Canada and Ontario investing $14.6 million to help farmers make improvements to farmlands

Toronto, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $14.6 million through the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP) to help farmers make other improvements to their farmland.

As part of the government's plan to protect Ontario, this investment supports the province's Grow Ontario Strategy to give farmers the tools they need to build long-term resiliency and stay competitive in the face of tariffs and economic uncertainty.

The RALP Marginal Lands Initiative, delivered by Conservation Ontario, is receiving an additional $9.6 million to help farmers create or enhance natural features such as wetlands or pollinator habitats on marginal agricultural lands. The program connects farmers to technical support and organizations that can make it easier for farmers who carry out large-scale environmental projects on their land, including carbon sequestering and reducing emissions.

An additional investment of up to $5 million is being invested in the RALP Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Initiative, delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), to help farmers access funding to plant grasslands and trees, reduce tillage and build water retention features. These improvements help farmers better withstand extreme weather, improve soil and water health and boost biodiversity.

Sustainable CAP is a 5-year, $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation and resiliency of Canada's 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% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.