What do you need to know about the new requirements for AgriInvest’s 2025 program year?
What do you need to know about the new requirements for AgriInvest’s 2025 program year?
Many producers use the AgriInvest program to manage small declines in income, mitigate risks, and improve their farm’s market outcome. However, there are new requirements for AgriInvest’s 2025 program year, and it is important to understand:
- What AgriInvest is
- The new requirements
- Which risk assessments are eligible
- How to submit your declaration
Your operation may participate in the AgriInvest program to mitigate risks to your operation and improve your market outcome. However, AgriInvest now requires producers with more than $1 million in average allowable net sales (ANS) to have a valid and eligible agri-environmental risk assessment (AERA) in place. This is necessary to receive matching government contributions for the 2025 program year.
It is crucial to understand these changes to continue to receive the benefits from this program. Let’s discuss the new requirements, explore which risk assessments are eligible, and review how to submit a declaration.
What is AgriInvest?
AgriInvest is a business risk management program created by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP). It is a producer-government savings account where producers can deposit up to 100 percent of their ANS to an AgriInvest account and receive a matching government contribution on one percent of their ANS.
Producers can withdraw funds from their AgriInvest account at any time. This helps producers manage small income declines and make investments to mitigate risks and improve the market outcome of the operation.
What are the new requirements?
Producers with $1 million or more in ANS will be required to have a valid and eligible AERA in place starting in AgriInvest’s 2025 program year. This assessment is necessary to receive matching government contributions for AgriInvest.
Your ANS are the gross sales, including any program payments, minus purchases of your allowable commodities. The average ANS is based on the three years prior to the program year. For the 2025 program year, the average ANS is based on 2022-2024.
If your operation is involved in a partnership, each partner with an average ANS of $1 million or more must submit a declaration confirming they have an eligible and valid AERA.
For operations currently combined with another farm operation where one or more members have an average ANS of $1 million or more, only one member must submit a declaration confirming they have an eligible and valid AERA.
What risk assessments are eligible?
The following risk assessments are eligible for AgriInvest:
- 4R Designation for Farmers
- Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) Sustainable Beef Production Standard
- CRSB-approved certification bodies include Verified Beef Production Plus, Where Food Comes From Inc., and the Ontario Corn Fed Beef Quality Assurance Program.
- Certified Organic
- Certificates must come from either a recognized certification body in Canada or from an organization designated as providing organic certification under the Canada Organic Regime, developed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
- Environmental Farm Plan
- Nutrient Management
- Saskatchewan agri-environmental risk assessment
- Plan agroenvironnemental de fertilisation
- Plan d’accompagnement agroenvironnemental
You will need to submit a declaration stating that you have an eligible AERA in place to meet this requirement. You are not required to provide a copy of the actual AERA, however the administration may contact you later and ask for a copy.
If your operation has an early non-calendar year end (i.e., January-March) and meets the requirements, the deadline to have an AERA in place is approaching quickly.
If you are considering pursuing a risk assessment, you may need help to find an accredited AERA provider or support to determine which type of assessment is appropriate for your farm. An advisor can provide information and support to ensure you are able to complete your assessment on time and with a suitable provider.
How to submit your declaration
You must submit a declaration every year that your average ANS (before the limit is applied) is $1 million or more. This is required unless you have an eligible AERA that is valid for more than one fiscal year.
You can declare that you have an eligible and valid AERA in your My Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Account. An advisor can provide the declaration form and help you complete it at your request if you are not a My AAFC Account user.
You may still remain eligible to participate in the AgriInvest program if a declaration is not provided. However, you won’t receive matching government contributions for the program year.
Serving the agriculture industry
Take the next steps
For more information, contact a member of MNP’s Agriculture team. We have a range of experience regarding all aspects of agricultural business — from primary producers through to food and beverage processors.
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