Farmers could benefit from $300K OTF grant

Grant is awarded to ALUS

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

A new grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) could benefit farmers.

The grant is worth $307,000 and will expand the ALUS program by 225 acres in Norfolk County; ALUS Canada provides funding to farmers who designate part of their land for ecosystems including water filtration and pollinator habitat, instead of traditional crop production.

“I have been a supporter of ALUS since its early says,” Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barret told the Brantford Expositor. “The program reinforces the fact that farmers are good environmental stewards.”

Farmers in Norfolk County currently use more than 1,300 acres of farmland for ecosystem and conservation efforts. With the grant, that number could rise to 1,525 by 2019.

“We are proud that OTF has recognized ALUS’ leadership role in the agricultural community for more than ten years now, and we look forward to greatly expanding our program,” said Chris Van Paassen, Chair of the ALUS Norfolk Partnership Advisory Committee.

In addition to Norfolk County, ALUS is active in Grey-Bruce, Ontario East and Bayham. It’s also present in Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island.