CFGA-OFCAF funding open for applications for 2024-2025 year

The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) is pleased to announce funding is now available for 2024 projects under the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF). The funds are available to producers in Alberta (Alta.), British Columbia (B.C.), Quebec (Que.) and Saskatchewan (Sask.) for implementation of short duration rotational grazing and pasture seeding improvements.

The first round of applications will take place in early March 8 to 15 and a second round will take place April 1 to 30.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) announced the $200-million OFCAF fund in Budget 2021. The objective of the fund is to support farmers in adopting beneficial management practices (BMPs) that store carbon and reduce greenhouse gases, specifically in the areas of nitrogen management, cover cropping and rotational grazing practices.

Program details

To access the CFGA’s OFCAF funding, producers need to develop an advanced rotational grazing plan. Producers can apply for projects with a cost share of 70 program:30 producers of eligible project expenses. A total of $75,000 is available over the life of the program (combined total OFCAF funding from all sources).

Funding can be used for the following activities:

Costs incurred for fencing materials and livestock watering systems infrastructure to create new or strengthen existing rotational grazing systems
Planning, technical assessments or engineered designs, such as rotational grazing plans, or engineering or technical design work by a qualified professional 
Activities to implement grazing plans
Activities to implement low-methane pastures including increased alfalfa content, high quality forage and species containing tannin, such as sainfoin  
Other activities related to the adoption of short-duration grazing suited for rangelands

The CFGA works with the following provincial partners to deliver its OFCAF project: British Columbia Forage Council (BCFC), Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA) and Conseil québécois des plantes fourragères (CQPF).