PICTON — Using Lloyd Crowe’s farm as backdrop, Premier Dalton McGuinty announced that an Ontario Liberal government would forge ahead with a Risk Management Program (RMP) for the grains and oilseeds sector, without the hoped for 60 per cent funding from the federal government.

While the three-year pilot program, designed to help farmers offset losses caused by low grain and oilseed commodity prices, was welcome news, it was received with scepticism by some farmers.

You don’t have to be too smart to see this is an election promise, he added. The provincial election is Oct. 10. On the other hand, he noted that on the federal level "if the Conservative government is serious about getting re-elected, if they seek a majority, they have to change their position."

"The province has stepped up to the plate," said Moose Creek crop farmer Alain Leduc. "But it’s strictly political. The Liberals are running scared. They’ve slipped and they’re looking for rural support."

As for the federal Conservatives, "they know full well they could have put money out for an RMP. Now they’re making excuses. The feds won’t say anything until an election. Then watch them bend. If they need the rural vote again, they’ll be on side with the RMP.

He added: "The program would have stabilized an industry, where farmers could look forward and hang on to their businesses."

"This is in stone," said Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Geri Kamenz, of provincial announcement. "I’m unequivocal, This is a genuine commitment. Producers will enrol in this program before the election."

Going it alone without the federal funding, Kamenz says Ontario must understand how Quebec runs its own programs and apply them to Ontario.

The Quebec-supported ASRA program means grains and oilseeds farmers are subsidized with a provincial payout. On average, in 2005, when grain prices were low, a Quebec farmer earned about $75 an acre more than an Ontario farmer thanks to the ASRA program. Said Kamenz: "I’m very optimistic that if we put more effort into this we could be on par with farmers in Quebec."

Crop farmer Lloyd Crowe, who hosted the premier when he made the August 22 announcement, agreed that the Ontario Liberals would deliver on a RMP. "It’s more than just an announcement. It would be a big mistake to undo this, as 25,000 farm families are counting on it."

Lindsay farmer Joe Hickson says the RMP would help but argues both levels of governments have drifted from their commitment to agriculture over the years. While agriculture continues to increase revenue generated from the industry, agriculture only gets 1.1 per cent of the Ontario budget, down from 3.3 per cent about 20 years ago, he said.

Lanark County crop farmer John Vanderspank also sees the provincial announcement as a last minute attempt to boost support at the polls. "They need some voters from rural Ontario," he said.