How much funding can be received?

The Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP) aims to develop secure and sustainable water sources for agricultural use in Saskatchewan. Eligible activities include community water development projects such as well drilling and construction, dugout excavation, and pipeline installation. The program offers a 50% rebate on pre-approved project costs, with a maximum payment of $150,000 per applicant over the five-year term from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2028.

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Eligible projects and activities for the grant include community water development projects for agricultural use and connections to non-potable rural water utilities.

Development of community wells with a community tank loading facility
Construction of dugouts in conjunction with a community tank loading facility
Increasing storage capacity at an existing community tank loading facility
Connection to a non-potable rural water utility

grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample

$60,000

Regina

Developing a new well and community tank loading facility for local agriculture in Regina.

$45,000

Saskatoon

Excavating a dugout and installing a community tank loading facility in Saskatoon.

$35,000

Moose Jaw

Increasing storage capacity at an existing community tank loading facility in Moose Jaw.

$25,000

Prince Albert

Connecting a farm to a non-potable rural water utility in Prince Albert.

$55,000

Yorkton

Installing a solar-powered water system at a community tank loading facility in Yorkton.

$67,500

North Battleford

Development of new groundwater wells to support multiple farms in North Battleford.

grant_single_labels|admissibility

The Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP) supports water development projects in Saskatchewan for agricultural use. Eligible applicants must demonstrate an agricultural use for the water and meet specific criteria outlined below.

First Nation Bands in the Province of Saskatchewan.
Crown Land Pasture Grazing Associations in Saskatchewan.
Rural Municipalities in the Province of Saskatchewan.
Primary agricultural producers (individual, partnership, co-operative or corporation) who can demonstrate a minimum $50,000 of gross farm income in Saskatchewan in the year of application or the year prior to the application. Individual applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
Projects started but not completed under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership may still be eligible under Sustainable CAP.
Applicant must adequately demonstrate an agricultural use for the water source development.
Producers who own, lease or rent property where livestock and poultry are grown, bred, kept, raised, displayed, assembled or disposed of, require a Saskatchewan Premises Identification (PID) number.
Persons related to an eligible applicant will be subject to the program’s maximum funding cap for that eligible applicant.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply

Eligible applicants for the Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP) can include primary agricultural producers, First Nation Bands, Crown Land Pasture Grazing Associations, and Rural Municipalities in Saskatchewan. Each applicant must demonstrate an agricultural use for the water and comply with specific eligibility requirements.

Primary agricultural producers (individual, partnership, co-operative or corporation) who can demonstrate a minimum $50,000 of gross farm income in Saskatchewan
First Nation Bands in the Province of Saskatchewan
Crown Land Pasture Grazing Associations in Saskatchewan
Rural Municipalities in the Province of Saskatchewan

grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses

Eligible expenses for the Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP) cover a range of costs associated with water development projects for agricultural use.

Fees for Permit to Construct Groundwater Investigation, Water Rights Licensing and Approval to Construct and Operate from WSA
Consultant and/or engineering fees
Groundwater exploration/test holes
Well drilling, boring or construction
Screening and casing for wells
Gravel for large diameter wells
Construction/excavation of new dugouts
Trenching or directional boring and pipe from well to pressure system and to the water distribution point or tank loading site
Pumps, pipeline, and miscellaneous plumbing materials
Permanently installed water storage tanks
Permanent fencing to exclude livestock from a new water source
Watering appliance (e.g., watering bowl and pad, nose pumps, hydrant or water trough)
Power infrastructure including solar/wind/composite livestock watering systems
In-kind labour and machinery/equipment
For connections to non-potable rural water utilities: multi-user pipeline subscription/connection fees
For community water development projects: power installation, buildings and infrastructure associated with the well, and access (road construction)

grant_eligibility_criteria|zone

The eligible geographic zones for this grant are within the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada, including rural municipalities and First Nation Bands.

