Help for your farm
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has several programs and services that can help you manage the financial risks and needs of your farming business. These programs and services include cash advances, government-guaranteed loans and confidential mediation for farm debt repayment.
Program benefits
The Advance Payments Program (APP) is a federal loan guarantee program which provides agricultural producers with easy access to low-interest cash advances. You can improve your cash flow to meet your financial needs until you are able to sell your agricultural products.
- Advances of up to $1 million are available
- The first $250,000 is interest-free
Canadian Agricultural Loans Act program
The Canadian Agricultural Loans Act (CALA) program is a loan guarantee program designed to increase the availability of loans to farmers and agricultural co-operatives.
- Farmers may use the loans to set up, improve, and develop their farming businesses
- Agricultural co-operatives may access loans to process, distribute, or market products of farming
- Farmers can receive loans of up to $500,000 and up to $3 million for co-operatives
The Farm Debt Mediation Service (FDMS) offers financial counselling and mediation services to farmers who are having difficulties meeting their financial obligations. FDMS helps bring producers and their creditors together with a mediator in a neutral forum to reach a mutually acceptable agreement and repayment arrangement for farm debt.
- Free, voluntary, and confidential service
- An economical alternative to trying to resolve financial disputes in court
Apply now
Apply: Advance Payments Program
Third-party producer organizations, known as APP Administrators, deliver the program directly to producers on behalf of AAFC. You can apply for an APP cash advance through 30 APP Administrators across Canada. Their staff will guide you through the application process and advise you of any administration fees that they may charge.
Apply: Canadian Agricultural Loans Act program
You can apply for a loan under the CALA program by contacting any of the following lender organizations:
- chartered banks
- credit unions
- caisses populaires
- Alberta Treasury Branches
The lender will go through its loan application process and determine the financing best suited for your needs, which may include a loan under the CALA program.
Apply: Farm Debt Mediation Service
Complete and send the application form to the FDMS office nearest you.