Agriculture Grants in Canada: Current Grants + Tips for Applying

The Beneficial Management Practices assists farmers in mitigating some of the risks identified in the farm-specific Environmental Farm Plans (EFPs).

The Young Farmer Mentorship Program helps young farmers develop skills, knowledge and connections within the agricultural industry.

The Winery Agri-Tourism Economic Relief Grant will help eligible Ontario wineries and cideries continue to grow their operations, create new jobs, and attract more visitors to rural Ontario.

The Wine and Grape Industry Development Program supports the environmental, economic and social sustainability of Nova Scotia’s wine industry.

The Wildlife Damage Mitigation program helps farms protect crop and livestock from wildlife damage to improve industry competitiveness and resilience.

The Wild Blueberry and Apple Harvest Efficiency Program supports the modernization of wild blueberry and apple
harvesting equipment for growers to reduce labour requirements, increase productivity, and improve profitability

The Water Program supports agricultural water management by helping primary producers adopt agriculture water better management practices and priority actions. This supports better management of risks to water quality and supplies, adaptation to climate variability and the efficient use of water resources.

The program has two streams (On-Farm Irrigation Stream and On-Farm Water Supply Stream), and applicants may apply to one or both of them.

The Water Program supports agricultural water management by helping primary producers adopt agriculture water better management practices and priority actions. This supports better management of risks to water quality and supplies, adaptation to climate variability and the efficient use of water resources.

The program has two streams (On-Farm Irrigation Stream and On-Farm Water Supply Stream), and applicants may apply to one or both of them.

The Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) Wine Support Program supports Ontario wineries in increasing competitiveness and innovation while growing the sale of Ontario VQA wines at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO). The Program provides grants to help wineries invest in growing their VQA wine business, including export and tourism development activities.

The Veterinary Student Placement Program provides veterinary students with applied learning opportunities and gives them experience in rural Nova Scotia’s agriculture industry.

The Value-adding Equipment Program supports value-added businesses. The program helps increase local food production, and improve food security and sustainability for farms and communities.

The Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency Program is designed to strengthen the resilience and preparedness of B.C.’s tree fruit sector against extreme weather events.

The Training program provides funding for:

a) attending agricultural courses, seminars, workshops and conferences;
b) participating in mentorship opportunities;
c) hosting agricultural courses, seminars, workshops and conferences.

The Internship program is designed for hiring an intern and providing an opportunity for skill development in the agriculture and agri-food sector.

The Business Planning program provides funding for hiring consultant services and purchasing business software.

Traceability Adoption Program provides cost-shared funding towards the purchase and installation of traceability systems, practices, technologies, or infrastructure to help businesses meet new and existing regulatory requirements for the traceability of food, animals, and seafood products.

The Agriculture and Value-Added Development provides funding to producers for the purchase of farm equipment or machinery.

Contribute to the development of the biofood sector by carrying out projects of collective interest arising from the priorities identified in the planning of a given territory or sector.

Promote the development of a common vision of the priorities of an agri-food sector or a territory as well as the coordination of the actors involved in their implementation.

The Talent Development – Internship Program (TDI) provides support for recent undergraduate or Master’s graduates, to work on industry- driven projects related to the six CIT Critical Technology areas: 5G and advanced networks, AI, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Quantum, and Robotics, in any one of the four key sector areas: Advanced Manufacturing, Agri-Food, Construction, Mining. Companies can tap into world-class talent coming out of Ontario’s publicly funded post-secondary institutions and strengthen their capacity to develop new products, services and processes, while interns receive hands-on industry experience in areas such as software and hardware development, artificial intelligence, and data analytics.

The program aims to encourage New Brunswick hog producers to use superior breeding stock to improve productivity, quality, efficiencies and profits via:
– Purchase of superior “boars” for improved growth rates and carcass grades;
– Purchase of superior “gilts” for improved productivity

This program supports Northern Ontario agriculture and food producers, businesses, collaborations, and communities to create new products, enhance productivity, and adopt clean technologies.

