Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency Program
The Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency (TFCR) Program invites eligible businesses to apply for a cost-shared funding opportunity that aims to increase farm-level resilience and preparedness to extreme weather events that threaten the competitiveness of British Columbia’s (B.C.) tree fruit sector.
Offered by Government of British Columbia
Amount
80 percent cost-share funding of up to $125,000 of eligible costs for eligible projects - up to a maximum of $100,000 per farm business
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
To be eligible for the program, all applicants must:
- Be an existing tree fruit (apple, cherry, pear, and/or other stone fruit) producer in B.C., farming over one acre of tree fruits, whose primary purpose is the production and sale of tree fruit products.
- Be the owner or lessee of the land
- Be a taxable entity (e.g., individual, corporation or trust), limited partnership, commune, cooperative with a GST and business number, or First Nation Band
- Have their main farmstead in B.C. and file farm income tax (form T2042 or T1273) under the Income Tax Act in B.C
- Maintain the property as a commercial operation for at least four years after completion of the project
Group applications must meet all the above criteria for all farmers included in the group application.
Farm and corporate business owners
If you own both a farm and a corporate business, both are considered eligible if program eligibility criteria is met by both businesses.
Projects must not be started prior to when program funding approval is provided to the applicant. Projects will be considered ineligible for funding if any portion of the project has been initiated prior to approval (excluding getting a quote). All projects must be completed by or before March 14, 2027.
About the funding
The program will provide 80 percent cost-share funding of up to $125,000 of eligible costs for eligible projects - up to a maximum of $100,000 per farm business.
Funding Structure:
- Cost-Share Rate: Consistent with individual applications, approved group projects are eligible for an 80 percent cost-share reimbursement
- Maximum Funding: Each participating farm business can receive up to $100,000 in cost-share funding over the program's duration
Show all funding details
Projects that span more than one fiscal year will still only be entitled to a maximum of $100,000 for the lifetime of the program per applicant.
The Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency Program is a reimbursement-based program. Successful applicants may start working on their project once a signed project approval letter is received.
The program provides payments by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT/direct deposit). Successful applicants will receive email instructions on how to set up EFT.
Applicants are responsible for sourcing and selecting their own suppliers for their projects.
Extreme cold protection for tree fruit crops
- Protective covers and associated infrastructure
- Energy efficient heaters (propane or wood pellet)
- Wind machines
Supplemental information:
- For protective covers and wind machines it is recommended that the applicant obtain drawings and installation plans from an authorized distributor.
- Considerations before purchasing non-tunnel covering systems for sweet cherries
- Learn how to use wind machines to protect tender trees fruits from temperatures
- Reconditioned/refurbished wind machines are eligible. The same requirements apply to reconditioned/refurbished wind machines as new machines, including a quote for purchase and proof of payment following approval
Extreme Heat Protection for Tree Fruit Crops
- Evaporative cooling systems (addition of overhead canopy sprinkler systems, fogging systems to existing irrigation system)
- Protective covers and associated infrastructure (e.g., shade/ and/or heat protection)
Supplemental Information:
- It is recommended that for installation of evaporative cooling systems, the applicant get an updated irrigation design plan. This design plan should be provided by a certified irrigation designer registered with the Irrigation Industry Association of British Columbia (irrigationbc.com)
- For projects with installing evaporative cooling or fogging systems, applicants must attest to be licensed water users
Protection from unpredictable weather events for tree fruit crops
- Hail netting and associated infrastructure
Supplemental Information:
- For hail netting it is recommended that the applicant obtain an installation plan from an authorized dealer that includes netting specifications.
- Information on Photoselective Anti Hail Netting
- Information on the use of protective netting in Washington State apple production
Innovative solutions eligibility details
If your farm would benefit from a piece of equipment or infrastructure not listed above and can demonstrate how it addresses a need directly related to increasing the resilience of your operation to extreme weather events, we encourage you to apply to the Innovative Solutions stream of funding.
Innovation Solutions projects require a greater amount of upfront information from interested applicants and additional communication between the applicant and program team should be anticipated. Please provide as much detail as possible, including relevant quotes and other supporting materials at the time of application.
Standards that must be met for a project to be considered for funding:
- Must address a demonstrated need related to impacts of extreme weather events on tree fruit production.
- Must not be prohibited or in contradiction of any regulations/authorizations required
- The eligible and ineligible items and additional requirements (if any) are “To Be Determined” based on the information supplied in the application
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