Plant Your Roots Program — Commercial Farm Purchases

Buying your first commercial farm in Nova Scotia can be financially daunting, especially in the early years when loan payments and startup costs are at their highest. The Plant Your Roots Program — Commercial Farm Purchases is designed to ease that pressure by helping new farm owners manage the cost of financing their purchase, making it more realistic to establish a stable footing in the province’s agriculture sector. Delivered by the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture, this initiative focuses on supporting new ownership rather than short-term operating expenses.

The program provides non-repayable funding of up to about $100,000 through an interest rebate tied to new loans used to purchase a commercial farm or a qualifying ownership share. Support is calculated over a multi-year period, helping offset interest costs during the crucial first years of operation. It’s particularly relevant for beginning farmers who are purchasing their first farm or buying into an existing operation and who are actively farming in Nova Scotia. By reducing the financial burden of borrowing, the program aims to improve long-term viability and encourage new entrants to build sustainable farm businesses.

Applications are currently being accepted, and timing matters, as requests must be made within a set period after loan approval. For prospective farm buyers who want to understand how this funding could fit into their purchase and financing plans, exploring the full program details through GrantHub is a smart next step.