AgriStability: Fact Sheets

List of Fact Sheets

• What is cross compliance?

  Your province and territories may require that you comply with certain conditions to be eligible for AgriStability program benefits.

  Provinces and territories may choose to implement cross compliance initiatives related to:

  • Building sector capacity, growth and competitiveness
  • Climate change and environment
  • Science, research and innovation
  • Market development and trade
  • Resilience and public trust

  Provincial and territorial officials are responsible for telling you about their cross compliance initiative. They are also responsible for setting the conditions of cross compliance and verifying that you meet those conditions. Provincial or territorial officials will tell us if you have met their conditions. If you have not met the conditions set out by your province or territory, you will not be eligible to receive AgriStability benefits.

  If you feel these conditions were not properly applied to your AgriStability form, you can send an appeal directly to your province or territory. Your province or territory is responsible for addressing any disputes related to cross compliance.

  For detailed program information, see the AgriStability Program Guidelines.

• Is your production eligible?

  Most commodities reported to the Canada Revenue Agency as farming income are eligible for AgriStability, such as:

  • grains, oilseeds and specialty crops
  • forages
  • edible horticulture (fruits, vegetables, herbs, etc.)
  • non-edible horticulture (Christmas trees, shrubs, flowers, etc.)
  • livestock

  Agricultural commodities that you produce and process on your farm may also be eligible, providing they do not make up the majority of your farm. Some processing examples include:

  • strawberries made into jam
  • beef made into beef jerky
  • beeswax made into candles
  • grain made into flour

  Income and expenses related to the following commodities or activities are not eligible for AgriStability:

  • farming activities outside of Canada (only the portion farmed in Canada is eligible)
  • aquaculture
  • peat moss
  • cannabis (except for industrial hemp)
  • operation of a wild game reserve
  • resales of purchased commodities and inputs
  • hunt farms unless permitted by law
  • trees or seedlings produced or harvested for:
    • firewood
    • construction material
    • poles or posts
    • use in reforestation

  If you have income and expenses from futures market transactions or you purchase and resell agricultural commodities, access the AgriStability Program Handbook for information on their eligibility.

• How is your fee calculated?

  Each year you participate in AgriStability, you must pay a participation fee and an administrative cost share of $55 to help cover your share of the program's administrative costs.

  Fees for on-going participants

  We calculate fees for ongoing participants based on your contribution reference margin, which is your reference margin from the previous program year. We base your fee on the contribution reference margin because your reference margin for the current program year is not available when we calculate your fee.

  The fee to protect your farm is equal to 0.45% of your contribution reference margin multiplied by the 70% support level. That means you pay $3.15 for every $1,000 of protected reference margin. The minimum fee is $45.

  An example of a fee calculation

  Contribution reference margin	$100,000
  Multiplied by 0.45%	$450
  Multiplied by 70%	$315
  Total: fee amount	$315
  Add: administrative cost share	$55
  Total: fee plus administrative cost share	$370

  Fees for new or rejoining participants

  If you are a new participant or you are rejoining the program after not participating for at least two years, we calculate your fee based on a three year industry average contribution reference margin. You only need to submit your current productive capacity to enrol in the program rather than your actual records.

  For example, your current year productive capacity is 600 acres of barley

  	Reference year 1	Reference year 2	Reference year 3
  Barley (acres)	600	600	600
  Industry Benchmark	$130.13	$79.10	$124.79
  Total	$78,078	$47,460	$74,874
  Average ($78,078 + $47,460 + $74,874) ÷ 3 = $66,804 Multiplied by 0.45% = $300 Multiplied by 70% = $210 Total: fee amount = $210 Add: administrative cost share = $55 Total: fee plus administrative cost share = $265

  Late participation fees

  If there has been a significant downturn in a farm sector and program participation is low, a province or territory may allow participants to join the program after the April 30 enrolment deadline. If late participation is initiated, a two-portion late participation fee will apply. The fees are calculated as follows:

  • The first portion is a fee of $300 ($245 fee plus $55 administrative cost share). We will process your application after we receive this portion.
  • The second portion of the fee is only paid if you receive a payment for that year. We will deduct this fee from your payment. The fee is calculated by using your actual reference margin for that program year and multiplying it by 0.45% multiplied by 70% minus the $245 fee that you paid in the first portion.

