RDAR | On Farm Climate Action Fund

Description

OFCAF provides financial support to producers to accelerate their adoption and implementation of on-farm Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) to lower Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, support production efficiency, sustainability and resiliency on their farm operations. To assist producers with their adoption of new BMPs, the program will offer producers resources to support BMP implementation and provide BMP design recommendations. RDAR is a delivery partner, selected by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, to distribute funds associated with this program.

Open for applications April 9.

Please Note: 

If you have only implemented the water portion of your rotational grazing project, you are not eligible for reimbursement.

Any purchases made before April 1, 2025 are not eligible for reimbursement.

Pre-approval by RDAR in writing is required to be eligible for program funding.

OFCAF Overview

OFCAF provides financial support to producers to accelerate their adoption and implementation of on-farm Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) to lower Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, support production efficiency, sustainability and resiliency on their farm operations.

To assist producers with their adoption of new BMPs, the program will offer producers resources to support BMP implementation and provide BMP design recommendations.

RDAR is a delivery partner, selected by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, to distribute funds associated with this program.

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Reach out to the OFCAF team

Areas of Focus

RDAR is a program delivery partner that will administer OFCAF in Alberta, for Alberta’s producers. RDAR is delivering OFCAF in three activity categories. These practices also provide other environmental benefits such as improved biodiversity and soil health. Other activities to support the adoption of BMPs, such as outreach, education, and training, are also supported.

Improving Nitrogen Management

For example, agronomic services to develop farm-specific nutrient management plans, equipment rental or custom rates for fertilizer application in fields, and soil sampling and analysis.

Increasing Adoption of Cover Cropping

For example, payment-per-acre to cover adoption or related costs such as seed and custom seeding. Cover crops protect and enhance the soil while reducing erosion risks associated with annual cropping systems.

Expanding the Adoption of Rotational Grazing

For example, agronomic services to develop grazing management plans, install interior cross fencing or water system infrastructure, plant legumes and forages. Rotational grazing is the practice of containing and moving livestock through pasture to allow forage plants to recover, deepen their root systems and improve soil health.

Eligibility

You are eligible for funding if you are an active producer, including proprietorship, corporation, or registered partnership, that can demonstrate a minimum of $25,000 of gross farm income in Alberta. To receive funding, applicants must meet the following conditions:

Be an active producer

Includes a proprietorship, corporation, or registered partnership that can demonstrate a minimum of $25,000 of gross farm income in Alberta.

Work with a Professional Agrologist (PAg) or Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) to develop a BMP Action Plan

This plan needs to be based on agronomic advice and identifies the cost difference from usual practices. The BMP Action Plan must include labelled maps of project field boundaries on air photos or images. Any method may be used.

Headquartered in Alberta

Be headquartered in Alberta and apply funds only to lands in Alberta.

Project Minimum

Have a minimum eligible project cost of $2,500.

Pay upfront costs

Pay 100% of the costs upfront (no in-kind). All payments will be considered taxable income.

Note: Landlords whose only interest is in the land are not raising crops or livestock are ineligible. Funding is intended to increase new adoption of BMPs; farmers cannot receive funding for a BMP where it is already in use and project costs funded from sources other than OFCAF are not eligible for reimbursement. BMP implementation must be new to farm or field. As RDAR is a producer-driven organization, RDAR Directors eligible for the OFCAF funding will be entitled to apply along with all other qualified applicants. RDAR reviews all applications in the order received, and applications from Directors will be subject to a third-party review.

Eligible Expenses

Successful applicants will receive a pre-approved budget with their project approval. Once the project is completed, applicants are required to submit invoices for all eligible BMPs. These expenses will be reviewed by RDAR to ensure they match the approved project prior to reimbursement.