The governments of Canada and Manitoba are providing over $1.9 million in funding under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to 54 projects supporting sustainable farming in Manitoba through the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP), federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay and Manitoba Minister of Agriculture Derek Johnson announced today.
There are two streams of funding provided through the RALP: Watershed Resilience and Carbon Sequestration and Grassland Resilience that support on-farm management practices and projects that sequester carbon and improve sustainability through grassland management and agroforestry practices, such as maintaining and restoring grasslands and wetlands.
The Watershed Resilience stream provides funding to watershed districts to collaborate with farmers to implement projects on agroforestry, grasslands and grazing management, natural upland area enhancement and rejuvenation, riparian area enhancement, water retention and runoff management, and wetland restoration and enhancement.
Selected watershed districts will receive up to $100,000 per project at 100% of the total approved eligible costs and projects will be completed within 18 months. Farmers are encouraged to contact their local watershed districts to inquire about any potential programming that may be available.
The Carbon Sequestration and Grassland Resilience stream provides funding to community pastures, Agricultural Crown Land forage leaseholders, Indigenous farmers and communities, and farmers outside of watershed district boundaries to support on-farm projects that increase the productivity of grasslands that support a strong and viable livestock industry in Manitoba. These projects enhance valuable ecological goods and services and provide mitigation and adaptation practices to support producers in a changing climate.
Selected applicants will receive a maximum of $15,000 per project at 75% of the total approved eligible costs and projects will be completed within 18 months.
Projects were evaluated on their ability to increase the environmental resilience of agricultural landscapes by adopting practices that increase environmental benefits that:
- improve soil and water quality
- reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- reduce stream-bank degradation
- improve nutrient and water retention
- improve biodiversity and wildlife habitat
Projects under RALP will enhance Manitoba's commitment to improve the productivity of Agricultural Crown Lands, improved soil health and implement on-the-ground actions identified in Manitoba's Protein Strategy and the Water Management Strategy, Minister Johnson added.
