WANT TO BE A DAIRY FARMER? You have until Oct. 31 to apply for program

Do you dream of becoming a quota-holding dairy farmer but lack the family connections to make it happen?

The Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) offers a way forward for these unconnected, aspiring milk producers through its annual new entrant quota assistance program. Deadline to apply is Oct. 31, 2023.

The initiative awards individual loans of 20 kg of milk-production quota for 10 years. For their end of the bargain, successful applicants must buy between 20 kg and 30 kg of additional quota from the quota exchange in order to get the loaned quota. They are granted priority access to the quota exchange to accomplish that purchase. The new entrant ends up with as much as 50 kg of quota but has to give back up 20 kg. over time.