Group to get $40M to promote eco-friendly farming
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.00 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.00 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/01/2025 (310 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
An environmental group in Manitoba has received an approval for up to $40 million in funding to promote climate-friendly practices on farms in the province.
The Manitoba Association of Watersheds announced on Tuesday it will expand a climate project that started in 2022.
Specific information is yet to be released, but the expansion means the federal government will continue to fund watershed districts in Manitoba in an effort to connect with farmers and incentivize farmers to use environmentally friendly practices on their land.
A map from the provincial government shows the area covered by watershed districts in Manitoba. (Province of Manitoba)
The project description posted by the federal government points out that the funding can be used to, “Provide knowledge, tools, skills and financial incentives to help farmers adopt and deploy real, measurable and practical climate solutions across Manitoba in the areas of rotational grazing, nitrogen management and cover cropping.”
The funding falls under the On-Farm Climate Action Fund, which was set out by the federal government in 2021 to help farmers fight climate change specifically by promoting on-farm practices as a way to reduce greenhouse gases and store carbon.
New information is being prepared and will be shared with the watershed districts soon, according to a press release from the provincial association on Tuesday.
But the announcement of up to $40 million in funding was welcomed by the provincial watershed association.
“We are thrilled to continue to offer the Prairie Watersheds Climate Program in Manitoba through Manitoba’s watershed districts,” said Lynda Nicol, executive director of the watershed association.
“We look forward to continued partnership with watershed districts to support land management practices that protect our watersheds.”
The program has been extended to March 31, 2028.
While its not known if any changes will be made as part of the expansion, the program that launched in 2022 empowered watershed districts to provide up to $75,000.
The money could be used to offset the cost to farmers of introducing the new practices to their farm.
A total of about 4,100 landowners across Manitoba and Saskatchewan were supported by the pilot program.
To be eligible for funding, farmers were required to introduce one of the new practices to their farm, or expand it to new acres. Any farmer whose land fell within the boundaries of a watershed district — which makes up nearly all land in Westman — could apply for funding.
Association board chair Garry Wasylowski said he couldn’t be happier with the success of the pilot. He added there has been a great partnership with local watershed districts in delivering the program in Manitoba.
With the project expanding and extended, Wasylowski added, “We look forward to three more years of funding to support landowners in making better decisions for their farm, which in turn supports the health of our provincial watersheds.”
» cmcdowell@brandonsun.com