  For more information, see What is late participation?

  What is the deadline to pay my fee?

  The deadline to pay your fee and administrative cost share without penalty is April 30 unless otherwise shown on your Enrolment Notice. If you miss the April 30 deadline, you have until December 31 to pay your fee with a penalty equal to 20% of your fee.

  You can pay your fee on the next business day if your enrolment deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday.

  How can I pay my fee?

  You have two options on how to pay your fee:

  • Send the tear off portion of your Enrolment Notice along with a cheque payable to "The Receiver General for Canada".
  • Pay on-line or by telephone through your financial institution (if they provide this service) using your participant identification number (PIN) found on your Enrolment Notice.

  For detailed program information, see the AgriStability Program Guidelines.

• What is late participation?

  If agreed to by the federal government, a province or territory may allow producers the opportunity to join the program after the April 30 enrolment deadline if there has been a significant downturn in the farm sector and program participation is low. This is called late participation.

  Provinces may request late participation when:

  • producers are facing significant income declines for reasons beyond their control
  • a gap exists in AgriStability participation for those affected producers
  • limited insurance tools are available to help offset losses

  Provinces can make late participation available to all eligible producers in a province, or limit it to a subset of producers (for example, a region or sector).

  Who is a late participant?

  A late participant is someone who either:

  • did not receive an Enrolment Notice and did not enrol in the program
  • received an Enrolment Notice but opted out of the program before the deadline to confirm participation
  • received an Enrolment Notice, but did not pay their fee by the final fee deadline

  Is there a fee for late participation?

  If you did not receive an Enrolment Notice for the program year, or received an Enrolment Notice but opted out of the program before the deadline, you will pay a fee in two-portions:

  1. The first portion is a fee of $300 ($245 fee plus $55 administrative cost share). You must submit this to us before we will process your application.
  2. The second portion of the fee only has to be paid if you receive a payment for that program year. We will deduct this fee from your payment. If the fee is more than your payment, we will reduce your payment to zero. You will not have to pay any additional amount.

  We calculate the second portion of the fee by using your actual reference margin for that program year multiplied by 0.45% multiplied by 70% minus the $245 fee that you paid in the first portion. For example:

  Reference margin	$200,000
  Multiplied by 0.45%	$900
  Multiplied by 70%	$630
  Total: fee amount	$630
  less: $245 fee already paid	$245
  Total: second portion of the fee	$385

  If you received an Enrolment Notice for the program year but did not pay your fee by the final fee deadline, you can still enter the program as a late participant. However, instead of paying the late two-portion fee, you will pay the fee shown on the Enrolment Notice that you previously received. We must receive the fee before we will process your form.

  Is there a penalty for applying late?

  Your final calculated benefit will be reduced by 20%. The penalty is in place to encourage producers to enrol each year in AgriStability to ensure they have access to full support.

  When do I have to have my final form submitted?

  The deadline to submit your form is the same for all participants.

  September 30 without penalty and December 31 with penalty.

  New deadlines for the 2024 program year:

  June 30 without penalty and September 30 with penalty.

  For detailed program information, see the AgriStability Program Guidelines.

• How are production margins calculated?

  We calculate a production margin by subtracting your allowable expenses from your allowable income that you reported to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

  If you report on the cash basis, we also include changes in your purchased inputs, deferred income, accounts receivable and payable, crop inventory and livestock inventory. We calculate these changes by comparing the value at the beginning of your fiscal year to the end of your fiscal year. This ensures we have the most complete picture of your farm's income situation during the year.

  An example of a production margin calculation

  Allowable income (including allowable program payments)	$160,000
  Allowable expenses	− $40,000
  Production margin before accrual adjustments	$120,000
  Crop inventory (change in value)	+ -$56,000
  Accounts receivable (change in value)	+ $70,000
  Purchased input (change in value)	+ $2,000
  Production margin after accrual adjustments	= $136,000

  How do you calculate the change in value of my inventory?

  We use two methods to value livestock inventory. One for the commodities you market and another for the commodities you've held for breeding purposes (non-market).

  Note: The change in value for your perishable commodities should be reported as an accounts receivable rather than in inventory. They are reported this way as perishable crops spoil easily and generally cannot be stored for long periods of time.

