Cost-share funding

There are opportunities to access government funding for improving soil health and in order to access them, the property must have an up-to-date Environmental Farm Plan. This involves a 2-day workshop and completion of a self-assessment on your whole property, from well heads and fuel storage to soils and woodlots. This Environmental Farm Plan can be completed by your renter or yourself (or likely a combination of both) and needs to be updated every 5 years.

There is funding from the federal-provincial-territorial initiative Growing Forward 2 available to farmers and the program is administered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association. The funding is merit-based and is available until March 31, 2018.

The Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (GLASI) is a funding opportunity for farm properties within the Lake Erie, Lake St Clair and Southern Lake Huron watersheds. For farmers, the Farmland Health Incentive Program offers cost share on cover crops , manure application, tree planting, buffer strips, equipment modifications and more. The farmer must have an EFP and also must have completed a Farmland Health Checkup with a CCA in order to qualify.

Encourage your renter to take advantage of these opportunities for your property as well. See www.ontariosoilcrop.org for more details.

Some Conservation Authorities also provide financial support for conservation. Check with your local CA for details.