Agricultural Marketing Programs Act

The Agricultural Marketing Programs Act (S.C. 1997, c. 20, assented to April 25, 1997 and current to 2025 with last amendment February 5, 2016) is federal legislation establishing programs for the marketing of agricultural products whose primary purpose is to improve marketing opportunities for agricultural products of eligible producers by guaranteeing the repayment of advances made to them as a means of improving their cash-flow. The Act authorizes the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to enter into advance guarantee agreements with administrators (producer organizations, representative organizations, or designated lenders) to guarantee repayment of advances that administrators make to eligible producers from borrowed money, with an aggregate contingent liability of Her Majesty not to exceed $5 billion or the amount fixed by regulation at any time. It defines eligible agricultural products as animals raised in Canada or their fur pelts, plants grown in Canada or their products, or honey and maple syrup produced in Canada, for which the Minister determines it is possible to establish an average price and that are not processed beyond what is necessary to store them and prevent spoilage. It establishes detailed eligibility criteria for producers including Canadian citizens, permanent residents, corporations controlled by these, cooperatives with majority Canadian members, or partnerships where Canadian partners are entitled to at least 50% of profits, with production periods of up to 18 months and specific obligations for administrators including managing interest rates, ensuring marketable quality of products, and paying the Minister amounts recovered from defaulting producers.