The Agri-food and Bioindustrial Innovation Program aims to support the development of technologies that provide solutions to the challenges faced by the agri-food and bioindustrial sectors in Alberta.

The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) funds the Yukon’s agriculture and agri-food sector. This is a 5-year cost-shared program funded by the governments of Canada and Yukon.

Sustainable Agriculture Manitoba (SAM) provides funding to farmers and land managers to implement cost-shared beneficial management practices (BMPs) that increase the environmental and economic sustainability of agriculture operations in Manitoba. The Water Management provides funding to support the adoption of practices that enhance the supply, efficient use, quality and management of water.

Sustainable Agriculture Manitoba (SAM) provides funding to farmers and land managers to implement cost-shared beneficial management practices (BMPs) that increase the environmental and economic sustainability of agriculture operations in Manitoba. The Manure and Livestock Management provides funding to support the adoption of practices that improve livestock performance and manure management.

Sustainable Agriculture Manitoba (SAM) provides funding to primary producers and land managers to implement cost-shared beneficial management practices (BMPs). The objective of SAM is to increase the environmental and economic sustainability of agriculture operations in Manitoba. Priority areas include climate change adaptation and mitigation, air quality, water quality and quantity, soil health, and biodiversity.

The Waste Use Efficiency funding stream supports projects that contribute to the creation of new value, the diversion, or new applications for agri-processing waste products, by-products, or co-products.

The Water Use Efficiency funding stream supports projects that will contribute to the reduction in the amount of water used by agri-processors in their production and/or sanitation processes, to the treatment of wastewater prior to being disposed or returned to the municipal system, or to the recovery of nutrients from wastewater.

Funding to reduce wastage of agri-food and agri-product inputs that occur during storage of ingredients and during processing by supporting the purchase of assets and systems that will mitigate wastage at these points.

The Building Envelope, Lighting and Ventilation Upgrades funding stream supports the assessment and upgrades applicable to new and existing agri-food and agri-product production and office areas and equipment that create energy savings and/or GHG reductions.

This funding stream supports assessment and upgrades that are unique to any programs offered by other provincial or federal agencies or programs.

The Quebec Alcohol Positioning Support Program – Support to promote membership in a program of reserved designations or valued terms in Quebec (PAPAQ, section 2) aims to help producers of alcoholic beverages increase the number of certified Quebec products.

This component helps develop the general and advanced skills and knowledge of professionals and other stakeholders in the biofood sector on various themes linked to climate issues.

This component aims to increase the number of companies that obtain their certification with a reserved designation or a rewarding term.

This component aims to develop projects for reserved designations or valorizing terms by preparing the analysis and governance documents necessary for the examination of the projects by the Council for Reserved Designations and Valorizing Terms (CARTV).

This component aims to increase the number of collective actions necessary for the management and promotion of reserved designations and promotional terms.

This program supports investments in greenhouse infrastructure and equipment, modernization and optimization of production systems, as well as research and development activities aimed at improving productivity, quality, and environmental performance.

The Quebec Alcohol Positioning Support Program – Support for Maintaining the Development of Sales of Artisan Wine Producers (PAPAQ, section 4) aims to support the development of Quebec artisan wine producers.

​Increase research and knowledge development on issues surrounding the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agriculture, with the aim of optimizing nitrogen fertilization and reducing methane emissions from livestock farming.
Develop decision-making tools that are popularized and adapted to different types of companies in order to enable advisors to support companies in the biofood sector in implementing more strategic interventions in the fight against climate change.

Support the implementation of a marketing plan in order to develop or consolidate local marketing and agritourism initiatives.

The Ministerial Initiative ” Agricultural Succession and Entrepreneurship ” aims to help the next generation of farmers in Quebec start a new business or acquire or take over an existing business by supporting, from a sustainable development perspective, the making of necessary investments:

at the start of its agricultural activities;
to the sustainability of its business by improving profitability or reducing risks.

