Financial support is available for environmental on-farm enhancements.

The province of Alberta is putting out the call to producers to take advantage of the latest government program to conserve and enhance environmental resilience on their farms. The Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP) is now open with a continuous intake and funding that may cover up to 100% of eligible expenses. The initiative is designed to help producers implement and maintain practices on their farm that also enhance the environment.

Each year, primary producers face a shifting series of challenges, from volatility in commodity prices to increased energy costs to incorporating new technologies. On top of those are expectations for higher standards of environmental stewardship.

Part of a united effort
It’s unreasonable to expect producers to shoulder the full extent of environmental stewardship by themselves, since enhancing environmental conditions may have little impact on production yet offer societal benefits like reducing pollution or creating natural habitat. This is why the latest intake of the Resilient Agriculture Landscape Program (RALP) is so timely, to support producers as they begin to put their plans for the coming growing season into motion.

The Resilient Agriculture Landscape Program (RALP) offers funding calculated to cover most of an applicant’s implementation costs -possibly as much as 100% -and may also pay an opportunity cost for moving land out of production. Program funding maximums are $150,000 for primary producers.

Submissions for the RALP initiative are to be evaluated based on project size, improvements in carbon sequestration, the number of livestock affected and water quality and biodiversity enhancement. Funding is available for pasture management, cropland conversion, tree establishment and wetlands development.

To be eligible, an applicant must be:

• A primary producer, whether an individual or a corporation registered in Alberta, and is:
  • Responsible for the management of a farm operation (annual crops, bees or livestock) in Alberta, producing a minimum of $25,000 of farm commodities annually
  • Responsible for input costs for that operation
  • Not a landlord whose interest in the farm is ownership

Applicants must also have a current Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) certificate or letter of completion or be actively working on an EFP and can receive an EFP certificate or letter before the end of the project term.

Get started now
Although this is a continuous intake, it’s set to close when funding has been fully allocated. It’s best to get an early start, since there are several ineligible costs, considerations and criteria for assessment for Alberta’s Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program.

If you would like to have a specialist help you navigate this initiative, the professionals at Elite Agri Solutions have the expertise to support you. For more information call 519 – 953 – 4479 or connect through our website at https://eliteagrisolutions.ca/.