“New program a step towards solving low family farm income.” says Bev Shipley, MP Ottawa, ON –Following up on commitments made in Budget 2006, the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and AgriFood Canada and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board has recently announced an innovative new program to help lower income farm families.

“This new program not only gives short term financial relief to struggling farm families, but helps them look at ways to improve their income for the longterm.”, said MP for Lambton Kent Middlesex Bev Shipley.

The Canadian Farm Families Options Program will: help lowerincome farm families explore options to raise their income for the future. Applicants must commit to use business planning and skills development programs. provide short term income support to lowerincome farm families.

Eligible applicants will receive a payment that will bring them to a maximum income of $25,000 for families and $15,000 for individuals if they have a commercial farm.
Options is a pilot program, with a federal commitment of $550 million over two years.

This program also offers additional business and technical assistance for which the federal government is covering the cost. "Our government is committed to helping farmers who are under financial stress,” said Shipley. “This new program is a step towards solving low family farm income.”

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For more information contact:
The Office of Bev Shipley, MP
(613) 947-4581