Closed
Source change captured:
Nova Scotia Beef Finishing Equipment Support Program & Nova Scotia Local Beef Processing Program
Funding for Nova Scotia beef producers and processors
Get notified when Nova Scotia Beef Finishing Equipment Support Program & Nova Scotia Local Beef Processing Program reopens
Funding available
$ 250,000
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
Overview
This initiative supports Nova Scotia beef producers and processors through two funding streams. It helps with equipment purchases for finishing cattle and with new abattoir construction or major retrofits to increase local beef processing.
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase production or service capacity
- Develop a new product or service
- Increase operational productivity
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Nova Scotia
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Canadians
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 3
Activities funded
- Purchasing equipment to improve beef finishing operations in Nova Scotia.
- Constructing new abattoirs or carrying out major retrofits to existing facilities.
- Projects that increase local beef processing and the volume of beef finished or processed in Nova Scotia.
Documents Needed
- Completed application form.
- Quotes for eligible purchases or for the work to be done.
- Proof of farm registration in Nova Scotia and proof of finished cattle sold for 2023, 2024, and 2025.
- Documentation showing the project meets current municipal and provincial building code requirements, a dated building permit, and a letter from the Agriculture Inspection Services Division indicating floor plan pre-construction approval.
- Financial statements for the past two years of operation, an annual report and/or projection on local beef carcasses slaughtered or processed, and a detailed business plan with three-year revenue projections.
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.
Beef initiative program pages simplified
The Nova Scotia Beef Initiative page now reads as a general overview, with the two program sections, intake deadlines, and application links removed.
The Nova Scotia Beef Initiative page now shows a general initiative overview instead of the two active program sections for the Nova Scotia Beef Finishing Equipment Support Program and the Nova Scotia Local Beef Processing Program. The intake deadlines and application links that were previously shown on that page are no longer visible, while the supporting program guides still show Application Intake: February 5/2026 - May 29/2026 and the finishing equipment guide still shows Activity Period: April 1/2025 - November 30/2026 and Claim Deadline: December 1/2026. The two PDF program guides were also updated only in heading text, including the finishing equipment guide title changing to Nova Scotia Beef Finishing Equipment Support Program PROGRAM GUIDELINES 2026 and the local beef processing guide title changing to Nova Scotia Local Beef Processing Program PROGRAM GUIDELINES 2026. No material changes were visible to funding amounts, percentage support, or listed eligibility in the guides.
Program guide
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Nova Scotia beef producers.
- Nova Scotia abattoir owners and processors.
- Farm or company applicants involved in beef finishing or local beef processing.
Eligible expenses
- Livestock handling equipment, scales, tag readers, feed mixers, and feed bunks.
- Installation costs related to eligible equipment.
- Other items related to livestock handling and feeding efficiency, determined on a case-by-case basis.
- Construction costs or permanent fixtures with paperwork demonstrating building code compliance with municipal and provincial inspection standards.
- Accredited service providers, tradespeople, inspectors, and engineering services.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Infrastructure, including barns, barn expansions, and grain bins.
- Cattle trailers and round balers.
- Administrative costs and general overhead, including HST.
- In-kind labour and contributions, operating expenses, existing staff salaries, and regular maintenance or incremental costs.
- Exploratory travel, land purchases, and any work that does not meet municipal and provincial regulatory requirements.
How to apply
- Complete the application form available through the program website.
- Submit a complete application form and supporting documents between February 5, 2026 and May 29, 2026.
- If you cannot access the online application form, request a paper copy by calling 902-678-7722 and speaking with or leaving a message for Kelly.
Processing and Agreement
- Successful applicants receive a Letter of Agreement that must be signed and returned to officially open the project.
- After Perennia receives the signed Letter of Agreement, a claim form is sent.
- At the end of the project, applicants must submit a Final Project Report with their claim.
- The Final Project Report must include a detailed and measurable overview of how the project met the program’s goals and a financial overview of how the funds were expended.
- Successful applicants must keep and submit a copy of their processing numbers for five years after they receive support.
- Claims may be submitted by email to beefprograms@perennia.ca with Claim in the subject line; if another option is needed, contact at least two business days before the claim deadline.
Additional information
- Late applications will not be accepted.
- Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
- If you have been selling close to 20, or have two years of sales over 20, you should consider applying.
- The review committee considers a variety of situations when looking at proof of cattle sold.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Nova Scotia Beef Finishing Equipment Support Program & Nova Scotia Local Beef Processing Program Program
What is the Nova Scotia Beef Finishing Equipment Support Program & Nova Scotia Local Beef Processing Program?
This initiative supports Nova Scotia beef producers and processors through two funding streams. It helps with equipment purchases for finishing cattle and with new abattoir construction or major retrofits to increase local beef processing.
How much funding can be received?
Nova Scotia Beef Finishing Equipment Support Program & Nova Scotia Local Beef Processing Program Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $250,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Nova Scotia Beef Finishing Equipment Support Program & Nova Scotia Local Beef Processing Program program?
To be eligible for the Nova Scotia Beef Finishing Equipment Support Program & Nova Scotia Local Beef Processing Program program, you must:
Applicants must be raising a minimum of 20 finishing cattle and be verified participants in Perennia’s Feed Pilot Program.
Applicants must demonstrate local processing of finished cattle with receipts from a provincially inspected abattoir or Atlantic Beef Products.
Local beef processing applicants must hold a provincial abattoir license or indicate a plan to proceed with one, have an approved engineered plan, and be registered through the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stocks.
What expenses are eligible under Nova Scotia Beef Finishing Equipment Support Program & Nova Scotia Local Beef Processing Program?
Livestock handling equipment, scales, tag readers, feed mixers, and feed bunks.
Installation costs related to eligible equipment.
Other items related to livestock handling and feeding efficiency, determined on a case-by-case basis.
Construction costs or permanent fixtures with paperwork demonstrating building code compliance with municipal and provincial inspection standards.
Accredited service providers, tradespeople, inspectors, and engineering services.
Who can I contact for more information about the Nova Scotia Beef Finishing Equipment Support Program & Nova Scotia Local Beef Processing Program?
You can contact Perennia Food and Agriculture Corporation by email at beefprograms@perennia.ca or by phone at 902-678-7722.
Where is the Nova Scotia Beef Finishing Equipment Support Program & Nova Scotia Local Beef Processing Program available?
The Nova Scotia Beef Finishing Equipment Support Program & Nova Scotia Local Beef Processing Program program is available the province of Nova Scotia.
Is the Nova Scotia Beef Finishing Equipment Support Program & Nova Scotia Local Beef Processing Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Nova Scotia Beef Finishing Equipment Support Program & Nova Scotia Local Beef Processing Program is a Grant and Funding