad-Hoc Committee, stood before the Committee of the Whole to present a report regarding the proposed grant program for young and new farmers. The goal of the grant program is to assist young and new farmers who have been negatively impacted by property tax increases that have resulted from the recent increases in farmland property assessments in the area. The grant will be administered by the newly formed County Cultivation Corporation.

Many young and new farmers cite financing as a major challenge to establishing and maintaining a farming operation. Relieving some of the financial stress caused by the increases in the assessed value of farmland will help these farmers continue to focus on their farming activities. Farmers are eligible to receive the grant if they meet certain criteria. They must possess or have pre-registered for a Farm Business Registration Number and be engaged in farming on the farmland that the grant is being requested. They must also be between the ages of 19 and 39 or have been engaged in professional farming activities for less than seven years. The primary occupation must also be farming to receive this grant. A farm can be eligible to receive the grant if the young or new farm applicant is the sole proprietor, or a shareholder in a farming corporation.

Aaron Armstrong, owner of Blue Wheelbarrow Farms and Vice-Chair of the Farming Assistance Ad-Hoc Committee, made a presentation to the Committee of the Whole on Thursday, regarding assistance for young County farmers.

There are currently 432 farms in the County (2016 census), and the estimated number of farmers under age 40 in this area is 15 per cent (Statistics Canada). The estimated number of new farmers entering the County yearly is 10 per cent. In total 25 per cent—or 108 farms in the County—could be eligible for this grant. Eligible farms can receive a grant with a minimum of $300 and a up to a maximum of 20 per cent of their annual farm tax bill, whichever is greater.

As having a Farm Business Registration Number is part of the criteria to be eligible, that means a farm must generate a minimum of $7,000 gross revenue on a yearly basis.

The presentation by Thompson and Armstrong included a recommendation that the $40,000 needed for the 2018 grant be funded from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve, as this expense was not included in the County of Prince Edward’s 2018 budget. The farmers’ committee also requested that the grant program be included for consideration to continue in the 2019 and 2020 budgets.

The Farming Assistance Ad-Hoc Committee was struck by council in March of 2018 to examine ways to provide focused support to young and new farmers negatively impacted by increases in the assessed value of farmland. The committee conducted research into financial assistance programs offered by other Ontario municipalities that have similar agricultural activities. It also researched programs, grants and methods of financial assistance that are available to farmers in the County through federal and provincial governments as well as agricultural agencies. The research confirmed that there are no programs, grants and methods of financial assistance similar to the grant program being presented to council by the new committee.

Upon hearing the results of the presentation, members around the horseshoe commended the Farming Assistance Committee on coming up with this presentation so quickly, and aside from some minor tweaks, had nothing but positive things to say about the grant program.

Armstrong was pleased with the result of their presentation. He is the owner of Blue Wheelbarrow Farms and is leading the charge of young farmers making their way in the County. He currently farms two acres of land on a 15-acre property that he owns. He has two staff and three interns helping run his day-to-day operations. His products are sold in restaurants across the County and Armstrong has made a name for himself in the area as being reliable, and always having high quality produce. He knows firsthand the challenges facing a new farm in the County and his boots on the ground knowledge provided valuable insight to the process.

“I was really happy with the presentation and with the outcome. I was also very happy about the response from council. They understood that this was a first-year trial period, so there may potentially be a couple of kinks to work out, but I’m really satisfied and proud of the work that the committee did in such a short time. For my first experience on a committee like this, it was impressive to see all the wheels in motion,” says Armstrong.

Council approved the Farming Assistance Grant Program in a unanimous decision. This program will cost approximately $39,340 in 2018, $44,712 in 2019 and $50,603 in 2020. Council also approved the inclusion of the grant in the 2019 and 2020 budget process. The funding for this year will come from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve.