Ontario Sheep Farmers explores feasibility of production insurance

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Canada’s sheep industry is full of opportunity, with strong demand and decent prices, but producer retention past the five-year mark has been identified as one of the challenges of growing the industry.

Several factors play a role in new entrant and existing producer success, and Ontario Sheep Farmers (OSF) have focused on risk management program development as part of that success.

Last week, the provincial producer organization hosted three meetings to explore the feasibility of a production insurance program for Ontario’s sheep farmers. General manager Jennifer MacTavish says that the level of engagement and shared information was incredibly helpful in identifying what aspects of production farmers are most interested in having insured.

There are challenges, too, being tallied and explored as part of the study. Any insurance program hinges on reliable data of the scope and scale of Ontario’s sheep industry — a challenge OSF has been working to address through its EweGrow benchmarking program.

Results of the feasibility study should be available in a few months, though there is no set date for a report at this time.

Listen to Jennifer McaTavish and Lyndsey Smith discuss the production insurance feasibility study, below:

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