Plant Your Roots Program — Commercial Farm Purchases

Who is eligible?

Who is not eligible

The Plant Your Roots Program specifies certain eligibility criteria related to applicants' registration and activities, which implies exclusions for those not meeting these requirements. Below are the types of entities or restrictions inferred from the program guidelines.

• Farms or entities not registered under the Farm Registration Act in the correct income category.
• Individuals or entities under 19 years of age.
• Applicants who are not actively farming in Nova Scotia within the program year.
• Entities intending to refinance existing loans or use variable interest rate loans.
• Applicants who have previously received benefits under the FarmNEXT Programs.
• Applicants operating a substantial part of their business on shared or coordinated properties and resources with other applicants.

Eligible expenses

The Plant Your Roots Program provides financial assistance to new farmers in Nova Scotia to establish and scale their farm businesses. The grant focuses on supporting loan interest for projects that enhance farm operations through new purchases and innovative technology investments.

• Purchasing new commercial farms or buying at least a 25% interest in an existing commercial farm.
• Investing in innovative technologies that improve labor efficiencies on farms.
• Purchasing technologies that bolster local food production capabilities.
• Investing in properties aimed at creating active farm locations or reviving viable farmland.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available to companies and individuals located within the province of Nova Scotia, with a particular focus on encouraging farming activities in Mi'kmaw communities and the development of commercial farms across the region.

• Farms or individuals actively farming within the Mi'kmaw communities of Nova Scotia.
• Entities registered in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada.

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.