The Ontario Liberal Party has called on the provincial government to deliver the full Risk Management Program (RMP) funding increase to farmers now, rather than phasing it in over several years as currently planned.
Last winter, the province announced it was increasing funding for RMP from $150 million to $250 million annually — a move welcomed by the agriculture sector. Strengthening RMP has long been one of OFA’s top budget asks and is a long-standing, sector-wide priority that we’ve been advancing together with our non-supply managed commodity partners.
Under the government’s plan, the RMP increase is spread over three years: $30 million in 2025, another $30 million in 2026 and the final $40 million in 2027.
Today’s market and cost pressures — from escalating input costs and drought conditions to global trade uncertainty — have only intensified the need for timely support for farmers, such as the increase to RMP.
In OFA’s latest farm business confidence survey, we found a significant drop in farmer confidence in the industry, with less than 12% of respondents indicating they were either very or extremely confident in the sector’s outlook in 2025.
We appreciate that the Liberal party is including agriculture in its policy platform, demonstrating that our advocacy about issues that matter to Ontario farmers is being heard.
For more information about RMP, visit: ofa.on.ca/an-update-on-the-risk-management-program-increase-announcement