Protect Your Livelihood and Your Investment
You work hard to make a living from the land. You manage your farm with the land and water in mind. We offer funding and technical assistance to help you grow your farm through land and water improvement projects.
Whether you already have a project in mind or want to explore new opportunities, connect with one of our stewardship coordinators to discuss what’s best for your farm. After an initial consultation, we may arrange a site visit to better understand your interests.
Farm and Agricultural Services
ALUS Peel
Farmers in the Peel Region can receive annual payments up to $150 per acre for the management and maintenance of stewardship projects.
Fund Your Project
Apply to the Rural Water Quality Program and work with us to find additional grants.
Attend a Workshop or Webinar
Build farm resilience. Discover new strategies and resources to support your land and address environmental challenges affecting your community.
Bird-Friendly Certified Hay
Hay growers, purchasers and rural landowners with land to rent can support the recovery of protected at-risk grasslands birds.
Opportunities for Farmers and Agricultural Landowners
Explore land and water improvement projects for your farm.
Create a Plan for Your Farm Property
Discover your farm’s environmental potential. Get access to land and water improvement project funding by completing an environmental farm plan (EFP). You’ll learn about what areas of your farm excel environmentally and what needs improvement.
Once completed, we can work together to create an action plan to improve conditions that need attention and find funding for your projects. Let us walk you through the process and show you how an EFP can help you grow your farm.
Protect Your Property from Invasive Species
Invasive species are a threat to the natural beauty of your property, destroying native habitat, overtaking agricultural land, and lowering your property value. Our invasive species experts can identify invasive plant species on your property and create a customized removal plan. We also provide technical information to your preferred contractor. Once the species are removed, we can explore restoration projects that will benefit your property.
Explore our invasive species resources
Manage your Well and Septic
Managing your well and septic is critical for protecting your drinking water. We can help you assess the condition of your well and septic and make recommendations so your drinking water stays safe. If improvements are needed, funding may be available for eligible well and septic system improvement projects.
Get started with our free, online well check up. Get a personalized risk assessment and next steps in minutes.
Enhance Soil Health, Control Erosion or Plant Cover Crops
Planting cover crops and building erosion control structures can improve water and soil health on your farm. Qualified properties can receive funding for their projects through our rural water quality programs. Learn about which cover crops and erosion control structures are right for your farm. Connect with a stewardship coordinator to get started.
Store Manure and Manage Barnyard Run-off
Manure is rich in nutrients and bacteria which has the potential to impair water quality if not managed appropriately. There are three phases to proper manure management: collection, storage and disposal.
We can help you develop a nutrient management plan and determine appropriate manure storage structures to protect streams and well water quality. Funding may be available through one of our rural water quality programs. Review the rural water quality program guidelines for your region, then connect with us to learn how to get started.
Plant Trees
Planting trees can reduce input costs and improve productivity on your farm by reducing soil erosion, increasing animal comfort and welfare, reducing snow management costs, and creating windbreaks to shelter crops.
Large-scale plantings on fragile land can also create habitat for beneficial wildlife that can help with pest management. We offer a full-service tree and shrub planting. Qualified properties can receive funding to cover up to 100 per cent of the costs on certain projects. Protect your investment and build a plan to manage the health of your forest. Contact a stewardship coordinator to get started.
Manage your Wetlands, Ponds and Streams
Wetland, stream and pond health is important for overall water quality and ecosystem health. We can provide technical advice and restoration services to improve waterbody health on your farm, including livestock fencing, buffer planting and naturalization services. Get started by learning more about wetland, stream and pond management services or by connecting with a stewardship coordinator to discuss opportunities for enhancement.
Restore Old Fields and Meadows
Restoring open areas or retired fields to native grassland or meadow can support beneficial wildlife, like pollinators and birds. We offer funding and technical expertise for qualified projects. Our restoration experts provide custom planting plans and site preparation, planting, maintenance and monitoring services. Learn more about our grasslands and meadows restoration services or connect with a stewardship coordinator to get started.
Request a Site Visit
We know your farm is unique. After an initial consultation, we can arrange a free one-hour site visit to identify land and water improvement projects to support the goals you have for your farm. To get started, contact a stewardship coordinator.
Create a Home for Wildlife
One of the most enjoyable aspects of countryside living is experiencing local wildlife. We can help you attract wildlife to your property with funding and technical support for qualified habitat building projects.
Add a nesting box for birds, plant pollinator-friendly gardens, or grow bird-friendly certified hay on your fields. There are many opportunities for enhancing wildlife habitat on your property. We can help you determine which projects are right for you.
Farmer Stories
See what other farmers are doing to protect and enhance their land and water.
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