Canola producers impacted by Chinese tariffs on canola oil, meal, and seed are now able to access additional money under the Advance Payments Program (APP).
Changes to the Agricultural Marketing Programs Regulations came into effect September 16, doubling the interest-free portion to $500 thousand.
The Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA), which administers the APP in Western Canada, says for 2025 and 2026 program years the interest-free component includes up to $250 thousand for any commodity eligible under the program and up to an additional $250 thousand for canola only. The remaining amount is subject to the CCGA's interest-bearing rate of prime less 0.25%.
"We had about 1,800 advances that were affected by this change – where farmers had enough canola on their advance that they were eligible for additional interest-free money – so we have fixed all those accounts in our system, effective September 16," says Dave Gallant, Director of Finance and APP Operations with the CCGA. "What we expect to start seeing now as harvest is wrapping up is that farmers who are completing their harvest will be assessing their financing needs and we expect to see more farmers looking for larger advances given the extra interest-free amount available with that additional $250 thousand for canola."
Gallant says applications for cash advances remain ahead of last year.
"We've issued already over eight thousand advances for almost two billion dollars. With this announcement, we expect to see a further increase from last year; last year we issued, in total, just over 10,300 advances. This year we could see upwards of 11,000 advances based on demand by farmers for the extra interest-free funds." he said.
The CCGA says first time customers should apply by calling its contact centre at 1.866.745.2256 and return customers can use the self-serve options available in their online account at ccga.ca.
