Skills development and learning services
The Canadian Agricultural Skills Service provides funding and practical assistance to help you and your spouse participate in a learning program that will lead to increased opportunities for profitability.
Participation in the Canadian Agricultural Skills Service involves:
- An assessment to help you identify your strengths and skills.
- The development of an Individual Learning Plan to help identify courses in areas such as farm business management, accounting, finance and human resources management, or courses that will prepare you for other types of employment. A consultant will assist you with choosing the courses or workshops.
- Funding to support formal training including college programs, workshops and short courses. The funding covers tuition and fees, course materials, and, other costs associated with the training.
- A consultant who is available for ongoing advice and support while you carry out your learning plan.
You and your spouse are eligible to participate if:
- you are an established producer with gross farm sales of at least $10,000 per year; or
- you are an owner/member of a farm corporation, cooperative, or other farm group enterprise with at least $10,000 annual gross farm sales; or
- you are a beginning farmer (you intend to establish a farm, or you have already owned or operated a farm for less than six years and have existing or projected gross annual farm sales of $10,000 or more).
In all cases your net family income must not exceed $45,000* per year, you must have been out of school for at least two years, and you must not be receiving Employment Insurance Part funding for training.
In Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan, the provincial governments administer CASS. For further information on the Canadian Agricultural Skills Service, refer to the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada website (www.agr.gc.ca) or contact your local Collins Barrow office.
*Beginning farmers whose income exceeds $45,000 are eligible for the Assessment and Individual Learning Plan.