New Brunswick farmers are receiving vital support to bolster the resilience of their agricultural lands. The newly introduced Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program aims to encourage farmers to adopt sustainable land use and management practices, funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
This initiative offers financial assistance to agricultural producers, enabling them to prioritize the maintenance and enhancement of vital resources such as healthy soils, water sources, wildlife habitats, and biodiversity. By embracing these practices, farmers contribute to the creation of healthy, functional ecosystems while simultaneously adapting to the challenges posed by climate change.
The program encompasses three key categories of eligible practices:
- Reduced tillage: Implementing reduced tillage methods helps to preserve soil structure, minimize erosion, and promote long-term soil health.
- Ponds and wetlands: Construction and maintenance of ponds and wetlands contribute to water conservation, wildlife habitat preservation, and biodiversity enhancement.
- Pollinator habitat, critical and marginal landscapes, trees, riparian areas, and crop management: Supporting the development of pollinator habitats and managing critical and marginal landscapes, along with tree planting, riparian area conservation, and effective crop management, fosters ecological balance and resilience.
The program guidelines and essential information will be readily available on the department's website starting April 1.
The Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program has garnered praise from various stakeholders, including government officials and agricultural organizations. Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, emphasizes the importance of supporting innovative agricultural practices to mitigate climate change effects and improve environmental sustainability. Margaret Johnson, Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, acknowledges farmers as stewards of the land and highlights the program's role in incentivizing environmental stewardship.
In light of climate change, farmers are urged to enhance the resilience of their farms, and the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program serves as a valuable resource to absorb the financial costs associated with such endeavors, as stated by Anna Belliveau, CEO of the Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick.
“In the context of climate change, farmers must improve the resilience of their farms. The Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program is an additional tool that farmers can use to help absorb the financial costs for this type of project,” stated Belliveau.
“The National Farmers Union in New Brunswick is encouraged by the launch of the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program, which will help to ensure that marginal farmland and wetlands are maintained and protected, while farmers' need to make a sustainable living is respected," said Suzanne Fournier, Executive Director of the National Farmers Union in New Brunswick
The agricultural sector in New Brunswick has been thriving, reaching a record $1.23 billion in farm cash receipts in 2023. With the implementation of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership Program, a $3.5-billion, 5-year agreement between federal, provincial, and territorial governments, the sector is poised to further strengthen its competitiveness, innovation, and resilience.