Overview

Farm Business Registration (FBR)

All farm businesses in Ontario that gross $7,000 or more annually are required by law to register their farm business with Agricorp.

Online registration

When you register online, you can:

Easily select an accredited farm organization and pay your invoice – You can pay your invoice with a credit card. It's quick, easy, and secure, and you will avoid a trip to the bank or to the post office.
Immediately receive proof of registration – You will receive an email as proof of registration, which you can use to apply for farm license plates.
Quickly update your FBR information – Your account information is at your fingertips. Confirm or update your farm information, all online.

Sign up/Renew

Renewing your farm business registration

Once you have registered your farm business, we will mail you an invoice each year. You can renew your registration and pay your invoice online.

Don't want mail? When you renew your registration online, you can choose email as your preferred method of communication. Each year, you'll receive an email notifying you that you can go online to renew and pay your registration.

Starting a new registration

If you are registering for the first time, you can start the registration process online.

You will need to send us your proof of income, including your T1 (for individuals) or T2 (for corporations).

When we have received this information, we will contact you to provide you with your FBR number and information on how to complete your registration.

Taking over a family business

In most cases, you will need to get your own unique FBR number. For more information, call Agricorp at 1-866-327-3678. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Eligibility

All farm businesses in Ontario that gross $7,000 or more annually are required by law to register their farm business with Agricorp.

Exemptions from FBR

If religious beliefs cause you to disagree with registering your farm business or making the registration payment, you may qualify for an exemption.

Contact the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal at 1-888-466-2372,ext. 519-826-3433.

The tribunal will provide you with an application form and further instructions.

How it works

Benefits of registering

Registering your farm business provides the following benefits:

Farm property class tax rate – You may qualify to pay 25 per cent of the municipal residential rate on your agricultural land.
Eligibility for government programs – You are eligible for programs such as the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership initiatives.
Membership in an accredited farm organization – With a valid FBR number, you can obtain a membership in one of three accredited farm organizations.

Membership in an accredited farm organization (AFO)

With a valid FBR number, you can obtain a membership in one of the following:

Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) - The CFFO is a professional organization for families called to the vocation of farming. The CFFO values family farm enterprise, profitability, and responsible stewardship of resources. CFFO policy promotes economically, socially and environmentally sustainable farming, advocating that farmers receive fair return for their production and stewardship efforts. For more information, call the CFFO at 1-855-800-0306, email [email protected], visit www.christianfarmers.org or mail:

274620 27^th Line
Ingersoll, ON N5C 3J6

National Farmers Union-Ontario (NFU-O) - The NFU-O is a strong and growing organization of farmers; together we build successful, sustainable farms and vibrant communities. Our members develop farmer-friendly policy though our grassroots, democratic approach, and we advocate boldly for those policies at all levels of government: locally, provincially, and nationally. For more information, call the NFU-O at 1-888-832-9638, email [email protected], visit www.nfuontario.ca or mail:

5420 ON-6
Guelph, ON N1H 6J2

Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) - Together Ontario farmers have a voice. Joining with the OFA's 38,000 members means contributing to and supporting agriculture's voice. It enables you to share your knowledge and advice; network with your fellow members to develop and deliver agriculture's message; access OFA staff assistance on farm-related concerns; and enjoy purchasing power with OFA Member Benefit partners. For more information, call the OFA at 1-800-668-3276, submit the contact form at https://ofa.on.ca/contact-us/, visit www.ofa.on.ca or mail:

200 Hanlon Creek Boulevard
Guelph, ON N1C 0A1

Services for French-speaking producers

For French-speaking producers in Ontario, services are also provided by the Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens (UCFO), regardless of AFO membership. The UCFO promotes the economic and social-cultural interests of French-speaking Ontario farmers and publishes the Agricom newspaper. Producers can access their services without changing their AFO membership. For more information, contact the UCFO at 1-613-488-2929.

How to change your AFO

You can change your AFO when you register online or by calling Agricorp at 1‑866‑327‑3678.

Obtaining new farm plates

Applicants for new farm plates are required to demonstrate that they have a farm business. You can show your AFO membership card or the confirmation message from renewing online as proof of registration. If you have any questions, visit a Service Ontario location, call 1-800-387-3445, or visit www.ontario.ca/serviceontario.

How FBR information is used

Agricorp compiles your registration information and delivers it to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). Farm business registration supports development of sound public policy for Ontario's producers.

Agricorp also notifies the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation about all registered farms each year. Your valid FBR number is one of the requirements for receiving the farm property class tax rate.

Deadlines for 2024 program year

Deadline	Description
March 1, 2024	Register and pay
May 31, 2024	Request refund from AFO

Registration amount

The annual registration amount is $255 plus HST, for a total cost of $288.15. You can pay online using a credit card.

Your registration payment is directed each year to the accredited farm organization of your choice.

When you register or renew online, you can easily select an accredited farm organization and pay your invoice. You can pay your invoice with a credit card. It's quick, easy, and secure.

If you plan to change your accredited farm organization but you do not wish to renew and pay online, you must call Agricorp at 1-866-327-3678.

Request a refund

You need to complete your FBR registration and payment before requesting a refund. Refunds are not processed by Agricorp. If you do not want the benefits of membership with an AFO and would like a refund, you need to make a written request directly to the AFO you selected at registration. AFO contact information is above. The deadline to request a refund is May 31.

If you get a refund, you will still have an FBR number, but you can't use it to gain membership in an AFO.