May 23, 2008

Ottawa, Ontario – The Government of Canada has finalized agreements with producer organizations and livestock producers can now apply for emergency advances through the Advance Payments Program (APP). The announcement, which provides support to the livestock industry, was made today by the Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board.

"The Government of Canada is working hard for farmers and making programs more responsive to their needs," said Minister Ritz. "We are pleased agreements are now in place with ten producer organizations to deliver emergency advances so cattle and hog farmers can get the cash flow they need."

In February, the government declared that a state of severe economic hardship exists for the cattle and hog sectors. Program infrastructure is in place with ten of eleven producer organizations delivering emergency advances. In Quebec, emergency advances are available now to pork producers; emergency advances for cattle producers will be in place this summer.

Changes to the Agricultural Marketing Products Act (AMPA) in February increased the maximum amount of an emergency advance from $25,000 to $400,000 to provide more support to the livestock industry. In conditions of severe economic hardship, certain security requirements for emergency advances may also be waived. The improved APP makes an estimated $3.3 billion in advances available to livestock producers.