Introduction
Renewal programs provide new and established farm families with assistance to develop skills and knowledge, and access the tools and advice to help them respond to consumer and market demands, and increase profitability.
The agricultural and agri-food sector is evolving rapidly to keep pace with advances in science and technology, and the global marketplace. As a result, farm operations are becoming larger and more complex, and producers continually need to adapt. They do this by acquiring knowledge, developing new skills, and incorporating strategic planning and management activities on an ongoing basis.
Renewal programs will help new and established producers assess their situations and options, and acquire the skills and resources they need to capture the opportunities offered by the marketplace, and for science and innovation to succeed in the 21st century.
Canadian Farm Business Advisory Services
This program provides a range of advisory services to help producers set goals for their businesses and develop plans and beneficial farm management practices.
All producers must address different needs to ensure success. To determine those needs, and which of the CFBAS services might benefit individual producers most, an officer will discuss the various options available, either by telephone or in person, in order to ensure maximum benefit. This discussion should be the first step for producers. There will be no cost for this consultation.
There are two components of this service: Farm Business Assessment and Specialized Business Planning Services.
1. Farm Business Assessment (FBA)
This component will provide eligible producers with up to five days worth of consultation services. Valued at $2,500, the producer pays a nominal fee of $100. The fee is waived for participants of the Canadian Farm Families Options Program.
Farm Financial Assessment
A consultant will spend up to three days reviewing the farm’s past and current financial situation, discussing objectives and identifying options to meet the producer’s business goals. The producer receives a business profile, a statement of assets and liabilities, a farm business ratio analysis, an income and expenses statement for the previous two years, and other information related to the business.
Action Plan: The consultant will provide up to two days worth of consultation services to help producer’s assess their options for increasing profitability. This service will result in a financial action plan (including cash-flow plan) and two years of financial projections of the chosen option.
Follow-up: Producers are eligible for a one-day consultation a year later to discuss their progress.
Eligibility
Producers are eligible to participate if:
- as an established producer, they have a minimum of $10,000 in annual gross farm sales; or
- as the owner/operator of a new farm business (someone who will establish a farm or has been operating a farm for less than six years), they can demonstrate that will have a $10,000 in annual gross sales.
Contact
AAFC’s Canadian Agri-Renewal Services offices:
Toll-free: 1-866-452-5558
Website
2. Specialized Business Planning Services
As part of the CFBAS, Specialized Business Planning Services (SBPS) are available to producers who are seeking targeted business or succession planning.
Through SBPS, producers can access funds to help pay for consultants to assist them in preparing detailed business plans for their farm operations. These plans can cover areas such as diversification, marketing, human resources, expansion, risk management or succession.
Eligibility
Producers are eligible to participate if:
- as an established producer, they have a minimum of $10,000 in annual gross farm sales; or
- as the owner/operator of a new farm business, they can demonstrate that you will have $10,000 in annual gross sales.
Eligible participants will receive funding up to 50 per cent of the consultant’s costs for preparing a business plan or succession plan up to a maximum of:
- $8,000 per project for one participant;
- $16,000 per project for two participants;
- $24,000 per project for three participants; and,
- $25,000 per project for four or more participants.
Groups are eligible to apply for SBPS funding. A “group application” refers to one application made under SBPS by two or more individuals or entities. Each person or entity in the group must represent a distinct or separate farming business or operation.
Total government (federal/provincial/territorial/municipal) assistance will not exceed 75 per cent of eligible expenditures. Funding from more than one Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada source is not permitted.
Contact:
AAFC’s Canadian Agri-Renewal Services offices:
Toll-free: 1-866-452-5558
Website
Planning and Assessment for Value-Added Enterprises
The Planning and Assessment for Value-Added Enterprises (PAVE) program is available to producers who are considering establishing or expanding a value-added enterprise. Under this program, eligible producers can access funds to help pay for the services of a business planning professional to develop feasibility assessments and comprehensive business plans for specific, value-added enterprises. This program will make it easier for producers to make an informed decision on whether or not to pursue the opportunity.
What is a value-added enterprise?
