coronavirus pandemic.The news was announced Monday by Ernie Hardeman, the province’s minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs and Oxford MPP, during an outdoor news conference at the gate of the Western Fair District.The one-time funding earmarked for the societies comes as part of Ontario’s 2020 budget, unveiled last week, and is in addition to other measures taken to help the sector, the province says.Hardeman said the money will help support the organizations to continue operating and contributing to Ontario’s economic recovery during the pandemic.“Our agricultural and horticultural organizations play a vital role in communities across rural Ontario.