Durum wheat and certified organic grain growers who took out cash advances under the 2009 Advance Payments Program (APP) now have until the end of April to repay.
Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz on Friday announced a stay of default on APP repayments until April 30, 2011 for those who got their 2009 advances through the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB).
The government said it granted the stay, effective Oct. 1, following a request from the CWB to prevent farmers with outstanding advances from going into default.
“Farmers work hard to grow top-quality Canadian durum but when it’s not sold, they need some breathing room until they can repay their advances,” Ritz said in a release.
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“This government understands the challenges facing grain producers, so we’re providing a stay so that farmers have more opportunity to receive a fair price for their yields.”
Farmers who got a 2009 APP advance from the CWB and have been unable to sell portions of their 2009 durum and certified organic grain are eligible for the stay, the government said, giving them until April 30 to sell the product and pay back the advances.
The government said it will keep paying the interest on the interest-free portion of farmers’ outstanding advances until that time. Farmers are asked to contact the CWB for details.
