TORONTO – A combined investment of up to $14.6 million by the federal and provincial governments through the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP) will help farmers make improvements to their farmland.
This investment supports the province’s Grow Ontario Strategy, which is designed to give farmers the tools they need to build long-term resiliency and stay competitive in the face of tariffs and economic uncertainty.
“We’re working with farmers in Ontario to help them take care of their soil, keep their water clean, and make their farms stronger in the face of environmental challenges,” said the Honourable Heath MacDonald, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “By supporting natural infrastructure and sustainable practices, we’re helping to protect our farmlands and strengthen Canada’s food system.”
Trevor Jones, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness said that farmers are deserving of this support. “Ontario farmers are incredible, caring stewards of their lands, who work hard to make them more productive and resilient – even as they face challenges out of their control,” said Minister Jones. “Our government is proud to support them with investments that protect farmland, build a resilient agricultural sector and help grow Ontario’s economy.”
The RALP Marginal Lands Initiative, delivered by Conservation Ontario, will receive an additional $9.6 million to help farmers create or enhance natural features such as wetlands or pollinator habitats on marginal agricultural lands. The program connects farmers to technical support and organizations that can make it easier for those who carry out large-scale environmental projects on their land, including carbon sequestering and reducing emissions.
“Conservation Ontario is proud to work with the Province of Ontario and local partners on this project,” said Dave Barton, Chair Conservation Ontario and Mayor of Uxbridge. “Together, we’re helping farmers across the province take on environmental projects that support their farms and protect the land, both important for Ontario’s future and economy.”
An additional investment of up to $5 million is being made through the RALP Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Initiative, delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), to help farmers access funding to plant grasslands and trees, reduce tillage and build water retention features. These improvements help farmers better withstand extreme weather, improve soil and water health and boost biodiversity.
Kerry Wright is the Executive Director, Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association. “RALP is an opportunity for Ontario farmers to support their continuous investment in the long-term health of their land. Our mission is to facilitate responsible economic management of soil, water, air and crops. This aligns with the delivery of RALP funding as another way we help farmers make their agricultural lands more productive and resilient.”
The Ontario Forage Council delivers another RALP Initiative in Ontario. The Community Pastures Initiative helps make the province’s community pastures more productive by enhancing the quality of these lands to ensure farmers have access to the best grazing fields for their livestock.
The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a 5-year (2023-2028), $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial, and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment for programs designed and delivered by the provinces and territories, cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially.
