Closed
Plant Your Roots Program — New Entrant
Interest rebate for new farm ownership
Last Update: March 3, 2026
Funding available
$ 100,000
Timeline
- Open Date : November 3, 2023
- Closing date : February 15, 2024
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
Overview
The program provides an interest rebate of up to $100,000 to support new ownership of commercial farms in Nova Scotia. It supports beginning farmers and first-time commercial farm purchases, including eligible loan interest on qualifying new loans.
/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)
- Startups
- Women
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Starting a first farm business with a goal of reaching commercial scale within five years.
- Purchasing an existing commercial farm for the first time.
- Purchasing at least 25% interest in a commercial farm for the first time.
- Investing in farm technologies that improve labour efficiency or local food production.
- Investing in properties to create or reactivate farm locations.
Documents Needed
- Signed loan agreement
- Proof of ownership percentage
- Business plan and income projections
- Program Funding Registration form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- New farmers
- Commercial farm purchasers
- Farms and Mi'kmaq conducting farming activities in a Mi'kmaw community
Who is not eligible
- Farms that previously received benefits under FarmNEXT or Plant Your Roots.
- Applicants using variable interest rate loans, refinancing, operating lines of credit, or residential mortgages.
Eligible expenses
- Projected interest on qualifying new loans.
- Loans used for first-time commercial farm purchases.
- Loans for innovative technologies that improve labour efficiency.
- Loans for technologies supporting local food production.
- Loans for properties to create active farm locations or reactivate viable farmland.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Variable interest rate loans
- Refinancing of existing loans
- Operating lines of credit
- Residential mortgages
- Secondary financing such as second mortgages
Eligible geographic areas
- Nova Scotia
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed by the Department of Agriculture.
- If approved, applicants receive a Letter of Agreement with the funding terms.
- Applicants must review, sign, and return the Letter of Agreement within 30 days.
- Funding is issued to the financial institution managing the loan.
Additional information
- Applicants new to Programs since 2023 must complete the Program Funding Registration form.
- Returning applicants must update the form with any business changes.
- Applications are reviewed by the Department of Agriculture as they are received.
- Approved applicants receive a Letter of Agreement and must return it within 30 days.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Plant Your Roots Program — New Entrant Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Plant Your Roots Program — New Entrant. 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 — New Entrant?
The program provides an interest rebate of up to $100,000 to support new ownership of commercial farms in Nova Scotia. It supports beginning farmers and first-time commercial farm purchases, including eligible loan interest on qualifying new loans.
How much funding can be received?
Plant Your Roots Program — New Entrant 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 — New Entrant program?
To be eligible for the Plant Your Roots Program — New Entrant program, you must:
Farm or Mi'kmaq applicant in a Mi'kmaw community.
At least 19 years old and actively farming.
Registered under the Farm Registration Act.
What expenses are eligible under Plant Your Roots Program — New Entrant?
Starting a first farm business with a goal of reaching commercial scale within five years.
Purchasing an existing commercial farm for the first time.
Purchasing at least 25% interest in a commercial farm for the first time.
Investing in farm technologies that improve labour efficiency or local food production.
Investing in properties to create or reactivate farm locations.
Who can I contact for more information about the Plant Your Roots Program — New Entrant?
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 — New Entrant available?
The Plant Your Roots Program — New Entrant program is available the province of Nova Scotia.