Increase the Quebec beekeeping population by supporting the purchase of equipment and materials that reduce the bee mortality rate and increase the beekeeping population per business.

Improve labor productivity by supporting the purchase of agricultural equipment that reduces the number of working hours in beekeeping.

Increase awareness of the agri-food sector among the population and promote the quality of livestock by supporting agricultural exhibitions and sector exhibitions in Quebec.

The Ministerial Initiative ” Agricultural Succession and Entrepreneurship ” aims to help the next generation of farmers in Quebec start a new business or acquire or take over an existing business by supporting, from a sustainable development perspective, the making of necessary investments:

at the start of its agricultural activities;
to the sustainability of its business by improving profitability or reducing risks.

Plan, develop or consolidate collective initiatives for local marketing and agritourism.

The Special Beneficial Management Practice: Developing Fields and Land Utilization provides funds to agricultural producers for clearing field areas by removing trees, shrubs, rocks and roots, removing woody debris by chipping, mulching or salvaging woody material, and preparing the land for seeding by breaking and cultivating the soil.

The Speaker Series Program helps support Industry Associations with skills development and awareness which will help to improve with competitiveness, sustainability, and profitability of the Nova Scotia agricultural industry.

The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund provides support for projects and investments to existing businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations for economic development in southwestern Ontario. The objective of the program is to provide financial support and services to help growing companies in southwestern Ontario make investments to:
1. Grow their businesses
2. Improve productivity
3. Invest in innovation and skills development
4. Pursue new markets
5. Generate broad positive regional economic impact
6. Create new good, sustainable jobs

A project is a distinct undertaking, separate from ongoing operations, that will result in benefits to the organization such as business growth or access to new markets.

The Small Food Processor Scale-Up Program supports projects in BC’s diverse value-added food processing sector to scale up operations to increase productivity, business opportunities, and competitiveness.
The Small Food Processor Scale-Up (SFPS) Program is a multi-year, up to $2M program funded by the Government of BC through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (AF) and delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF).

SFPS is one of two programs supported by the Food Affordability and Innovation Fund (FAI), an up to $20M fund. FAI aims to improve food affordability in BC through targeted investments in supply chains, food system innovations and partnerships. Learn more about FAI.

The Small Distillery Program provides eligible Ontario distilleries with financial support to help grow their operations. Payments are based on production of spirits.

The Small Cidery Component of the Ontario Small Cidery and Small Distillery Program (the
Program) supports Small Cideries’ growth and competitiveness, and helps them scale up
into medium and large businesses. The Ontario government is striving to create an
environment where agri-food business can thrive and prosper. The Program will provide
grants to help eligible cideries invest in growing their businesses and create jobs. The
Program will be delivered by Agricorp, an agency of the Ontario government.

The program support business planning, skills development and awareness in the New Brunswick agriculture sector.

The program support business planning, skills development and awareness in the New Brunswick agriculture sector.

The program aims to enhance the New Brunswick sheep industry with genetically superior animals to improve efficiencies, growth rates, fertility, meat quality and increase marketing opportunities and options. This element is made up of the Elite Ram & Elite Ewe Component and the Sheep Genetic Testing Component.

As part of the broader Critical Industrial Technologies initiative, the Sector Adoption (SA) Program is a challenge based multi-partner program that drives significant impact and advancement of a whole sector.

Increase awareness of the agri-food sector among the population and promote the quality of livestock by supporting agricultural exhibitions and sector exhibitions in Quebec.

The Save on Energy Retrofit program offers businesses in Ontario incentives to upgrade equipment, reduce energy bills, lower their carbon footprint and increase productivity. The incentives are designed to help businesses speed up their payback on energy-efficiency equipment upgrades. The program offers incentives in two streams:
– Custom stream for larger, more complex retrofit projects to capture greater energy savings;
– Prescriptive stream for targeted retrofit projects focusing on commonly used products and technologies.