A value-added enterprise includes:
- a project that can clearly demonstrate it adds value to the primary product;
- agricultural product manufacturing, including projects that require the value to be added to primary products through mechanical manipulation, including separating, grading, cleaning, and packaging product;
- food processing (such as the addition of a canning or pickling operation to a farm business); and,
- non-food activities (such as using hemp or straw to develop fibreboard, composted manure and ethanol).
Activities related to eligible projects can take place on or off the farm.
Eligibility
Producers are eligible to participate if:
- as an established producer, they have a minimum of $10,000 in annual gross farm sales; or,
- as the owner/operator of a new farm business (i.e. you have been in operation for less than six years), they can demonstrate that you will have $10,000 in annual gross sales.
Eligible participants will receive funding for up to 50 per cent of the consultant’s costs for preparing a feasibility assessment and/or business plan, with a maximum per project of up to:
- $10,000 for one participant;
- $20,000 for two participants;
- $25,000 for three or more participants.
Groups are eligible to apply for PAVE funding. A “group application” refers to one application made under the PAVE program by two or more individuals or entities. Each individual or entity in the group must represent a distinct or separate farming business or operation.
Non-farmers, such as capital suppliers and processors, can also be members of a project. However, non-farmers are not eligible for PAVE funding. Total government (federal/provincial/territorial/municipal) assistance will not exceed 75 per cent of eligible expenditures. Funding from more than one Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada source is not permitted.
Contact:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Agri-Renewal Services
Toll-free: 1-866-452-5558
Website
Canadian Agricultural Skills Service
The Canadian Agricultural Skills Service (CASS) helps farmers and their spouses increase their family income through improved farm practices or through increased off-farm income. CASS helps increase income and profitability of farmers through learning activities that have been validated through a skills and needs assessment process and the development of an Individual Learning Plan (ILP).
Assistance will be provided to access training in areas such as improved farm practices, business management, accounting, finance, human resource management; training for other employment; or training to acquire skills for starting a new business. Financial support for approved expenses, such as tuition fees for courses, textbooks and travel while attending training away from home, will be provided for eligible clients with an approved ILP.
Eligibility
Farm families with a net family income of $45,000 or less are eligible.
An assessment and an ILP valued at $2,000 will be developed for all eligible participants. Approved farmers and their spouses are each eligible to receive benefits. The maximum benefits include training and related costs for the duration of an ILP or the program (net family income based on a three-year average):
- less than $35,000 – eligible for benefits up to $16,000
- $35,001 to $40,000 – eligible for benefits up to $12,000
- $40,001 to $45,000 – eligible for benefits up to $8,000.
Contact
Service Canada
Toll free: 1-800-OCanada
Website
Farm Debt Mediation Service
The Farm Debt Mediation Service (FDMS) offers financial counselling and mediation services to farmers that are having trouble repaying their debts. This free service helps bring both producers and their creditor(s) to the table in a neutral forum, to help them reach a mutually agreeable solution.
The service is a private, confidential and economical alternative to the often costly, public and drawn-out process of resolving financial disputes in the courts. The majority of the cases that have gone through FDMS have resulted in a signed agreement between the farmer and their creditor(s).
Contact:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Phone: 1-866-452-5556
Website
Canadian Agricultural Safety Association
The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association is a national farm safety networking and coordinating agency that addresses problems of physical and mental health, illness, injury and accidental death in farmers, their families and agricultural workers. Its mission is to improve the health and safety conditions of those who live and/or work on Canadian farms.
Contact:
5A - 1325 Markham Road
Winnipeg, MB R3T 4J6
Phone: (204) 452-2272
Fax: (204) 261-5004
Email
Website
Canadian 4-H Council
The Canadian 4-H Council is a not-for-profit agency that co-ordinates all national 4-H activities in Canada. The Council organizes and coordinates national and international conferences, exchanges and scholarships which focus on citizenship, leadership development, career choices, technology transfer and other pressing issues being faced by young people in rural communities across Canada.
