New farmers
Did you know that as a farm producer you get access to a wide range of services and benefits, especially when you become a UPA member? Here’s everything you need to know.
Download the Reference Sheet (641 KB)Welcome to the family of passionate people who feed Quebec—and the world!
You’ve made the decision to earn your living from the land and help feed the world, contributing to Quebec’s economy in the process. Your contribution is as valued as it is essential! Please know that we are standing by to talk to you about your plans and dreams, as well as your challenges and concerns.
The UPA exists by and for farm and forest producers. Every producer matters. Each one has their place. The UPA is the ideal setting for you to meet other producers, get assistance, access specialized resources, defend your interests, and much more!
(Source: FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
We are here to develop a local, sustainable agriculture sector and make it thrive—now and into the future
We are the official voice when it comes to representing your interests to political, governmental, regional, and municipal leaders, as well as agri-food sector stakeholders and others. We speak on behalf of all of agriculture and private forestry. The work we do to advocate for farm and forest producers and defend their activities encompasses land protection, financing of farming activities, regulations, supporting next-generation producers, tax measures, the environment, climate change, and much more. Indeed, we are united in feeding Quebec and making it grow.
Take your place in Quebec’s largest network of farm and forest entrepreneurs!
To feed the organization and make it grow, it is crucial for people like you to get involved, invest, and help make decisions.
All UPA members want the same things: fair pay for their work, quality of life on the farm, and the autonomy to make their own decisions. These objectives bring producers together, no matter what they produce or where they are located.
Simply put, the UPA is a network of entrepreneurs offering you:
- A network that is open to all
- An organization that respects and defends ALL farmers—no matter how big or small their operation is, what they produce, where they operate, how much income they generate, etc.
- A wide range of services specializing in agriculture
- A community that is actively building agriculture and private forestry for the Quebec of tomorrow
- A voice—your voice!
Fill out your membership form today to gain access to all these benefits!
Good to know
We want to reach out to you so that we can get to know you better and tell you about what the UPA can do for you. Expect a syndicate representative to contact you a few weeks after you are registered. And never hesitate to get in touch with your regional federation This link will open in a new window, even if the representative hasn’t contacted you yet.
As a producer recognized under the Farm Producers Act, you will be required to pay dues to the UPA. Because all producers, whether or not they are officially members of the UPA, benefit from the actions of the legally accredited organization and its achievements, these dues are mandatory for all (under the Rand formula, which underpins the province’s union system).
Your farm producer status makes you eligible for a number of assistance programs, special rates, and benefits the UPA has secured. And when you become a full-fledged UPA member, you get even more services and advantages. See the relevant sections on our website for more information.
- Member benefits This link will open in a new window
- Accounting and tax services This link will open in a new window
- Training This link will open in a new window
- Labour This link will open in a new window
- Health, safety, and wellness This link will open in a new window
- Legal service This link will open in a new window
- Tools and resources This link will open in a new window
By becoming a member of the UPA, you become an active participant in your organization—that means full voting rights at AGMs and the chance to run for election as a director to represent your fellow producers. Don’t miss your chance to make your voice heard!
Other exclusive member benefits include:
- SOLO Sécuriterre disability insurance
- Accidental death insurance ($2,000)
- Three months’ free subscription to La Terre de chez nous
- UPA Benefit Program (discounts from UPA partners)
To find out more about the UPA and the various member benefits, visit the Becoming a member section This link will open in a new window.
Becoming a UPA member is optional and does not cost anything extra.
There’s only one more step, and a few minutes is all it takes. Are you ready? Complete your registration form today This link will open in a new window!
If you haven’t done so already, we invite you to also register your file with the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ).
Registering with the MAPAQ is optional and free of charge. However, it is mandatory if you want to participate in any MAPAQ programs. To obtain your identification number (NIM), simply contact the MAPAQ’s farm operation registration department at 1‑844‑544‑3332.
Visit the MAPAQ website for further information This link will open in a new window
Further information
- Download the Reference Sheet for New Farm Producers
- See the What constitutes farm producer status? and How do I become a UPA member? sections for everything you need to know about farm producer status.
Frequently asked questions
For further information or to make changes to your file, contact your regional UPA federation.
Federation contact information This link will open in a new window
You can also get in touch directly with your local syndicate and the specialized group that applies to you. This link will open in a new window
The UPA’s mission is to promote and defend the interests of all farm and forest producers in Quebec, without distinction.
All around the world, farmers struggle to get fair prices for their products because they aren’t adequately defended. And today’s buyers are looking overseas in search of profits.
