The last day for producers to register their farm businesses for 2018 is fast approaching. To qualify for the Farm Business Registration (FBR) program, producers must gross at least $7,000 in eligible farm income annually. All eligible Ontario producers must register for FBR by
March 1.
Choose an AFO
Each year, producers can direct their FBR fee to one of three accredited farm organizations (AFOs) – Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO), National Farmers Union-Ontario (NFU-O) or Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) – and apply for membership in that organization. Choosing an AFO is an important part of the FBR process.
A producer's current AFO is shown on their invoice. To change AFOs, producers can simply call Agricorp at 1-866-327-3678 or review their invoice and information sheet for more details.
For French-speaking producers, services are also provided by the Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens (UCFO).
Pay through your bank
Paying through a financial institution takes only a few minutes, and the fee is processed faster than paying by cheque. Farmers can pay using online banking, by telephone banking or in person at their branch.
When paying the FBR fee through a financial institution, producers should be sure to direct their payment to the right payee. There are different Agricorp bank accounts for different programs and AFOs. It's important to pay the right account to avoid delays.
When producers make their FBR payment, they should check their payee for the following:
- Agricorp's name:
Agricorp
- The abbreviated AFO name:
CFFO, NFU-O or OFA
- The abbreviated Farm Business Registration program name:
FBR
Get the benefits
There are a number of benefits to FBR. Producers who register their farm businesses:
- May qualify for a reduction on property tax
- Are eligible for other government programs
- Can obtain membership in one of three AFOs
For more information, visit the
Farm Business Registration section of agricorp.com or call Agricorp at
1-866-327-3678.
