Growing Forward 2 Programing Launched in Ontario

Jun 27, 2013

Growing Forward 2 Programing Launched in Ontario

Growing Forward 2 (GF2), an agricultural policy framework that operates in partnership with the federal and provincial government was officially launched April 1, but its programing portion for Ontario was only made available as of Wednesday, June 26.

GF2 project applications for funding are accessible for producers, processors and organizations. Organizations may apply immediately, while producers and processors will have to wait until fall to be qualified to submit an application.

“The new Growing Forward 2 programs will help Ontario’s agri-food industry continue to grow and innovate. By working together, we can make this strong industry even stronger,” said Kathleen Wynne, Ontario Premier and Minister of Agriculture and Food.

The federal and provincial governments’ joint investment amounts to $417-million for programming initiatives aimed at supporting innovation and market development opportunities. Producer risk management programs will continue under G2 policy framework.

“Agriculture is a major contributor to a healthy economy in Ontario and across Canada. These Growing Forward 2 programs will ensure that Ontario farmers and food processors have the tools they need to remain competitive and innovative in new and existing markets,” said Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.