  P1/P2 hybrid inventory valuation method (market commodities)

  We multiply your ending inventory by an end of year price (P2) and your starting inventory by a start of year price (P1). Then we subtract your end of year value from your start of year value to come up with your change in inventory value for that commodity. For example:

  Commodity	Starting inventory	Start of year price (P1)	Start of year value	Ending inventory	End of year price (P1)	End of year value	Change in value*
  Wheat #1, CWRS	400 tonnes	$220	$88,000	200 tonnes	$160	$32,000	−$56,000
  * end of year value minus start of year value

  P2 only inventory valuation method (non-market commodities)

  We subtract your starting inventory from your ending inventory and then multiply the difference by an end of year price (P2). This is your change in inventory value for that commodity.

  Commodity	Starting inventory	Ending inventory	Difference	End of year price	Change in value*
  Cows, breeding	20 head	100 head	80 head	$880	$70,400
  * difference × end of year price

  If you report to the CRA using the accrual basis of accounting, we will need more information about the breeding and culled breeding livestock inventory values you reported. We need to ensure the value of breeding animals and culled breeding animals reflect a P2 price only when valuing your inventory.

  Allowable and non-allowable income and expense items

  Allowable income and expense items include:

  • Allowable income
    • agricultural commodity sales
    • AgriInsurance proceeds
    • Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) payments (where reportable as farm income for tax purposes and calculated based on the replacement value of allowable items)
    • private insurance or other proceeds for allowable income and expense items
    • rebates of allowable expenses
    • unsubsidized hail insurance
    • wildlife damage compensation payment

  • Non-allowable income
    • agricultural contract work ^{Footnote 1Footnote 2}
    • disaster assistance payments
    • gravel
    • interest
    • leases
    • other program payments ^{Footnote 3}
    • patronage dividends
    • rebates for non-allowable expenses
    • resale of commodities purchased
    • trucking

  • Allowable expenses
    • arm's length salaries
    • commissions and levies
    • commodity futures transaction fees
    • commodity purchases
    • container and twine
    • electricity
    • fertilizer and lime
    • freight and shipping
    • heating fuel
    • insurance or other premiums for allowable income and expense items
    • insurance premiums (crop production)
    • machinery (gasoline, diesel fuel, oil)
    • minerals and salts
    • pesticides
    • prepared feed
    • storage/drying
    • trucking (eligible commodities to market or eligible inputs to the farm)
    • veterinary fee, medicine, A.I. fees

  • Non-allowable expenses
    • advertising and marketing costs
    • agricultural contract work
    • allowance on eligible capital property
    • building and fence repairs
    • capital cost allowance
    • gravel
    • interest (real estate, mortgage, other)
    • land clearing and draining
    • legal and accounting fees
    • licences/permits
    • machinery lease/rental
    • machinery repair
    • mandatory inventory adjustment (prior year)
    • membership/subscription fees
    • motor vehicle expenses
    • motor vehicle interest and leasing costs
    • non-arm's length salaries
    • office expenses
    • optional inventory adjustment (prior year)
    • other
    • other insurance premiums
    • property taxes
    • quota rental (tobacco, dairy)
    • rental (land, buildings, pasture)
    • small tools
    • soil testing
    • telephone

  For detailed program information, see the AgriStability Program Guidelines.

• How are reference margins calculated?

  We calculate a reference margin by taking your production margins from the past five years, dropping the highest and the lowest years, then averaging the remaining three years. We call this an olympic average. For more information on how we calculate production margins, see How are production margins calculated?

  For example: if your current program year is 2024, we calculate your reference margin using your 2019 to 2023 years.

  	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
  Production margin	$68,000	$65,000	$74,000	$100,000	$86,000
  Highest and lowest dropped	$68,000	X	$74,000	X	$86,000
  Reference margin ($68,000 + $74,000 + $86,000) ÷ 3 = $76,000

  We will base your reference margin on your past three years of information if you:

  • did not farm for the last five years
  • are joining the program for the first time or
  • are rejoining the program after being out for at least 4 years

  In these cases, we will calculate your reference margin using your most recent 3 reference years until we have five years of information available. We will not use the olympic average.

