Third round of compensation now available for Canadian dairy farmers

Today, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced that the third payment under the Dairy Direct Payment Program (DDPP) is now available to producers. The owner of a farm with 80 dairy cows will be awarded compensation in the form of a direct payment of approximately $38,000 each year.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has mailed letters to all eligible dairy producers with directions on how to access the payment. Based on their milk quota, dairy farmers will receive compensation payments totaling up to $469 million for this fiscal year. To receive their payment, producers must register through the Canadian Dairy Commission prior to March 31, 2022. Another $468 million will be available in 2022-2023.

The Government of Canada continues to deliver on its commitment to provide $1.75 billion to dairy producers for market access concessions made under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Payments are being made on an accelerated schedule of four years instead of eight, with all payments set to be made by 2023.

Earlier this year, the Government also launched compensation programs designed to help drive innovation and market development for Canada’s 4,800 chicken, egg, broiler hatching egg and turkey producers, totaling $691 million over ten years. The Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program will provide nearly $647 million to support poultry and egg farmers through on-farm investments. The Market Development Program for Turkey and Chicken will provide over $44 million to help increase domestic demand and consumption of Canadian turkey and chicken products through industry-led promotional activities. These programs respond directly to requests from producer associations and provide full and fair compensation for market impacts from the CPTPP.

To help processors of all supply-managed agricultural products adapt to CETA and CPTPP, Budget 2021 proposed a further $292.5 million for a Processor Investment Fund to support private investment in processing plants. Further program details are expected to be available in the coming months.

Within the next year, the Government of Canada is also committed to working with supply-managed sectors to determine full and fair compensation for the impacts of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

The Government of Canada understands the crucial role of Canada’s supply-managed sectors, which support our family farms and the vitality of our rural communities. Despite many challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and impacts of severe weather conditions across the country, these farmers continue to demonstrate their commitment to providing high-quality products and helping to ensure a strong Canadian economy and agriculture sector.

Quotes

“Our government is delivering on its commitment to compensate dairy producers. They can now apply for the third payment and already know what their fourth payment will be in 2023. We promised to finalize the CUSMA compensation within the first year of our mandate and we will also deliver on this commitment.”

– The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food 

Quick facts

• The Canadian dairy sector is a vital pillar of rural communities and a key driver of the economy. There are 9,952 dairy farms in Canada supporting approximately 19,000 direct jobs. The demand for Canadian dairy remains strong, and has led to a 10% increase in raw milk production in the last five years, with over $7 billion in farm cash receipts in 2020.
• Under the Dairy Direct Payment Program, dairy farmers will receive up to $1.75 billion in direct payments over the course of four years. Payments are delivered by the Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC).
  • Up to $345 million and $468 million in direct payments was made available in 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively.
  • There is $469 million currently available for year three, and another $468 million will be available in 2022-23.
• Under the program, eligible recipients are producers of cow’s milk with a valid dairy quota license registered with a provincial milk marketing board or agency as of October 31 of each year.
• Canada now has trade agreements with two-thirds of the world’s economy and is the only G7 country to have trade agreements with every other G7 country.