Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program: Step 6. After you apply

Step 6. After you apply

1. We'll send you an acknowledgement notice

Once you submit your application, we'll send you an acknowledgment notice.

The submission of a project application creates no obligation on the part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) to provide funding for the proposed project.

2. We'll assess your application

After your application is received, it'll be assessed against the following:

• completeness of the project application
• eligibility criteria
• proposed costs for eligible activities

The technical and financial viability of the project may also be assessed, as well as environmental considerations (such as environmental effects and risks related to the project) and other risks.

You'll be contacted when your file is assigned to a program officer for assessment. If there are issues with the completeness or eligibility of your application you'll be informed at that time. The assessment can be paused so that you may update your application, however this will also delay the processing time.

Order of application assessment

Generally, applications are assessed in the order in which they are received. In limited circumstances, the program may also consider:

• the project completion date, with the aim of providing successful applicants with their reimbursements as close as possible as to when their project was/is due to be completed
• provincial and sectoral distribution, to help ensure the fair distribution of funding across all provinces and sub-sectors for each of the program's 10 years
• project size, to help ensure the fair distribution of funding across both small and large producers for each of the program's 10 years

The order in which applications could be assessed may only affect the timing of a successful applicant's reimbursement for a completed project — it won't affect the opportunity for the project to be assessed and approved for funding.

Under the program, each eligible producer is notionally allocated an amount proportional to their share of production on January 1, 2021, for which they are able to apply whenever they are ready to invest. If the number of applications received for a program year exceeds that year's funding, projects received will still be assessed and can be approved for reimbursement in a later program year.

Application assessment processing timelines (approximate)

If we received your application:

• before November 2024, the assessment has started
• between November 2024 and January 2025, the assessment should start before March 2025
• after January 2025, the assessment should start after March 2025

The above processing times may change without notice due to a variety of factors:

• Retroactive projects, the majority of projects currently being assessed, take longer to assess than non-retroactive projects since all supporting documentation is required before project approval (for example, invoices, proofs of payment, and proofs of activity).
• If additional information and supporting documentation are needed, it takes more time to complete the assessment of your application to make sure your application meets all program requirements.

3. We'll send you a contribution agreement

If your application is approved, you'll be asked to enter into a contribution agreement with AAFC. The contribution agreement will outline AAFC's maximum contribution toward eligible costs, as well as your responsibilities and obligations. To be eligible to receive your funding, you must read the agreement, sign it, and return the signed copy to AAFC using the online system (PEFIPOS). You'll also be asked to register for Direct Deposit at this time.

Contribution agreements with AAFC contain Information Management, Retention and Access provisions which require applicants to retain records for seven (7) years after the date of expiration or early termination of the funding agreement with AAFC, whichever comes later.

Funding availability

As of February 25, 2025:

Due to high demand, program funding for the current fiscal year (April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025) is now fully allocated. As a result:

• Applications pending approval can expect to receive a contribution agreement with funding from the next fiscal year (April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026)
  • If approved for a retroactive project, we aim to process your reimbursement payment within 30 business days of a duly completed claim.
  • If approved for a non-retroactive project, you can submit your claim starting April 1, 2025
    • For most non-retroactive projects, claims may only be submitted once the project is completed and all costs are incurred and paid
• If you already have a 2024-25 contribution agreement for a retroactive project, you can expect payment within 30 business days of signing your agreement

4. Complete your claim for reimbursement (if applicable)

If your approved application was for a retroactive project (that is, complete and paid for), you won’t need to submit a claim for reimbursement. The program will submit a claim for reimbursement on your behalf.

If your approved application was for a non-retroactive project (that is some or all of the activities were not yet complete or paid for), you'll be given instructions on when and how you can submit a claim for reimbursement.

5. Your reimbursement will be sent

You'll be reimbursed via Direct Deposit once the claim documentation is received and processed by AAFC.

Service standards

Our goal is to:

• send you an acknowledgement notice, within 3 business days, once your submission is received through the online system
• process your application within 100 business days
• process your reimbursement payment within 30 business days of receipt of a duly completed claim

Application processing statistics

This data is since program launch and current as of February 1, 2025. The program aims to update on a quarterly basis.

• Applications received: 3,767
• Applications withdrawn, cancelled or deemed ineligible: 754
• Applications approved: 2,486
• Reimbursements paid: $326,606,792

Application processing statistics by sector