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Source change captured:
Drought Recovery Initiative
Support for drought-hit Nova Scotia farms
Funding available
$ 200 - $ 500,000
Deadline
November 30, 2026
Opened July 3, 2026
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
Overview
The 2025 Canada-Nova Scotia Drought Recovery Initiative supports Nova Scotia livestock and wild blueberry producers with up to 70% of eligible extraordinary expenses, to a maximum of $500,000, for drought recovery. Eligible costs include feed and water transportation for livestock, plus fertilizer, pesticides, and pollination expenses for wild blueberries.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- No objectives are currently available
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Minimum amount : 200 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Nova Scotia
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 3
Documents Needed
- Copy of Livestock Inventory Record for August 1, 2025.
- Financial records or tax returns covering the Reference Period for livestock applicants, or the Reference Year for wild blueberry applicants.
- Paid invoices or receipts for all eligible feed and water costs, including transportation, for the applicable livestock periods.
- For wild blueberry applicants, paid invoices or receipts and/or product application and hive placement records for fertilizer, pesticides, and pollination for the Reference Year and for 2025 and 2026.
- Proof of payment for all invoices or receipts.
Sources and recorded changes
- Source change captured
- Change recorded
- Record updated
A captured source change or record update does not confirm eligibility. Check the funder’s current rules before applying.
Livestock deadline updated
The program page and guidelines now show updated livestock timing, including a later application deadline on the program page and a later activity period in the guidelines PDF.
The Drought Recovery Initiative now shows updated livestock timing on the program page and in the program guidelines PDF. The program page lists the livestock application deadline as 30 October 2026, while the guidelines PDF shows the livestock application deadline moved from 31 August 2026 to 30 September 2026 and the livestock activity period ending on 30 September 2026 instead of 31 August 2026. The wild blueberry deadline is unchanged in the source evidence reviewed.
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Livestock producers, including cattle, sheep, and goats producers.
- Wild blueberry producers.
Eligible expenses
- Feed costs, including forage, grain, commercially prepared/pelleted ration, and other feed ingredients.
- Feed transportation.
- Water costs.
- Water transportation.
- Purchase and application of fertilizer, pesticides, and pollination for wild blueberry producers.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Travel expenses.
- Eligible expenses for which financial assistance was received from any other source.
- Administrative or general overhead.
- Operating expenses and existing staff wages or salaries.
- HST.
How to apply
- Submit a complete application by August 31, 2026 for livestock producers or by November 30, 2026 for wild blueberry producers.
- Attach the required financial statements, all copies of invoices for eligible project costs incurred, and proof of payment.
- Return the completed application and supporting documents to Programs at the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture Programs Office or by email at agrirecovery@novascotia.ca.
- Farms with both livestock and wild blueberries may contact Programs before the livestock deadline to indicate that they intend to submit their application in two parts.
Processing and Agreement
- If approved, the applicant will receive a Letter of Agreement that sets out the funding offered and the terms and conditions of approval.
- The applicant must review, sign, and return the Letter of Agreement within 30 days of the date of the letter or the funding will be forfeited.
- Applications and supporting information may be audited or verified before project commencement, during work, or upon completion by the Province of Nova Scotia, the Government of Canada, or other parties chosen by the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture.
- Applicants may be asked to complete an evaluation survey related to their final claim.
- Applicants must repay any amount determined through audit or inspection that is deemed to have been provided in excess of the funding they are entitled to.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Drought Recovery Initiative Program
What is the Drought Recovery Initiative?
The 2025 Canada-Nova Scotia Drought Recovery Initiative supports Nova Scotia livestock and wild blueberry producers with up to 70% of eligible extraordinary expenses, to a maximum of $500,000, for drought recovery. Eligible costs include feed and water transportation for livestock, plus fertilizer, pesticides, and pollination expenses for wild blueberries.
How much funding can be received?
Drought Recovery Initiative Funds up to 70% of admissible expenses, capped at $500,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program is November 30, 2026. Applicants must submit their complete application before this date to be considered for funding.
Who is eligible for the Drought Recovery Initiative program?
To be eligible for the Drought Recovery Initiative program, you must:
The farm must be registered under the Farm Registration Act and the applicant must be at least 19 years old.
The applicant must be actively farming in the program year.
Livestock producers need at least 10 beef or dairy cattle, or 30 sheep or goats, on August 1, 2025; wild blueberry producers need at least 10 actively managed acres in 2025.
What expenses are eligible under Drought Recovery Initiative?
Feed costs, including forage, grain, commercially prepared/pelleted ration, and other feed ingredients.
Feed transportation.
Water costs.
Water transportation.
Purchase and application of fertilizer, pesticides, and pollination for wild blueberry producers.
Who can I contact for more information about the Drought Recovery Initiative?
You can contact Finance and Treasury Board (NS) by email at agrirecovery@novascotia.ca or by phone at 902-893-6377.
Where is the Drought Recovery Initiative available?
The Drought Recovery Initiative program is available the province of Nova Scotia.