Ontario Growing Agriculture Sector in Clay Belt Region

Province strengthening Northern Ontario’s economy by supporting local farms and creating agri-food jobs

EARLTON — The Ontario government is investing more than $1.4 million to support five agriculture projects in the Clay Belt region, a vast tract of fertile soil in Northern Ontario. Protecting Ontario’s northern agriculture sector is essential to ensuring a strong, self-sufficient food supply chain. These investments will expand business operations, improve crop yields, create jobs and stimulate economic growth in the North.

“Northern Ontario’s Clay Belt is a region primed for development and growth for our agriculture producers,” said George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth. “Through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, we are protecting this region’s agri-food sector and our local food supply chain during these uncertain times. Today’s investments will help make our province’s northern economy more self reliant, resilient and able to withstand whatever comes our way.”

Funding is being delivered to the following agriculture businesses through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC):

$1 million for the Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance (NOFIA) to administer a tile drainage project that will support the installation of tile drainage on approximately 1,872 acres in the Timiskaming-Cochrane area, benefitting a consortium of 18 agriculture producers
$200,000 for Greenrock Acres – a sheep farm in Thornloe – to build a new barn and feed storage, renovate its existing barn and purchase equipment
$93,303 for KR Farms – a cattle farm in New Liskeard – to build a hay and equipment shed, install fencing and purchase equipment
$71,300 for Adrian and Margaret Struyk – operators of a dairy and cash crop farm in Cochrane – to renovate their barn and purchase equipment
$51,611 for Willgrove Farms – a dairy and cash crop farm in Thornloe – to build a hay shed.

“Our government is unleashing the potential of Northern Ontario’s Clay Belt region to become a powerhouse for agricultural innovation and growth,” said Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “Today’s investment in these five transformative projects marks a critical step forward in unlocking the region’s fertile lands and vast opportunities. By supporting initiatives like the Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance (NOFIA) tile drainage project and local farms, we are boosting food production, creating jobs and building a more resilient and self-reliant northern economy.”

The NOHFC fosters economic growth, job creation and workforce development throughout the North, benefiting communities of all sizes, both rural and urban, including Indigenous communities. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $905 million in 7,309 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $2.8 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 11,210 jobs.

Quick Facts

Through its funding programs, the NOHFC offers support to public and private sector economic development projects across Northern Ontario.
In January 2025, the Ontario government announced an investment of an additional $30 million over three years beginning in 2025–26, bringing the NOHFC’s annual budget to a total of $110 million. This funding will serve as a catalyst for further economic development and growth in the North and support the expansion of NOHFC programming eligibility to include the District of Muskoka.
The installation of tile drainage is highly effective at creating more consistent crop yields and promoting a longer growing season, while reducing plant stress, soil erosion and wear and tear on farming equipment.

Additional Resources

The NOHFC, Northern Development Offices and Small Business Enterprise Centres support northern communities, businesses and other stakeholders in identifying economic development opportunities and government funding programs.

Quotes

“NOFIA appreciates the NOHFC’s continued support for agricultural development. Agriculture in Northern Ontario supports over 8,991 jobs and contributes over $555 million in GDP to the provincial economy. Farm cash receipts have grown over the past 15 years from $182 million in 2006 to $246 million in 2024.The investments made through NOHFC programs such as Invest North and the Regional Tile Drainage Initiative have played a key role in the growth seen in the sector across Northern Ontario.” – Yves Gauthier, President, NOFIA

“We are truly thankful and honored to receive funding from the NOHFC. This support has enabled our small family farm to expand, allowing us to offer local quality fresh products to our community and surrounding areas. The acquisition of new equipment and a storage building has accelerated our progress toward our goals as we continue to grow and develop.” – Rachel Pinet, Owner, KR Farms

“With the help of funding from the NOHFC, we were able to install a robotic feeding system for our dairy barn. This robotic system is able to feed according to various nutritional needs throughout the dairy herd. We are now able to track our feed costs and efficiency, resulting in lower cost and improved cow health and milk production.” – Adrian and Margaret Struyk, Owners

“As a third-generation family dairy farm, support from the NOHFC has been instrumental in helping us build a new feed storage facility, significantly increasing our capacity and efficiency. This investment is allowing us to grow our herd, expand milk production and create new jobs right here in our community.” – Jamie and Jason Willard, Owners, Willgrove Farms