The Rural Electric Program (REP) grant helps farmers access a basic, essential service at a reasonable cost and aids in the diversification of our rural economy. It also provides partial equity with other Albertans living in urban areas.

Ontario’s Risk Management Program (RMP) helps producers manage risks beyond their control, like fluctuating costs and market prices. RMP for livestock was designed in consultation with representatives of the cattle, hog, sheep and veal industry in Ontario. RMP for livestock works like insurance to help Ontario producers offset losses caused by fluctuating commodity prices and production costs. Participants pay premiums based on their insured production and their chosen coverage level.

Ontario’s Risk Management Program (RMP) helps producers manage risks beyond their control, like fluctuating costs and market prices. RMP for livestock was designed in consultation with representatives of the cattle, hog, sheep and veal industry in Ontario. RMP for livestock works like insurance to help Ontario producers offset losses caused by fluctuating commodity prices and production costs. Participants pay premiums based on their insured production and their chosen coverage level.

Ontario’s Risk Management Program (RMP) helps producers manage risks beyond their control, like fluctuating costs and market prices. RMP for livestock was designed in consultation with representatives of the cattle, hog, sheep and veal industry in Ontario. RMP for livestock works like insurance to help Ontario producers offset losses caused by fluctuating commodity prices and production costs. Participants pay premiums based on their insured production and their chosen coverage level.

RMP: Grains and Oilseeds helps Ontario producers offset losses caused by low commodity prices and rising production costs. Payments are made if a crop’s market prices fall below the annual support level. The support level is based on the industry average cost of producing a crop (target price), which is calculated annually by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

This plan was designed in consultation with representatives of the grain and oilseed sector and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

Ontario’s Risk Management Program (RMP) helps producers manage risks beyond their control, like fluctuating costs and market prices. Under the RMP plan for edible horticulture, producers deposit funds into self-directed risk management (SDRM) accounts and the deposit is matched by the government to help mitigate risk associated with farm business.

Agricorp sends personalized participation forms to eligible producers in September.

Ontario’s Risk Management Program (RMP) helps producers manage risks beyond their control, like fluctuating costs and market prices. RMP for livestock was designed in consultation with representatives of the cattle, hog, sheep and veal industry in Ontario. RMP for livestock works like insurance to help Ontario producers offset losses caused by fluctuating commodity prices and production costs. Participants pay premiums based on their insured production and their chosen coverage level.

Accelerate the adoption of recognized assurance systems, including food safety, biosecurity, traceability, and animal welfare in the production, processing, and distribution of New Brunswick agri-food products.
Support the agriculture sector to prepare for and maintain resilience in relation to emerging challenges including extreme weather events, animal and plant disease outbreaks, emergencies/natural disasters, wildlife damage, farmer mental health, and farm safety

The Resilient Agricultural Landscapes Program (RALP) provides funding to producers to increase the environmental resiliency of agricultural land. The program helps producers achieve outcomes related to water quality, soil health and biodiversity through the adoption of beneficial management practices.

A beneficial management practice, or BMP, is defined as any agricultural management practice that:

• Ensures the long-term health and sustainability of agricultural land;
• Positively impacts the long-term economic and environmental viability of agricultural production; and
• Minimizes negative impacts and risk to the environment.

The Grasslands and Grazing Management program provides funding to support the enhancement of grasslands and strategies to improve grazing management.

The Agroforestry program provide funding to support establishment of trees and management of woodlots that provide:

– Enhanced carbon sequestration
– Reduced soil erosion
– Improved water conservation efforts
– Energy conservation
– Improved wildlife habitat
– Increased crop yields
– Thermal protection for livestock
– Reduced surface runoff and enhanced water quality

The Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP) offers funding that may cover up to 100% of eligible expenses to support producers in their ability to implement and maintain projects over a three-year term.

