Earlier this year, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture wrote to The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Finance and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, and The Honourable Lawrence Macaulay, Minister of Agriculture and AgriFood, regarding the Interest Free Portion Under the Advanced Payments Program.
The Mar. 7 announcement by the federal government to increase the interest-free portion of the Advanced Payments Program (APP) to $250,000 for the 2025-26 program year was a significant win for Ontario farmers. The OFA, alongside the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) and Ontario commodity group partners, have long advocated for this enhancement to support farmers’ cash flow, particularly amidst ongoing trade uncertainties.
This decision is especially critical given recent trade disruptions, providing much-needed financial relief and greater certainty for farm businesses during these challenging times.