The Ontario and federal governments will put up $20.8 million over the next four years for farmers to build up their business management skills.

The funding, which also includes $4.2 million for the 2008-09 “continuity year,” was announced Thursday for what’s called the Growing Forward Business Development Program.

The program will “enable producers to assess their current management practices and skills, build on the strengths they have identified, and develop and implement sound business management practices and action plans,” the province said in a release.

Farmers interested in learning more about the program will be able to attend “Growing Your Farm Profits” workshops, which will be administered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, the province said.

Through the program, “Ontario’s farm families will gain more business expertise and identify new opportunities to create more returns for their businesses and for our agri-food industry,” provincial Agriculture Minister Leona Dombrowsky said in the release.