Nitrogen Management – On-Farm Climate Action Fund (Core BMPs)

• Enrolment and Application Form
• Digital site map(s) based on a satellite image of all field(s) included in the application, showing the precise location and total area
• Letter of support from a qualified third party, or a Crop Nutrient Plan that meets the same requirements, for proposed dual action nitrogen stabilizers, split applications of nitrogen, or synthetic fertilizer substitutes
• Documentation supporting an eligible FBRN exemption, income exemption, or the most current Municipal Property Assessment Notice or Municipal Tax Bill if an FBRN has not been provided

Who is eligible?

• Farm businesses that actively farm or own actively farmed land in Ontario

Eligible expenses

• Soil sampling, analysis, and mapping costs, including fees for a third-party Certified Crop Advisor or Professional Agrologist to develop a written nitrogen management plan.
• Plant tissue sampling, analysis, and mapping; manure sampling and analysis.
• Diagnostic testing used for in-season rate adjustments, including drone imagery, satellite imagery, pre-side dress nitrate test, tissue testing, and chlorophyll testing.
• Development of a written Crop Nutrient Plan that meets the program minimum requirements.
• Costs to implement new field-based nitrogen management practices on new acres, including dual action nitrogen stabilizers, split application of nitrogen fertilizer, and synthetic fertilizer substitutes such as compost, digestate, or manure, plus related custom application, equipment and/or equipment modifications, fuel, labour, and incorporation costs as applicable.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Any cost not set out as an eligible activity and cost and not specifically required for the execution of a project, including materials or services purchased outside the eligible invoice dates, invoices or proof of payment not issued in the applicant's name, and costs from a supplier who is not at arm's length from the applicant.
• Costs for nitrogen management activities where the proposed practice is not new, unless proposed as a multi-year project.
• Consulting services or plans that do not address nitrogen or are not prepared by a qualified consultant; nitrogen fertilizer, including polymer-coated nitrogen and any registered fertilizers derived from organic materials; biological inoculants; and single action nitrogen stabilizers used alone.
• Equipment or practices that do not result in manure injection or incorporation after application, or that are used solely for variable rate application or guidance, including irrigation and/or fertigation equipment, broadcast spreaders, GPS components related solely to a guidance system, typical farm equipment, and multi-use items.
• Extended warranties, taxes, legal fees, financing charges, loan interest payments, bank fees, in-kind contributions of labour and farm equipment, travel, hospitality, meals, accommodations, land leases or purchases, sponsorships, gifts, basic research, lobbying, and normal operating or expansion costs.

Eligible geographic areas

• Ontario

• Read the On-Farm Climate Action Fund program guide.
• Submit applications electronically through the OSCIA Portal.
• Create an account and complete the Enrolment Form on the OSCIA Portal.

• Only eligible and complete applications will be considered.
• Approved applicants must participate in a minimum of one OSCIA-recognized Nitrogen Management Knowledge Sharing Event for each approved application before submitting a claim for cost-share.
• To receive a cost-share payment, the approved project must be implemented on new acres.
• The knowledge sharing event must be completed before the Project Completion Date and Claim Deadline indicated in the approval notice.

• Applications are accepted only during intake periods.
• Approved applicants must complete a Knowledge Sharing Event before claiming funding.
• Cost-share payments are made by electronic funds transfer.
• Funding is taxable income and an AGR-1 tax form is issued.