Plant Your Roots Program — New Entrant

Who is eligible?

Who is not eligible

This grant program has certain restrictions regarding which companies or industries can apply, focusing solely on requirements that align with the program's objectives.

• Farms or individuals that have previously received benefits under the FarmNEXT Programs.
• Applicants who refinance existing loans, use variable interest rate loans, operate lines of credit, or have residential mortgages, as these loan types are ineligible.

Eligible expenses

The Plant Your Roots program is designed to facilitate the acquisition and enhancement of commercial farms in Nova Scotia. The eligible activities primarily focus on purchasing farms or shares and investing in technologies that support farm productivity and innovation.

• Purchasing a 100% ownership in an existing commercial farm.
• Purchasing at least a 25% interest in a commercial farm for the first time.
• Investing in innovative technologies that enhance labour efficiencies on a farm.
• Implementing technologies that bolster local food production.
• Investing in properties to establish active farm locations or reactivate viable farmland.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available to farms and Mi'kmaq conducting agricultural activities within specific areas in Nova Scotia. The focus is on supporting commercial farming operations within the region.

• Nova Scotia-based farms.
• Mi'kmaq communities involved in farming.

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• The program encourages diversity and inclusivity, welcoming 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 minimum level of annual gross income must be met by March 2028, equivalent to the rebate received, with repayment required if the goal is not achieved.
• The program is expected to be offered yearly until 2028, allowing for future application opportunities as long as budgets and government priorities allow.
• Applicants who previously benefited from FarmNEXT Programs are not eligible for this program.
• Applicants must use fixed interest rate loans as part of the qualification criteria for financial assistance.
• Sharing or transfer of grant funds between associated entities could impact the application’s eligibility or the amount of the grant received.
• Applicants must report their farm's revenues using specific forms submitted to the Canada Revenue Agency.
• Confidentiality of applicants' information is subject to public information disclosure policies but can be shared with law enforcement if required.