The government of Ontario recently announced that it will be providing financial support to fruit and specialty crop growers to help them ensure the survival of their apples, tender fruit, berries, and specialty crops. Specialty crops that would apply include perennials like ginseng, lavender, tree fruit, hops and tree nuts.

• Ontario is providing financial support to farmers to better ensure the survival of apples, tender fruit, berries, and specialty crops during the winter.
• The province will share up to 35 per cent of the cost of weather mitigation equipment and growers can be eligible to receive up to a maximum of $31,500 per project.
• The next round of intakes is from October 22 to November 5, 2015 through the Ontario Crop and Soil Improvement Association and more intakes will occur over the winter
• The program is part of Growing Forward 2 and Weather Risk Mitigation is part of Focus Area A: Environment and Climate Change

This support will help cover the costs of weather mitigation equipment, such as portable or fixed wind machines, heating and air movement devices, insulating devices, overhead irrigation systems, and crop covers.  Contact OSCIA for more details at 1-800-265-9751.