On Canada’s Ag Day 2022, federal minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, named the 12 organizations that will administer the $183.4 million On-Farm Climate Action Fund, originally announced in the summer of 2021.
The fund is designated for projects that tackle three practices: cover crops, nitrogen management, and rotational grazing.
Funding may be used for whole projects, or for direct incentive payments to farmers who adopt sustainable farming practices that result in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The government says this program should result in a 2 million tonne reduction in GHG emissions over the ’22 and ’23 growing season.
Where will the money go?
ALUS Canada will receive up to $700,000 to implement a sustainable bison grazing program with the Woodland Cree First Nation and the ALUS program in Alberta’s Northern Sunrise County.
B.C. Investment Agriculture Foundation will receive up to $8 million to help farmers in British Columbia facilitate the adoption of eligible beneficial management practices under cover cropping, nitrogen management and rotational grazing that store carbon and reduce GHG emissions.
Canadian Forage and Grassland Association will receive up to $10 million to support farmers across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec in planning and implementing rotational grazing practices.
Canola Council of Canada will receive up to $22 million to work with farmers across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba to increase canola yields while reducing nitrous oxide emissions.
ECOCERT Canada will receive up to $4.5 million to help certified organic farmers across Canada to adopt ready-to-deploy beneficial management practices that result in reduced GHG emissions through cover cropping and nitrogen management.
Manitoba Association of Watersheds will receive up to $40 million to provide knowledge, tools, skills and financial incentives that aim to help farmers to adopt and deploy real, measurable and practical climate solutions across Manitoba and Saskatchewan in the area of rotational grazing, nitrogen management and cover cropping.
New Brunswick Soil and Crop Improvement Association will receive up to $6 million to help farmers in New Brunswick adopt rotational grazing, nitrogen management and cover cropping beneficial management practices on farms to reduce GHG emissions.
Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association will receive up to $25 million to deliver Ontario’s On-Farm Climate Action Fund, which will empower farmers in Ontario to learn about, implement and maintain best climate practices that include cover cropping, nitrogen management and rotational grazing
Perennia Food and Agriculture Inc. will receive up to $8.5 million to help farmers in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland to adopt the eligible beneficial management practices under cover cropping, nitrogen management and rotational grazing on farm.
Prince Edward Island Federation of Agriculture will receive up to $6 million to help farmers in Prince Edward Island to build capacity and incentivize climate action by improving nitrogen management, expanding cover cropping and supporting rotational grazing.
Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) will receive up to $33 million to deliver Alberta’s On-Farm Climate Action Fund, which will help farmers in Alberta adopt nitrogen management, cover-cropping and rotational grazing beneficial management practices (BMPs).
L’Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) will receive up to $19 million to support farmers in Quebec to adopt cover cropping and nitrogen management beneficial management practices within a large network of agricultural producers in order to reduce their net GHG emissions.
The original announcement of the fund was for $200 million. A federal source said the remaining $17 million will be used for projects submitted later.
