Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program

Fragile Land Retirement

Funding is available to establish听and maintain听permanent retirement of fragile and/or high–谤颈蝉办听agricultural lands. Projects include听permanent retirement of floodplain, steeply sloped听and erosion-prone soils,听补苍诲听the creation听or widening of听riparian buffers听along watercourses听and wetlands听(minimum 10ft width听from top of bank).听

Rates

Large Stock

  • 50%
  • Maximum = $6,000 (*up to $50 max/hardwood and $30 max/evergreen)

Seedlings

  • 80%
  • Maximum = $6,000

Funding can be stacked with other funding programs up to 100%, if the other program allows for stacking. (Applicants must inform UTRCA of additional funding).

Requirements

  • Field(s) must be in the Upper Thames watershed
  • Applicants must have a verified 4th or 5th edition Environmental Farm Plan or are working towards the completion of an updated EFP within the timeline of the project听听
  • Applicants must have a Farm Business Registration Number (FBRN) or provide proof that the land is assessed as "farmland" as per Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). The definition can be found at听)
  • Applicants must be willing to enter into a signed Land Use Agreement with UTRCA, committing the farm business to maintaining the project for a period of 15 years听
  • Appropriate native species are to be used for projects. Non-native species must be approved by UTRCA Forestry staff
  • If not working directly with UTRCA staff, a planting plan is required to specify species, planting density, location, site preparation and maintenance听听
  • Livestock must be excluded from planting sites
  • Riparian buffers along municipal drains must be approved by local municipal Drainage Superintendent
  • Minimum of 50 large stock or 300 seedlings must be used for planting听

Eligible Costs

  • Site preparation and maintenance (chemical, mulch)听
  • Cover crop establishment ahead of planting
  • Contracted labour and planting costs
  • Trees (seedling, largestock) and shrubs
  • Tree protection (rodent guards)
  • Professional design fees for completed project

Ineligible Costs

  • Commercial stock, fruit trees or Christmas tree species that are intended for commercial resale
  • Farmstead landscaping
  • Purchase of equipment
  • Planting of invasive species
  • Grant will not be paid on HST if the applicant is entitled to a HST rebate
  • Invoices not issued in the applications name or farm business

Grants under this program may not be combined with other initiatives that claim carbon credits. Projects funded through the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program will not be entitled to carbon credits/greenhouse gas (GHG) offsets for the 10-year period of the agreement, after which, applicants may be eligible for Federal and Provincial GHG offset systems, as applicable.

Contact

Tatianna Lozier, Acting Manager, Integrated Watershed Management

[email protected]

519-451-2800 ext. 233