On-farm Water Management Program

$30,000 - $99,999 $10,000 $100,000+ $15,000

Tile drainage Program funding will be based on 3 levels:

Income Level Maximum Funding/Year

$30,000 - $99,999 $20,000 $100,000 - $249,999 $40,000 $250,000+ $60,000 Note: This program is anticipated to be offered again in 2027-28.

Note: Approval of applications is subject to availability of Program funding. The total amount of Program funding awarded to each applicant, or to associated applicants, may be limited at the discretion of the Department of Agriculture to ensure opportunities for additional applicants to access Program funding.

The following items are eligible in this Program:

Livestock Management to Improve Wildlife Habitat BMP 54: Fencing to manage grazing and improve riparian conditions/function.

BMP 56: Improved grazing management on tame and native pasture and rangelands, such as cross-fencing and offsite watering to improve pasture health and wildlife habitat.

BMP 57: Improved stream crossing (rocking riprap, culverts, bridges).

BMP 127: Fencing and/or barriers for off-site watering and to prevent access by livestock to watercourses.

BMP 130: Mobile water system: summer/winter water systems (solar, wind, pipeline, other).

BMP 133: Remote watering systems to manage livestock away from surface water (gravity fed, pump and pipeline system).

Drainage TILE DRAINAGE: Installation of a subsurface tile drainage system on farm fields yielding crops. A tile drainage plan must be prepared and submitted at the time of claim. The plan must be completed by a qualified consultant or contractor and include the minimum required details, such as layout, drain spacing, depth, outlet locations, flow control considerations, and total length installed. Contractors with experience in tile drainage installation may complete the work; however, they must ensure that the submitted plan meets all minimum standards and requirements.

BMP 19: Control components for the tile drainage system (e.g.: stop logs, risers, gates and valves).

BMP 29: Surface and subsurface drainage to remove excess water from active cropland.

Includes design, open ditches and land forming for surface drainage (not tile drainage). Not intended for the drainage of wetlands or other environmentally sensitive areas.

Irrigation BMP 16: Irrigation water and/or nutrient-use efficiency. Investment in purchase, modification and improvement of irrigation equipment to increase water, and/or nutrient use efficiency (e.g. variable rate irrigation systems, weather stations, soil moisture sensors).

BMP 128: Improved infiltration galleries and irrigation intake systems.

BMP 134: Renovation and upgrading of existing irrigation water supply infrastructure to reduce water loss, improve water use and or energy efficiency, and secure supplies.

BMP 137: Utilization of drainage water by recycling onto drained field to meet crop demand during dry period: irrigation and sub-irrigation equipment; engineering designs and written plans for implemented practices.

Water Supply WELLS: as part of climate adaptation (pumps, power supply, monitoring devices, pump tests.

Hook-up installation and consultant costs, materials and contracted labour costs for new development only). Must be completed by a certified digger/driller.

BMP 124/125: Ponds, dams, spring developments and reservoirs or tie-ins to a multi-use water supply pipeline as part of climate adaptation (pumps, power supply, monitoring devices, pump tests. Hook-up installation and consultant costs, materials and contracted labour costs for spring development – collection well, cutoff trench, or cutoff walls - for new development only).

BMP 139: Water saving systems and management through cisterns, water use meters, and water level equipment. Including watering sanitation and cleanout systems.

BMP 143: Professional consulting services required to assess, design, or support implementation of water supply and water management projects where these services are not otherwise captured as an eligible expense under another BMP.

Water Quality BMP 131: Well protection (for existing wells only, earthwork, extending well head above ground, pitless adapter, casing seals and connections), well abandonment (proper sealing of abandoned well to prevent groundwater contamination).

BMP 135: Reservoir aeration systems for surface water supply.

BMP 140: Water treatment system (including UV light treatment, chlorination, reverse osmosis).

BMP 136: Upstream diversion around farm infrastructure and collection and downstream protection (catch basins, constructed wetlands).

BMP 121: Recycling of wastewater streams from milk houses, fruit and vegetable washing facilities, and greenhouses to recover nutrients.

Additional Expense Eligibility Requirements

Program funding will only be offered on transactions (invoices) that do not involve a supplier/service provider that is associated with the applicant, unless it is proven that an associated supplier/service provider is the only registered company providing that service in the area. In such cases that it is necessary to proceed with an associated supplier/service provider, the applicant must apply for a pre-approval from Programs before proceeding or submitting a claim to ensure that the associated costs will be approved for reimbursement.

This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.