Closed
Source verified July 23, 2026
Perennia — On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF)
Supports Nova Scotia farmers adopting climate-friendly practices
Get notified when Perennia — On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) reopens
Latest source updateLast Update: October 11, 2026Latest change: The Course and Conference Bursary now targets professional agrologists in Nova Scotia and adds new claim and approval steps tied to OFCAF BMP-related learning activities.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: October 11, 2026
Latest change: The Course and Conference Bursary now targets professional agrologists in Nova Scotia and adds new claim and approval steps tied to OFCAF BMP-related learning activities.
Course and Conference Bursary rules updated
The Course and Conference Bursary page now says support is for professional agrologists working in Nova Scotia and that the course or conference must align with OFCAF BMPs. It also adds a required knowledge-transfer activity before funds are released, an approval notice within 8 business days, and a claim deadline within one month after completion; eligible and ineligible expense examples and assistance emails are now listed.
Funding available
$ 100,000
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
Overview
The On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF), delivered by Perennia in Nova Scotia, provides up to $100,000 in funding to help farmers, co-operatives, and agricultural groups implement new beneficial management practices that enhance soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Eligible activities include improving nitrogen management, adopting cover cropping, and establishing rotational grazing systems.
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Optimize production processes
- Reduce environmental footprint
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 85% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Nova Scotia
Legal structures
- For-profit business
- Financial cooperative
- Non-profit
- Sole proprietorship
- Public or Parapublic institution
- Non-financial cooperative
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Rural or Northern Residents
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
- Women
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Environment
- Economic, Social and Community Development
Target groups
- Indigenous peoples
- Rural / Remote communities
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Nonprofits / charities
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Regional
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 2
Activities funded
- Implementation of improved nitrogen management practices on farms.
- Introduction or expansion of cover cropping systems within crop rotations.
- Adoption of rotational grazing systems and installation of related infrastructure.
- Development of plans and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration on agricultural land.
- Professional training and technical support for the adoption of climate-friendly agricultural practices.
Documents Needed
- Completed project worksheets
- Quotes, estimates, and/or contracts for all purchases and services valued at more than $3,000
- Proof of being a registered farm in Nova Scotia and copy of the most recent tax return page showing gross farming income, not required for associations
- PIDs for all fields included in your projects
- Before photos of land and a fencing plan diagram showing fence lines and gates when applying for rotational grazing fencing
Official resources
Program guide
Application form
Supporting document
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Farm or co-operative
- Not-for-profit agricultural association
- Regional or community pasture
- Other agricultural producer group that predates the onset of the OFCAF Program
- Mi’kmaq conducting farming activities in Mi’kmaw communities or underrepresented group
Who is not eligible
- Companies not headquartered in Nova Scotia.
- Organizations not actively engaged in farming activities or agricultural production.
- Businesses applying funds to lands outside Nova Scotia.
- Applicants unable to pay 100% of project costs up front.
- For-profit companies outside of the farming/agricultural sector.
Eligible expenses
- Difference in cost between urea and eligible polymer coated urea (PCU) fertilizers.
- Difference in cost between eligible stabilized fertilizers and urea (must include both urease and nitrification inhibitors).
- Fees for plans, assessments, design work, and consultancy costs for technical or agronomic support.
- Soil testing and soil mapping costs (only when combined with another eligible practice and capped at $20,000).
- Offset costs for adopting synthetic fertilizer substitutes such as manure, compost, or digestates.
- Costs for split application of fertilizer with a reduced rate based on increased crop use efficiency.
- Seed and planting costs for increasing legumes in crop rotation (flat rate basis).
- Purchase or upgrade of fertilizer application equipment for banding, side-dressing, or injection (cap applies).
- Spreading costs and equipment for improved manure application, including hoses or shallow incorporation devices (restrictions apply for equipment type).
- Professional service fees from agronomists, agrologists, or Certified Crop Advisers related to cover cropping or rotational grazing.
- Seed costs or per-acre payments for cover cropping with regionally-appropriate seed varieties.
- Purchase or upgrade of direct planting equipment for cover crops (certain types only, capped per applicant).
- Infrastructure costs for rotational grazing (e.g., cross fencing, virtual fencing, wildlife-friendly fencing, temporary fencing, waterers, and remote watering systems powered by renewable energy), including third-party installation labor.
- Seeding costs for improving pasture composition with eligible low methane species.
