To be specific to the question, we haven't done that comparison back five years and basically profiling farmers by size, but we have looked at what the new business risk management suite will do for farmers in terms of specific responses. For example, with respect to the situation in the hog industry, the AgriStability program will provide significant support to that industry, and I think you would hear the same response from the industry itself.
In fact, we've started issuing targeted advance payments under the AgriStability program to producers where Canada delivers, and the provinces requested that. I can tell you that the amount of assistance being offered under that approach is significant to the hog industry.
As well, when provincial ministers sign on to the new AgriInvest program, which we're expecting within the next two weeks, we will then be able to launch the Kickstart program, which is the $600 million, and that money will be available early in the new year for producers—not just livestock producers, but that's who we're talking about here today—and then the AgriInvest program will kick in once they complete their tax information for the 2007 year.
But the AgriStability program is up and running. Interim payments are available to producers under that program, and targeted advances, which are a new tool available to producers, are in place in a number of provinces. They've been delivered in Alberta. The letters are now in the hands of Manitoba producers, and in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as well. The provinces of Saskatchewan and B.C. are considering a similar vehicle. ASRA has delivered most of the assistance in Quebec, and Ontario at this point is promoting the interim payment mechanism versus the targeted advance mechanism. This is actual support going to producers.
There is another program that helps producers with cash flow and assistance. That's the federal advance payments program, which, as you know, we've recently expanded to include livestock, including hogs and cattle. That program is available to producers in a number of provinces. In a number of provinces—I think three or four specifically for hogs—we're still negotiating delivery arrangements with provincial organizations.
Those programs are up and running, and as I said, once we've got the agreements signed with AgriInvest, we can start to flow funds through the $600 million Kickstart as well.