Important Information Regarding Your Market Revenue Program

by Mike Vlcek and Julie Harlow, Agricorp

Please Note: The final date for new applications and acreage reporting for the 2000 crop year is October 30, 2000. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs recently announced an extension to the final application and acreage reporting date. Producers not yet enrolled in the Market Revenue Program have until Monday, October 30, 2000 to apply. This date applies both to new producers and producers who wish to reapply for Market Revenue coverage.

To be eligible for any payments made under the Market Revenue program, enrolled producers must report their final planted acreage to AGRICORP by October 30, 2000. Producers who fail to report their final planted acreage by October 30, 2000 are ineligible for any program payments

The Market Revenue program provides grain and oilseed farmers with protection from low commodity prices. Payments are made when the average annual Ontario price for the crop falls below the support price, calculated using 85 per cent of the 15-year indexed moving average price. Eligible commodities for Market Revenue are winter wheat, spring grains, corn, soybeans, white beans, coloured beans, canola, red spring wheat, seed corn, popping corn, flax seed, field peas, sunflowers, triticale and faba beans. Farm-fed grains and oilseeds, such as corn silage, are eligible for the Market Revenue Program.

In spring 2000, AGRICORP issued initial Market Revenue payments totalling $64 million to eligible producers of canola, corn, popping corn, red spring wheat, seed corn, soybeans, spring grains, sunflowers, white beans and winter wheat.

Support payments for sunflowers are made at 120% of the payment for soybeans. Payments for faba beans, field peas, triticale and flax seed are paid based on the dominant crop (by acreage) for the county. Seed corn and popping corn payments are based on the values for commercial corn.
This fall, the Market Revenue program will deliver another $34 million to Ontario grain and oilseed producers, bringing the total to nearly $100 million for the 1999 crop.

Final Payments

The final Market Revenue payment is being issued for 1999 canola, red spring wheat and winter wheat.

Interim Payments

A second interim payment is being made for 1999 corn, popcorn, seed corn, soybeans, spring grains, sunflowers and white beans.

CHANGES
On August 24, 2000, provincial Minister Hardeman and federal Minister Vanclief announced the following changes to the Market Revenue Program for the 1999 and 2000 crop years:

Beginning with the 1999 crop year, all producers in good standing will be eligible for full payment benefits, regardless of when they first entered the program.
Interim payments of up to 80% of the final expected payment are permitted. The interim payments listed above reflect this new maximum.

To apply for Market Revenue coverage, or to report your final planted acreage for the 2000 crop year, call the AGRICORP Customer Action Centre, toll free, at 1-888-247-4999. Don't wait. Make the call today!

Unseeded Acreage Eligible for Market Revenue Coverage

Unseeded acreage is covered by the Market Revenue Program. All unseeded acreage must be reported to AGRICORP by October 30, 2000 to be eligible for any program payments.

Questions?

The Market Revenue program is administered by AGRICORP on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call AGRICORP's Customer Action Center, toll free at 1-888-247-4999 (1-888-AGRI-999). You can give AGRICORP a call between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. We will be happy to assist you.