December 31, 2003 is the final deadline to access the following programs:

2003 Advanced Ontario Agricultural Payment

Federal Transition Funding

2002 NISA Stabilization Year

1. 2003 Advanced Ontario Agricultural Payment

On August 29, 2003 the province of Ontario introduced phase three of its strategy designed to support the competitiveness of Ontario's ruminant livestock industry as it struggles with the aftermath of a single incidence of BSE in an Alberta cow. As part of phase three, Ontario has made available $20 million to producers of ruminant livestock as an advance on future whole farm safety net programming for the 2003 tax year. Ontario first provided assistance to producers that met the program criteria who were enrolled in the Net Income Stabilization Account (NISA) for the 2002 tax year.

Producers are required to meet the following criteria for the advanced payment:

Have claimed ruminant livestock sales to Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) in at least one of the last three years (2000 to 2002).

Sales of ruminant livestock have comprised at least 1/3 of total farm sales over the last three years (2000 to 2002).

On average for the last three years, had a positive production margin; which is the difference between total farm sales and direct production costs.

Each producer having met the above criteria will be provided an advanced payment equal to roughly 7.4% of their three- year average production margin.

If you are not currently a participant in NISA you will need to submit the following to the Ontario Farm Income Disaster Program (OFIDP) by mail or fax:

A signed and completed copy of the 2003 Advanced Ontario Agricultural Payment application form

Copies of your statement of farming activities (T2042 or equivalent) filed to CCRA for each of 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 or as available based on the number of years you have been farming.

The deadline to apply for a 2003 Advanced Ontario Agricultural Payment is December 31, 2003.

Contact OFIDP at 1-877-838-5144 or visit the OMAF website at: www.gov.on.ca/OMAF/english/policy/bseri/

index4.html

2. Federal Transition Funding

Announced on September 19, 2003, this $600 million will be paid directly to farmers based on their business year ending in 2002.

Farmers enrolled in the 2002 NISA program will receive direct payments based on their net sales for the past five years.

Farmers not enrolled in NISA are eligible for a payment based on a percentage of their eligible net sales in 2002 and must complete an application form available by contacting 1-866-367-8506. The deadline to apply is Dec. 31, 2003.

Payments are expected around the first part of December 2003. Further information is available at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's website: www.agr.gc.ca/index_e.phtml

3. 2002 NISA – It’s Not too Late to Apply

Farmers who are not currently participating in the 2002 NISA program may want to check out this option again. Under current proposals, the NISA program is scheduled to end with the 2002 program year. By making a deposit in a NISA account for the 2002 year, farmers can still get 2002 matching government contributions. Farmers can gain access to these funds through the closure mechanisms even if they do not have margin or net income triggers in the 2002 program year.

Farmers are still eligible to apply for the 2002 NISA program until Dec. 31, 2003. There is a 5% per month reduction in deposit entitlements for each month after the June 15, 2003 Individual Deadline and the June 30, 2003 Corporation/Cooperatives deadline. The penalty would be 25% on applications made by Nov.15, 2003 for individuals or by Nov. 30, 2003 for corporations.

For example, a farmer with $100,000 of Eligible Net Sales in 2002, who applies by Nov.15, 2003 and with an 75% entitlement, would be eligible for matching government contributions of $2,945 ($100,000 X 4% X 75% -$55.00 Ind. Admin. Fee)

A beef feedlot operation that purchases calves, with Eligible Net Sales of $475 per head in 2002, who applies by Nov. 15 2003 and with an 75% entitlement, would be eligible for matching government contributions of $14.25 per head. The total net benefit to the farmer after administration fees would be $230 on 20 head ($9500 ENS) or $2,795 on 200 head ($95,000 ENS).

For further information contact NISA at 1-800-665-6472. The NISA website is:

www.agr.gc.ca/nisa/docs/handbook.html