  	2021	2022	2023
  Production margin	$74,000	$100,000	$86,000
  Reference margin ($74,000 + $100,000 + $86,000) ÷ 3 = $86,667

  If you did not farm in the last three years, we will create margins for you for the missing years until you have three years of information available.

  	2021	2022	2023
  Productive capacity from your current year	900 acres	900 acres	900 acres
  Benchmark per unit	$97.00	$76.00	$60.00
  Margins we created for your missing years	$87,300	$68,400	$54,000
  Reference margin ($87,300 + $68,400 + $54,000) ÷ 3 = $69,900

  To create a reference margin, we multiply the productive capacity you reported in your current program year by a benchmark per unit (BPU) for the year(s) we need to create.

  For more information on BPUs, see How are structural change adjustments calculated?

  For detailed program information, see the AgriStability Program Guidelines.

• How is your payment calculated?

  If your production margin for the current program year falls below your reference margin by more than 30% you may receive a payment. AgriStability covers 80% of your decline that is beyond the 30%. For example:

  Reference margin (A)	$100,000
  Support level (70% of (A)) (B)	$70,000
  Production margin (C)	$40,000
  Decline (B – C)	$30,000
  AgriStability coverage	80%
  Payment amount	$24,000

  What if my margin is negative?

  A negative margin occurs when your allowable expenses exceed your allowable income. For example, if you're allowable income is $100,000 and your allowable expenses are $160,000, you have a negative margin of -$60,000.

  If your production margin is negative, AgriStability covers up to 80% of the portion of your margin decline that is below zero. To receive maximum coverage, you must have participated in AgriInsurance at the 70% level if it was available. If you did not, we will calculate what you would have received if you had participated in AgriInsurance at that level (minus your premiums) and deduct the amount from your negative margin payment amount.

  You do not have to apply for negative margin protection. We will calculate your negative margin payment automatically when you apply for AgriStability. Negative margin payments are calculated and issued separate from AgriStability benefits paid to you for your positive margin decline.

  To be eligible for a negative margin payment, you must meet the following conditions:

  • you have a positive reference margin
  • you have a negative reference margin but two out of three margins used to calculate your reference margin are positive
  • you must have followed sound management practices
  • the negative margin must have occurred because of reasons beyond your control

  An example of a negative margin payment calculation

  Reference margin	Production margin	Negative portion of margin	Maximum negative margin payment
  $120,000	−$60,000	−$60,000	$60,000 × 80% = $48,000

  The maximum AgriStability payment a participant can receive (including combined operations) is the lower of:

  • $3 million
  • 70% of a participant’s margin decline

  The maximum AgriStability payment includes both positive and negative margin payments.

  What if I'm a late participant?

  If you enter the program as a late participant your payment will be reduced by 20%. For more information on late participation, see What is late participation?

  For detailed program information, see the AgriStability Program Guidelines.

• How are structural change adjustments calculated?

  If you experienced a significant change in the size of your farming operation, we may apply a structural change adjustment to your reference margin. This will ensure your reference years are more reflective of what your farm looks like today.

  The ratio method is the standard calculation we use. This method relies more on your own farm's performance rather than on industry averages. It compares your productive capacity in the program year to each of your reference years using a benchmark per unit (BPU) value for each commodity you grow. For more information on BPUs, see below.

  An example of a ratio method structural change calculation for the 2024 program year

  Step 1

  Multiply the productive units in each reference year (2019 to 2023) by the BPU for that commodity or commodity group in that reference year. This will result in a benchmark production margin for each reference year based on the actual productive units in that reference year.

  	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
  Reference year productive units	480 acres	480 acres	480 acres	500 acres	500 acres	800 acres
  Benchmark per unit (BPU)	$105	$100	$115	$110	$125	-
  Benchmark production margin	$50,400	$48,000	$55,200	$55,000	$62,500	-

  Step 2

  Apply the number of productive units in the current program year (2024) to all the reference years. Multiply the productive units by the BPU for that commodity or commodity group for that reference year. This will result in a benchmark production margin for each reference year based on the current year's productive units.

