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Emergency On-Farm Support Fund: Applicant guide

Applicant guide

Purpose of this guide

This guide will:

  1. help you determine if you may be eligible for funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) under the Emergency On-Farm Support Fund (EOFSF)
  2. provide you with instructions and explanations to assist you in completing the application

1.0 About the Emergency On-Farm Support Fund

The Emergency On-Farm Support Fund was announced on July 31, 2020 and provides $35 million to boost protections for domestic and temporary foreign workers and address COVID-19 outbreaks on farms.

The program will provide up to $100,000 per recipient (that is, per farm/operation) in non-repayable funding for emergency COVID-19 response activities.

Eligible activities can be retroactive to March 15, 2020 and must be completed by February 26, 2021.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is administering the program to producers in Yukon, Northwest Territories, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nunavut, Manitoba, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador.

In British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, the program will be delivered by the provincial government or other agency.

2.0 Eligible applicants

Eligible recipients are primary agricultural producers (for example, a farm, ranch or other operation) that produce agricultural products for resale and employ farm workers (domestic and temporary foreign workers). They can include:

Aquaculture production is not eligible under the program.

Applicants do not have to have registered temporary foreign workers to be eligible.

Applicants will need to declare in the application that they are adhering to all applicable measures of the Quarantine Act, including but not limited to the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for temporary foreign workers.

Should AAFC become aware of an applicant breaching any part of those requirements, the recipient will no longer be eligible for the funding. Any amounts already paid to the recipient will be considered a debt to the Crown.

2.1 Eligible safety measures

Eligible expenses include:

2.2 Retroactivity

Eligible activities can be retroactive to March 15, 2020 and must be completed by February 26, 2021.

While the program allows for retroactive activities and costs to be submitted, the applicant assumes the risk of not being reimbursed if:

2.3 Ineligible safety measures

Ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to:

2.4 Funding and cost-sharing

The program will provide up to $100,000 per recipient (that is, per farm/operation) in non-repayable funding for emergency COVID-19 response activities.

The contribution will cover costs associated with disposable personal protective equipment (PPE), up to a maximum of $10,000.

Cost sharing

The support is provided based on a 50/50 cost shared ratio. The federal government will provide half of the cost of implementing the safety measures, while the applicant provides the remaining half. The cost share will be 60/40 for applicants where the majority of the farm (more than 50%) is owned by one or more under-represented group. Under-represented groups include:

Sources of funding

Applicants must clearly indicate all sources of funding for the project. Sources of funding can be comprised of cash contributions from other sources including those from:

3.0 Application process

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  • Step 1. Submit an application
  • Step 2. Assessment and approval
  • Step 3. Contribution Agreement and Claims for Reimbursement
  • Step 4. Payment issued

3.1 Submit an application

All activities must be completed by February 26, 2021. For the provinces where AAFC is administering the program, the applications will be reviewed as they are received and priority will be given to the highest risk farms for COVID-19 outbreaks.

You can submit only one completed application for your operation.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications by email.

If you are an agricultural producer in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island

The program will be delivered by the provincial government or other agency.

If you are an agricultural producer in Yukon, Northwest Territories, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nunavut, Manitoba, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador

Complete the following steps and apply directly to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

1. Complete the application

PDF forms

If you have problems opening a PDF form in your Internet browser, you need to:

  • Use your computer. The forms may not open on mobile devices (iPads, tablets, mobile phones).
  • Make sure you have Adobe Reader 11 (or higher) already installed on your computer. If not, download Adobe Reader 11 or higher for free. Adobe has help for solving common issues.
  • You must save the file on your computer in a place you can remember.
  • Open the file on your computer using Adobe Reader 11 or higher.
  • If you can’t open the form with Adobe Reader 11 or higher, contact the program.
How to download and open a PDF form
  • Microsoft Windows Operating System computers using “Internet Explorer” or “Microsoft Edge” as your browser
    1. Right-click on the link you want to save
    2. Select “Save target as” or “Save link as”
    3. Choose the location on your computer where you would like to save the file
    4. Select “Save”
    5. Open Adobe Reader 11 or higher
    6. Select “File”
    7. Select “Open”
    8. Go to the location where you saved the file
    9. Select the PDF file
    10. Select “Open”
  • Microsoft Windows Operating System or Apple computers using “Chrome” or Firefox” as your browser
    1. Right-click on the link you want to save
    2. When the option menu appears, choose "Download link file" or "Download link file as"
    3. Choose the location on your computer where you would like to save the file. Your computer will start the download once you have selected a location.
    4. Open Adobe Reader 11 or higher
    5. Go to the location where you saved the file
    6. Select the PDF file
    7. Select “Open”

To apply to the Emergency On-Farm Support Fund, download and complete the application (PDF). Follow the instructions in Annex A: How to complete the application to complete the application.

Applicants may apply for costs that were incurred on or after March 15, 2020 ("retroactive costs"). While the program allows for retroactive costs to be submitted, the applicant assumes the risk of not being reimbursed if:

2. Submit your completed application

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications by email.

Contact the program to:

Submitting an application creates no obligation on the part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to provide funding. Funding is only provided through a Contribution Agreement.

3.2 Assessment and approval

Once you have submitted your application, the application will be assessed against the following:

Note: We will acknowledge receipt of your application. You should not consider your application as submitted to the program until you receive an acknowledgement notice.

3.3 Service standards

AAFC's goal is to:

3.4 Contribution Agreement and Claim for Reimbursement

Contribution agreement

Successful applicants will receive a Contribution Agreement from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada outlining the level of assistance awarded as well as a document providing step-by-step instructions on how to complete a claim for reimbursement. A Direct Deposit Registration Form will be enclosed with the Contribution Agreement.

Only one project or agreement is allowed per farm/operation.

Claim for reimbursement

In order to receive a claim for reimbursement, you must first sign and return the Contribution Agreement and submit your completed claim form(s) and Direct Deposit Registration Form. Where possible, we encourage you to submit your forms by email.

3.5 Payment issued

You will receive a payment by direct deposit or cheque once the claim documentation is received and processed by AAFC.

AAFC's goal is to process your payment within 30 business days upon receipt of a completed claim form and signed Contribution Agreement.

4.0 Official Languages

AAFC is committed to enhancing the vitality of official language minority communities (OLMCs), supporting and assisting their development, and promoting the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society.

OLMCs consist of Francophones outside Quebec and Anglophones in Quebec. These communities are often represented by provincial and regional organizations.

When it is determined that projects under this program involve activities related to the development and transfer of knowledge and may have an impact on OLMCs or promote the use of English and French, AAFC will include appropriate linguistic commitments in agreements with your organization and ensure that additional expenses incurred as a result of these commitments are considered eligible for contribution funding.

Activities can include, but are not limited to:

If funded, the recipient may be required to publicly acknowledge AAFC's support for the project. In these cases, the department will request that such acknowledgments include text in both official languages.

5.0 Reporting

Recipients will be required to report on expenditures, performance and results.

Performance and results report

Recipients will be required to provide a final report which should include a short summary on the impact that the activity has had on the operations.

Budgetary reports

Recipients must retain copies of quotes, invoices, and proof of payment for eligible project costs incurred. An expenditure report is required with requests for reimbursement and may require proof of purchase up to 100% of total costs.

6.0 Contact information

For more information on the Emergency On-Farm Support Fund contact the program by:

Email: aafc.EOFSF-FUMSF.aac@canada.ca

Mail:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Emergency On-Farm Support Fund
Box 3200
Winnipeg MB R3C 5R7

Telephone: 1-866-367-8506
Fax: 1-877-949-4885

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