The Agricultural Policy Framework provides support for four 4-H Council conferences: the National 4-H Conference, the National 4-H Volunteer Leaders' Conference, the National 4-H Citizenship Seminar, and the National 4-H Careers Conference. It supports the expansion of a national online provincial resource sharing network, and helps provincial 4-H organizations develop 4-H products and activities focusing on leadership and skills development. The APF also provides funding for the Renewal Opportunities Program (ROP) for provincial 4-H agencies to develop new programs focusing on youth and rural development.
Contact:
Canadian 4-H Council
Central Experimental Farm
930 Carling Avenue, Bldg. #26
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C6
Tel: (613) 234-4448
Fax: (613) 234-1112
Website
The Canadian Farm Business Management Council
The Canadian Farm Business Management Council is a national organization that develops and distributes advanced information on a wide range of topics, including biotechnology, succession planning, marketing, human resources and finances. The information is available through a variety of sources, including a comprehensive website that is updated daily, CD-ROMs, books and videos.
The council also provides support for major farm management events and collaborates with industry, the education sector and provincial governments to address management information needs of Canadian farmers.
Contact:
Canadian Farm Business Management Council
250 City Centre Avenue, Suite 300
Ottawa, Ontario K1R 6K7
Tel: 1-888-232-3262 or (613) 237-9060
Fax: 1-800-270-8301 or (613) 237-9330
E-mail
Website
Agri-food Futures Strategies
Through the Agricultural Policy Framework, the Investment Agriculture Foundation of British Columbia offers trust funds for new technologies and emerging agricultural sectors. The strategies encompass the environment, labour market and skills development, organics, agri-tourism, agroforestry, beekeeping, cultivated mushroom, health products and functional food products, and small lot agriculture. These strategies will enable the agri-food sector to diversify and add value, which help improve farm incomes and growth opportunities.
Contact:
Investment Agriculture Foundation of British Columbia
3rd Fl., 808 Douglas St
Victoria, BC V8W 2Z7
PO Box 8248
Victoria, BC V8W 3R9
Phone: (250) 356-1662
Fax: (250) 953-5162
E-mail
Website
Feeder Loan Association Loan Guarantee and Bred Heifer Program
The Feeder Association Loan Guarantee (FALG) program makes livestock feeding credit available through the creation of farmer-owned cooperatives called feeder associations. The feeder associations borrow money from banks or credit unions to purchase cattle or sheep for grassing or feeding out on members' farms or feedlots. The BC Government provides a loan guarantee to the associations' lenders.
The Bred Heifer Program is based on the FALG program. It was introduced to help BC cattle and sheep producers expand their livestock operations. Under the Bred Heifer Program, association members may purchase heifers or young cows for their herd, repaying the association loan by selling the calves from these cows.
These programs help many areas of the province to diversify farm operations and stabilize the rural economy.
Contact:
Industry contact:
BC Breeders and Feeders Association
Website
Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
Ken Corraini
Assistant Director, Industry Competitiveness Branch
PO Box 9120 Stn Prov Govt.
Victoria, BC V8W 9E4
Ph: (250) 356-1648
Website
Infobasket
InfoBasket is a one-stop Internet portal for agriculture and food information offered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. It is organized into areas of interest (e.g., Apiculture, Beef etc.), and each area is further broken down into categories: Production and Processing; Business Management and Finance; Marketing and Trade; Regulations and Legislation; Directories and Contacts; and Statistics and Market Data.
Contact:
InfoBasket Website
Youth Services (4-H)
British Columbia supports leadership and farm management skills in rural youth across BC through the 4-H program. 4-H provides young people with an opportunity to learn how to become productive, self-assured adults who can make their community and country a good place in which to live. This is fostered through project and program work, experiences with their 4-H club members and leaders and their participation in district, regional and even provincial programs. In British Columbia, some 3,000 young people are registered in 4-H programs.
Contact:
BC 4-H:
#1-904 Maud St.
P.O. Box 490, Enderby B.C. V0E 1V0
Toll Free: 1-866-776-0373
Fax: (250) 838-0343
Email
Website
BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
Pat Tonn
Manager, Youth and Community Development Programs
Phone: (604) 556-3067
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