Closed
Plant Your Roots Program — Commercial Farm Purchases
Interest rebate for new commercial farm ownership
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 100,000
Timeline
- Open Date : November 3, 2023
- Closing date : February 15, 2024
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
Overview
The program offers an interest rebate of up to $100,000 based on projected loan interest over four years. It supports new ownership of commercial farms in Nova Scotia and eligible first-time farm loan purchases.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Complete an acquisition or business transfer
- Optimize production processes
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
Timeline
- Open Date : November 3, 2023
- Closing date : February 15, 2024
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Location
- Nova Scotia
Legal structures
- Sole proprietorship
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Youth (<40)
- Women
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Starting a first farm business with the goal of commercial-scale growth.
- Purchasing an existing commercial farm for the first time.
- Purchasing at least 25% interest in a commercial farm.
- Investing in technologies that improve labour efficiency.
- Investing in properties to create or reactivate farm locations.
Documents Needed
- Signed loan agreement
- Program Funding Registration form, if required
- Business plan and income projections
- Proof of percentage ownership
- Completed application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Beginning farmers
- New farmers buying a first commercial farm
- New farmers buying at least 25% of a commercial farm
- Farm businesses in Nova Scotia
Who is not eligible
- Applicants seeking refinancing of existing loans
- Applicants using variable interest rate loans
- Applicants with operating lines of credit
- Applicants financing residential mortgages
- Farms that previously received benefits under FarmNEXT
Eligible expenses
- Projected interest on new commercial farm loans
- First-time commercial farm purchases
- Innovative farming technologies for labour efficiencies
- Technologies supporting local food production
- Investment in farm properties or viable farmland
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Refinancing of existing loans
- Variable interest rate loans
- Operating lines of credit
- Residential mortgages
- Secondary financing such as second mortgages
Eligible geographic areas
- Nova Scotia
- Mi'kmaw communities in Nova Scotia
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed by the Department of Agriculture as received.
- Approved applicants receive a Letter of Agreement.
- The applicant must review, sign, and return the Letter of Agreement within 30 days.
- Funding may be forfeited if the agreement is not returned on time.
- The Department may deny applications that do not meet program requirements or contain misrepresentation.
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- The program welcomes individuals from diverse and inclusive sectors, particularly encouraging applicants from equity-deserving communities such as women, persons with disabilities, Black and African Nova Scotians, First Nations, Indigenous peoples, 2SLGBTQI+, and racialized individuals.
- The interest rebate is calculated based on a four-year projection of eligible loan interest, capped at $100,000.
- The approval process includes receiving a Letter of Agreement (LOA) and a Repayment Agreement which must be signed and returned within 30 days.
- If an applicant’s project does not meet the required income threshold by March 2028, they will be required to repay part of the funds.
- Funding is not available for variable interest rate loans, refinancing of existing loans, operating lines of credit, or residential mortgages.
- Applicants need to submit applications within 6 months of loan approval and provide specific documentation, including a copy of the loan agreement.
- The confidentiality of applicants’ data will be maintained, with specific information release as determined by program guidelines.
- The program requirements also include participation in evaluations or audits if selected by NSDA or the Government of Canada.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Plant Your Roots Program — Commercial Farm Purchases Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Plant Your Roots Program — Commercial Farm Purchases. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Plant Your Roots Program — Commercial Farm Purchases?
The program offers an interest rebate of up to $100,000 based on projected loan interest over four years. It supports new ownership of commercial farms in Nova Scotia and eligible first-time farm loan purchases.
How much funding can be received?
Plant Your Roots Program — Commercial Farm Purchases Funds up to $100,000 of admissible expenses.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was February 15, 2024.
Who is eligible for the Plant Your Roots Program — Commercial Farm Purchases program?
To be eligible for the Plant Your Roots Program — Commercial Farm Purchases program, you must:
Farm or Mi'kmaq applicant in Nova Scotia.
Registered under the Farm Registration Act.
At least 19 years old and actively farming.
What expenses are eligible under Plant Your Roots Program — Commercial Farm Purchases?
Starting a first farm business with the goal of commercial-scale growth.
Purchasing an existing commercial farm for the first time.
Purchasing at least 25% interest in a commercial farm.
Investing in technologies that improve labour efficiency.
Investing in properties to create or reactivate farm locations.
Who can I contact for more information about the Plant Your Roots Program — Commercial Farm Purchases?
You can contact Government of Nova Scotia by email at prm@novascotia.ca or by phone at 902-893-6377.
Where is the Plant Your Roots Program — Commercial Farm Purchases available?
The Plant Your Roots Program — Commercial Farm Purchases program is available the province of Nova Scotia.