Agricultural Marketing Programs Act (AMPA)

Act: Agricultural Marketing Programs Act , 1997, c. 20
Regulation: Agricultural Marketing Programs Regulations, SOR/99-295

To Whom Does This Apply?

Advance Payments Program (APP): Producers of crops, cattle, hogs, sheep, bison, lamb, grains and oilseeds, fruits and vegetables, fur pelts, honey, maple syrup, and tobacco.

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 (APP); and the Price Pooling Program (PPP). 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 APP provides producers with a cash advance on the value of their agricultural products during a specified period. By improving their cash flow throughout the year, the APP helps crop and livestock producers meet their financial obligations and benefit from the best market conditions. The maximum cash advance is $400 000 per producer with the first $100 000 received in each production period being interest-free.

The PPP 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 seven marketing agencies currently administrating it. The program would also be open to existing or newly developed marketing agencies.

How to obtain services?

APP advances are issued by producer organizations on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Please refer to the list of participating producer organizations to locate a producer organization near you that offers cash advances. The contacts at the producer organizations will be able to guide you through the process of submitting an application for a cash advance under the APP.

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.

Manitoba Contact(s):
See National Contact.

National Contact(s):
Advance Payments Program and Price Pooling 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