Producers in the Great Lakes region may be eligible for water and soil health grants
By Jennifer Jackson
Farmers in the Great Lakes region can soon apply to the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) for financial support to increase their farms’ soil health and water quality.
The OSCIA Farmland Health Incentive Program will supply up to $20,000 per successful farm applicant in the Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative eligible area. Applicants are eligible for up to $50,000 in funding over the three program years.
Farmers are required to use the granted money for Best Management Practice (BMP) projects to improve soil health and water quality, thus improving farm productivity and profitability. The OSCIA and eligible farmers will share the cost of the BMP projects on a case-by-case basis.
“The amount of funding (farmers) may be able to receive is determined by the impact of the BMP they are proposing to implement,” according to Karen Jacobs, environmental outreach specialist for OSCIA.
“If the BMP is considered ’high priority,’ the project may be eligible for top level funding of a 50 per cent cost share, up to a maximum of $20,000 per project,” says Jacobs.
The program brochure outlines some potential BMPs including: cover crops, field windbreaks, and crop nutrient plans.
Equipment customization is another potential BMP project. Some eligible purchases include equipment for managing cover crops, or no-till units.
For 2017, the OSCIA will prioritize areas with the highest need for water quality control – the western and central Lake Erie basins. This focus aligns with provincial targets to reduce phosphorus entering the basins by 40 per cent by 2050.
Farmers must have environmental farm plans, as well as Farmland Health Check-Ups outlining BMPs, prior to submitting applications.
The Farmland Health Check-Ups are free to producers, and performed by Certified Crop Advisers listed on the OSCIA website. “This is a great opportunity to talk about the farm with someone trusted, but who is outside the operation,” says Jacobs. “The Check-Up is an incredible opportunity for producers to talk about ways to improve their soil health, and is an opportunity that will be available throughout 2017.”
Farmers interested in the incentive program can apply between Nov. 22 and Dec. 13.