Agri-Land Accessibility and Enhancement
Agri-Land Accessibility and Enhancement Program Description/ Objectives Support the development of farmland for agriculture in New Brunswick including bringing lands formerly used for agriculture back into active production, enhancing the development and productivity of new production fields and improving existing farmland.
Offered by Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries
Amount
Up to 50% (re-development of inactive land) or 30% (other land elements) of eligible costs, maximum combined annual contribution of $7,000 for program elements 1 – 5 (not to exceed a combined total of $35,000 over April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2028); site suitability assessment up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $40,000 per project; wetland or watercourse delineation up to 70% of eligible costs to a maximum of $2,100 per project
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
Eligible Applicants • Watercourse and Wetland Alteration Regulation – Clean Water Act.
- Indigenous Peoples or Organizations NOTE: Activities within 30 metres of a wetland or watercourse
will not be funded by the Agri-Land Accessibility and
- Agriculture producers (individuals, partnerships and incorporated
Enhancement Program. agri-businesses involved in primary agricultural production)
- Heritage Conservation Act. For example if any person
- Agriculture producer associations involved in primary
discovers an archaeological object, burial object or human agricultural production (e.g. Community Pasture Associations) remains, work should stop immediately in the vicinity of the
- Other individuals or groups capable of achieving find and the Manager – Review & Regulatory Section, Heritage
program objectives. and Archaeological Services Branch of the NB Department of Tourism, Heritage & Culture is to be contacted immediately at Eligible Land (506) 238-0438.
Financial assistance provided under this initiative is available for land that is suitable for the intended crop and meets the following Ineligible Activities conditions: • Legal costs
- is owned by the applicant, or • Land acquisition costs (purchase of lands or any interest therein)
- is accessible to the applicant under a valid, written, long- • Leasing costs (land, buildings, equipment)
term lease agreement to manage the land for agricultural
production for at least 5 years. A copy of the agreement activities. may be required, or
is accessible to the applicant under a Licence of
charges Occupation, or
- is potentially accessible to the applicant (Site Suitability
Assessment element only), and • Unspecified “miscellaneous” costs
- is located within the Province of New Brunswick, and • Permitting costs
- is located at least 30 metres from a wetland or • Engineering services (Except under Site Suitability Assessment)
watercourse, and • Costs associated with the commercially viable harvest and
- does not have a registered subdivision plan, and movement of merchantable timber and biomass.
- has a slope of no greater than 7%, unless the Project Officer • EIA registration fees (Except under Site Suitability Assessment)
or other DAAF staff has recommended otherwise, and • Expenses associated with roads, such as off-farm transportation
- must remain actively farmed for at least five production corridors, that are not of primary benefit to the Sector
years following project funding. • Purchase and/or implementation of items which are considered Land to be used for commercial turf production is no longer eligible normal or ongoing farm operating expenses. under this program. • Any land development activity begun before the project approval In the case of cranberry development, the Applicant must have date as indicated in the letter of offer (no retroactivity). either an approved EIA Determination, or a document from the • Project activities that are eligible for funding under concurrent Department of Environment and Local Government indicating that programs are not eligible for funding under the Agri-Land the proposed cranberry development does not require an EIA, to be Accessibility and Enhancement Program. eligible for any site development activities.
