AgriStability protects producers against large declines in their net farming income due to market conditions, production loss, or increased costs of production.
AgriInvest is available to help producers manage smaller declines in their net farming income. In Ontario, AgriInvest is delivered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Contents
- How AgriStability works
- Eligibility and program requirements
- New Participants
- Fees
- Submitting program information
- Margins
- Generating program benefits
- Renewals
- Technical Information Circulars
- Deadlines
How AgriStability works
AgriStability is designed to stabilize farming income. To stabilize farming income, AgriStability compares a participant's production margin to their reference margin. Payments are generated when a participant's production margin decline is greater than 15 percent of their reference margin.
Eligibility and program requirements
To participate in AgriStability, producers must:
- Pay their fee
- Submit their program forms to Agricorp
- Report farming income (or loss) each year. Individuals must submit a T1163 to Canada Revenue Agency. Corporations must submit a Statement A to Agricorp.
New Participants
New participants can join AgriStability by completing the
- New Participant Forms
- T1163 or Statement A forms for any of the past five years in which the participant was farming.
Shortly after receiving the New Participant Package, Agricorp will mail a fee invoice to the participant.
Fees
The fee to participate in AgriStability is roughly $3.83 for every $1,000 of reference margin coverage (minimum fee of $45). Participants must also pay a $55 Administrative Cost Share (ACS) each year.
Once enrolled, participants automatically receive a fee invoice each program year. The fee is calculated using program information from previous years. For new participants, the fee is calculated using information submitted on the New Participant Package.
Submitting program information
Participants can submit their program information using their choice of:
- myAgricorp website
- Blank forms available on Agricorp.com
- Personalized forms that are mailed to all participants after the program year is complete.
Margins
The production margin is calculated by subtracting allowable expenses from allowable income in the program year. The production margin is adjusted for participants who:
- Use the cash method of accounting (accrual adjustment)
- Have allowable income from other programs.
The reference margin is an Olympic average of a participant's production margins over the past three or five years. The reference margin is adjusted for participants who significantly change the productive capacity of their operation (structural change).
Generating program benefits
Once participants complete their program year and submit their program information, Agricorp processes their files. If their production margin declines by more than 15 percent of their reference margin, participants generate a program benefit.
Participants who have completed a production cycle and at least six consecutive months of farming activity in the program year may apply to receive half of their estimated program benefit early, using the Interim Payment Application.
Renewals
Each year, Agricorp mails a fee invoice to producers who participated in AgriStability in the previous year. Participants who wish to cancel AgriStability coverage must contact Agricorp before the date shown on their fee invoice.
Technical Information Circulars
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs publishes detailed policy information about the CAIS and AgriStability programs in its 
Technical Information Circulars (TICs) [656 KB].
Deadlines
| 2009 AgriStability | 2010 AgriStability | |
| April 30, 2009 | April 30, 2010 | |
| April 30, 2009 | April 30, 2010 | |
| Send T1163 to Canada Revenue Agency (individuals only) | June 15, 2010 | June 15, 2011 |
| Send completed program forms to Agricorp | June 30, 2010 | June 30, 2011 |
| Send Statement A to Agricorp |
June 30, 2010 | June 30, 2011 |
