Up to $20,000 in Funding Available for Durham Region Farmers through Kawartha Conservation

DURHAM REGION - Kawartha Conservation is pleased to offer a new funding opportunity for farmers in Durham Region through the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP), with up to $20,000 available per project across eight eligible categories aimed at improving soil health, protecting water, and building climate resilience on the farm.

To access funding, farmers must complete their free Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) through the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association. This collaborative planning tool identifies practical, cost-shared projects tailored to their specific property needs.

“This is a great opportunity for farmers to access financial support for stewardship projects that benefit both their operation and the environment,” said Danielle Marcoux-Hunter, Stewardship Coordinator at Kawartha Conservation. “RALP supports the proactive work farmers are already doing to care for the land, while helping them prepare for the challenges of a changing climate.”

Examples of eligible projects include:

• Installing grassed waterways or terraces to reduce soil erosion and manage salinity in fields
• Converting low-yielding or erosion-prone fields into permanent grassland or perennial forages
• Planting or expanding tree and shrub buffers along ditches, creeks, or field edges to reduce runoff and protect water quality
• Establishing pollinator-friendly habitat with native wildflowers and grasses in field margins
• Creating shelterbelts around livestock areas or cropland to reduce wind erosion and provide shade
• Intercropping annual crops with trees to improve field microclimates and soil structure
• Planting trees or shrubs on steep slopes, sandy soils, or other marginal lands
• Constructing water retention ponds to help manage excess runoff and improve water availability

Projects are eligible for 80% funding up to a maximum of $20,000 depending on the practice, helping offset the cost of materials and implementation.

This funding is made possible through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, with delivery through Conservation Ontario and support from the Province of Ontario.

Interested farmers should contact Kawartha Conservation’s Stewardship Team to discuss potential projects and confirm project eligibility.

Email Marcoux-Hunter at dmarcouxhunter@kawarthaconservation.com or call 705.328.2271 ext. 242.