Grants & Guidance: Unlocking Your Farm’s Potential

Monday, March 24, 2025

How Delivery Agents Can Simplify Funding Applications

By Emily Mckinlay

Funding programs allow farmers to improve their land and equipment and encourage advances in the agricultural industry. However, many producers find it challenging to know where to start or find the applications daunting.

There are a variety of grant and cost-share funding delivery agents throughout the Prairies. These delivery agents are ready to help and are eager to see producers successful in their farm improvements.

Fiona Briody, the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) program manager at Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) in Alberta, says that farmers shouldn’t be afraid to reach out for help.

“Don’t let the unknowns of how or what to apply for be barriers to your farm project,” says Briody.

“We are here to help navigate the application process. If all farmers do is pick up the phone and make a call, it’ll be well worth their time and effort. We’ll get them on a path they can be more confident in.”

Steve Kenyon, owner of Greener Pastures Ranching, a custom grazing operation northwest of Edmonton, says the program delivery has only been improving as the programs progress. Kenyon worked with the Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association (CFGA) to build their grazing mentorship program and the pasture management portion of OFCAF. Through this, he helps producers with their grazing improvement projects and applications for cost-share funding.

“I don’t recall a time when there has been so much funding available for sustainable practices,” says Kenyon.

While programs are abundant, where should producers look for funding options and how can they prepare their projects for the best chance of success?

Getting started

There are a variety of funding opportunities to help producers improve their farms.

Programs like OFCAF and the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP) promote the implementation of sustainable farm practices. Alberta’s RDAR team delivers a program called the Producer Research and Evaluation Program (PREP), which allows producers to carry out on-farm research investigating practices that may benefit other Alberta farmers.

Several delivery agents across the Prairies will administer different programs or have eligibility for different projects. It may not be easy to know where to start on a project.

Lynda Nicol, executive director of the Manitoba Association of Watersheds, says that delivery agents will help producers find the best funding program, even if it is with a different administrator.

“In Manitoba, the best resource is contacting your local watershed district. They administer all sorts of provincial and federal programming, and some through private dollars. There are a lot of resources available for application development with your local watershed district,” says Nicol.

“There are staff at each of the 14 offices and they can help guide farmers on selecting the most effective funding program depending on the work the farmer is looking to do.”

Lynda says that Saskatchewan watershed districts also deliver OFCAF funding and will be able to help producers find the best program for their needs.

Quinn Hlus, a research program officer at RDAR, also recommends staying up to date with newsletters from delivery agents or connecting with other farmers who know the programs.

“Attend events and talk to the people putting workshops on, or producers who have received funding. They know the programs and may be able to help with applications,” says Hlus.

There are a few other ways to prepare farms and projects for cost-share funding programs.

“A huge step in the process is looking at your farm and determining areas for improvement. Set priorities for changes you’d like to make. Try not to do too many things at once,” suggests Hlus.

Briody adds that producers should read program guides to understand what is eligible. They can also prepare their supportive documents for applications.

“Farmers have to read the program guide or terms and conditions. These are different for PREP or OFCAF or other programs,” says Briody.

“Next, they should find a P.Ag. or CCA to work with, as they will need to recommend the project. We do have a resource list with contacts. Third, they should get aerial photos of their farm and start to lay out their project. These can all occur before the program opens the application process.”

Briody recommends that producers prepare early.

Kenyon adds, “These programs are well known now that they are a few years in. The money is going to go fast.”

If producers run into challenges in their applications, what should their next steps be?

Challenges and finding help

With any program, there may be challenges in the application or project-building process.

Over the past few years, many delivery agents have worked out the wrinkles in the process, but some remain difficult to address.

Online applications can present challenges for farmers who are less experienced with technology, but there are resources to help them through the process.

“The P.Ag. or CCA who is recommending the project can often help, or farmers can ask their kids for help in the process,” suggests Hlus.

Hlus also recommends using the video and instructional resources available through the RDAR website.

For programs like PREP, Hlus suggests that it may help producers to work with third-party consultants who are familiar with the scientific process and setting up treatments and controls, sample analysis, and data interpretation.

Outside of the application process, it can be challenging to fit these projects into a farm business.

“With every program, there is a challenge with time and cash flow,” says Kenyon.

He notes that while these programs, particularly the environmental-based ones, are providing high percentages of cost-share and are a great opportunity, the upfront costs of the project may be high.

“Even once it’s done, you still have to wait maybe three months to receive your funding,” says Kenyon.

“It’s a difficulty a lot of producers don’t foresee or plan for, and you have to be prepared for it.”

He also sees the time cost of some of the projects. Completing these projects in the program timeline might conflict with the busy seasons of farm work.

“I see farmers take on big projects to maximize the dollar value of their cost-share funding, but they might not have time in the summer to get that project done,” says Kenyon.

“I was still out there unrolling pipe for my water systems project on Nov. 15 to make sure it got done.”

Kenyon urges farmers to be patient with the process and expect a wait time for application approval.

If these challenges are a barrier to applying to funding programs, there are many options to seek assistance.

“The watershed districts are here to support farmers,” says Nicol.

“Establish that point of contact and develop that relationship to create a partnership for ongoing funding over the years.”

Staff at delivery agencies can help producers find pathways to meet their farm goals. The best way to find answers is by asking questions, and delivery agents can identify the best place to direct those questions.

Kenyon, Briody, and Hlus also recommend using the mentorship opportunities created by application requirements.

Producers can work with their CCA or P.Ag. to address concerns. For grazing projects, Kenyon encourages farmers to take advantage of OFCAF coverage of grazing mentors.

More success

When a program intake period approaches, strong preparation will increase the chance of a successful application.

“It is time to do some pre-planning,” says Briody.

“Look at the terms and conditions, find a P.Ag. or a CCA, and get your air photos. You can also do more planning, like costing out the project. This is the biggest way to have more success and more lead time. Then you won’t feel so rushed to get that application through when it opens.”

Preparing early increases the time to create a complete application package.

“Completeness of an application is important,” says Nicol.

All necessary documents must be present, and the project should be accurately and thoroughly described.

Kenyon recommends that producers get familiar with what is eligible and what is not. Some applications also require producers to meet specific requirements within their plan.

Kenyon recommends that producers get familiar with the specific funding programs, as the details change depending on the delivery agent. What is eligible and what is not eligible will vary between programs.

Some applications also require producers to meet specific requirements within their plan. Familiarity with the program guide and collaboration with advisors can minimize these challenges.

Kenyon also notes that grazing mentors can help identify areas to increase funding.

Creating relationships with personnel at delivery agencies is the easiest way for producers to have more funding success.

“We are here to help. Pick up the phone and give us a call,” says Hlus.

“If our program isn’t the right fit or if you are looking for something more specific, we will do whatever we can to help find those opportunities.” BF