The federal and Ontario governments are investing an additional $12 million to help farmers improve soil health, water quality, and energy efficiency while reducing operating costs.
Announced Friday, the funding will be delivered through the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative, which supports practical on-farm projects intended to increase productivity, environmental sustainability, and long-term resilience. Successful applicants can receive between $6,000 and $90,000.
Eligible projects include replacing inefficient farm technologies, installing geothermal heating, and adopting high-efficiency motors, ventilation, heating, cooling, refrigeration, grain-drying and lighting systems.
The latest funding represents the fourth intake of the initiative and builds on $15.5 million invested since 2023. Approximately 1,000 farm projects have received support through the program during that period.
Ontario Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Minister Trevor Jones said the investment will help farmers strengthen the competitiveness of their operations and prepare for the challenges of a changing agricultural and economic environment.
The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association will continue to administer the program. Applications for the fourth intake will open July 8, 2026.
Eligible farmers may submit up to two applications during the intake and must have a verified and complete Environmental Farm Plan. Farmers in the Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair watersheds are also encouraged to complete a Farmland Health Check-Up, which can identify environmental risks and potentially qualify projects for increased cost-share funding.
The program is funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, $3.5-billion agreement running from 2023 to 2028. The partnership includes $1 billion for federal programs and $2.5 billion for initiatives cost-shared with provinces and territories.
