Provided by: Sara Lin Barron, Director of Programs
In 2024, OSCIA undertook some big changes to better position the Programs Department and OSCIA as an organization for success with current and future program delivery opportunities. Several new programs staff came onboard within the provincial office, including new Program Coordinators, Program Analysts and a new Quality Assurance Officer position. New staff were also welcomed into the Field Representative Team who are located across all regions of the province and support the delivery of incentive programs to Ontario farmers through farmer outreach and engagement, and delivery of educational workshops and webinars including the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) and commodity specific biosecurity workshops and webinars.
2024 marked a very productive year in program delivery for OSCIA. We continue to work closely with federal and provincial government partners to deliver opportunities to help support Ontario farmers in being more profitable, productive and sustainable. The dedicated commitment of all OSCIA staff diligently advancing program development and reporting, and providing program participant support, should be commended.
Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP)
The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) is a five-year (2023-2028), $3.5-billion investment by federal‐provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by the provinces and territories.
Through agreements with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA), OSCIA delivers Sustainable CAP educational workshops and cost-share incentive programs to producers across Ontario.
Workshop Delivery
OSCIA offers the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) and commodity-specific biosecurity workshops. The EFP has been proudly delivered by OSCIA since its inception. 2024 marks 34 years of EFP delivery in Ontario. The EFP workshop continues to be delivered through a two-day, in person workshop, as well as a one-day workshop, and the electronic EFP (an online version of the workbook) for those looking to update a previously verified EFP.
In 2024, OSCIA successfully launched a virtual delivery option for the EFP that allows participants to complete a new EFP or renew an existing EFP from a remote setting. The virtual EFP is delivered in an online classroom through two interactive sessions lead by OSCIA Field Representative staff. Participants then utilize the electronic EFP to undertake their on-farm risk assessment and action planning. The virtual EFP serves to minimize barriers to participation for underrepresented groups and those in remote geographical locations.
In late 2023 and through 2024, OSCIA in collaboration with OMAFA undertook a review of the current EFP Fourth Edition workbook which was released in 2013, to update content and work towards the publication of a new Fifth Edition EFP. The Fifth Edition EFP will include new content sections related to biodiversity and species at risk, and climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as updates to regulatory requirements. Publication and delivery of the new Fifth Edition EFP is targeted for 2025.
Also in 2024, OSCIA engaged with Wilton Consulting Group to conduct stakeholder consultations on the modernization of the EFP. These consultations engaged stakeholder groups across the agri-food value chain to form a longer-term vision for Ontario’s EFP and to define opportunities, potential, and industry expectations to build the value, broaden the reach, and amplify the impact of the EFP as we look beyond a Fifth Edition. The Environmental Farm Plan Modernization Consultations Final Report was completed in July 2024 and is available to view on the OSCIA website.
Biosecurity workshops and webinars are offered for Livestock (beef, dairy, sheep and goat), Field Crops and Horticulture, Bees, and Poultry. In 2024, OSCIA began delivery of a new Greenhouse Biosecurity workshop. We continue to work with technical experts, including Veterinarians, Certified Crop Advisors, the Ontario Beekeeper’s Tech Transfer Team, and Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, on delivery of the technical content in the workshops.
Sustainable CAP Cost-Share Programming
In 2024, OSCIA delivered the following Sustainable CAP cost-share incentive programs to producers across Ontario:
- Agricultural Stewardship Initiative
- Honey Bee Health Initiative
- Maple Production Improvement Initiative
- Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program
- Special Provisions for Financial Difficulties
The Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (ASI) provided cost-share funding to farmers to accelerate the adoption of BMPs supporting soil health, water quality, and productivity. The Initiative provides enhanced funding for projects in the Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair watersheds. In 2024, programs staff completed claim processing for all ASI projects approved in Intake 1 (2023). A second ASI Intake was held in October 2024. This intake offered (11) project categories including new BMP opportunities under Energy Assessments, Energy Audits, small and larger scale Energy Efficiency Improvements, Organic Amendments, Erosion Control Structures, and Equipment and Technology to Enhance Manure Storage. Over 616 applications were submitted to Intake 2; projects must be completed and claimed by February 15, 2026.
The Honey Bee Health Initiative (HBHI) supported beekeepers in maintaining healthy honey bee colonies as well as growing their number of colonies to increase the sustainability of the beekeeping industry in Ontario. Over 450 applications were submitted to the HBHI since it opened in September 2023. The intake closed in January 2025. Over $2.2M in funding was allocated to eligible projects. All projects have the completion and final claim deadline of Feb 15, 2025.
The Maple Production Improvement Initiative (MPII) supported maple syrup producer productivity and efficiency through funding for equipment purchases and woodlot management. An application intake was held in November 2023, 77 projects were supported with over $1.2M allocated in funding. All projects were required to be completed and claimed by November 20, 2024.
The Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP) provides funding to support Ontario farmers in making their agricultural lands more productive and resilient through projects which reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon. Eligible projects focus on:
- Natural Grassland Establishment
- Perennial Biomass & Warm Season Pastures
- Reduced Tillage
- Tree & Shrub Planting
- Water Retention Features
- Wetlands
Intake 2 under RALP opened to accept applications on June 3, 2024, and will remain open until the available funding has been fully allocated. Under RALP, farmers receive a per acre payment for implementing and maintaining an eligible project. The farmer must commit to maintaining the project for a set amount of time, which is outlined in a Land Use Agreement between the farmer and OSCIA. The program also encourages strong collaboration with technical experts through a requirement for applicants to provide letters of support or assessments with their application. This encourages sound project planning and support throughout project implementation and on-going maintenance. In 2024, under Intake 2 over 220 applications were received for projects to be completed in 2024 and 2025. OSCIA has allocated over $14M in funding to approved applications since the initiative launched in 2023.
Also under Sustainable CAP, OSCIA delivers Special Provisions for Financial Difficulties (SPFD). Under this program, Ontario farmers who are experiencing significant financial difficulty may qualify to access financial advisory services to complete a Farm Financial Analysis. Applications to the SPFD Initiative are accepted on a continuous basis. Program information including eligibility requirements and how to apply can be found on the OSCIA website or by phoning the provincial office.
Species at Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Land (SARPAL)
Species at Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Lands (SARPAL) is an Environment and Climate Change Canada initiative that is focused on working with farmers to support the recovery of species at risk. SARPAL funds conservation actions focused on supporting 12 target species at risk. The SARPAL program opened an intake in spring 2024 that resulted in over 50 projects receiving a funding allocation. The claim deadline for those projects was December 2024. A new SARPAL intake for all BMPS is planned for spring 2025.
OSCIA opened a targeted SARPAL intake in late November 2024 to support the planting of native trees and shrubs that will provide corridors for species such as the Eastern Foxsnake and American Badger and an early source of nectar and pollen for the Gypsy Cuckoo and Rusty-patched Bumble Bees. This intake supports both 2024 and spring 2025 planting and will remain open until the funding is fully allocated, or until March 16, 2025, whichever arrives first.
Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program (SARFIP)
SARFIP provides funding to agricultural landowners interested in completing habitat creation, enhancement, and protection BMPs that support species at risk. SARFIP is funded by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program (SARSP). A SARFIP application intake was held in spring 2024, that resulted in over 60 projects receiving a funding allocation with a project completion deadline of December 2024. The next intake for SARFIP will be in spring 2025 and support the same BMPs as recent previous intakes.
Nature Smart Climate Readiness Program
The Nature Smart Climate Readiness Program (NSCRP, or Nature Smart) is an Environment and Climate Change funded program which helps support nature-based solutions to store and capture carbon, mitigate the impacts of climate change, improve water quality, and contribute to biodiversity on farms. Nature Smart is a competitive reverse auction program focusing on conservation or restoration of grasslands, wetlands, and riparian buffer zones to non-agricultural production uses. Applicants must identify the total costs for the proposed project and a cost-share funding request (or “bid”) in their application. In 2024, OSCIA opened a Nature Smart intake from July 29 to August 27, 2024. Successful applicants will have demonstrated the most potential for environmental benefits through carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and other co-benefits such as preservation of habitat for Species at Risk. All nine projects that were approved under the 2024 intake were successfully claimed. Participants are required to sign a ten-year Conservation Agreement agreeing to maintain the project. OSCIA will be opening the third application intake for Nature Smart in the spring of 2025.
On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF)
OFCAF provides cost-share funding to farmers to support the implementation of BMPs that tackle climate change by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and supporting increased carbon sequestration. Funding for OFCAF is provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – On-Farm Climate Action Fund. Cost-share support (65%) is available to farmers under three categories: Nitrogen management, Cover cropping, and Rotational grazing. To received funding, approved participants must implement their approved project as a new field based practice and participate in an eligible Knowledge Sharing Event (KSE). A KSE is an event recognized by OSCIA (but not necessarily organized by OSCIA) which supports the learning and adoption of BMPs specific to addressing climate change challenges in Ontario. A KSE is both a learning and networking opportunity where farmers can benefit from seeing the latest applied research demonstrations, hearing first-hand experiences from other farmers and industry experts, and gaining access to information networks and resources.
2024 marked the third year of OSCIA’s delivery of OFCAF programming to Ontario farmers. Claim processing for applications approved in 2023 (Year 2) that had a claim deadline of January 31, 2024, wrapped up in late spring 2024. Two new application intakes under OFCAF were also held in 2024. The first intake in Feb 2024 saw over 800 applications come in, and the second intake which opened August 1 and closed in November 2024, saw over 680 additional applications submitted. All 2024-approved projects have a claim deadline of January 31, 2025.