Young Agrarians (YA): B.C. Land Matching Program
The B.C. Land Matching Program (BCLMP) provides personalized land matching and business support services to farmers looking for land to start or expand their farm, and landholders interested in finding someone to farm their land.
Offered by Agrarians Foundation (AF)
Amount
No specific amount specified
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
- Farmers seeking land to start or expand their agricultural business
- Landholders looking for someone to farm their land
- Farmers and farmland holders who matched independently and want support to develop agreements
Do I qualify as a land seeker?
The BCLMP is focused on facilitating land sharing agreements for farming beyond household self-sufficiency. Land seekers may farm (or be planning to farm) full-time or part-time, as a main source of income or on the side, as long as they are producing agricultural products beyond household self-sufficiency.
We ask that all land seekers:
- Have some agricultural experience (working on farms, operating their own farm, etc.)
- Provide a business plan, or commit to working on a business plan.
The BCLMP provides support with business planning through self-paced online courses and 1:1 coaching.
There are no age requirements for participating as a land seeker! In fact, the first land seeker to ever register for the program was in his 60s. Many people come to farming as a second or third career and we are excited to support you, whether you are young, young at heart, or young in your farming journey.
What support is available for newcomer farmers?
The BCLMP is excited to work with newcomers to Canada who are planning to establish farm businesses. We are not able to provide support for immigration such as work permit and permanent residency applications. All land seekers are asked to meet the same eligibility criteria to participate in the BCLMP, including legal status to live and work in Canada.
About the funding
The program is delivered by Young Agrarians (YA) and addresses the high cost of land as a significant barrier for those seeking to enter the B.C. agriculture industry. There is no cost to participate, and our services are available to farmers and landholders of all ages across B.C.
The advantage of working with a Land Matcher is free hands-on support to understand regulations, evaluate opportunities, access resources, and ultimately find a land match.
The BCLMP provides:
- An online and searchable inventory of B.C. land opportunities
Show all funding details
- Personalized, regional matchmaking services for farmers and landholders, including support to develop land use agreements
- Referrals to business and technical support services
- Educational events and resources to increase knowledge and facilitate matches between new farmers and landholders
How much does it cost to get support through the BCLMP?
There is no cost to participate!
Participants in the BCLMP receive extensive support to find matches and develop legal agreements, including review by a lawyer, at no cost. Similar services provided by a lawyer range in the thousands of dollars (as of 2024), depending on the complexity of your scenario.
Do you offer grants to start farming?
Young Agrarians does not provide grants or funding.
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