Team outlines Farm Investment Fund

By Jennifer Hoegg

The Hants Journal/NovaNewsNow.com

Two dozen farmers gathered at the Kingsway April 9 for refreshments and information about government funding programs.

Heather Rand from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Christine Moore from Nova Scotia’s Department of Agriculture were on hand to discuss provincial and federal cost-share projects. Most are administered under the province’s Farm Investment Fund.

Rand and Moore presented program details for 2008-2009 and, with program administrator Darlene McCallum, answered questions from the audience.

Farmers in attendance had a number of questions, particularly about what types of pasture clearing were eligible for funding.

The Farm Investment Fund supports sustainable growth of Nova Scotia farm businesses by funding projects that improve economic viability, farm and food safety and environmental stewardship. Any registered, active farm generating $10,000 in commodity sales – which is waived for new registrants -- with an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) is eligible to apply for one or more projects.

Diverse projects are covered by the program -- from alternative energy installations to orchard clearing, to livestock management systems.

Health and safety of animals and farm staff, business development and environmental conservation are key themes in the categories.

New projects are added with input from commodity and industry groups, after assessment for applicability and fit with program objectives.

“Public funds need to be for projects applicable to many,” Moore said.

Additional funds are available from the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, through the National Farm Stewardship Program, Greencover Canada and the Canada-Nova Scotia Water Supply Expansion Program. Beyond helping individual farmers, community and industry level projects may apply for federal funding under the latter two programs.

Changes in 2008-2009

Funding application process began April 1, earlier than previous years. Moore said attempts have been made to streamline the application process. Other changes include new funding for energy conservation projects and a certification requirement for nutrient management planners.

Most importantly, Environmental Farm Plans are now crucial to farmers’ eligibility. Already a requirement for most federally cost-shared projects, completion of or registration for an EFP is now required for all provincial programs. Free to farmers, EFPs are coordinated by the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture.

Rand informed the crowd that federal programs are in a “continuity year.” The four-year program cycle planned to end this year but has been extended into 2008. The next four-year program, Growing Forward Initiatives, will begin April 1, 2009.

Rand expects funding priorities to remain the same in the next program cycle, but no details are available at this time.

More than $3.75 million in Farm Investment Fund cash was distributed to Nova Scotian farmers last year, above the expected $3 million. Another $1.34 million in federal funding was approved. Of the 845 applications received, 808 were approved.

The level of funding is “significant in a province of our size” Moore said.

Rand added that, as far as cost-sharing goes, “Nova Scotia is one of the most generous provinces.”

There are funding caps on farmers’ applications -- $10,000 for provincial programs, though two years of funding can be released at once under certain conditions, and $50,000 over four years for federal programs, $15,000 per producer for certain water-management projects.

Full details on funding programs available at: www.gov.ns.ca