Enhanced collaboration across the value chain demonstrates the CRSB and our partners’ desire to support CRSB Certified ranchers and farmers through the development of various incentive programs.
This aims to acknowledge producers for their ongoing commitment to the beef sustainability journey and enable them to see return on their investment for sustainable practices and outcomes and make the most of their certification.
Below are currently available programs. New programs and initiatives will be added as they emerge to provide the latest offerings.
CRSB Certified beef producers make the commitment and investment to improving their operations and we appreciate the support of our program partners for recognizing those commitments. These incentives show Canadian beef producers that their efforts do not go unnoticed, and that profitability and the economic resilience of their operations are an important aspect of sustainability.
Created to recognize and reward Canadian beef producers who have made the investment to become certified, this incentive supports CRSB Certified farmers and ranchers, and helps enable sourcing of CRSB Certified beef through certified supply chains.
In its first year (2026), all eligible beef producers will receive an incentive payment of $400.
The incentive program will continue annually, with future annual incentive payments based on CRSB Certified beef sold. Future payments will be calculated based on available funds and distributed evenly among all eligible beef producers.
Any operation that is CRSB Certified between January 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, renews and/or maintains their existing CRSB certification as of June 30, 2026. A valid certificate from a CRSB-approved Certification Body is required, dated on or before June 30, 2026. The certificate must be valid until at least June 30, 2026.
Must have completed all CRSB Certified Qualifying Cattle Requirements.
Producers do not need to complete any additional application to receive the incentive. All eligible producers will automatically receive the incentive payment.
Payments are expected to be distributed by October 2026.
Innovative producers are key to growing a more sustainable future for agriculture and these changes require research, time and capital. By working with industry partners, Farm Credit Canada has created an incentive program open to eligible customers who meet our partners’ program requirements in sustainability. Together, we’re laying the groundwork for future generations to thrive in our industry.
In 2022, CRSB was the first to partner with FCC to recognize Canadian beef producers who are certified to the CRSB standards for sustainable beef production.
CRSB Certified beef producers make the commitment and investment to improving their operations and we appreciate the support of our program partners for recognizing those commitments. These incentives show Canadian beef producers that their efforts do not go unnoticed, and that profitability and the economic resilience of their operations are an important aspect of sustainability.Canadian producers are already experts of the land and livestock, and the beef sector has been a leader in demonstrating their sustainability practices through the CRSB. We are pleased to work with the CRSB to recognize FCC customers who have already achieved their certification and to encourage additional producers to become certified.
Todd Klink, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Public Affairs - Farm Credit Canada
HOW DOES IT WORK?
FCC’s Sustainability Incentive Program rewards eligible FCC customers who are CRSB Certified. Incentive payments are calculated as a portion of your lending with FCC, to a maximum payment of $4,000 per year. You can re-apply annually throughout the life of the program.
The 2025 program is now closed for applications. Stay tuned for details about the program opening in June 2026.
While the CRSB Certified program was the first, FCC has partnered with a number of organizations and sectors to support their producers through sustainability incentives. Programs for beef (CRSB Certified), crops (through Cargill’s RegenConnect™program), dairy (through the Dairy Farmers of Canada and Lactanet), potatoes (through McCain’s Regenerative Agriculture Framework), and Ducks Unlimited Canada (through their Marginal Areas Program).
* If you are a producer and FCC customer that participates in more than one of these programs, you could be eligible to receive multiple FCC payments, as the incentives can be stacked in many cases.
Remember this is an annual incentive, so be sure to apply even if you already received it in previous years!
Visit fcc.ca/sustainabilityprograms for more information and to apply today!
Cargill’s beef sustainability programs enable Cargill’s retail and foodservice customers to source beef from CRSB Certified farms and ranches and to market beef products to Canadians with on-product CRSB claims. Cargill’s implementation of the CRSB Certified program has helped Canada become the first country to deliver beef from certified sustainable sources, establishing Canadian beef as synonymous with sustainability in the global market.
Both of Cargill’s Canadian abattoirs – High River, AB and Guelph, ON – are certified to the CRSB Certified Sustainable Beef Processing Standard and Chain of Custody Requirements, meaning that any cattle processed at either of these facilities can qualify if they meet all requirements prior to processing.
Qualifying Cattle Credit Payments
Cargill and their participating customers are grateful for beef ranchers and farmers' dedication to responsible practices and have chosen to recognize that effort financially in the form of Qualifying Cattle Credit Payments. These payments are issued monthly to producers along the beef production chain, on a per head basis, for fully qualifying cattle processed by Cargill in the prior period. Payments are provided to every CRSB Certified Operation in the supply chain that owned these qualifying animals as a thank you for the upfront investment. This helps demonstrate sustainable practices within Cargill’s supply chain according to the CRSB Certified requirements.
Learn more about qualifying cattle requirements and steps to make your cattle eligible for CRSB Certified supply chains.
AgriInvest is part of a suite of risk management programs under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the current federal-provincial-territorial agricultural policy framework. It is a self-managed producer-government savings account designed to help you manage small income declines and make investments to manage risk and improve market income.
Each year, you can deposit up to 100% of your Allowable Net Sales to your AgriInvest account and receive a matching government contribution on 1% of your Allowable Net Sales.
Under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, there is a commitment by governments to integrate climate risk management, environmental practices and climate readiness into business risk management programming that would encourage awareness and action to help producers respond to the challenges of climate change. The agri-environmental risk assessment is a way to support positive environmental outcomes.
The CRSB Certified program is one of the tools recognized as an agri-environmental risk assessment (AERA) under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriInvest program.
All CRSB Certified beef producers that require an AERA to participate in the program can use their CRSB certification to qualify for the government contribution.
“The CRSB is pleased that the AgriInvest program recognizes the work producers have undertaken to get certified and that producers can leverage their certification for this program.”
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