AGRICULTURE

Government Program Update

Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program

With the new CAIS program in place across Canada there are a few items that require participants attention.

You should soon be receiving a Calculation of Program Benefits statement from your 2003 application. Payment, if any, will be issued sometime after. Please forward this Calculation of Program Benefits to us for our review.

March 31, 2005 is the deadline for your Schedule 1 - Production Summary and Schedule 2 - Inventory, Receivables and Payables for the 2004 program.
June 15 and June 30, 2005 is the deadline for submitting Farming Income for Tax Purposes on a T1163 for both individuals and corporations.

In an attempt to ensure the efficient delivery of services to farmers, the Ontario government is transferring administrative responsibilities for the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program to AGRICORP for 2004.

New or updated information on the CAIS program will be provided to us at the Farm Tax and Business Seminar on October 20th 2004.

Environmental Farm Plan (EFP)

Under the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) federal and provincial governments have committed to provide assistance to producers over the next four years to help implement EFP's.

The program is designed to ensure the agricultural industry can respond to consumer demands that food be safe, high in quality and produced using environmentally friendly methods. An Environmental Farm Plan should help to improve air, water and soil quality and aid producers to identify and assess environmental risks and benefits on their farms.

To prepare and implement your EFP you should take the following steps:

Step 1 - Attend an EFP Workshop scheduled for your area.
Step 2 - Complete the self-assessment sections that apply to your operation.
Step 3 - Develop an Action Plan to address areas of environmental concern on your farm.
Step 4 - Submit your EFP for a confidential review by a group of locally-appointed farmers. Government personnel will not see your information.
Step 5 - Begin to implement your EFP Action Plan. Apply for assistance through the EFP Incentive Program.

EFP Incentive: Up to $1,500 per farm business is available to assist farmers making positive environmental changes identified in their EFP.

The above steps are also required for other program funding such as the Clean Water Project outlined in our last news letter.

For specific dates and locations in your county/district, contact OSCIA toll-free at 1-800-265-9751

Planning and Assessment for Value-Added Enterprises (PAVE)

A creation of the Agricultural Policy Framework, PAVE provides farmers financial assistance to conduct professional feasibility assessments and develop comprehensive business plans for launching or expanding value-added enterprises. Such enterprises may be agri-manufacturing, food processing, wholesale/retail operations, agri-tourism, etc. PAVE will pay up to 50% of the cost of a qualified business consultant to a maximum of:

For an individual applicant up to $10,000
For two participants up to $20,000
For three or more it is up to $25,000

To be eligible a farmer must have $10,000 in gross farm sales per year and must have a product that clearly adds value to on-farm or off-farm sites that involve the manufacture of farm products.

PAVE is a complimentary program to the Specialized Business Planning Services (SBPS) outlined in our article Government Funding for Succession Planning.

Visit www.agr.gc.ca/renewal

Renewable and Electrical Energy Division

The Renewable and Electrical Energy Division promotes the development of sustainable renewable energy systems for heating and cooling.

REDI has a number of incentive programs for businesses to use solar thermal technologies. Currently REDI will supply 25% of the purchase price and installation costs of a qualifying solar, air or water heating system, to a maximum contribution of $80,000.

Visit http://www2.nrcan.gc.ca/es/erb/erb/english/View.asp?x=68

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