  	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
  Current year productive units	800 acres	800 acres	800 acres	800 acres	800 acres	800 acres
  Benchmark per unit (BPU)	$105	$100	$115	$100	$125	-
  Benchmark production margin	$84,000	$80,000	$92,000	$80,000	$100,000	-

  Step 3

  Divide the benchmark production margin calculated in step (2) by the benchmark production margin calculated in step (1) to arrive at a ratio for each reference year.

  	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
  Benchmark production margin from Step 1	$50,400	$48,000	$55,200	$55,000	$62,500
  Benchmark production margin from Step 2	$84,000	$80,000	$92,000	$80,000	$100,000
  Ratio	1.66	1.66	1.66	1.45	1.60

  Step 4

  Multiply the ratio calculated in step (3) by your actual production margin for that reference year.

  	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
  Actual production margin	$96,000	$105,000	$103,000	$125,000	$130,000
  Ratio	1.66	1.66	1.66	1.45	1.60
  Adjusted production margin	$159,360	$174,300	$170,980	$181,250	$208,000

  Once we calculate each reference year this way, we recalculate your reference margin using the adjusted production margins. If the difference between the original reference margin and the adjusted reference margin is at least 10% and $5,000, we will use the adjusted reference margin in place of the original.

  The additive method is an alternative method we may use in certain situations if the ratio method cannot be calculated or does not accurately reflect the structural change of your farm. For more information on the additive method, see Annex C of the AgriStability Program Guidelines.

  What is a benchmark per unit?

  A benchmark per unit (BPU) is an industry average margin used when calculating a structural change on your farm or to create a missing year from your reference margin for beginning farmers.

  It is the average margin related to producing one unit of that commodity in your region. Common units of measurement for crops include:

  • per acre for field crops
  • square meter for greenhouses and nursery operations
  • hundreds of taps for maple syrup operations

  Most livestock BPUs represent a specific production practice. For example:

  • a feeder operation would use the number of animals fed
  • a breeding operation would use the number of females that birthed
  • an egg producer would use the number of producing hens

  A basic BPU is calculated by multiplying an average yield by market price and then subtracting the average production costs that are allowable for AgriStability. Industry average yields and prices are specific to the region.

  (average yields × market prices) − production costs = benchmark per unit

  Negative value BPUs can occur if the production costs are greater than revenues. To ensure we are not penalizing you in the current program year for previous year disasters, we will set BPUs that are negative to one cent. We do this for all commodities except establishment stage crops. Establishment stage BPUs remain negative as there is no expectation of profit for these crops during their development.

  We group some field crops together into baskets and create one common BPU for the basket. Creating baskets prevents structural change adjustments from being applied where you are simply using normal crop rotations. Common baskets include:

  • crop basket
  • forage basket
  • vegetable basket

  For detailed program information, see the AgriStability Program Guidelines.

• What is whole farm combining?

  We may combine your information with other participants (or non-participants) if you operate as part of a whole farm, even though you report separately for income tax purposes.

  In general, we combine farming operations when:

  • farms are not legally, financially or operationally independent; or
  • transactions between the farms are not at fair market value

  Some examples of when we would not consider you to be farming independently:

  • you have transactions that cannot be clearly assigned, such as
    • not keeping separate books
    • storing inventory or sharing inputs with others
  • you have engaged in risk-splitting. For example, if you farmed as a single farm at any time and later split into two or more farms (unless a permanent division of controlling interest has taken place).
  • you are reporting inconsistent amounts of income or expenses for the size of your farm
  • you have transactions that are above or below fair market value

  We calculate each farm's fee and payment based on their share of the combined reference margin, contribution reference margin and production margin.

  For detailed program information, see the AgriStability Program Guidelines.

• How are interim payments and targeted advance payments calculated?

  How are interim payments calculated?

  Interim payments allow you to access funds before you complete your fiscal period in the program year. It is an advance on your final AgriStability benefit.

  To be eligible to apply for an interim payment, you must have:

  • completed a production cycle (unless you could not due to reasons beyond your control such as disaster circumstances like flooding or drought)
  • completed six consecutive months of farming activity
  • confirmed participation in the program for that program year

  To calculate an interim payment, we estimate your current program year margin and compare it to your estimated reference margin. We will apply any structural change adjustments needed.

