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.
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 open for applications, with a deadline of January 31, 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.
Learn more about qualifying cattle requirements and steps to make your cattle eligible for CRSB Certified supply chains.
The Incentives
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.
Certification Recognition Credit
In addition to this ongoing Qualifying Cattle Credit Payment, Cargill and its supply chain partners also fund CRSB’s Certification Recognition Credit. This incremental payment ensures all current CRSB Certified operations receive a minimum $400 CAD in total annual credit payments relative to Cargill’s certified sustainable beef initiative. The credit will only apply to those producers who have not already received at least $400 CAD in return for the Qualifying Cattle Credits. The credit will be paid to CRSB Certified operations regardless of whether their qualifying cattle were ultimately sold into Cargill.
Qualifying operations do not need to apply separately for this credit and can expect their payment in April 2025. Provided that the operation was certified in 2024, and maintains an active certification status at the start of 2025, the operation is eligible to receive a Certification Recognition Credit based on the difference between $400 CAD and the amount that the operation earned via Cargill’s Qualifying Cattle Credits in 2024.
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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