For Release: October 27, 2005
Ontario Government Provides Additional Funding
For Nutrient Management
Projects Will Further Protect The Environment
TORONTO - The McGuinty government is helping farmers further protect
the environment and our water supply by providing additional funding under
the Nutrient Management Financial Assistance Program (NMFAP), Minister
of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky announced today.
"Agriculture is an integral part of our province's economic strength,"
said Dombrowsky. "By giving further assistance to our farmers, we
are helping them to be strong and prosperous, and we are protecting our
vital water supply for future generations."
The government is providing an additional $3.7 million under the program
to help farmers make environmental improvements on their operations and
meet the requirements of the Nutrient Management Act. These additional
dollars mean that all eligible applicants will receive funding to help
with nutrient management projects.
The program provides up to 60 per cent of the funds. When combined with
financial assistance available from the federal government under the Agricultural
Policy Framework, up to 90 per cent of a farmer's total costs could be
covered.
Cheques covering the provincial portion of completed projects will be
issued this week. Letters of approval for other applicants will also be
issued as soon as possible.
"The large number of applications received for the NMFAP by the
September 1 application deadline speaks to the commitment of producers
to environmental stewardship," said Ron Bonnett, president of the
Ontario Federation of Agriculture. "The government's funding, together
with the commitment of Ontario's farmers, will serve to better protect
the environment for all Ontarians now and in the future."
This program, combined with other projects and practices Ontario farmers
have implemented over the years, has reduced the risk to our water by
ensuring the proper management of more than 4.2 billion litres of liquid
animal waste and more than 740,000 tonnes of solid animal waste each year.
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Media Contact:
Kelly Synnott
Minister's Office
416-326-6439
Program Contact:
Charles Lalonde
Environmental Policy and Programs Branch
519-826-3577
BACKGROUNDER
NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Nutrient Management Financial Assistance Program (NMFAP) is providing
a total of $23.7 million to help farmers protect provincial water supplies,
and assist with costs associated with becoming compliant with the Nutrient
Management Act.
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)
contracted with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA)
to deliver the program. The OSCIA has a long history of facilitating responsible
and economical approaches to the management of soil, water, air and crops,
and administers similar programs for the federal government.
Initial details of the cost-share, NMFAP were announced in October 2004,
with program enhancements announced in June 2005. An additional $3.7 million
was announced today. The program will provide up to $60,000 for each eligible
farm unit to make environmental improvements on their operations. Up to
90 per cent government cost-sharing is available when coupled with federal
funding under the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program. Maximum amounts
for many items eligible under the program were also increased in June.
The NMFAP was targeted to existing large livestock operators (e.g. livestock
operations with more than 300 nutrient units) and shares the costs of
a number of eligible items, including:
- New and/or improved manure storages and handling
- Farmyard runoff control and outdoor confinement areas
- Nutrient management strategy/plan development
- Water well management
- Vegetative buffer strip establishment
- Cropland erosion control structures
- Manure treatment technologies
- Technologies to recover nutrients from agricultural washwaters
- In-barn modifications to reduce the volume of manure
- On-farm nutrient product and waste management technologies.
Existing large livestock farms that fall under the Nutrient Management
Act and regulation were eligible to apply for funding by September 1,
2005. Cheques covering the provincial portion of completed projects will
be issued this week. Participants awaiting notification of the status
of their applications will be contacted by the OSCIA as soon as possible.
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Media Contact:
Kelly Synnott
Minister's Office
416-326-6439
Program Contact:
Charles Lalonde
Environmental Policy and Programs Branch
519-826-3577
