A temporary relief program for farmers in the Kenora and Rainy River district is winding down.
The initiative, funded by the province and coordinated by Beef Farmers of Ontario, shipped more than 5.8 million pounds of hay to the area.
President Rob Lipsett says it brought temporary relief to about 129 livestock farmers who were hit hard by dry fields and pastures this summer.
“The goal of the project was just to kind of get through July, August, even to the end of September, where it’s one less thing producers had to think about. It bought them some time to make some management decisions and look at the other programming options.”
Lipsett says the big and impressive thing for him was the speed the program came together and how farmers responded to help others in need.
He calls the rollout emotional.
Lipsett says the hay allowed farmers to save most of their herd, although they were unable to save 100%.
Lipsett stresses they now have a model to be followed the next time similar efforts are needed for farmers facing drought conditions.
(With Files From Randy Thoms: Fort Frances)
