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Business Risk Management Programs
Production Insurance (PI)
The dollar coverage under PI is based on the producer’s long term yield and the current market price, and are designed to be actuarial sound. Premiums are cost shared with government. In recognition of the high input costs and volatile commodity prices, the government of Alberta created Spring Price Endorsement (SPE) and Revenue Insurance Coverage (RIC) to assist producers by protecting them against within-year price declines and helps offset effects of low market prices. By insuring under PI, SPE and RIC, a producer can protect herself/himself, not only against production loss but also price fluctuations.
CAIS Program
The Canada Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) Program helps producers protect their farming operations against margin declines, large or small. To date, Alberta has pioneered a number of changes including made-in-Alberta pilots and improved tools like myAFSC.
Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) is the provincial crown corporation that administers both the PI and the CAIS Program.
Environment Programs
Canada-Alberta Environmental Farm Plan (CAEFP)
An EFP is a voluntary, confidential self-assessment of a farm or ranch to identify environmental strengths and potential environmental risks; and then develop an individual action plan to address the risks.
Canada-Alberta Farm Stewardship Program (CAFSP)
This program provides financial and technical assistance to encourage producers to adopt beneficial management practices (BMPs) to address environmental risks identified in the EFP process.
Development of Soil, Water, Air and Biodiversity – Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs)
Information packages and resource materials have been developed on economically sound and practical BMPs. These packages are developed in conjunction with the research community and agricultural industry and provide the foundation for technology transfer of information to producers.
Greencover Canada
This program maximizes environmental benefits by protecting land from wind and water erosion, improving water quality, enhancing biodiversity and increasing carbon sequestration in the soil. There are four program components:
- Critical Areas
- Shelterbelts
- Technical Assistance
- Land Conversion
Minor Use Pesticides (MUP) Program
The program’s major activities centre on conducting field trials and generating data to support registration of MUPs, which helps reduce risk to the environment from the use of pesticides used in agriculture.
Alberta Drought Risk Management Plan (ADRMP)
This strategic plan provides timely information to Alberta’s producers concerning drought conditions. The plan provides a framework for a coordinated, proactive approach to reduce the effects of drought by taking actions before a drought; conducting monitoring, evaluating and reporting on drought-related conditions and taking action during and immediately following a drought to reduce its impact.
Canada-Alberta Farm Water Program (CAFWP)
This program targets long-term water supply solutions for farmers and ranchers to develop long-term, reliable supplies of fresh water for domestic, livestock, small-scale irrigation and other on-farm purposes. Increased supplies of adequate, sustainable, ongoing water supply solutions such as wells, pipelines, dugouts, stock dams, spring development, cisterns and remote watering systems will be accessed.
Canada-Alberta Water Supply Expansion Program (CAWSEP)
Alberta agricultural groups and communities will have both technical and financial access to support for the planning and development of projects that will improve their ability to develop and enhance long-term, sustainable agricultural water supplies.
Canada-Alberta Irrigation Rehabilitation Program Agreement (IRP)
This program promotes the rehabilitation of infrastructure in the irrigation districts. The IRP provides a timely review of the IRP reports, monitors construction and maintains records of rehabilitation projects; and monitors and evaluates new technologies or materials, to ensure ongoing and sustainable water management.
Food Safety Program Information
CFSQP - Canadian Food Safety and Quality Program
The CFSQP assists industry in developing and implementing government-recognized national food safety, food quality and traceability process-control systems; by reducing exposure to health hazards, increasing consumer confidence and providing value-added opportunities in support of the Canada brand. The program is a partnership arrangement offering funding to industry for Systems Development, On-Farm Implementation and Food Safety Initiatives.
On-Farm Food Safety (OFFS)
These programs are aimed at reducing the risks, and controlling the safety and quality of food. Through documentation of safe food practices, these programs reassure both the processor and the consumer that the products are safe and of high quality.
The results are increased consumer awareness and expectations of safety. Additionally, there is the ability to detect and link food safety problems to a particular processor, farmer or activity.
Alberta HACCP Advantage (AHA!)
AHA is a food safety initiative designed to help the food processing industry maintain its high standards in safety and quality. The initiative focuses on implementation to support the adoption of HACCP systems to raise awareness of food safety issues through various learning activities and pilot projects. Together with other provinces, territories and the federal government, AF works to develop a national system suited for small and medium food processing establishments, transportation distribution and food storage industries.
Renewal
Canadian Agriculture Skills Service (CASS) is a CASS is a program aimed at helping Alberta farmers and their spouses develop skills to improve farm practices and increase their off-farm income. They can also receive training that would enable them to find employment other than farming.
Farm Business Assessment (FBA) provides participants with a confidential, independent, one-on-one financial review valued at $2,500. Participants receive a business profile; a statement of assets and liabilities; a farm business ratio analysis; an income and expense statement for the previous three years; and other relevant information related to the business. An action plan and follow-up are also part of the assessment.
Specialized Business Planning Service (SBPS) provides financial support to help with comprehensive business or succession planning.
Planning for Value-added Enterprise (PAVE) helps applicants plan for the opportunities and risks associated with value-added enterprises.
Science and Innovation Program Information
Agri-Innovation Program
Provides market-based opportunities for innovation-based products.
Eligible applicants include organizations or entities (e.g. cooperatives, commodity groups, agri-businesses, municipal governments, universities or colleges) that represent or involve agriculture.
Broker Program
Acts to support those organizations and activities that occur between and amongst the value chain, universities, industry, and the private and public sector.
Eligible applicants include organizations or entities (e.g. cooperatives, commodity groups, agri-businesses, municipal governments, universities or colleges) which represent or involve agriculture.
Agricultural Bioproducts Innovation Program
Seeks to maximize research capacity by integrating public and private sector bio-initiatives. (Apply Online!)
Eligible applicants include universities and colleges, companies, other private and public sector research organizations, and federal government departments and agencies listed in schedules I and II of the Financial Administration Act (FAA).
1-877-BIO-4682
Advancing Canadian Agriculture & Agri-Food Program
This program offers opportunities for test and pilot projects, support for projects that transfer research results into market opportunities, and support for projects aimed at gathering, analyzing and sharing information to contribute to future agriculture and agri-food policy directions.
Eligible applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents that are legal entities, and may include: not-for-profit organizations and associations; universities; colleges; cooperatives; marketing boards; aboriginal groups; individuals and for-profit companies.
Agri-Opportunities Program
Promotes the commercialization of new agricultural products, processes or services that are currently not produced or commercially available in Canada. (Apply Online!)
Eligible applicants include Aboriginal groups, academic institutions, Canadian agri-businesses, co-operatives, corporations, foreign companies (that have a Canadian subsidiary), individuals, non-governmental organizations, non-profit entities, and producers.
A comprehensive list of all chapter programs and initiatives is available in the Agricultural Policy Framework Federal-Provincial-Territorial Programs (Spring 2005) guide.
Please contact us for further information. |