Producers have more time to sign up for CAIS program

Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Bob Speller and Ed Byrne, Newfoundland and Labrador�s Minister of Natural Resources, today announced that two deadlines for the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program will be extended.

"These deadline extensions will allow producers more time to learn about the program and to apply," said Minister Speller. "I would strongly encourage producers to participate so they are protected from farm income losses."

"Newfoundland and Labrador producers are encouraged to take advantage of the extended program deadlines," said Minister Byrne. "Producers should participate in CAIS to receive income stabilization and disaster protection."

The deadline for selecting a level of protection under the program and the deadline to complete CAIS supplementary forms have been extended. The first for selection has been moved to June 30, 2004 and the deadline to submit supplementary forms has been moved to September 30, 2004.

Producers who experienced a loss in farm income in 2003 are encouraged to submit their application well before the September 30 deadline so that they can receive their program payments quickly. The administration is now in a position to process applications and issue cheques for producers� full payments.

The deadline extensions apply only in provinces where CAIS is delivered federally, specifically British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. (See attached backgrounder for information on how to join the program.)

For more information, producers can contact the CAIS administration toll free at 1-866-367-8506 or visit the program Web site at www.agr.gc.ca/caisprogram. Producers may also send in a response to the Options Notice by fax or by mail to:

          CAIS Administration
          P.O. Box 3200
          Winnipeg, Manitoba
          R3C 5R7
          Fax: (204) 983-3947

Media contact:

          Media Relations
          Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
          Ottawa
          (613) 759-7972

          Carmel Turpin
          Communications
          Department of Natural Resources
          Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
          (709) 729-5282

Backgrounder
How to join the CAIS program

By participating in the CAIS program, producers can protect their farm income from both small and large declines. Payments from a producer�s CAIS account at a financial institution and a government contribution are triggered when farm income in the program year drops below the producer�s reference margin. The reference margin is an average of a producer�s farm income from previous years.

The first step in joining the program is for producers to contact the administration and indicate how much protection they want for their reference margin. Producers can choose protection levels between a minimum of 70 per cent and a maximum of 92 per cent. This percentage represents what the producer would receive from the program if their margin dropped to zero in the program year. A producer�s farm income does not need to drop below the level of protection chosen to generate a payment. Producers will receive program payments for smaller declines in income.

Notices from the CAIS program administration with personalized information on a producer�s reference margin and options for protection under the program have been sent to most producers for 2003 and for 2004. However, not all producers will have received an Options Notice.

• Producers who have received an Options Notice can join the program by contacting the administration by phone, fax or mail and indicating the level of protection they have chosen.
• Producers who have not received an Options Notice may contact the administration for more information on how to join the program. They will be asked to submit the information required to generate an Options Notice so that they can select a level of protection and join the program.

For more information, producers can contact the CAIS administration toll free at 1-866-367-8506 or visit the program Web site at www.agr.gc.ca/caisprogram.

Producers may also send in a response to the Options Notice by fax or by mail to:

          CAIS Administration
          P.O. Box 3200
          Winnipeg, Manitoba
          R3C 5R7
          Fax: (204) 983-3947

2004 04 29                                         1:10 p.m.