Beneficial Management Practices and On-Farm Agriculture Climate Solutions
Prairie Watershed Climate Program
The Prairie Watersheds Climate Program (PWCP) works with producers to increase the implementation of select Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) on farms in Saskatchewan and Manitoba to address issues related to climate change in agriculture.
Watch the webinar video here or visit the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds website to learn more.
If you missed the opportunity for rebates to try new-to-you or new-to-a-field, fall and/or spring fertilizer practices, make sure to check out program options for producers
First announced in Budget 2021, the $200-million On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) is an initiative to help farmers tackle climate change. The Fund is part of the Government of Canada's Agricultural Climate Solutions initiative, which falls under the $4 billion Natural Climate Solutions Fund, a program managed by Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agricultural-programs-and-services/agricultural-climate-solutions-farm-climate-action-fund-0
Rebates: There is financial compensation for producers to implement Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) and support Agriculture Climate Solutions efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support production efficiency, sustainability, and resiliency on their farm operations.
For Saskatchewan forage seed producers - the PWCP program: The Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds (SAW) has partnered with the Manitoba Association of Watersheds to deliver the Prairie Watersheds Climate Program (PWCP) in Saskatchewan, which is an On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) program funded through AAFC. To implement the program, the PWCP was awarded funding and will provide up to $40 million in financial support, through OFCAF, to producers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. NOTE: Funding will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis; once the $40 M is used up, there may/may not be additional funding. https://manitobawatersheds.org/prairie-watershed-climate-program
The PWCP program offers forage seed growers and other producer rebate funding to assist with the implementation of BMPs for:
(i) nitrogen management (ii) cover crops (iii) rotational grazing.
A producer is eligible for a maximum of $75,000 of funding, including all eligible activities across all BMPs for the project period.
An application must be submitted to the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds.
For assistance with the Prairie Watersheds Climate Program (PWCP) application process, a local delivery agent with the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds will be your point of contact. The individual who will assist you is based on the rural municipality where your field is located. Program Coordinator: Contact Information by Rural Municipality
Requirements: producers will need to follow the guidelines to be eligible to receive rebates for implementing the BMPs
Funded projects must be new practices for an operation, or be expanded from what has been practiced in prior years on new land or new acres than prior years.
All activities must have commenced on or after February 7, 2022, and be completed on or before June 30, 2024.
An activity can only be funded once on the same parcel of land through OFCAF funding. NOTE: Continuing implementation of an existing practice at the same degree as prior years is not an eligible activity.
Invoices and Proof of Purchase must accompany program rebate applications.
Producers must contribute at least 15% of the total project cost as an in-kind contribution to the project.
Before and after pictures of projects implemented are required for verification and payment. The field location and date must be included with the photo.
Biological and microbial fertilizer options are ineligible.
Fact Sheets: the three Fact Sheets for the three BMP areas are available by clicking on the links below.
If there is an activity that fits your farm operation, contact an Agronomist, Agrologist, or Certified Crop Advisor to help you develop a plan and recommend a project.
Download or View PDF Fact Sheets
Nitrogen Management BMP ….. quick facts to consider as you make your fertilizer application decisions this fall and spring of 2023
There are nine eligible activities under Prairie Watersheds Climate Program relevant for conventional or organic forage seed production including:
1. Soil Testing
A producer may qualify for a rebate to cover 85% of the cost of soil testing, up to a maximum of $2,500.
Total sample depth must be a minimum of 12 inches.
Soil sampling methods and criteria must be prepared and signed off by a 4R designated agronomis.t
Soil analysis for nitrogen content must be conducted using analytical protocols recognized by the Soil Science Society of America.
Soil testing must be done by one of these approved laboratories:
Agvise Laboratories
A&L Canada
AGAT Laboratories
Down to Earth
Farmers Edge
Western Ag
Elements
Midwest Laboratories
2. Soil Mapping
A producer may qualify for a rebate to cover 50% of the cost of soil mapping, up to a maximum of $10,000.
3. Developing Nitrogen Management Plans
A producer may qualify for a rebate to cover 50% of the cost of developing Nitrogen Management Plans, up to a maximum of $10,000.
The plan needs to be developed by an Agronomist, Agrologist, or Certified Crop Advisor.
4. Using Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer (EEF) including use of Nitrification and Urease Inhibitors
A producer may qualify for a rebate to cover 85% of the cost of the inhibitors, up to a maximum of $10,000 up to a maximum of $75,000.
What products are eligible?
Presently, a list of approved Nitrogen Management enhanced efficiency fertilizer products is available on the Canola Council of Canada website. The Canola Council of Canada is administrating the delivery of the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) through the Agricultural Climate Solutions program. The program is referred to as Canola 4R Advantage. https://www.canolacouncil.org/4r-advantage.
For the Nitrogen Management program, the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds is coordinating with the Canola Council of Canada for the list of eligible products of Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer (EEF) created for the Canola 4R Advantage program
Click on the link to view the eligible products and brands https://www.canolacouncil.org/4r-advantage/program-guidelines/bmp-requirements/
Nitrification and urease inhibitors must be used together (either as a pre-blended product or purchased separately to be blended on-farm) to be an eligible practice.
Active ingredients of nitrification inhibitors (and brand names) of eligible products include Pronitridine (Centuro), DCD (Eclipse-D66), and Nitrapyrin (eNtrench NXTGEN, N-Serve).
There are several urease inhibitors with NMPT as an active ingredient listed and the following brands are eligible: Agrotain Dry Maxx, Agrotain Ultra, ARMU, ContaiN, ContaiN Max, ContaiN. Duo, Eclipse N, Nitrain 2.0, Nitrolizer, N-Yield CX, Anvol, Neon Air, Neon Surface.
Dual inhibitors are eligible: NMPT/DMPP (ArmU Advanced), NMPT/DCD (SuperU), NBPT/Pronitridine (Tribune).
THINGS TO NOTE:
For the updated list including recently approved polymer coated urea products such as Environmentally Smart Nitrogen (ESN), refer to the Canola Council Canada website for details as they become available.
For products not presently on the list, the Prairie Watersheds Climate Program team in Manitoba and Saskatchewan are reviewing those on a case-by-case basis, depending on active ingredients and rates. As the eligible list of products may change as the program continues, it is important to critical to check for updates.
For more information about how some of these products work, check out Manitoba Agriculture’s resource by John Heard, Enhanced Efficiency Additives for Nitrogen - How they Work available at: https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/soil-fertility/enhanced-efficiency-additives-for-nitrogen.html
5. Upgrading seeder equipment
Used for banding, side dressing and injection of fertilizer
A producer may qualify for a rebate to cover $200 of the cost per foot of seeding equipment, up to a maximum of $30,000
6. Split Application of Fertilizer to improve Nitrogen use
This is currently on a project-by-project basis; eligibility and rebate are to be determined with the SAW contact (i.e., a Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds PWCP Delivery Agent).
7. Adding Legumes to crop rotation
A producer may qualify for a rebate to cover $35/acre for establishment (when approved under a 1-year contract) or $70/acre when approved under a two-year contract
The payment is split into a $35/acre payment in year 1 and a $35/acre payment in year 2, upon approval and verification
8. Upgrading manure injection and incorporation equipment
Eligibility and rebate to be determined with the SAW contact (i.e., your Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds PWCP Delivery Agent)
9. Offsetting the higher cost of synthetic fertilizer substitutes (e.g. manure, compost, digestates)
Eligibility and rebate to be determined with the SAW contact (i.e., your Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds PWCP Delivery Agent)
For more information, contact the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds at skwatersheds@gmail.com or the Sask Forage Seed Commission office@saskforageseed.com