Dairy program receives $300K boost

By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com

The province is stepping up to ensure Ontario’s dairy industry is supported for years to come.

That’s thanks to a $300,000 cash infusion to make the Dairy Herdsperson Apprenticeship program readily available as a hybrid/distance diploma program option to those seeking employment in the sector.

The initiative – a joint project between the Dairy Farmers of Ontario and Ridgetown College/University of Guelph –was announced by Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Minister Monte McNaughton at the East Kent campus on Aug. 9.

“Hard working people like dairy farmers are the men and women who keep our province running,” McNaughton told the gathering, noting the new program will help boost shortages.

“For two years, you’ve heard me talk about the labour shortage threatening Ontario,” McNaughton said. “It’s no different in agriculture as 3,700 jobs are going unfilled every single day which can contribute directly to the rising food costs families see.

“We need all hands on deck to build a strong Ontario,” McNaughton added, stressing the

Ford government is “on a mission” to ensure employers can find the skilled workers they need to grow the economy for everyone.

The new DHA program, slated to begin in 2024, will allow new students – and students who are already working in the industry – to further their education. The education piece includes 480 hours of classroom online training and 5,520 hours of on-farm training as part of a paid work placement.

Students learn about herd maintenance, nutrition and operating farm equipment, and hear directly from industry experts about all aspects of dairy farming.

“It allows farmers from as far away as Ottawa and Thunder Bay to benefit from Ridgetown students and grow their businesses,” McNaughton added.

Ontario’s dairy industry contributes $7.7 billion to the province’s economy annually, creating thousands of jobs with farmers supplying a host of healthy products for Ontario families.

McNaughton said the DHA program is but one of the programs Ontario has introduced to spur education and training, with the province spending millions on apprenticeship training. The DHA program is funded through the $700-mil- lion-plus Skills Development Fund which supports programs that connect jobseekers with the skills and training they need to find well-paying jobs close to home.

To date, the Skills Development Fund has supported 596 projects, aiming to help almost 522,000 people take the next steps toward a career.

Chatham-Kent–Leamington MPP Trevor Jones, who serves as parliamentary assistant to Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson, said the expansion of the program is a “testament” to the province’s commitment to nurture young talent by equipping them with the skills for success.

“This partnership signifies a brighter future for our youth, family farms, and the dairy sector, highlighting the boundless opportunities that lie ahead,” Jones said.

The Dairy Farmers of Ontario represent 3,270 dairy farmers, and the organization is the largest sector of the agricul-