| | The Canadian Farm Families Options Program (Options) is a new federal program to help lower-income farmers and farm families improve their earning potential for the long term. While farmers engage in preparing a business plan or taking skills training, they receive a payment to supplement their income.
"Options is a pilot program, with a commitment of $550 million over two years," says Leslie Watson, Regional Manager for Renewal programs in Alberta, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Edmonton. "The program is open to farm families or individual farmers who have a total income from all sources of less than $25,000 or less than $15,000 respectively."
To be eligible for this year:
- farmers must have gross farm revenues of $50,000 or more (before expenses) and must have filed farm income with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for 2005 and be farming in 2006
- families or individual farmer operating corporate farms must hold at least 20 per cent of the corporation's outstanding common shares (voting and non-voting)
- Status Indians farming on reserves who do not file returns for income tax purposes are eligible to participate providing they can supply the equivalent income information for farm and other income sources
Farm families must apply to the Options program to receive a payment. They must also commit to completing one of the following within two years of their application:
- a Farm Business Assessment offered by the Canadian Farm Business Advisory Services (CFBAS) or an equivalent OR
- an Individual Learning Plan and skills training through the Canadian Agricultural Skills Service (CASS) or an equivalent
"Application forms are available on the Options program web site at www.agr.gc.ca/options or by calling toll free at 1-866-367-8506," adds Watson. "Applicants must sign their form, and mail it in by October 31, 2006."
Contact: Leslie Watson (780) 495-5385 |
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