The Research and Innovation Program supports the development of science-based solutions and tools that address known challenges, prepare for potential disruptions and climate threats, and capture emerging opportunities in the agriculture and agri-food sector. The Program provides funding to eligible applicants for basic and applied research and capacity building projects that advance the growth and sustainability of the sector by fast-tracking the pace of innovation. This can include the development of new technologies and practices, new products, and the advancement of knowledge.

The Regional Recruitment and Retention of Veterinary Service Delivery for Food Animals (VET) Program supports organizations and veterinary practices to increase the availability of veterinary services for food-producing animals in underserviced communities and regions.

A sub-program of the Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills Program, VET supports the recruitment and retention of new veterinarians and registered veterinary technologists (RVT) to practices that deliver veterinary services for food-producing animals. For this program, food-producing animals are defined as animals raised to produce food or fiber and include cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, bison, and fish. The VET program also supports community capacity building and strategic planning to support the delivery of veterinary services to food-producing animals.

Some diseases can limit the development of Quebec fish farms. The profitability of a fish farm can be seriously affected by the mortality rate or growth delays linked to these diseases.

The program gives Quebec fish farms the opportunity to produce and offer fish (eggs, fry, fish or broodstock) for which a health status is granted.

The Quebec Fisheries Fund stimulates innovation in the fish and seafood sector in Quebec and supports its development and adaptation.

The Fund is a contribution program jointly funded by the governments of Canada and Quebec. Funding for the program comes 70 % from the Government of Canada and 30 % from the Government of Quebec.

The Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program supports current farmers and new entrants to the province’s agriculture and agrifoods sectors. The program has two streams, focusing on land development and agriculture infrastructure. Projects must support food self-sufficiency and increase agricultural growth and secondary processing.

The Protection from Wildlife Category is designed to provide farmers funding to protect their crops and livestock from wildlife. This includes funding for fencing, for crop protection measures and guardian dogs.

The Promoting Agriculture and Food Careers Initiative provides funding to agricultural societies to promote careers in the agriculture and food industry.

The Product Development Program provides funding for prototype and product development services to food, beverage and other agri-processing value-added companies. The client will work with the Food Centre to determine which service provider is most appropriate to provide the prototype and product development services. In some situations, the Food Centre may be suited to provide this service. When product or technology development activities fall outside of the Food Centre’s capabilities or capacities, pathfinding services will be provided to identify a more appropriate third-party organization to meet client needs.

The program is designed to:

– Increase value-added revenues;
– Increase value-added processing of Saskatchewan agriculture products;
– Develop new value-added products, prototypes and processes; and
– Expand and grow value-added business.

Contribute to achieving priority agro-environmental objectives by carrying out collective projects.

Increase the adoption of agro-environmental practices by farms.

The Poultry Biosecurity Program was created to help the BC industry develop enhanced on-farm biosecurity programs and an emergency response program that can be immediately activated to prevent a detected outbreak from spreading.

To help Nova Scotia farms and agri-businesses to be more competitive, manage transition, develop risk management strategies, and respond to change.

AgriStability is an important part of a comprehensive suite of risk management programs. AgriStability protects producers from large declines in their farming income caused by production loss, increased costs or market conditions.

Pilot and demonstration projects are undertaken after lab work or theoretical applied research on proof-of-concept has been completed. The goal of the pilot and demonstration stream is to fund projects that focus on the development of a model or prototype of new technology (complete TRL 6).

The pilot project is the step between applied research and full-scale commercial application. The latter allows researchers to assess if their findings are generalizable to the real world. These projects aim to complete TRL 6 (prototype development).

The knowledge translation and transfer (KTT) stream is focused on activities designed to drive the transformation of research knowledge into use faster, including:

synthesis
exchange
engagement
dissemination
dialogue
collaboration
brokering between researchers and research users
These projects go beyond typical communication activities and include an array of knowledge mobilizing activities.

