CFBAS includes three services:

1. Farm Business Assessment and Action Plan.

• Eligible farmers are provided with up to five days' worth of consultative services.
• A financial consultant (chosen by the farmer) performs the work.
• The farmer pays $100 and the government pays the rest (valued at $2,000).
• The Farm Business Assessment consists of three days' worth of consultation with at least one day spent on the farm. The consultant reviews past records and the current situation, discusses goals and objectives, and helps producers determine their current options in meeting their profitability goals. This service includes identifying producers' goals and options for the future. Each producer receives a business profile, a statement of assets and liabilities, a farm business ratio analysis, an income and expense statement for the previous three years, and other information related to the farm business
• The Action Plan follows the assessment with producers getting two days' worth of consultation to help them assess their options for increasing farm profitability and establish a plan to implement the options they have chosen. This service will result in financial planning (including cash-flow planning), projections and a written report.
• After using the Canadian Farm Business Advisory Services, a consultant will follow up with producers to discuss how they are progressing in relation to the plan they developed and to offer further advice to the producer if needed. There is no cost for this service.

2. Specialized Business Planning (SBP) Services. This component offers assistance to producers in preparing the specialized plans needed for their businesses, such as diversification, marketing, human resources, expansion, risk management, and succession plans. To assist them in developing these types of plans, producers work with a consultant who has expertise in a specific area. This expertise is matched to the producer's specific needs. In terms of cost, the federal government will pay 50% of the total consultant fees, up to a maximum of $8,000. Producers will be responsible for paying the balance.

3. Planning and Assessment of Value-added Enterprises (PAVE). This service is available to producers who are considering establishing or expanding a value-added enterprise. It will provide them with assistance in retaining the services of a business planning professional to develop certain feasibility assessments and, if appropriate, a comprehensive business plan for specific services. This planning will facilitate access to capital.

Canadian farmers should take advantage of these business advisory services. The programs will be available until 2008.

For more information on CFBAS programs and other renewal initiatives, visit the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada website at www.agr.gc.ca/renewal .