- Costs for developing grazing management plans, technical assessments, or engineered designs.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Costs related to management of nutrients other than nitrogen; costs of transitioning to manure application except when improved placement of liquid manure or vertical beater manure spreaders with scales for semi-solid or solid manure are used; costs related to application of lime; variable rate fertilizer equipment
- Costs related to mechanical or chemical termination of cover crops; fertilizer and crop protection costs; planting crops that will be harvested or grazed leaving less than 15cm of cover crop growth over winter; planting crops intended for market in the next growing season; volunteer cover from seed loss from the preceding harvest or regrowth of previous crops; costs related to rejuvenation of existing forages, pastures or hay land
- Perimeter fences if construction is not aligned with grazing plan; removing or replacing old or existing fences; non-renewable power sources such as generators; used fencing materials; Texas gates; portable livestock corral panels; ongoing maintenance of rotational grazing infrastructure; annual software or subscription fees, training, monitoring and management for virtual fencing; costs associated with construction of a new water source
- Projects commenced and costs incurred prior to April 1, 2025; BMPs applied to a specific farm area prior to the program; invoices not issued in the applicant's name; any cost not specifically required for the execution of a project; normal operating costs; materials from the applicant's inventory; tile drainage systems; crop storage facilities; GPS and associated components; TMR mixers, feed pushers and automated feeding systems; fabricated items, equipment or materials not purchased from a recognized dealer; expenses considered regular replacement, repair or maintenance
- Warranties; any equipment or equipment customizations that do not support an increase in soil carbon or a decrease in nitrogen loss; costs of ongoing activities; normal commercial expansion costs; lease or rental costs; travel, hospitality, meals and accommodations; permits and approvals; land or facility purchase or sale; new building construction; typical farm equipment unless specified as eligible; labour costs other than installation costs; administration costs; marketing activities; land purchases; in-kind contributions; goodwill; legal fees; related-party services; any portion exceeding fair market value; amortization; reimbursed costs; taxes, financing charges, loan interest payments, bank fees; gifts and incentives; annual service fees; lobbying costs; basic research; academic certificate, diploma or degree training costs
Eligible geographic areas
- Nova Scotia
Selection criteria
- Eligibility of the applicant, activities, costs, and project timelines.
- Alignment of the project with the program’s objectives and priorities.
- Contribution of the project to the adoption of beneficial management practices that store carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Capability of the applicant to successfully complete the project.
How to apply
- Complete and submit the Pre-screening Form to express your interest in applying to the Nova Scotia On-Farm Climate Action Fund.
- Perennia staff will review the pre-screening form and send a link for the online application to the email address on the pre-screening form if it appears as though the applicant may be eligible.
- Complete the application form when Perennia provides you access.
- Send all required attachments and supporting documents listed in Annex A of this guide to programs@perennia.ca.
Processing and Agreement
- Complete applications are reviewed by a committee of professional agrologists.
- The committee may request additional clarifying information before making a decision.
- Applicants are notified by email after the review committee meeting.
- If approved, a contribution agreement is issued and must be signed and returned by the deadline.
- If not approved, the applicant may reapply if intake is still open.
Additional information
- All recipients are required to complete an educational activity related to each adopted best management practice (BMP).
- Recipients must retain all original invoices and proofs of payment for seven years after project completion for potential federal review.
- OFCAF contributions are considered taxable income and will be reported with an AGR-1 tax slip.
- Monitoring or site visits may be conducted to ensure compliance with approved project activities.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Perennia — On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) Program
What is the Perennia — On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF)?
The On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF), delivered by Perennia in Nova Scotia, provides up to $100,000 in funding to help farmers, co-operatives, and agricultural groups implement new beneficial management practices that enhance soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Eligible activities include improving nitrogen management, adopting cover cropping, and establishing rotational grazing systems.
How much funding can be received?
Perennia — On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) Funds up to 85% of admissible expenses, capped at $100,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Perennia — On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) program?
To be eligible for the Perennia — On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) program, you must:
Must be a farm or co-operative
Must be actively farming and headquartered in Nova Scotia
Must be capable of paying 100% of costs up front
What expenses are eligible under Perennia — On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF)?
Implementation of improved nitrogen management practices on farms.
Introduction or expansion of cover cropping systems within crop rotations.
Adoption of rotational grazing systems and installation of related infrastructure.
Development of plans and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration on agricultural land.
Professional training and technical support for the adoption of climate-friendly agricultural practices.
Who can I contact for more information about the Perennia — On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF)?
You can contact Perennia Food and Agriculture Corporation by email at programs@perennia.ca or by phone at 902-678-7722.
Where is the Perennia — On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) available?
The Perennia — On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) program is available the province of Nova Scotia.
Is the Perennia — On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Perennia — On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) is a Grant and Funding