Introducing the new pilot project in Manitoba, Agricultural Crown Lands Forage Productivity Pilot Program, aimed at enhancing productivity and sustainability of Agricultural Crown Lands.
Marie-Claude Bibeau, Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Ralph Eichler, Minister of Manitoba and Resource Development, announced that the governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing up to $1 million.
Through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership programming, the governments of Canada and Manitoba help farmers implement and adopt beneficial management practices on their farms that are identified in their Environmental Farm Plans. This is a five-year partnership of $3 billion committed to support Canada’s agri-food and agri-products sectors by the federal, provincial, and territorial governments.
The Agricultural Crown Lands Forage Productivity Pilot Program will provide targeted financial assistance to Agricultural Crown Land forage leaseholders to adopt practices that help contribute to improved soil and pasture and forage health on these lands.
“This pilot project aligns directly with our Manitoba Protein Advantage Strategy of increasing forage productivity on our Agricultural Crown Lands and supports the mandate of the Agricultural Crown Lands program to optimize forage capacity,” says Eichler.
Farmers can begin submitting applications on November 8th, 2021. Eligible recipients must have an active Agricultural Crown Land lease in good standing and complete an Environmental Farm plan.
The following is a list of eligible items under the Agricultural Crown Lands Forage Productivity Pilot Project that must have improvements completed within the one-year pilot project.
- Grazing management plans
- Water source development and watering systems
- Cross fencing for pasture management
- Forage rejuvenation – forage establishment and brush management