A new government program looks to help farmers make improvements to their farm landscapes and to stay competitive in the face of the U.S. tariff regime.
The province and feds are providing up to $14.6 million through the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP) delivered through the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association and Conservation Ontario.
Some $5 million of this investment will be allocated to the RALP Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Initiative, delivered by the OSCIA.
“It provides funding support for Ontario farmers in making their agricultural lands more productive and resilient,” said OSCIA executive director Kerry Wright.
The program will provide farmers with cost-sharing support for projects that include natural grasslands, perennial biomass crops, warm-season pastures, reduced tillage practices, tree and shrub planting, wetlands, and water retention features.
Wright told The Observer that programs like this help producers withstand extreme weather, improve soil and water health and boost biodiversity. That effort is aided by collaboration with industry experts.
“This might be a certified crop advisor for tillage, a wetland expert for wetland land project, or someone with experience or expertise in ecological restoration,” explained Wright.
“We’re actually matching and providing the farmers with an opportunity to really connect with a specific person that could help them with their specific project.”
It’s an opportunity not just for large-scale farms, but open to operations of all sizes, he added.
To qualify, an applicant has to have a verified Environmental Farm Plan, an environmental assessment that helps farmers identify and mitigate environmental risks associated with their operations. Farmers must also commit to a land-use agreement and maintain their project for a specified period.
The other $9.6 million announced last week will go towards the RALP Marginal Lands Initiative, delivered by Conservation Ontario. That aims to help farmers create or enhance natural features such as wetlands or pollinator habitats on marginal agricultural lands.
It’s aim is the carrying out of environmental projects, which include reducing emissions and sequestering carbon.
“Conservation Ontario is proud to work with the Province of Ontario and local partners on this project. Together, we’re helping farmers across the province take on environmental projects that support their farms and protect the land – both important for Ontario’s future and economy,” said Dave Barton, chair of Conservation Ontario and mayor of Uxbridge, in a release.
“We’re working with farmers in Ontario to help them take care of their soil, keep their water clean, and make their farms stronger in the face of environmental challenges,” added federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald.
“By supporting natural infrastructure and sustainable practices, we’re helping to protect our farmlands and strengthen Canada’s food system.”
The RALP program receives $56.7 million through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year investment by the federal and provincial governments.
