Livestock Strategy Program — Community Pasture

The Livestock Strategy Program offers various financing modalities tailored to enhance productivity and sustainability within the livestock sector in Prince Edward Island. These modalities include merit-based funding, support for specific activities, and capped funding limits for projects.

• Purchase of equipment is covered up to 50% of the total cost.
• For the Community Pasture Sub-Program, funding is available up to a maximum of $10,000 per project, with the potential for additional funding based on merit.
• The Provincial Abattoir Sub-Program can cover up to 90% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $50,000 over the program's duration from 2023 to 2028.
• Pollination Expansion Sub-Program provides funding covering up to 50% of expenses, with various limits depending on the activity, such as a maximum of $25 per honeybee queen and up to $20,000 for specific project categories.
• Recipients of the Pollination Expansion Sub-Program can access a maximum of $50,000 annually and $75,000 over the program's life span.
• Projects may receive less than the maximum contribution rate based on program assessment and available funding.

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's profile and proposed activities.

• The applicant must be Mi’kmaq First Nations and other Indigenous groups, agriculture industry organizations, clubs and associations, municipal and provincial governments, or other entities as approved by the Prince Edward Island Livestock Strategy Program Review Committee.
• The applicant must have a current Premise Identification Number.
• For the Pollination Expansion Sub-Program, applicants must provide honeybee colonies for pollination within PEI.
• For the Pollination Expansion Sub-Program, applicants must have a minimum of five years of beekeeping experience, or have completed or be enrolled in an approved commercial beekeeping course, or have hired a beekeeper with a minimum of five years of experience.
• Applicants should be a member in good standing of the Prince Edward Island Beekeepers Association for the Pollination Expansion Sub-Program.
• Applicants are required to respond to the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists Annual Colony Overwinter Loss Survey or provide similar information in their application for the Pollination Expansion Sub-Program.

Who is eligible?

The PEI Livestock Strategy Program consists of sub-programs with specific eligible recipients depending on the sub-program goals and initiatives. Here are the summarized eligible applicants for the various sub-programs:

• Mi’kmaq First Nations and other Indigenous groups are eligible across multiple sub-programs, reflecting a focus on inclusiveness and support for Indigenous communities.
• Agriculture industry organizations, clubs, and associations can apply, particularly under sub-programs that require sector collaboration.
• Municipal and provincial governments are encouraged to participate, likely to support regional initiatives or public sector projects.
• Community pasture groups specifically for the Community Pastures Sub-Program, pointing to a focus on collaborative pasture management.
• Provincially licensed abattoirs and poultry processors, key targets for the Provincial Abattoir Sub-Program to enhance food security and sustainability.
• PEI beekeepers and those involved in apiculture, notably for the Pollination Expansion Sub-Program aimed at increasing pollination capacity and supporting local beekeeping.
• Applicants approved on a case-by-case basis by the PEI Livestock Strategy Program Review Committee, indicating some flexibility for projects meeting broader program objectives.

Who is not eligible

This grant excludes certain projects and activities that do not align with the strategic objectives of the PEI Livestock Strategy Program. The restrictions ensure that funding is directed toward projects that have a direct benefit to the livestock sector and comply with industry standards.

• Projects involving aquaponic food production, or aquaculture, seaweed, fish and seafood production and processing, except for international marketing and traceability activities for fish and seafood.
• Activities that provide tax credits or rebates.
• Development and enforcement of regulations.
• Business-related marketing and lobbying activities.
• Standard operating and maintenance activities.
• Non-arms-length transactions.
• Activities conducted with producers who are not compliant with mandated industry assurance programs.

Eligible expenses

The PEI Livestock Strategy Program supports projects designed to enhance productivity, sustainability, and profitability within the livestock industry. Eligible activities span several focus areas including genetic improvement, climate change mitigation, and technology adoption.

• Enhancement of on-farm genetics to improve livestock performance.
• Initiatives for third-party on-farm evaluation of animal performance and genetic potential.
• Improvement of on-farm feed efficiency to optimize resource use.
• Promotion of leading-edge management practices in livestock farming.
• Projects associated with on-farm climate change mitigation and resiliency improvements.
• Implementation of information sharing and/or knowledge transfer activities within the industry.
• Infrastructure improvements to increase the carrying capacity and carbon sequestration in community pastures.
• Adopting and adapting existing equipment or technologies for innovative pasture management.
• Enhancing grazing practices that complement wildlife habitat.
• Evaluation and demonstration of new pasture management technologies.
• Support for process improvements in provincial abattoirs and poultry processors to improve efficiency and reduce GHG emissions.
• Activities to manage waste and meet federal licensing requirements within the processing facilities.
• Replacement and expansion of honeybee colonies and adoption of pest management strategies in beekeeping.
• Purchase and development of new beekeeping equipment, technologies, and process improvements.
• Supporting industry-priority research and development in beekeeping.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is targeted at entities located within Prince Edward Island and specific eligible groups such as Indigenous organizations and community pasture groups, ensuring focused regional development and enhancement of the local livestock sector.

• Organizations within Prince Edward Island.

There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant. The evaluation process will consider factors such as innovation, potential impact, feasibility, and alignment with program objectives.

• Innovation of the project
• Potential impact on the targeted sector
• Feasibility of the project implementation
• Alignment with program objectives

Here are additional relevant details for the PEI Livestock Strategy Program grant:

• Projects approved for funding must include an information sharing or knowledge transfer component to contribute to the broader industry benefit.
• All recipients must have a current Premise Identification Number, which is a mandatory requirement for participation in the program.
• Funding is merit-based, and support levels are determined by the Prince Edward Island Livestock Strategy Program Review Committee.
• Approved projects must align with the principles of public trust and could potentially qualify for additional funding if they have demonstrable links to public trust enhancements.
• Projects demonstrating benefits across multiple Atlantic provinces may be considered for regional funding.
• A detailed report, including project objectives, expenditures, and results, is required upon project completion to evaluate program impact and success.
• All projects should be completed within the timeline specified in the funding agreement to ensure proper accountability and results.