Province of Saskatchewan
Rural municipalities within Saskatchewan
First Nation Bands within Saskatchewan

grant_single_labels|register

Step 1: Review the FRWIP details including eligibility and the most common regulatory compliance items that may apply to your project.
Step 2: Assess your project against the program criteria and review program eligibility.
Step 3: Obtain any necessary regulatory approvals (e.g., written authorization from the landowner, Aquatic Habitat Protection Permit, Water Rights Licence, etc.).
Step 4: Submit the Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program Pre-Approval Application Form by email to agprograms@gov.sk.ca or by mail to the Ministry of Agriculture, Programs Branch, 329 – 3085 Albert Street, Regina SK S4S 0B1. This must be done by December 31, 2027.
Step 5: Wait for pre-approval from the program administrators. If pre-approved, claim forms will be sent to you.
Step 6: Fully construct and make the project operational for agricultural use.
Step 7: Pay all invoices related to the project and retain proof of payment, such as bank/credit card statements or processed cheque images.
Step 8: Submit a claim for funding once the project is fully constructed and operational. All claims must be submitted by the earlier of 18 months from written project approval or March 31, 2028.

grant_single_labels|otherInfo

This grant requires pre-approval for water development projects and aims to support secure water sources for agricultural use in Saskatchewan.

All applicants must prove an agricultural purpose for the water.
Approval from various bodies and compliance with regulatory standards are crucial for eligibility.
The maximum funding available per project is $150,000, or$5000 for community water projects and $20,000 for power infrastructure and hook-up.
Applications must be submitted by December 31, 2027, with the completion deadline by March 31, 2028.

grant_single_labels|contact

agprograms@gov.sk.ca

866-457-2377

Apply to this program

The Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP) helps develop secure and sustainable water sources for agricultural use in Saskatchewan. Eligible projects, such as drilling community wells and connecting to non-potable rural water networks, can receive a 50% reimbursement of approved costs, up to a maximum of $150,000.

Details of the Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP) in Saskatchewan The Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP) is a significant initiative in the province of Saskatchewan. This program is designed to support the development of secure and sustainable water sources for agricultural use. It includes the construction of wells, pipelines, and water reservoirs for farmers, rural municipalities, and First Nations communities. The program operates under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) and covers the period from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2028.

The primary objective of FRWIP is to ensure that agricultural producers have access to reliable water resources for critical activities such as crop irrigation, livestock watering, and intensive horticulture production. Domestic uses not related to agriculture, such as household or workshop water needs, are excluded.

Eligibility and Eligible Projects To be eligible, projects must be pre-approved and meet all regulatory requirements before work begins. Eligible entities include primary agricultural producers, rural municipalities, and First Nations bands in Saskatchewan. Agricultural producers must demonstrate a minimum gross farm income of $50,000 in the application year or the previous year.

Eligible projects for funding include:

Development of community well projects and loading reservoirs for the community.
Connection to non-potable rural water networks (multi-user pipelines).
Construction of new wells, digging of dugouts, and installation of pipelines for water supply. Projects must demonstrate a clear agricultural use, and each application must include proof of compliance with necessary standards and permissions, such as landowner authorization and aquatic habitat and water use permits issued by the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency (WSA).

Funding Details The program offers a 50% reimbursement of eligible pre-approved costs, up to a maximum of $150,000 over the program's duration. Minimum reimbursement payments are $250, and each claim must reach at least $500.

Eligible expenses include:

Fees for construction permits and water use licenses.
Consultant and engineering fees.
Well drilling and dugout excavation.
Materials and equipment necessary for permanent pumping and water storage systems.
Installation of permanent fencing to exclude livestock from water sources. Infrastructure such as solar/wind pumping systems can also benefit from the program, provided they are used for livestock water supply.

Application Information and Regulatory Requirements Before submitting a pre-approval application, applicants must ensure their project complies with all relevant regulations. Any project located within the boundaries of a watercourse or water body must obtain an aquatic habitat protection permit from the WSA before any construction. Additionally, projects using more than 5,000 cubic meters of water per year require a water use license.

Projects must be completed and operational within 18 months of written project approval or by March 31, 2028, whichever is earlier. Claim forms, sent to eligible applicants after pre-approval, must be submitted with all paid invoices and proof of payment.

Submission Procedure Pre-approval applications can be submitted via email to agprograms@gov.sk.ca or by mail to:

Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program Ministry of Agriculture, Programs Branch 329 – 3085 Albert Street Regina SK, S4S 0B1 Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications early to ensure timely processing. For any questions or assistance with the application process, please contact the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.

The Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program is a crucial step towards the sustainability and security of water resources for agriculture in Saskatchewan, thereby enhancing the economic and environmental potential of the province's rural communities.

FRWIP — Water Development Projects

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