Red River Metis farmers may be eligible for up to $75,000 in funding to implement nitrogen management, rotational grazing and other best management practices.
On Feb. 6, the Manitoba Metis Federation announced its On-Farm Climate Action Program, which will administer federal On-Farm Climate Action Fund dollars to Metis farmers.
“In administering our own on-farm climate action program, we’re able to target support for Red River Metis agriculture producers,” said David Beaudin, minister of agriculture with MMF.
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Farmers who are Red River Metis citizens can apply for up to $75,000 to implement nitrogen management BMPs like nitrification inhibitors or improved manure management, rotational grazing practices and cover crops, according to the MMF’s website.
Costs are shared between a 95 per cent non-repayable contribution from the program and a five per cent in-kind contribution from the farmer.
This may include providing gifts of food, livestock feed, fur or hides or other gifts that can be distributed to citizens in need, labour costs, if not claimed, and mentoring of young Metis farmers.
“It returns that five per cent a hundred-fold as far as the MMF is concerned,” Beaudin said.
The program also respects traditional practices that “echo” current BMPs like intercropping, cover-cropping, and manure management, Beaudin said. Some of these practices have been used for generations, and MMF wants to see them passed on.
Two Metis agrologists will support MMF through the application approval process, and will be able to give applicants recommendations based on their plans of action, Beaudin said.
MMF is building its agriculture portfolio, and as capacity grows, it plans to hire full-time extension advisors, he added.
“We’re on the move, and we’re on the rise,” Beaudin said.
OFCAF funds are also administered through the Manitoba Association of Watersheds and the Canola Council of Canada. Metis farmers are eligible for those programs, Beaudin said. However, they cannot receive funding from more than one OFCAF program.
