FARM FAMILY OPTIONS PROGRAM DEADLINE EXTENDED

OTTAWA – On behalf of Minister of Agriculture Chuck Strahl, Garry Breitkreuz, Member of Parliament for Yorkton-Melville, would like to advise all producers that the application deadline for the Farm Family Options Program has been extended to November 20, 2006. The original deadline was October 31, 2006.

The Canadian Farm Families Options Program:

• provides immediate short-term income support to low income farm families and individual farmers. Eligible applicants receive an income payment based on their 2005 income tax return that brings their income up to a maximum of $25,000 for farm families and $15,000 for individual farmers if they operate a commercial farm.
• helps low income farm families explore options to raise their on or off-farm income for the future. Options applicants commit to completing participation in Farm Business Assessment
• (FBA), Canadian Agricultural Skills Services (CASS), or an equivalent activity within two years of submitting their Options application. These programs are being well received by participating producers.

To date, nearly 4,899 farm families and individual farmers have received approximately $51.3 million, based on their commitment to pursue farm business or skills development training.

Options applicants must be actively farming in 2006 to be eligible. Application forms are available on the Options program Website (www.agr.gc.ca/options). Applicants may download or print a PDF version of the Form and Guide, or call 1-866-367-8506 to receive a form by mail. The form and guide will be mailed within 24 hours of receiving the request.

The Options program is part of a $1.5 billion commitment to the agricultural sector introduced by Canada's New Government in Budget 2006.

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