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Canada provides $66 million for Manitoba and Prairie farmers to adopt sustainable practices

On March 17, Terry Duguid, parliamentary secretary to the minister of environment and climate change and MP for Winnipeg South, announced support of over $66 million to help Manitoba and Prairie farmers adopt sustainable farming practices and clean technologies. This support aims to help farmers build resilience to a changing climate and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

“Here in Manitoba, farmers with the support of academic and industry groups, are implementing amazing new technologically-advanced practices that are improving their sustainability on a daily basis,” Duguid said. “As our Government prepares to present its plan to reduce emissions and reach our climate 2030 goals, [this] announcement shows very tangibly what we can do to support Manitoba and Prairie farmers to achieve greater sustainability, while improving their bottom line.”

Duguid made the announcement on behalf of Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of agriculture and agri-food, and highlighted federal support of up to $62 million for two organizations to deliver the On-Farm Climate Action Fund in Manitoba and other Prairie provinces.

“The fight against climate change is not only about reducing Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, but also helping farmers to innovate and adopt more sustainable farming practices,” Bibeau said in an official statement. “In Manitoba, we have partnered with two sector organizations to deliver funds directly to local farmers who are ready to take action and build climate resilience. We are also investing directly in 10 new clean technology adoption projects to make local farming practices more sustainable.

“Together, we will continue to do what is necessary to protect our environment and provide farmers with the support needed to make their operations more sustainable for future generations.”

Manitoba Association of Watersheds will deliver up to $40 million to provide knowledge, tools, skills and financial incentives that aim to help farmers to adopt and deploy real, measurable and practical climate solutions across Manitoba and Saskatchewan in the area of rotational grazing, nitrogen management and cover cropping.

The Canola Council of Canada will deliver up to $22 million to work with farmers across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta to increase canola yields while reducing nitrous oxide emissions.

Both groups will distribute the funding through individual application intakes to help farmers adopt and implement immediate on-farm beneficial management practices that store carbon and reduce GHGs.

In addition, Duguid mentioned funding of up to over $4.4 million for 10 projects approved so far across Manitoba under the Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program. This will help farmers adapt to a changing climate and boost their long-term competitiveness, all while cutting emissions. This funding is focused on three priority areas: green energy and energy efficiency, precision agriculture, and the bioeconomy.