Farm income stabilization program undergoing changes

Gary Sliworsky

The Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program integrates stabilization and disaster protection into a single program, helping producers protect their farming operations from both small and large drops in income. The CAIS program is a whole-farm program available to eligible farmers regardless of the commodities they produce. Information is available at www.agr.gc.ca/caisprogram.
Federal, provincial and territorial governments are taking action to change the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program by following through on previous commitments to program changes.

The following changes are now officially in:
• The deposit has been eliminated and is now replaced by a fee beginning with the 2006 program. The fee is more affordable and does not require producers to tie up working capital. With the fee, producers will pay $4.50 for every $1,000 of reference margin protected.
• Producers who participated in 2003, 2004, or 2005 CAIS do not have to make a deposit or pay a fee for these program years. Producers who have funds in their CAIS accounts do not need to contact their financial institution or the CAIS Administration to access funds. All CAIS accounts will be closed and funds remaining in producer accounts will automatically be paid to producers.
The $55 Administrative Cost Share for the CAIS program will continue to be collected annually.
The current CAIS program will remain in place for the 2006 crop year to ensure stability for producers.

Officials will also continue to work toward putting the necessary authorities in place to improve negative margin coverage under the program and to establish a targeted advance which will proactively direct assistance to commodities or regions affected by a disaster.
In Ontario, producers can call AGRICORP at 1-877-838-5144.

Reminders:

Friday, June 30 – last day to enroll in CAIS Program for 2006 program year.
Friday, June 30 – last day to submit 2005 CAIS forms.
Boise Cascade of International Falls is looking to bring wood ash from its mill into the Rainy River District. The ash is a good source of lime and potash fertilizer. This ash program has been going on in Northern Minnesota for the last 6 years providing lime and fertilizer to more than 10,000 acres within a 70 mile radius of International Falls.

In order to receive wood ash the farm site must have a need for lime and/or potash fertilizer and meet Ministry of Environment criteria. Generally this means doing a soil test which shows the soil is acidic (pH