Commercialization stream funding is focused on scaling innovative technologies, products and services to the real world or commercial environment. It ensures technologies and best practices are suitable for commercial use and ready to be widely used.

Applied research projects use the process of scientific investigation (including lab work and experiments) to find solutions to existing problems.

The On-Farm Water Management Program will support primary producers to improve and adapt to impacts of climate change on water implications, including activities to conserve and enhance natural resources for water management. This program helps primary producers accelerate the adoption of priority beneficial management practices.

The On-farm Electrical Preparedness Program helps farms buy a backup generator and battery storage to support business continuity and preparedness for adverse weather.

The intent of the On-Farm Efficiency Program (OFEP) is to support producers in achieving environmental benefits by improving the efficient use of agricultural inputs.

Under this program, Eligible Items are organized into the following Streams:
–Smart Farm Technology
–Energy Efficiency
–Farm Security
–Efficient Grain Handling

On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) is an initiative to help farmers improve soil health, protect soil from erosion, and tackle climate change by adopting beneficial management practices that store carbon and reduce greenhouse gases. The program offers funding to help farmers implement nitrogen management, cover cropping, and rotational grazing practices. In addition, the OFCAF program supports professional training for farmers, agronomists, and certified crop advisers

The On-farm Automation and Innovation Program supports investments in innovative technologies that require testing and knowledge sharing in Nova Scotia before widespread adoption. Innovative technologies need to align with the following Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership priorities:

building sector capacity, growth and competitiveness (for example, labour efficiencies and productivity enhancements)
climate change and environment (for example, efficient input use, reduced GHG emissions)
market development and trade (for example, technology for new product development)
resiliency and public trust (for example, improved climate change resilience, farm safety, animal welfare)

The Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program helps improve the environmental resiliency of agricultural landscapes by accelerating the adoption of on-farm land use and management practices that maximize benefits for the environment and society.

Eligibility

The On-farm Technology Adoption Program helps producers invest in equipment and processes that provide labour efficiencies, reduce cost of production, increase yields and support more efficient use of inputs.

The New Entrant Farm Business Accelerator (NEFBA) Program supports the growth of new entrants by providing financial support for the development and implementation of farm business plans and growth strategies. For the purposes of this program, New Entrant is defined as an agricultural producer who has not reported farm income for more than 5 years. The Program supports business planning and cost-shared purchasing of commercial farm infrastructure and equipment needed to accelerate the revenue growth of farm businesses.

Through the NEFBA Program, a new farm business can receive support to develop a growth strategy and to make investments necessary to achieve farm income growth goals, ensure commercial viability and strengthen financial sustainability.

The Program provides compensation to New Brunswick agricultural producers who suffer crop or livestock losses due to wildlife.

The program support the environmental resiliency of agricultural landscapes by accelerating the adoption of Ecological Goods and Services (EG&S) Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs). Ecological goods and
services are the benefits society derives from healthy functioning ecosystems and include the maintenance and provision of healthy soil and water resources, wildlife habitat and biodiversity, and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Projects mu

The Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries (DAAF) provides financial assistance for the transportation of dolomitic and calcitic lime from the source of origin to the field receiving the lime.

The program assist producers in taking concrete steps to improve the environmental performance of their operations including activities to conserve and enhance the natural resources utilized by the New Brunswick agriculture industry, minimize the environmental impact of agricultural activities, and mitigate and adapt to climate change.

The program aims to assist and encourage improvement of industry breeding stock base in order to further enhance productivity and fur quality. And to facilitate purchase(s) of genetically superior (size and quality) mink by New Brunswick mink farmers.

The initiative is one of the flagship measures of the Sustainable Agriculture Plan 2020-2030. It aims to recognize and financially encourage the adoption of agri-environmental practices that go beyond regulatory requirements and generate significant environmental gains.