Interest-free limit under Advance Payments Program set at $250K

Mar 12, 2025

The Government of Canada will set the interest-free limit of the Advance Payments Program at $250,000 for the 2025 program year. This is the portion of advances on which the government pays the interest on behalf of producers.

The Advance Payments Program gives producers easy access to low-cost cash advances of up to $1 million, based on the expected value of their agricultural product. Under the program, producers typically receive the first $100,000 interest-free. The higher limit announced today will result in interest savings for producers while increasing access to cash flow to help cover costs until they sell their products.

With this support at the beginning of the production cycle, farmers will be able to purchase essential inputs and cover their costs to support production this growing season. More importantly, the program offers marketing flexibility, enabling producers to sell their agricultural products when it is most advantageous, rather than being forced to sell for immediate cash needs, which is especially crucial in times of uncertainty.

“Raising the interest-free portion of the Advance Payments Program will give our hardworking farmers some extra cash flow and savings as we head into the 2025 growing season,” said Hon Lawrence MacAulay, minister of agriculture and agri-food.

Under the Advance Payments Program, cash advances are calculated based on up to 50% of the anticipated market value of eligible agricultural products that will be produced or are in storage. The program is delivered through 26 industry-led associations.

Source : The Grower

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The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.