Update on Interim CAISP Payment Program

September 24, 2003

Following decisions between federal and provincial agriculture ministers in Ottawa on September 22, 2003, it has been confirmed that the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program will be the primary vehicle for providing financial assistance to BC farmers and ranchers expecting income declines this year.

There will be no specific payment for cattle ranchers beyond the BSE Recovery Program which has a September 30, 2003 application deadline (http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/ahc/bse/index.htm).

Applications for the CAISP interim payment will be available by the end of September on the federal website (http://www.agr.gc.ca/cb/apf/index_e.php) The federal government has undertaken to process applications in 30 days.

MAFF staff are available to help farmers and ranchers with their application. See schedule of producer workshops (http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/rm/acct_session.htm) or for further information about these programs, call 1-888-576-FARM (3276) or email the program office at agf.wfip@gov.bc.ca.

Farmers across Canada are eligible for a one-time payment from the $600 million transition program based on eligible net sales in 2002.

All producers are eligible to apply. It will be allocated to producers as cash payments based on their average eligible net sales for the past five years and will not be counted as revenue under the CAIS program. More information is available at the federal website http://www.agr.gc.ca/

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