Canola 4R Advantage adding new incentives to expand use of 4R Nutrient Stewardship

Canola growers can look forward to more cost-saving opportunities as the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) gears up for year two of Canola 4R Advantage, a program offering financial support to growers as they initiate or advance 4R Nutrient Stewardship on their farms.

“Canada’s canola growers are leaders in adopting sustainable practices, and we’re pleased that the second year of Canola 4R Advantage will offer more funding and support to continue the adoption of 4R practices,” says Jim Everson, CCC president. “The use of and support of 4R Nutrient Stewardship is a positive move to continue to improve fertilizer use efficiency, but it’s also recognized that it takes time to build familiarity and an approach that works on a farm-by-farm basis.”

Canola 4R Advantage is one of 13 programs being delivered by Canadian agricultural organizations with funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF).

Year two of Canola 4R Advantage will cover expenses paid by growers between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024. A new digital application portal is expected to open in June 2023. In the meantime, growers and agronomists can visit canolacouncil.org/4R-advantage to review program details and eligibility criteria, including a recorded webinar on  year two of the program.

Canola 4R Advantage continues to provide incentives for canola growers to initiate or advance best management practices (BMPs) in four areas: 1) soil testing, 2) field zone mapping, 3) preferred application and 4) enhanced efficiency fertilizers.

In year two, growers can access these additional program enhancements:

• More dollars per BMP: Funding limits for each of these four BMPs will increase from $6,000 per BMP per farm to $20,000 per BMP per farm.
• More BMPs per farm: Each farm can seek support for up to four BMPs per year, compared to the limit of two BMPs per farm in year one.
• Added eligibility for 4R plan development: In addition to support for up to four BMPs, the program can reimburse a portion of consulting fees charged by a 4R designated agronomist to develop a grower’s 4R Nutrient Stewardship Plan.
• Funding continued adoption of new practices: Growers can seek funding to continue BMPs that were started since February 7, 2022. This change provides another incentive to keep using 4R practices over the long term.

Other program details established by AAFC will remain in place, including the 85 per cent reimbursement cap for eligible expenses and a maximum $75,000 limit in total funding received by a farm business across all OFCAF programs over the two-year OFCAF program lifetime.

The CCC is also collaborating on 4R demonstration sites in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

“Our goal is to expand and advance efficient use of nitrogen fertilizers, which supports increased productivity and profitability while reducing emissions,” says Everson. “Canola 4R Advantage is providing both the dollars and the know-how to help make that happen.”

The Canola Council of Canada is a full value chain organization representing canola growers, processors, life science companies and exporters. Keep it Coming 2025 is the strategic plan to ensure the canola industry’s continued growth, demand, stability and success – targeting 52 bushels per acre to meet global market demand of 26 million metric tonnes by the year 2025. For more information, visit canolacouncil.org or follow CCC on Twitter @canolacouncil.