Ottawa, Ontario, July 19, 2010 - AgriInvest Deposit Notices will start to appear in producers' mailboxes over the coming weeks with information on how and where to make their 2009 AgriInvest deposit.

Producers can now make their AgriInvest deposits at a participating financial institution of their choice. Moving AgriInvest accounts closer to where producers live and work gives them the flexibility to keep track of their funds more easily and to earn a competitive rate of interest on their deposits.

Producers must open an account at their local financial institution and make their 2009 AgriInvest deposit by the deadline indicated on their Deposit Notice to receive a matching contribution from governments.

Existing funds currently held by the federal government will be transferred to the producer's AgriInvest account held at their financial institution. Producers can request a withdrawal from their AgriInvest account through their financial institution at any time throughout the year.

AgriInvest is a business risk management program under Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. AgriInvest helps farmers manage small income declines. Every year, farmers can make a deposit based on a percentage of their Allowable Net Sales and receive matching contributions from governments.

The program is delivered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in all provinces except Quebec where it is delivered by La Financière agricole du Québec (FADQ). In Quebec, deposits will continue to be held by la FADQ.

To learn more about AgriInvest, visit the program website at www.agr.gc.ca/agriinvest or call AAFC toll free at 1-866-367-8506.