FORT KENT – The Lakeland Agricultural Research Association (LARA) has been promoting the federally funded On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF), which gives financial support to farmers to accelerate their adoption of regenerative agriculture practices, or “on-farm Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs).”
These practices aim to lower greenhouse gas emissions, and support production efficiency, sustainability, and resiliency on their farm operations, according to Results Driver Agricultural Research (RDAR) – the program's delivery partner.
Research Agrologist Lance Ouellette spoke about the opportunity this program offers to local producers. He has helped many people in the Lakeland with the OFCAF grant and has received great feedback about the program.
“It’s a one-year program that covers up to $75,000 per producer . . . You get 50 per cent up front and 50 per cent upon completion. It has three separate streams. One of them is nitrogen management, so for example they cover manure spreading and transportation.”
Ouellette explained that they set maximums, so for example, they cover $75 per acre up to $30,000 for manure spreading. Within the streams, it’s an 85 per cent cost share, so the producer pays 15 per cent.
If equipment needs to be rented, those costs will be covered as well.
“Another stream is cover cropping . . . They will help cover an annual seeding of a cover crop. If you want to have a custom seeding, they’ll cover the cost of that to $30 an acre.”
Seed mixes, Ouellette explained, must have a legume, which is a nitrogen fixer.
“[Cover cropping] is useful for erosion control, for soil health, it’s for many purposes, but the main purpose really is for cattle feed. They’ll seed it in the spring and then either silage it, swath it, or just graze it as is in the fall.”
The third stream is rotational grazing, which helps sequester carbon, improves soil health, and increases the soil's ability to hold water, making it more resistant to drought.
“OFCAF will cover cross fencing, as long as you have a plan in place . . . They will cover the cost of fencing off a dugout, and they’ll cover a watering system as long at its a solar powered system.”
Seeding of perennial crops, such as hay, is covered, but OFCAF requires the use of no-till methods.
“No-till is a bit of a misnomer, because there is some tillage involved with the no-till drill, even if it’s just making a slit in the ground. But it’s very minimal compared to the hoe-drill which churns up the soil.”
Ouellette said tilling is convenient because it helps warm up the soil so it can be used faster, but you lose carbon in the process, which Ouellette feels is not worth it.
Regenerative practices are varied, and Ouellette said the term in quite broad – often producers are already trying to implement some of the practices, as they gain in popularity, and the OFCAF grant is a way to offer them funding to be successful.
“It’s a nice way to get started, I’m a big proponent of it. I do think it improves the soil and increases its water holding capacity . . . Often when we’re pushing these best management practices, someone will try it for one year and do really well and then a drought hits and they get discouraged. It’s something you really have to try for more than a year to build the soil up before you can form an opinion on it . . . grants can be really helpful.”
Ouellette mentioned that there is a version of the OFCAF grant that includes mentorship.
“There’s another OFCAF program offered through The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA), and that one does have a mentorship program. You apply and can choose who to do your grazing plan with. There’s a number of different mentors in the area.”
Ouellette also spoke about a larger grant, though it opened in February and was filled within about 20 days, which acts as a reminder for those interested to act quickly.
“That one was called the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP). It covered 100 per cent of the expenses up to $150,000. For larger projects, that’s the one I would go for.”
Although the practices require change and some education, Ouellette said they do not require a huge investment of effort. The program offers flexibility, so projects are feasible.
