Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Pigeon King's Canadian investors might receive safety net payment

Saturday, July 5, 2008

© AgMedia Inc.

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

Canadian contract growers with Pigeon King International who find themselves out of pocket after the sudden collapse of the company in May might find some relief through a national safety net program.

But there are catches, warns Andre Patry, acting manager of program development with Agricorp. In Ontario, Agricorp, a provincial agency, administers the program, called AgriStability, on behalf of the provincial and federal governments.

Patry confirms that the growers are eligible to participate in the program, but points out they must have already enrolled if they plan to file a claim. The closing date for enrolment in 2008 was April 30. Those who participated in the 2007 Canadian Agriculture Income Stabilization (CAIS) program are automatically enrolled in the 2008 program.

Moreover, there’s no guarantee that those who file a claim will end up receiving a benefit. Patry explains that the decision to pay out program benefits is dependent on a farm’s whole operation and not on the performance of single commodities. If farming strictly pigeons, “chances are they will get a benefit,” but if the farm is diversified, higher commodity prices may “overshadow” any financial loss from a pigeon venture, he says.

AgriStability, which replaces CAIS, offers benefits when an operation’s current year’s program margin falls below 85 per cent of its reference margin. The program margin is calculated by subtracting expenses from income. Both the expenses and the income used to calculate the margin must meet AgriStability’s specifications.

Reference margins are calculated by using three of the mid-range program margins drawn from an operation’s previous five years. Patry says for those who first enrolled in the program this year, provincial records would be used to calculate if a benefit would be released. He says he doesn’t know just how that historical knowledge would be calculated for a pigeon breeding market, but promises to look into it.

He notes that producers must pay a program fee and although the deadline has also come and gone for this, they can pay the fee up to December 31 with a penalty. BF

Current Issue

August 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Soil Compaction Challenges

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Ontario’s spring planting faced challenges from soil compaction, impacting crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat. Despite some areas experiencing rapid planting under ideal conditions, other regions, even those with lighter soils, struggled due to excessive rainfall. The team at OMAFA –on... Read this article online

2026 Grains Innovation Fund is now open

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), the province’s largest commodity organization representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers, is now accepting applications for its . “This year marks another exciting chapter for the Grains Innovation Fund,” stated Paul... Read this article online

Applications Open for Grains Innovation Fund 2026

Monday, July 28, 2025

Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), the province’s largest commodity organization representing 28,000 farmers, is now accepting applications for the 2026 Grains Innovation Fund. The fund offers grants up to $75,000 to support innovative projects that promote the use of Ontario’s grains such as... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2025 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top