Farm Credit Canada program offers credit, loans, and payment deferrals amid global tariff pressures

REGINA – BUSINESS – Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is expanding financial support to help Canadian canola producers, agribusinesses, and food processors navigate ongoing global trade disruptions, including new tariffs targeting Canadian canola seed.

The Trade Disruption Customer Support Program provides flexibility and cash flow relief at a time when market access challenges continue to weigh on farmers and processors across the Prairies and beyond.

“The agriculture and food industry is resilient, but global trade uncertainty can create real pressure on cash flow and operations,” said Justine Hendricks, President and CEO of FCC. “Our role is to ensure our customers, and the broader industry, have access to the capital and flexibility they need to adapt, stay competitive and keep delivering high-quality products to markets at home and abroad.”

Program Details for Producers and Processors

The FCC support program includes:

• Additional credit lines of up to $500,000

• New term loans tailored to business needs

• The ability for existing FCC clients to defer principal payments for up to 12 months on current loans

Both existing FCC customers and new clients who meet lending requirements are eligible.

Why It Matters for Northwestern Ontario

While canola is primarily grown in the Prairie provinces, FCC’s program has ripple effects for the broader Canadian agri-food supply chain — including transportation, processing, and export logistics that move through Northwestern Ontario.

For Thunder Bay, a key grain shipping hub on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system, policies affecting canola exports can directly impact shipping volumes, local supply chain jobs, and business activity at the port.

FCC’s Role in Canadian Agriculture

As a Crown corporation, FCC is fully invested in Canadian food and agriculture. Its mandate is to provide flexible financing, reinvest profits into the sector, and work with industry partners to ensure stability during volatile market conditions.

Producers, processors, and agribusiness operators are encouraged to contact their local FCC office or call 1-800-387-3232 to discuss eligibility and financing options.