The APF Renewal Chapter assists commercial and beginning farmers to increase their farm profitability, capture income from other sources, benefit from advances in science and innovation and to meet market and consumer demands for food safety, quality and environmentally responsible production.
The Chapter offers two services to Saskatchewan farmers. The Canadian Farm Business Advisory Service provides:
- a complete financial profile and an action plan that will assess options for increasing profitability;
- comprehensive business planning support for diversification, marketing, human resources, expansion, risk management or succession;
- feasibility assessments and planning for business ventures that add value to primary agricultural products.
Canadian Agricultural Skills Service
Training and Education Funding for Farmers and their Spouses
The Canadian Agricultural Skills Service (CASS) is a unique program designed to help farmers and their spouses increase their family income through improved farm practices, increased off-farm income or both.
The program provides financial assistance to access training in areas to enhance farm business management and production practices, training for other employment, or training to acquire skills for starting a new business.
CASS offers:
- Assessment: Identify your existing strengths and skills with a qualified career counsellor.
- Development of an Individual Learning Plan: Your career counsellor will help you create a personal Learning Plan that best suits your training needs and goals.
- Funding: Financial support is provided for formal and informal training. Eligible costs may include benefits such as tuition, texts and related expenses such as travel, dependent care and replacement labour.
- Follow-up: Ongoing communication with a CASS Case Manager will allow you to receive individualized assistance as you implement your Learning Plan.
Eligibility:
You (and your spouse) may be eligible to participate if:
- You are an established producer with gross farm sales of at least $10,000 per year, and a net family income of less than $45,000 based on a three-year average; or
- You are a beginning farmer who has owned/operated a farm for less than six years or intends to establish a farm that has (or will have) $10,000 in annual gross farm sales.
- In either case, you must be out of school for two years and not receiving Employment Insurance benefits for training.
Maximum benefit level:
For a family with an average net income of:
- Less than $35,000, the maximum benefit available is $16,000.
- $35,001 to $40,000, the maximum benefit available is $12,000.
- $40,001 to $45,000, the maximum benefit available is $8,000.
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