Agricultural Marketing Programs Act (AMPA)

Act: Agricultural Marketing Programs Act , 1997, c. 20
Regulation: Agricultural Marketing Programs Regulations, SOR/99-295;Ranch-raised Fur Pelts Designation Regulations, SOR/99-253

To Whom Does This Apply?

Advance Payments Program (APP): Producers of field crops, maple syrup, honey and ranch raised fur.

Price Pooling Program (PPP): Producers of all agricultural commodities, including processed product, that is marketed under a cooperative plan.

Summary

The Agricultural Marketing Programs Act (AMPA) offers two programs to assist producers and marketing agencies to market their commodities/products: the Advance Payments Program; and the Price Pooling Program. These programs are not new as they were formerly offered under separate legislation.

AMPA amalgamated the Prairie Grain Advance Payments Act, Advance Payments for Crops Act and the Agricultural Products Cooperative Marketing Act.

Description

The Advance Payments Program provides producers with cash advances at harvest of up to $250 000 with the first $50 000 interest free. A cash advance allows the producer to store the crop and sell it throughout the year to achieve higher returns. The Program is easily accessible through the Canadian Wheat Board and approximately 50 other producer organizations which administrate the program through an agreement with the Federal Government.

The Price Pooling Program provides initial payment to producers for products delivered to the pool. It also covers eligible costs incurred by the agency for products sold under a cooperative plan. The program provides a price guarantee that protects the marketing agencies and its producers against unanticipated declines in the market price of their products. Producers can benefit from the program through six marketing agencies currently administrating it. The program would also be open to existing or newly developed marketing agencies.

How to obtain services?

Applications for the Advance Payments Program can be obtained from the Canadian Wheat Board and the other producer organizations offering the program. Applications for the Price Pooling Program can be obtained from the marketing agencies offering the program.

A list of participating organizations can be obtained from the respective Program Manager (see Contact Information).

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

Quebec Contact(s):
See National Contact.

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National Contact(s):
Advance Payments Program
Financial Guarantee Programs Division
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
7th Floor, Tower 7
1341 Baseline Road
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0C5
Toll-free (information): 1-888-346-2511
E-mail: fgp-pgf@agr.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.agr.gc.ca/index_e.phtml

Cathy Istead
Price Pooling Program Manager
Financial Guarantee Programs Division
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
7th Floor, Tower 7
1341 Baseline Road
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0C5
Telephone: (613) 759-6250
Cell: (613) 292-6814
Fax: (613) 759-6315
Toll-free (information): 1-888-346-2511
E-mail: isteadc@agr.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.agr.gc.ca/index_e.phtml