Canada AgriStability & AgriInvest Explained (BRM)

Updated 2026-07-11 · Government programs

Canada’s Business Risk Management (BRM) suite helps farmers manage income risk. The two core programs are AgriStability (protects against a big drop in your farm margin) and AgriInvest (a matched savings account for smaller dips). Here is how each works.

AgriStability — margin protection

AgriStability supports your whole farm when your production margin (allowable income minus allowable expenses) falls significantly below your historical reference margin. It kicks in when your margin drops below a set percentage of the reference, cushioning large losses from price drops, production problems or rising costs. Because it is whole-farm and margin-based, it responds to combined risks that a single-crop program would miss.

AgriInvest — matched savings for small dips

AgriInvest is a self-managed savings account: you deposit a percentage of your Allowable Net Sales each year and the government matches it up to a limit. You can withdraw the funds to cover a small income decline or to invest in reducing risk on your farm. It is the flexible, first-line tool for smaller, more frequent dips that AgriStability doesn’t cover.

How they work together

• AgriInvest handles small, frequent income declines — quick and flexible.
• AgriStability handles large margin losses — deeper protection.
• Many farms enrol in both for layered coverage.

How to enrol

Enrol and file through the program administrator for your province (some provinces deliver it themselves; others through the federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada administration). Watch the annual enrolment and fee deadlines, and keep accurate income and expense records — your margins and benefits are calculated from them. Confirm the current percentages and deadlines with the official program, as they are updated periodically.