Q. Is the Enhanced Spring Credit Advance Program (ESCAP) available to livestock and other commodities?

A. ESCAP is available for field crops currently covered under the Spring Credit Advance Program but is not available to the livestock sector or other commodities. The federal government is working toward including livestock and other commodities under advance payment programs. On May 18, the federal government introduced proposed amendments to the Agricultural Marketing Programs Act (AMPA), which would expand coverage under advance payment programs to include livestock and more crops. These changes would be in place only after the legislation is passed by the House of Commons.