Farmers have until Oct. 31 to sign up for the Canadian Farm Families Options program.
As of Oct. 8, almost 5,000 applications have been received for the new program and cheques totalling more the $30 million have been mailed out to producers. The average payment is $10,580, according to Agriculture Canada.
The program is designed to provide short-term income support to low income farm families.
Eligible applicants receive a payment based on their 2005 income tax return that brings them up to a maximum income of $25,000 for families and $15,000 for individuals who have a commercial farm.
As well, eligible farmers must commit to business assessment or skills development programs.
Application forms are available on-line to download at www.agr.gc.ca/options or by calling 866-367-8506.
Due to technical difficulties, the on-line form used to request the Options program form and guide is unavailable and on-line requests filed before Sept. 15 have not been received.
The federal government has committed $550 million to the program.