  We estimate your current program year margin income by:

  • multiplying your expected production in the program year by a fair market value
  • adding any expected AgriInsurance or program payments

  We estimate your current program year margin expenses by:

  • using an average from your historical expenses
  • considering any significant changes in an expense item that you reported on the Interim application

  We calculate interim payments using estimated margins. To receive a benefit, your estimated current program year margin must fall below your reference margin by more than 30%. Because we estimate your margins, we pay out any benefits at 50% to help reduce the risk of overpayment.

  If late participation is being offered in your province, you can apply for an interim payment if you meet the eligibility requirements. We must receive your late participation fee before you submit an application. We will also apply the 20% late participation penalty to any interim benefit you may receive. For more information on late participation, see What is late participation?

  How are targeted advance payments calculated?

  A targeted advance payment is an advance on your final AgriStability benefit and may be made in years when there is a need for more timely cash flow than interim payments can provide. Targeted advance payments can be issued when there are events that negatively impact an entire region, industry or sector. Federal and provincial governments must agree before a targeted advance payment can be offered to any designated sector or region.

  If you apply for a targeted advance payment and an interim payment, you will receive the greater of the two payments. Normally, we pay targeted advance payments at 50% of the estimated final benefit. This may be increased to 75% if agreed to by officials.

  To calculate a targeted advance payment, we will calculate an industry average margin decline in the program year and compare it to your most current reference margin we have at the time of the advance.

  To calculate your industry average margin decline, we:

  1. identify the productive units you reported in the most recent program year (for example, number of acres of wheat, number of head of cattle, etc.)
  2. apply these productive units to the program year and each reference year and multiply them by the expected industry average for productive units
  3. add the values together to form margins for the program year and each of the reference years
  4. calculate an olympic reference margin by dropping the highest and lowest reference years and averaging the remaining three
  5. calculate the percentage difference between the program year margin and the reference margin (that is, your estimated margin decline)

  We will apply your estimated margin decline to the most recent reference margin we have at the time of the advance.

  For detailed program information, see the AgriStability Program Guidelines.

• How do you make an adjustment to your form?

  You may adjust your AgriStability form by sending a completed adjustment request form to us within 18 months from the date on your original Calculation of Program Benefits.

  If we accept your adjustment, we will make the changes and issue you a Revised Calculation of Program Benefits.

  If you want to make an adjustment to your original adjustment, you must do so within 90 days from the date on your Revised Calculation of Program Benefits or 18 months from the date on your original Calculation of Program Benefits (whichever is later).

  If your adjustment increases your original payment, we will issue you the additional amount. If your adjustment decreases your original payment, the amount will be repayable by you.

  If we do not accept your adjustment, you have 90 days from the date of written notice to request an appeal. For more information on appeals, see How do I submit an appeal?.

  Any changes to your taxable income must be filed with the Canada Revenue Agency and are subject to verification and/or audit. These adjustments may also affect other government programs that you participate in.

  The following forms are for producers in British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories and Yukon.

  If you are in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec or Prince Edward Island, contact your provincial AgriStability administration for the correct forms to complete.

  Individual

  Adjustment request form	Send form to
  T1275 - AgriStability and AgriInvest Additional Information and Adjustment request form	AgriStability Administration PO Box 3200 Winnipeg MB  R3C 5R7 Toll-free fax: 1-877-949-4885

  Corporation, Co-operative or Special Individual

  Adjustment request form	Send form to
  AgriStability and AgriInvest Additional Information and Adjustment Request	AgriStability Administration PO Box 3200 Winnipeg MB  R3C 5R7 Toll-free fax: 1-877-949-4885

• How do you submit an appeal?

  You may submit an appeal if:

  • you feel we did not correctly apply the AgriStability program rules to your form
  • you missed a deadline because of exceptional circumstances beyond your control

  Disagreeing with program rules is not a valid reason for an appeal. However, if you feel that we did not apply program rules correctly, you may request a review of your application by the administration.

  You will have 90 days from the date we notify you of a decision to request an appeal. For example, if you miss a deadline you can request an appeal within 90 days from the date we notified you that your form was ineligible.

  AgriStability appeal process

  Step 1 - Send your written appeal

  Complete your written appeal using the AgriStability Program Appeal Submission Form.

