How to Complete and Submit the Farm Business Registration Form (FBR)

To complete Ontario’s Farm Business Registration, file online through Agricorp’s portal or call 1-866-327-3678 by March 1 each year, pay the $255 fee plus HST ($288.15 total), and select one accredited farm organization to receive your registration dollars.¹ Agricorp is the agency of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness (OMAFA) that administers the program, and the FBR number it issues is what unlocks the Farm Property Class Tax Rate Program and other provincial supports.

Who Has to Register

Every farm business in Ontario reporting gross annual sales of $7,000 or more is required by law to register with Agricorp and hold a current FBR number.¹ The requirement comes from the Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act, 1993.² Gross farm income covers revenue from livestock, crops, dairy, poultry, grains, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, maple products, and other agricultural production.

New operations that have not yet reached $7,000 may still qualify for a start-up exemption under the Farm Property Class Tax Rate Program, and farms whose income has since fallen below the threshold should contact Agricorp directly, as the land may still qualify for the reduced property tax rate.³⁴

What to Have Ready Before You File

Pull these together before you open the form:

Proof of income. Your T1 return (individuals) or T2 return (corporations) showing gross farm income of $7,000 or more. New registrants send this to Agricorp as part of the application.¹
Your Agricorp ID, your AgriStability or AgriInvest PIN, and your CRA business number, if you have them.³
The accredited farm organization you want to support. You have to pick one on the form, so decide before you start.

Make sure the legal name on your registration matches your tax filings exactly. A mismatch with your CRA records will slow processing.

Choosing an Accredited Farm Organization

A portion of your fee is paid directly to the accredited farm organization (AFO) you select. Ontario has three AFOs, and the one you choose receives funding to advocate for farmers with the provincial and federal governments.³ Some focus on broad agricultural policy, others on specific commodity sectors or grassroots organizing. Review each group’s recent work before locking in your choice. You can switch AFOs in any renewal year, either online or by phone at 1-866-327-3678.¹

Filing Online or by Phone

Agricorp offers two filing routes. New registrations and renewals each have their own online portal, both reachable from Agricorp’s FBR overview page.¹ Online filing accepts credit card payment and returns confirmation immediately, which is the fastest way to get an active FBR number.⁵ You can also update contact and account details through the portal at any time.

Call 1-866-327-3678 if you would rather not file online, if your registration number is no longer active and needs to be reactivated, or if the name or structure of your farm business has changed since your last registration. The portal cannot process structural changes on its own.⁶

The Fee

The annual fee is $255 plus HST, for a total of $288.15.¹ It is set by OMAFA and directed to the AFO you select. The same amount applies whether you are registering for the first time or renewing. Payment is by credit card through the portal or arranged over the phone.

The March 1 Deadline and What Happens If You Miss It

Registration must be renewed every year. The deadline for the current cycle is March 1, 2026.⁵ Miss it and your FBR number is at risk of lapsing, which cuts off eligibility for the Farm Property Class Tax Rate Program and other provincial agricultural supports. Because the property tax savings alone can run into thousands of dollars a year, a lapsed registration is an expensive oversight.³

Set a reminder for January or early February. If your account information is current and you already know which AFO you want, online renewal takes only a few minutes.

Why the FBR Number Matters

The main reason most producers care about keeping their FBR number current is the Farm Property Class Tax Rate Program. With a valid number, farmland is taxed at no more than 25 percent of the municipal residential property tax rate.⁷ The reduction applies to farmland only; land and buildings used for residential purposes are taxed at the standard residential rate. To qualify, the farm business must hold a valid FBR number and the property must meet Agricorp’s eligibility criteria.⁸

Your FBR number is also an eligibility requirement for a range of other provincial agricultural programs, including risk management supports, business development assistance, and other OMAFA initiatives for registered farm operations.³ Letting it lapse can quietly disqualify you from programs you may not realize you were enrolled in until a payment fails to arrive or an application is rejected. If you also participate in federal programs such as AgriStability or AgriInvest, keep your Agricorp identifiers and FBR number aligned with your federal records to avoid administrative tangles.

Note that this registration applies only in Ontario. Producers in the United States work through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency instead, under an entirely separate system.

1
Agricorp. Farm Business Registration (FBR)
2
Government of Ontario. Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act, 1993
3
National Farmers Union – Ontario. Farm Business Registration (FBR) in Ontario
4
Agricorp. Easy Way to Register Your Farm Business
5
Agricorp. Choose Convenience: Register Your Farm by Credit Card at Agricorp.com
6
Agricorp. Farm Business Registration – FBR
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Agricorp. Farm Property Class Tax Rate Program
8
Government of Ontario. Farm Property Class Tax Rate Program