February 19, 2019
All Ontario farm businesses that gross $7,000 or more annually in farm income need to register for the Farm Business Registration (FBR) program.
Producers should register their farm businesses and pay the annual FBR invoice by
March 1, 2019 to complete registration and confirm their accredited farm organization (AFO) membership. Paying after the deadline can affect producers' eligibility in other provincial government programs.
Pay through your bank
Last year, more producers than ever paid their 2018 FBR invoices through their banks rather by cheque. Paying through a financial institution takes only a few minutes, and the payment is processed faster than paying by cheque. Producers can pay using online banking, by telephone banking or in person at their branch.
When paying the FBR invoice 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.
Choosing an AFO
Each year, producers can direct their FBR payment to one of three 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.
For French-speaking producers, services are also provided by the
Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens (UCFO).
Choosing an AFO is an important part of the FBR process. Before choosing an AFO, producers should read the AFO descriptions in the 2019 FBR information sheet included in their invoice packages. If a producer wants to change their AFO for 2019, they should contact Agricorp at 1-866-327-3678 before paying their invoice.
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.
