The Canada-Ontario Orchards and Vineyards Transition Program is a joint federal and provincial program to help grape, apple, and tender fruit producers adapt to industry pressures and changing markets. Under the program, eligible participants will receive $1,618.74 per eligible acre towards their orchard and/or vineyard stock removal and disposal costs, up to a maximum of $800,000 over the lifetime of the program.
To apply, you may submit an application form any time and no later than March 31, 2010. To be eligible for funding, you must complete your removal by the date shown on your Notice of Acceptance. If your application is accepted after November 30, 2009, you must complete your removal and contact Agricorp by November 30, 2010.
- Qualifying Crops
- Qualifying Orchards and Vineyards
- Past Removals
- Growing Area
- Application Process
- For Leased or Rented Land
- Priority List
- Participant Responsibilities
- Other Sources of Funding
- Existing Buyer or Processor Contracts
- Payments
- Compliance
- Review Process
- Program Guidelines
Qualifying Crops
The following crops are eligible under the program: apples (all), grapes (all), nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, apricots, and cherries (sour and sweet).
Qualifying Orchards and Vineyards
Program Applicants
To qualify under the program applicants must:
- Be producers or landlords with a farmed area of at least 1.236 acres of qualifying crops.
- Operate a commercial enterprise located in Ontario.
- Grow eligible crops for harvest in the current growing season or
- Have harvested eligible crops in the growing season prior to the plant removal (except in cases where producers experienced documented crop failures beyond their control)
- Commit to keep the land in agriculture or available for agriculture for a period of five years.
Vineyard Stock
To qualify under the program orchard and/or vineyard stock must:
- Be located in Ontario and used for the production of an eligible crop
Plant Removal Projects
To qualify under the program, plant removal projects must:
- Have a block or part block size of at least 0.25 acres in one farm location.
Past Removals
Orchard and/or vineyard stock removed on or after October 25, 2007 may be eligible for payments if all other program requirements are met. Agricorp will require proof of the date that removal work was started, and proof of the area of the plant removal project. Such proof could include custom work receipts, Production Insurance records, photographs, and other documentary or physical evidence. Agricorp will determine acceptable forms of proof.
Growing Area
Payments will be made according to the size of the orchard or vineyard block or part block. The growing area will be determined by Agricorp's GPS database and/or by Agricorp representatives taking GPS measurements as part of the application approval process.
Application Process
Interested producers must complete and submit an application form to Agricorp. Agricorp will determine if the application meets program criteria. A site visit by an Agricorp representative and GPS mapping of the qualifying sites may be required. Agricorp will notify producers in writing of the status of their application.
Applicants should not proceed with vine or tree cutting until they receive written notice of acceptance from Agricorp. The written notice of acceptance will indicate the deadline to complete the accepted plant removal project. To maintain eligibility, a producer or landlord must finish their plant removal project by the deadline on their notice of acceptance. If the removal project is not finished by the date stipulated, a new application form will be required to participate in the program.
For Leased or Rented Land
If an orchard and/or vineyard is leased or rented, the existence of the lease or tenancy must be disclosed on the application form. The tenant and the landlord will both need to sign the application form. As well, the tenant and the landlord must designate on the application form who should receive the payment.
Priority List
Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis subject to the annual availability of funds. If the available funding for a given year is reached, Agricorp will place qualifying applicants on a priority list for the next program year.
Participant Responsibilities
Participants must:
- Remove all subject trees and/or vines within the growing area.
- Remove and destroy all stumps and as much of the plant root system as possible.
- Dispose of all plant material and unsalvageable trellising systems according to all federal, provincial, and local laws, by-laws and regulations.
- Contact Agricorp for a final verification inspection to confirm the plant removal project is complete.
- Ensure that the participating growing area remains in agriculture or available to agriculture for at least five years following the completion of an approved plant removal project.
- Ensure that Agricorp can access the land for monitoring purposes for five years after the completion of the accepted plant removal project.
Other Sources of Funding
Producers and landlords must disclose all funding from municipal, provincial, federal, or other government sources that provide any reimbursement towards removing their vineyards and/or orchards. This includes production insurance payments for tree or vine loss.
Payments may be denied or pro-rated if a producer is receiving more than 80 per cent of the applicable removal costs through other government funding.
Existing Buyer or Processor Contracts
Producers are responsible for managing their existing contractual relationships with processors, packers and other buyers. The program will not assist producers with the costs of terminating existing contracts.
Payments
Payments will only be issued upon the completion and inspection of an accepted plant removal project to the satisfaction of Agricorp. Agricorp may recover debts to the governments of Canada or Ontario from payments to be made under the OVTP.
Compliance
The signatories on the application form will be responsible for complying with the terms and conditions of the program as well as with applicable laws and regulations. In the event of non-compliance, including providing false or misleading information, payments received under the program may be recovered from all signatories, separately or together. Agricorp will seek to recover any program payments made to which a recipient was not entitled.
Review Process
Agricorp will make final decisions regarding program eligibility. A written review process is available for the resolution of any disputes regarding the administration of the program.
Program Guidelines
For a complete description of the requirements, obligations, and entitlements under the program, please refer to the Canada-Ontario OVTP Program Guidelines – Plant Removal.
