Alternative Land Use Services Program

Who is eligible?

Who is not eligible

This grant focuses on environmental sustainability within agricultural contexts, and thus excludes certain activities that do not align with its conservation and regeneration goals. The restrictions help ensure that funding supports ecological practices on agricultural landscapes.

• Activities which are a requirement under regulation, such as 15m riparian buffer zones and regulated grassed headlands.
• Research and academic institution overhead fees.
• BRM-type activities (which typically focus on business risk management).
• Normal and ongoing operating and maintenance activities without additional ecological benefits.
• Activities that do not provide a direct benefit to the agricultural sector.
• Activities related to aquaponic food production, aquaculture, seaweed, fish and seafood production and processing.
• Activities which provide tax credits or rebates.
• Development and enforcement of regulations.

Eligible expenses

The ALUS grant aims to support agricultural practices that enhance ecological services and biodiversity. Eligible activities focus on transforming agricultural landscapes for environmental benefits.

• Converting marginal or high-risk croplands into biodiverse, perennial, carbon-sequestering landscapes.
• Maintaining land under soil conservation structures or natural hollows as permanent grass.
• Excluding livestock from watercourses and wetlands.
• Establishing and maintaining habitat and nectar sources for pollinators and beneficial insects.
• Planting trees and shrubs on ALUS-retired lands.
• Delaying cutting and harvesting of grass in forage fields and deferring grazing until after July 15th.
• Establishing and maintaining innovative agroforestry systems.
• Avoiding conversion and enhancing management of previously enrolled ALUS features.

Here are the steps to submit an application for this grant:

• Step 1: Prepare Necessary Information
  • Complete the Application Form with applicant contact information.
  • Include business or organization information, along with the CRA registration number.
  • If applicable, provide partnership information.
  • Identify additional sources of project funding.
  • Select recipient type (i.e. primary producer, agricultural landowner, processor).
  • Classify the type of industry (e.g., Dairy, potato, beef, hog, grains and oilseeds).
  • Signature for declaration and consent to personal information is required.
  • Provide demographic information (optional).
• Step 2: Complete ALUS Project Details
  • For new ALUS participants, fill out Appendix A: ALUS New Feature Enrollment to register properties.
  • For existing ALUS participants, fill out the ALUS Feature Renewal Appendix to re-enroll or enhance existing ALUS features.
  • Fill out Appendix A: ALUS New Feature Enrollment to add new features if necessary.
• Step 3: Submit Application
  • Email the completed application to ALUS@gov.pe.ca. Include program name in the subject line.
  • Alternatively, send the application by regular mail to the PEI Department of Agriculture, 11 Kent Street, PO Box 2000, Charlottetown PE C1A 7N8.

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• Agricultural producers applying for an ALUS feature on leased land will require a form signed by the farmland owner confirming the producer's eligibility to receive annual payments.
• Verification of application information or project completion may be conducted through site visits by ALUS Advisors or via aerial or satellite imagery.
• Annual independent field audits are required to confirm the presence of nesting bobolinks to continue receiving funding for delayed hay cutting and deferred grazing.
• Projects contributing to increasing public trust under the Sustainable CAP may qualify for additional funding.