Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives

Farm Income Safety Net Programs

To guard against farm income fluctuations resulting from crop failure, production problems and world market volatility, farm income protection programs have been developed by the federal and provincial governments.

Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) Program

The CAIS program is designed to help producers deal with drops in income, by providing financial assistance when their margins fall below average.

If you produce agricultural commodities as defined by the program, you are eligible to participate. Each year, participants need to select a coverage level, pay a participation fee (.45 per cent of margin) and submit the information required to calculate current and historical financial performance.

The amount of support available is based on your reference margin, a measure of historical operating income. Beginning farmers have a reference margin calculated based on industry averages, and those who expand or downsize have their margins adjusted accordingly.

Benefits are paid when your current year margin falls below the reference margin. Generally, the percentage of the loss covered by CAIS increases as your loss increases. The amount of your payment will depend on the level of protection you choose, your current year margin and your reference margin.

For complete program details and contact information, call your local GO Team office or centre or visit the Federal Government  website.