  To complete the Appeal Submission Form, make sure you:

  • explain in detail the reason for your appeal
  • attach any supporting documentation

  For example, if you are appealing a missed deadline because an exceptional circumstance prevented you from meeting the deadline (for example, illness, death, pandemic restrictions), explain in detail the circumstances that prevented you from meeting the deadline. Attach documents to support your appeal such as medical documents, death certificates, public health orders or other relevant documents.

  Send your completed form and any attachments to:

  AgriStability Program Appeals

  PO Box 3200

  Winnipeg  MB  R3C 5R7

  Toll-free fax: 1-877-949-4885

  If you are in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec or Prince Edward Island, contact your provincial AgriStability administration for information on the appeals process.

  Step 2 - We will confirm receipt of your appeal

  We will send you a letter confirming that we received your appeal request, usually within 5 business days.

  Step 3 - Internal review of your request

  If you missed a deadline, we will review your submission to determine if exceptional circumstances caused you to miss the deadline. We can waive a missed deadline when exceptional circumstances occur.

  Some examples of exceptional circumstances include:

  • a severe illness which requires hospitalization and/or prolonged care
  • death before the missed deadline
  • an accident or incident causing serious bodily injury
  • divorce or separation proceedings
  • severe conditions that cause significant damage to your home or office
  • severe weather that hampers your ability to carry on normal business operations
  • Farm Debt Mediation or bankruptcy

  We will not waive a deadline if you:

  • forgot to submit the required item by the deadline
  • do not have the funds to pay your fee by the deadline
  • are unaware of the program deadlines
  • have minor illnesses
  • have typical stresses related to farming (such as busy with seeding, harvesting, or calving, etc.)

  Step 4 - Review of the appeal submission

  If we cannot resolve your request through an adjustment, we will send your appeal to an appeals committee for review. We will prepare a package for the appeals committee that contains an Administration's Submission Form outlining our position and your Appeal Submission Form outlining your position.

  Before the meeting we will send you the package for review. You will have 3 weeks to provide any additional information to support your appeal.

  Step 5 - Appeals committee meeting

  We will send the Administration's Submission Form and your Appeal Submission Form to the appeals committee for review. You and your form preparer can attend the meeting in person or by phone. You must provide at least 14 days' notice if you wish to attend the meeting.

  The appeals committee consists of producer representatives from your province or region. A minimum of 3 producers will be present to review your case. This allows you to have your case reviewed by your peers. Also attending will be a non-voting provincial government representative and a recorder from the administration to provide secretariat services.

  The appeals committee will make a recommendation based on the information included in the Administration's Submission Form and your Appeal Submission Form. They will not consider any new information not included in these submissions.

  The role of the appeals committee is to determine whether the program rules have been correctly applied to your form. The appeals committee cannot create exceptions to the program rules included in the program authorities.

  Step 6 – We will notify you of the appeal results

  We will write you with the results of your appeal within 10 business days from the date of the meeting.

  There is no further recourse under the program once a final decision is made on your appeal.

  For detailed program information, see the AgriStability Program Guidelines.

• Can an estate participate in AgriStability?

  An estate may participate in AgriStability if it meets the eligibility requirements of the program. If you are the executor, you must notify us of the participant's death and send us the following documents:

  • A certified copy of the death certificate or funeral director's certificate. We need it to change the name of the account to include "Estate/Succession"; and
  • A certified copy of the will and letter of probate (or letters of administration). We need these to identify who can act on behalf of the estate and beneficiaries.
    • If the will and letter of probate or letters of administration are not available, contact us at 1-866-367-8506.

  What forms does the estate have to complete?

  • Complete an AgriStability form for individual participants in the name of the deceased individual. Identify the estate by including the word "Estate" in the participant's name.
  • If the estate also files an optional return for the year of death (for example, a return of rights or things), you must also complete the form for special individuals. We will combine the information from both forms.

  How does the estate close an AgriStability account?

  • To close an estate account, we may need a written request to close the account signed by the executor or administrator.

  The reference history of the deceased participant may be retained by a beneficiary. However, their farming operation must consist of most of the deceased participant's farming operation. For multiple beneficiaries, a common business arrangement must be created to carry on the same farming operation as the deceased.

  For detailed program information, see the AgriStability Program Guidelines.