Following the conclusion of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) the Government of Canada promised to provide compensation to supply-managed sectors for market access concessions made under the agreement. This announcement was in Issue 2 of The Chicken Farmer.
The Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program (PEFIP) has been put in place and will provide $347.3 million for chicken producers to invest in their operation. Each eligible producer will be allocated a share of the program’s funding based on their share of provincial quota or production, as identified by their respective provincial marketing board and based on January 1, 2021 quota holdings.
The program is a ten-year program, which will end March 31, 2031. Under this program, producers will have the flexibility to seek funding for eligible activities that started on or after March 19, 2019. The applications must be submitted by March 31, 2030 and project activities must be completed by March 31, 2031. Each producer will have their individual funding amount to be used during the 10 years of the program and can plan their investment when it is convenient for their operation.
All activities must contribute to on-farm modernization of the poultry and/or egg enterprise. This includes:
- increasing efficiency or productivity
- improving on-farm food safety and biosecurity
- improving environmental sustainability
- responding to consumer preferences (improving animal welfare, adopting alternative housing systems, transitioning to organic production, etc.)
Eligible activities include, but are not limited to:
- hiring of external expertise to assess how the poultry and/or egg farm enterprise can improve efficiencies and productivity
- construction of new infrastructure or expansion of infrastructure
- building retrofits
- purchase of equipment and/or fit-ups of current facilities related to the installation and operation of equipment
- conversion of poultry housing system
- shipping, transportation, and installation of eligible assets/materials (for example, construction materials, equipment, commercial off-the-shelf software, and IT infrastructure)
- training related to other eligible project activities
Ineligible costs include:
- used equipment purchased through private sale
- equipment not directly related to poultry and/or egg production
- purchases of additional quota, land, or animals
AAFC’s contribution will not normally exceed 70% of eligible project costs. Subject to certain conditions, AAFC may provide up to 85% of eligible project costs for young producers who were 35 years old or younger on January 1, 2021.
Producers will be able apply more than once, and for more than one project, so long as their maximum funding amount under the program has not been exceeded.
Applicants will be able to determine their maximum funding amount by registering with the program’s Online System (PEFIPOS).
In the PEFIPOS, registration involves creating a “User” profile for yourself, and then creating a program “Participant” profile for the entity (that is, the individual, corporation, cooperative, partnership or trust) that holds the license and that will apply for project funding.
Multiple users may have access to a Participant profile to work together on an application or claim. Applicants with multiple licenses will have the option to register all their licenses together, rather than registering each license separately with the program. Registering multiple licenses together can:
- make it easier for applicants to manage their project applications, contribution agreements and claims by accessing them via the same account on the Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program Online System (PEFIPOS)
- allow applicants to combine their maximum funding amounts from multiple licenses towards a large project
Program applications must be submitted by March 31, 2030.
You can find the PEFIP website by going to https://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/agricultural-programs-and-services/poultry-and-egg-on-farm-investment-program/
