The National Farm Stewardship Program

As part of Canada's National Environmental Farm Planning Initiative, the National Farm Stewardship Program (NFSP) will provide technical and financial assistance to support adoption of beneficial management practices by agricultural producers and land managers.

Beneficial management practices (BMPs) are farm management practices that:

• minimize and mitigate impacts and risks to the environment, by maintaining or improving the quality of soil, water, air and biodiversity;
• ensure the long term health and sustainability of natural resources used for agricultural production; and,
• support the long-term economic and environmental viability of the agriculture industry.

Recognizing that agricultural landscapes, farming practices and potential environmental risks vary across Canada, the National Farm Stewardship Program has been designed to allow provinces the flexibility to support BMPs that address regional priorities. By ensuring that BMPs eligible under the program are nationally acceptable and regionally appropriate, the NFSP supports Canada's objective to be recognized as a leader in environmentally responsible agricultural production.

OVERVIEW

Producers who have a completed and reviewed environmental farm plan or equivalent agri-environmental plan are eligible to apply for financial and technical assistance through the National Farm Stewardship Program and Greencover Canada to implement beneficial management practices identified in their environmental farm plan.

Through provincially delivered programs, approved applicants are eligible for a maximum of $50,000 in federal funding through the NFSP, which has been raised from the original program maximum of $30,000. Federal cost-shares remain at either 30% or 50% of eligible project costs, depending on the BMP category being applied for. The existing federal incentive funding limits will continue to apply to each BMP category.

A national list of BMP categories and associated practices has been developed to identify those BMPs eligible for assistance under the program. Only BMPs that meet established criteria for the program are included on the national list. Provincial-specific lists identify which BMPs from the national list are eligible for financial and technical assistance within each province. Please refer to provincial program information for a listing of specific BMPs eligible in your province.

In cooperation with the provinces and industry, the national BMP list is updated on annual basis. This will help ensure that AAFC and the provinces can continue to support the agricultural sector in adapting to changing environmental issues and implementation of new and emerging technologies to advance the stewardship of the land, water, air and biodiversity.

Please click on the appropriate link below for more detailed information and terms and conditions about the National Farm Stewardship Program in your province/territory.