Agri-Land Accessibility and Enhancement

Who is eligible?

The Agri-Land Accessibility and Enhancement program supports the development of farmland in New Brunswick and is open to specific groups who meet the defined eligibility criteria.

• Indigenous Peoples or Organizations.
• Agriculture producers, including individuals, partnerships, and incorporated agri-businesses involved in primary agricultural production.
• Agriculture producer associations involved in primary agricultural production, such as Community Pasture Associations.
• Other individuals or groups capable of achieving program objectives.

Who is not eligible

This grant does not specify particular exclusions or restrictions for companies or industries based on status or primary activity. However, it does lay out several project and transaction-related exclusions to focus assistance on eligible agricultural activities.

• Land developments for commercial turf production are not eligible.
• Legal, land acquisition, and leasing costs are ineligible for assistance.
• Normal operational, maintenance activities, and ordinary on-farm labour costs are not funded.
• Projects must not have begun before the project approval date and cannot receive concurrent funding from other programs.

Eligible expenses

The grant covers specific expenses related to the enhancement and development of farmland for agricultural purposes in New Brunswick.

• Removal of brush, non-merchantable trees, stumps, roots, rock, and other debris.
• Chipping/mulching and spreading on-site or other disposal of resulting biomass.
• Grinding off of wood debris flush with the soil surface and spreading on-site.
• Land clearing for wild blueberry production including rock pulverization and preparation of the site.
• Field consolidation activities such as removal of hedge rows, line fences, and rock piles.
• Land levelling or "tracking" to improve efficiency of mechanized operations.
• Site suitability assessments including mapping, site layout plans, pre-engineering work, water supply studies, and GIS data acquisition.
• Application fees for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
• Wetland or watercourse delineation activities by recognized Wetland Delineators.
• Professional assessment for lands suitable for agricultural production.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is specifically available to applicants for land located within the Province of New Brunswick. This ensures the development and enhancement of agricultural land within the specified region.

• Lands located within the Province of New Brunswick.

Evaluation and selection criteria for this grant include the applicant's ability to demonstrate the suitability of the land for agricultural production and adherence to environmental legislation, as well as the project's potential impact on increasing sustainable farming practices.

• Applicant's demonstration of land suitability for agricultural production
• Compliance with federal and New Brunswick environmental legislation
• Potential impact on sustainable farming practices

Here are the steps to apply for the Agri-Land Accessibility and Enhancement grant:

• Step 1: Initial Consultation
• Contact appropriate Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries staff to discuss your application. Use the provided links to find contacts for Crop Sector or Livestock Sector Development Branches.
• Step 2: Application Preparation
• Read the SCAP Administrative Guidelines and Agri-Land Accessibility and Enhancement program guidelines thoroughly.
• Ensure the land meets all eligibility criteria and environmental considerations outlined in the program details.
• Prepare detailed project plans, budgets, and timelines as needed, adhering to program objectives and eligible activities.
• Ensure you have any necessary permits, environmental approvals, or certifications.
• Step 3: Application Submission
• Applications can be submitted either by email or mail.
• If submitting by email, send your application to Sustainable.CAP@gnb.ca.
• If submitting by mail, address your application to Sustainable CAP Program Administrator at the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, PO Box 6000, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5H1.
• Step 4: Follow-up and Reporting
• Once funding is received, you may be required to report on the impact of the funding as outlined in the letter of offer.
• Maintain ongoing communication with the assigned DAAF Project Officer, especially in case of changes to the project scope, timeline, or budget.

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• Projects are funded based on chronological receipt of applications, with carry-over to the next fiscal year if funds are exhausted.
• A Project Officer can inspect and assess site suitability and determine project eligibility based on land appropriateness.
• All projects may be inspected upon completion to verify satisfactory progress.
• Applicants must notify Project Officers of unforeseen cost, completion date changes, or project size alterations.
• Maintaining agricultural use of the land for at least five years post-funding is mandatory.
• Reselling or re-purposing of the land for non-agricultural use can affect future application status.
• Applying for funding requires project-specific environmental and permit approvals.