July 16, 2014 – Ottawa, Ontario - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Canada's mink producers facing financial challenges as they adjust to a dramatic shift in the world mink market have been granted more time to repay cash advances under the Advance Payments Program (APP). Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz today announced a national Stay of Default for mink producers who have a 2013 APP cash advance on mink pelts issued through the Agri-Commodity Management Association (ACMA), the PEI Federation of Agriculture, the Canada Mink Breeders Association, the Newfoundland Federation of Agriculture, and the Fur Farmers of Canada Marketing Association.
Mink producers now have until June 1, 2015 to repay their 2013 advance in full. The Stay of Default was granted at the request of the APP administrators to provide producers with an additional eight months to sell their pelts and to repay their outstanding APP advances. Producers will also have the option to repay their APP advances in cash without penalty and at a lower rate than the original APP advance rate, to reflect the decline in prices.
Producers who received an APP advance on mink pelts for the 2013 production period are eligible for the Stay of Default and are encouraged to contact their APP program administrator for more details.
Jeff English
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
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