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stouffville suntribune thursday march 31 2005 5 farmers welcome by joan ransberry staff writer york region farmers are applauding 1 billion in federal assistance and 79 million from the province for cashstrapped canadian farmers announced this week on tuesday a few hours after federal agriculture minister andy mitchell announced the federal money in gueiph the province reported it would put up 79 million toward the relief for the provinces stressed grain and oil seed sector for local farmers facing low farm incomes this is very good news dr terry oconnor york region federation of agriculture president said mr oconnor did how ever express concern at how both levels of govern ment address agricultural problems we need to find ways to improve canadian markets so were not so dependent on the big elephant to the south the governments needs to look at this oh a longterm basis he said we need something long term to prevent these disasters cattle farmers who have been devastated by the us border closing as a result of the mad cow crisis espe cially need longterm answers to their problems mr oconnor said we need to find ways to improve canadian markets so were not so dependent on the big elephant to the south he said the farm income payment program begins lsf terry oconnor york federation of agriculture presi dent says funding very good news delivering the money in april the federal program includes a general payment of 8415 million for all eli gible canadian producers about 55 per cent of that payment is expected to go to grains and oil seed pro ducers cattle and produc ers of animals such as sheep and goats will receive about 18 per cent of that payment at a time when the marketplace is demanding bold innovation farmers across canada have been devastated by some of the most difficult years ever faces by the industry mr mitchell said we need to immediately provide some stability to producers across all sectors and to move forward in a trans forming way which will take us beyond this frus trating cycle of crisis bob friesen president of the canadian federation of agriculture also wel comes the farm aid this announcement comes at a crucial time for canadian producers par ticularly in the grains and oilseeds ruminant and horticultural sectors he said it is an important first step in helping to move producers past cur rent challenges arrive alive this message brought to youas a community service 6f the economist suntribune sofunsay 9r5pm i 4step programs provide complete coverage from early spring until fall save time save money get professional results 8 aszsmx fgte