Funding Program Available for Macleod Pork Producers

October 02, 2009

Macleod, AB  – Pork producers in the constituency of Macleod can start applying for government-backed loans on Monday, October 5, 2009. Pork producers from across Canada can access applications for the Hog Farm Transition Program next week.

“Our Government has worked to ensure these programs are flexible to meet producers’ needs,” said Ted Menzies, Member of Parliament for Macleod and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance. “By working with the Canadian Pork Council, we have ensured the details of these important programs work for producers and help them weather the current economic storm.” continued Menzies.

Starting Monday, October 5, 2009, many financial institutions, including Farm Credit Canada, will be ready to work with pork producers to develop long -term business plans and deliver government-backed loans. Producers can check www.agr.gc.ca/HILLRP to find out which institutions are currently participating. The commercially-based loans will be negotiated for each specific farm operation and based on viable business plans. By using government-backed loans, Canadian pork producers will have better access to credit and the opportunity to restructure for the long term.

The Government of Canada and the Canadian Pork Council are also partnering to deliver $75 million through the Hog Farm Transition Program. The Canadian Pork Council will have registration forms for the program available to producers on October 8, 2009. The program will be retroactive to April 1, 2009, therefore, producers who depopulate their barns prior to applying for the program will still be eligible. Applications will be based on a tendering process that allows producers to bid for the amount of funding they require to take their barns out of operation for at least three years. Producers will be able to visit the Canadian Pork Council’s web site www.cpc-ccp.com for the most up-to-date information and registration forms on October 8, 2009.

These programs are in addition to the $17-million International Pork Marketing Fund the Government of Canada is investing for market research, promotion and access initiatives to find new customers for Canadian pork products.

For more information on these programs, visit: www.agr.gc.ca/HILLRP or call 1-877-842-5601.