But when producers join together under the UPA banner, they can maintain their leverage and develop Quebec’s agriculture and private forestry, now and into the future.
Learn more about the UPA’s mission, values, and vision
The UPA’s work is done by farmers, for farmers. We provide:
- A place to defend your interests and rights
- Opportunities to network with other producers
- Access to services specializing in agriculture
- Assistance and referrals to support your business (through local syndicates and regional federations) and your production type (through specialized syndicates and federations)
Learn more about the UPA’s actions (616 KB)
Feel free to contact us directly This link will open in a new window—we’re here to help!
At the UPA, every producer matters. Each one has their place, no matter what they produce or how big or small their business is.
The UPA represents about 29,000 family farms in Quebec—and about a third of these gross $50,000 or less annually. These businesses are highly diversified, operating in both traditional sectors (beef, grains, maple, poultry, etc.) as well as emerging and specialized sectors (organic, goats, honey, berries, etc.). On their own, none of these 29,000 farms would be able to access the kinds of services the UPA offers.
If you are recognized as a farm producer under the Farm Producers Act, you must register with the UPA and pay your annual dues (under the Rand formula, which underpins the province’s union system).
To learn more about how dues are calculated or how the organization is financed, visit the Understanding how the UPA’s financing works section This link will open in a new window.
The money paid by producers is redistributed among the organization’s different bodies (i.e., local syndicates, regional federations, and the Confederation) according to the needs reflected in the current financial plan, which is approved by delegates at the annual UPA General Congress.
See what types of things are financed annually with union dues (616 KB)
We would be glad to count you among us as a UPA member! All you have to do is fill out the membership formThis link will open in a new window—it’s as simple as that.
Becoming a member gives you the chance to:
- Participate in meetings and AGMs
- Network with other producers
- Keep your finger on the pulse of the issues affecting your sector
- Share your opinion, put your ideas forward, vote on strategic issues, and elect representatives
- Get involved in the organization
- Take advantage of other member-only benefits
Step up and make your voice heard!This link will open in a new window
Discover the benefits available to membersThis link will open in a new window
As a farm producer you are entitled to a wide range of services and benefits, especially when you become a UPA member. Check out the different sections of our website for more detail.
Member benefitsThis link will open in a new window
Becoming a UPA member is optional and does not cost anything extra. We would be glad to count you among us.
Accounting and tax servicesThis link will open in a new window
We offer Quebec’s largest network of professional services specializing in agriculture.
TrainingThis link will open in a new window
Accessing training for yourself and your employees is key to your business’s performance.
LabourThis link will open in a new window
Looking to recruit local or foreign workers? We have all kinds of resources to help you!
Health, safety and wellnessThis link will open in a new window
Staying healthy is critical in the farming profession. Because significant risk is inherent to farm life, workplace safety is essential. We also have tools to help with work-life balance!
Due ServiceThis link will open in a new window
Our service is standing by to help you pay your dues or access information on the Assessment Credit Program.
Legal servicesThis link will open in a new window
BHLF Avocats is a firm specializing in agricultural law. Our lawyers are dedicated to defending individual Quebec farm and forest producers, producer groups, and the UPA.
Tools and ressourcesThis link will open in a new window
Check out our useful content on a variety of topics including agri-environment, land-use planning and farmland protection, assistance programs, and more.
The UPA includes specialized federations and syndicates that bring producers together by production type (grains, beef, produce, maple, etc.). The mission of these groups is to develop their respective sectors through marketing, production techniques, improvements, product quality, traceability, promotion, research, etc.
Read more about the existing groups This link will open in a new window
Note: If there is no group for your production sector or sectors, contact your regional UPA federation This link will open in a new window.
The UPA officially represents Quebec’s 42,000 farm producers along with all forest producers in the province.
It is made up of 145 regional and provincial specialized groups, 90 local syndicates, and 12 regional federations. Producers are organized into a dual structure based on both where they live (the “general sector”) and what they produce (the “specialized sector”).
Learn more about the structure of the UPA This link will open in a new window
Subscribe to our communications resourcesThis link will open in a new window
Visit our communications centreThis link will open in a new window
Become a UPA memberThis link will open in a new window
Attend AGMsThis link will open in a new window
Subscribe to La Terre de chez nousThis link will open in a new window
All new farm producers are entitled to three months’ subscription to La Terre de chez nousThis link will open in a new window free of charge; new UPA members are entitled to a further three months free of charge. For more information, call us at 450-679-0540, ext. 8211.