(Sackville, NB)- Over the past year the National Farmers Union in New Brunswick
(NFU in NB) has been involved in an industry/government working group established to
make changes to the provincial Farm Registry and the Fuel Tax Exemption Program. “It
has been a collaborative process,” explains NFU in NB Executive Director, Melanie
Jellett. “The goal of the new regulations is to create a more streamlined program that is
easier for the farmer to understand and use.”
Changes to the Farm Registry and the Fuel Tax Exemption Program take effect
October 31st, 2012. Producers who currently register their farms with the province of
New Brunswick are already receiving renewal letters outlining the changes. Basically, a
single application form will now be used for both the Farm Registry, to obtain the
Registered Professional Agricultural Producer or RPAP card, and for the purchaser’s
permit for tax exempt fuel.
Farmers that take part in the Fuel Tax Exemption Program will also see an expansion
of that program to include refunds of the provincial tax paid on both gas and fuel
consumed in farm-plated (F-plated) vehicles while performing farm production activities.
“These activities include all on-farm activity,” Jellett explains, “So a producer needs to
record odometer readings at the beginning and at the end of their fiscal year, and then
indicate how much of this activity was farm related.”
NFU in NB President, Jean-Eudes Chiasson, says, “The major concern for our
organization with regard to any changes to the regulations has always been to ensure that
they will make it easier for farmers to track their expenses.”
The NFU is a general farm organization representing agricultural producers from all
commodities across Canada. The NFU has worked with farm families in New Brunswick
for 43 years. NFU in NB representatives encourage producers to get in touch with them
if they have any questions about the changes in the farm registry and the new fuel tax
regulations, and to find out about the benefits of a membership with the NFU. Email
info@nfunb.org, call (506) 538-1189 or toll-free: 1-888-246-5583, or visit
www.nfunb.org.
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Contacts: Jean-Eudes Chiasson, NFU in NB President, Rogersville (506) 775-6033
Melanie Jellett, NFU in NB Executive Director, Sackville (506) 538-1189
For a complete list of NFU in NB press releases, click here.
