Farmers who didn’t have much of a wheat or barley crop last year because of flooding should take note.
A late-breaking change in the Agricultural Income Disaster Assistance program may have some effect on how they calculate their 1999 claim.
The adjustment recognizes that farmers get paid by the Canadian Wheat Board over 18 months, explained AIDA official Reg Grenier.
That means income from wheat and barley crops grown in the summer of 1998 will trickle in throughout the 1999 calendar year.
For some farmers, the adjustment and final payments for their 1998 crops exceeded what they hope to receive for small or failed 1999 wheat and barley crops.
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So, farmers can choose to fill out a CWB Income Adjustment Schedule form to ensure returns from the previous year’s crop don’t influence AIDA payments for the smaller 1999 crop.
The calculation removes income received in 1999 for CWB crops grown in 1998. It also adds in projected total income for the 1999 crop – the adjustment and final payments producers expect to receive in 2000.
The projections are based on the midpoint of the December 1999 pool return outlook.
“It simply is trying to line up the money you get with the crop you produce,” said Grenier.
The option was announced only last week, so the adjustment form was not included in AIDA application packages mailed to farmers.
Farmers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan can get the form from the AIDA website at www.agr.ca/aida, or call the toll-free line at 888-343-1064.
Farmers in Alberta can get the form by calling 877-782-1176.
The AIDA administration has also released a revised price list available at the website or from the toll-free line.
So far, it has received 3,300 applications for 1999. Officials expect most forms will arrive closer to the July 31 deadline.
In June and July, AIDA is holding meetings across Manitoba and Saskatchewan where farm business consultants guide producers through the application forms.
They will also explain a number of other changes to the program for the 1999 tax year.
