CCGA Advance Payments Program Expands with Four New Commodities
Winnipeg, Manitoba – The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced that beginning October 1, 2011, the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) will expand its administration capacity under the Advance Payments Program (APP) to include the issuance of cash advances for winter wheat. Beginning April 1, 2012, the CCGA will also begin issuing cash advances for spring wheat, durum and barley. The expansion to these additional commodities will be effective for the 2012-13 APP production period.
“During the past four years, we have invested in our people and our systems to better serve the growing demand for cash advances under the APP,” says Rick White, General Manager of the CCGA. “Our ability to efficiently offer an expanded cash advance program to grains and oilseed producers has never been better.”
The CCGA has issued cash advances to Western Canadian farmers for nearly 30 years, and currently administers advances for more than 20 commodities. As a well-established and innovative APP administrator, the expanded CCGA Advance Payments Program will create benefits for producers.
First, CCGA offers producers multiple ways to apply for an APP cash advance. These include by telephone, through our 24-hour online application system, by fax or mail, through a local elevator, or in person at CCGA’s office. Second, by combining more commodities under a single administrator, many farmers will receive their cash advance with one application form and one administration fee, saving them time and money.
The CCGA will immediately begin preparations for the expanded program, which includes hiring additional experienced personnel, expanding the cash advance call centre, and making physical improvements to the CCGA office.
“The CCGA looks forward to offering an expanded level of service to Western Canadian farmers, and specifically winter cereal producers beginning this fall,” says White. Application forms for winter wheat and fall rye advances will be available for downloading at www.ccga.ca prior to October 1, 2011 and will be mailed to grain elevators across Western Canada in the coming weeks. CCGA’s customer service representatives are also available to assist farmers in completing their applications over the telephone at 1-866-745-2256.
Source: Canadian Canola Growers Association