On Farm Climate Action Fund Applications Reopen for Producers

The On Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) provides financial support to producers to help accelerate their adoption and implementation of Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) to lower Greenhouse Gas emissions, and support efficiency, sustainability, and resiliency on the farm.

The program is delivered through RDAR in Alberta, and offers producers resources to support BMP implementation and design recommendations, assisting with the adoption of new practices. An additional benefit of these practices include environmental benefits, such as improved biodiversity and soil health. Activities to support the adoption of BMPs, such as outreach, education, and training, are also supported through the program.

Types of eligible projects, include:

• Improving Nitrogen Management: such as agronomic services to develop farm-specific nutrient management plans, equipment rental or custom rates for fertilizer application in fields, and soil sampling and analysis.
• Increasing Adoption of Cover Cropping: including payment-per-acre to cover adoption or related costs, such as seed and custom seeding. Cover crops protect and enhance the soil while reducing erosion risks associated with annual cropping systems.
• Expanding the Adoption of Rotational Grazing: such as agronomic services to develop grazing management plans, install interior cross fencing or water system infrastructure, and plant legumes and forages. Rotational grazing is the practice of containing and moving livestock through pasture to allow forage plants to recover, deepen their root systems and improve soil health.

To be eligible for funding you must be an active producer, including proprietorship, corporation, or registered partnership, that can demonstrate a minimum of $25,000 of gross farm income in Alberta. Funding only applies to lands located in Alberta. Producers must also work with a Professional Agrologist (PAg) or Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) to develop a BMP Action Plan. This plan needs to be based on agronomic advice and identify the cost difference from usual practices, including labelled maps of project field boundaries.

The minimum eligible project cost is $2,500, and producers are expected to pay 100% of the costs upfront No in-kind payments will be accepted. All payments will be considered as taxable income and pre-approval by RDAR is required in writing to receive project funding.