Extreme weather, soil degradation, and pollinator loss are affecting Canadian farms all at once. Governments are responding with funding for on-farm projects that improve soil health. They also support efforts to protect biodiversity and make farmland more climate-resilient. One of the most accessible options in Atlantic Canada is the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program. This program helps cover the cost of reduced tillage, pollinator habitat, and conservation features.
Below is a clear, step-by-step look at how to get funding for environmentally resilient farming and pollinator habitat, with real numbers and eligibility rules you can plan around.
The Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP) is a provincial grant offered by the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture. It supports projects that create new or expanded ecological benefits on working farmland.
RALP focuses on practices that build long-term land resilience. These include:
Your project must provide a new environmental benefit. This means your project must go beyond what you already do on the farm.
You may qualify for this environmentally resilient farming funding if you meet all of the following:
The program also accepts applications from:
Getting approved is less about paperwork volume and more about project clarity. Follow these steps:
Your application must clearly show:
For pollinator habitat, this could mean turning unused field edges into native flowering strips instead of reseeding an area that already supports pollinators.
Your budget should match program caps:
Include supplier quotes where possible to show cost accuracy.
Application deadlines can change each year. Always check the current intake window on the provincial program page before starting your application.
Pollinator habitat is a priority because it supports both crop productivity and biodiversity. Projects that create native flowering areas, improve field margins, or connect habitat corridors are more likely to show clear ecological gains.
Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you quickly filter programs like RALP by province, farm income level, and project type so you do not waste time on grants you cannot use.
Applying for routine farm work
Projects that only maintain current practices do not qualify. The program looks for new or expanded ecological benefits.
Ignoring the income threshold
Farms earning under $30,000 in eligible gross commodity income are not eligible, even if the project is strong.
Overbudgeting pollinator habitat
Requests above the $10,000 cap for pollinator projects are usually reduced or rejected.
Unclear environmental outcomes
Vague goals like “support biodiversity” are less effective than measurable outcomes such as increased flowering acreage or erosion reduction.
Q: How much funding can I get from the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program?
You can receive up to $30,000 for reduced tillage projects and up to $10,000 for pollinator habitat projects. Buffers and shelterbelts are funded on a case-by-case basis.
Q: Do I need to be registered under the Farm Registration Act?
Yes. Farms must be registered under the Nova Scotia Farm Registration Act. This requirement is different for eligible agricultural industry associations.
Q: What does “incremental ecological benefit” mean?
It means your project must provide a new environmental benefit. Improving land that already meets the objective, without expanding or enhancing it, usually does not qualify.
Q: Are Mi’kmaq farms eligible for this funding?
Yes. Mi’kmaq applicants conducting farming activities in a Mi’kmaw community are eligible under the program rules.
Q: Is funding from this program taxable?
Grant funding is often considered business income by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). You should confirm the tax treatment with your accountant or refer to the CRA’s guidance on government grants and subsidies to see how the funds apply to your situation.
GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant programs across Canada — including environmentally focused farm funding — so you can quickly check which ones match your operation.
If you are planning reduced tillage or pollinator habitat work, the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program is a strong starting point for funding environmentally resilient farming in Nova Scotia. Before applying, map your ecological gains and budget carefully.
For a broader view, see also:
GrantHub helps you see which environmentally resilient farming and pollinator habitat programs fit your farm profile, so you can focus on projects that actually get funded.
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