Beneficial management practices were the big winner in the week’s funding announcements by government.
The same day as Victoria announced $15 million over three years to assist farmers embrace green agriculture practices, Ottawa announced a grant of $8 million through the $200-million On-Farm Climate Action Fund, part of the larger Agricultural Climate Solutions initiative.
The funding will be delivered through the BC Agricultural Climate Solutions program administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. Candidates for funding will be invited to submit applications in specific intake periods over the next year.
IAFBC initiated the BC program last year in partnership with the BC Agriculture Council. An initial federal grant of $100,000 supported preliminary research and the development of a formal funding proposal. The current funding is the result of that work, which identified “Living Lab” projects that support farmer-centric projects addressing gaps in climate change mitigation research in BC as well as the adoption of beneficial management practices as key areas of focus.
BC producers will also benefit from a $10 million grant from the same federal fund to the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association.
CFGA will use its funding to support farmers planning and implementing rotational grazing practices.
Details on how to apply for funding through both organizations will be announced later this year.
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