January 10, 2019
It's time for producers to register their farm businesses and pay the annual Farm Business Registration (FBR) invoice. More customers are now choosing to pay their FBR invoice through their bank rather than mailing a cheque to Agricorp.
How to pay through your bank
Paying through a financial institution using online or telephone banking or in person at a branch can save producers time, as the payment is processed faster than paying by cheque.
When paying the FBR invoice, producers should be sure to direct their payment to the correct payee. There are different Agricorp bank accounts for different programs and accredited farm organizations (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
- The name of the AFO they would like to be a member of (CFFO, NFU-O, OFA)
- The FBR program name
Choosing an AFO is an important part of the FBR process. Before producers choose their AFO this year, they should refer to the information sheet included in their invoice package to learn about each AFO.
Register early
Producers should pay their FBR invoice by March 1, 2019, to complete their registration and confirm their AFO membership. Paying after the deadline can affect producers' eligibility in other provincial government programs.
The sooner producers complete their registration, the sooner they can start taking advantage of the benefits of FBR. When a farm business is registered, producers:
- May qualify to pay only 25 per cent of the municipal residential tax rate on their agricultural land
- Are eligible for other government programs, including the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program and Canadian Agricultural Partnership initiatives
- Can obtain a membership in one of three AFOs: Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO), National Farmers Union – Ontario (NFU-O), or Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). For French-speaking producers, services are also provided by the Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens (UCFO).
About FBR
Ontario producers who gross $7,000 or more annually are required by law to register their farm business. FBR invoices are mailed to producers in January.
For more information about the FBR program, see the FBR section on agricorp.com.
