Ontario strengthening province’s cattle farm sector

News release

Provincial and federal governments investing $5 million in sustainable grazing lands to help cattle farmers stay competitive

June 26, 2025 – Paisley, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $5 million to help make community grazing pastures in Ontario more productive and resilient. To support the Ontario government’s plan to protect Ontario, this funding will help strengthen Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food sector by helping cattle farmers improve the quality of shared community pasture lands for their herds so they can stay competitive and resilient to withstand economic uncertainly from the U.S. and whatever comes our way.

The Community Pastures Initiative, funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), will provide funding to eligible community pastures so they can adopt best management practices and technologies that boost the quality of these lands for grazing animals, while also enhancing biodiversity and strengthening soil health for the long-term.

This initiative will support up to 100% of eligible costs for the design, construction and maintenance of projects such as:

  • rotational grazing
  • improving pasture quality by planting resilient perennial forage crops
  • permanent grasslands (including forage)
  • riparian buffers and pollinator habitats
  • management of at-risk natural features
  • tree buffers and shelterbelts
  • integrated tree, forage and livestock grazing systems
  • wetlands, water retention and runoff control

The Sustainable CAP is a 5-year (2023-2028), $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment that is cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs designed and delivered by the provinces and territories.

Quotes

“By investing in our community pastures, we’re supporting biodiversity, soil health, and resilient grazing systems— all key to a sustainable future for the sector. This will help strengthen Ontario’s cattle sector and the long-term health of our agricultural landscapes.”

– The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

“Ontario’s shared community pastures and grazing lands are essential resources in our agricultural landscape and play a vital role in building a stronger cattle and agri-food sector. This initiative will help farmers stay competitive and resilient in the face of economic uncertainty.”

– Trevor Jones, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness

“The Association of Community Pastures is very appreciative of the financial and planning support to the eleven community pastures which cover 6,400 hectares of land across Ontario. The best management practices supported by RALP provide a tremendous opportunity for each pasture to implement a diverse variety of projects to improve productivity through increased carrying capacity, rejuvenating land and improving livestock management. Our local community pasture boards are excited about this program and the fact that it will improve the long-term resilience of our community pastures.”

– Don Hargrave, Chairman, Ontario Association of Community Pastures

“BFO would like to thank the Ontario government for this investment in Ontario’s network of community pastures. By enhancing the health of our shared grazing lands, we’re not only improving forage quality for our herds, but also strengthening biodiversity, protecting soil and water, and building resilience against climate challenges. This investment in Ontario’s community pastures is a vital step toward securing a more sustainable and productive future for our beef sector.”

– Craig McLaughlin, President, Beef Farmers of Ontario

“The Ontario Forage Council and its Board of Directors are proud to deliver the Community Pastures Initiative as part of the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program. This initiative will provide us the opportunity to work side by side with community pastures to identify and implement beneficial management practices that will support the long-term resiliency of the lands and ensure Ontario’s community pastures remain viable contributors to Ontario’s agri-food sector.”

– Patricia Ellingwood, General Manager, Ontario Forage Council, Grey Highlands

Quick facts

  • The Initiative will be administered by the Ontario Forage Council, working with the Association of Community Pastures to deliver the program and support the co-development of eligible projects.
  • More information, including how to apply, will be available through the Ontario Forage Council.
  • Funding amounts will vary based on project, with up to 100% of eligible costs covered.
  • The Community Pastures Initiative falls under the $56.7 million Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP), funded through the Sustainable CAP, to make agricultural lands more productive and resilient.
  • For more information about Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness’ programs and services, contact the Agricultural Information Contact Centre (AICC) at 1-877-424-1300 or at ag.info.omafa@ontario.ca. 

Associated links

Contacts

For media:

Annie Cullinan
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
annie.cullinan@agr.gc.ca

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@agr.gc.ca
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Web: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Spencer Fair
Minister’s Office
Spencer.Fair@ontario.ca

Connie Osborne
Media Desk
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness
OMAFRA.media@ontario.ca

Category:
Ontario Forage Council