Grants for Agricultural Producers

Agriculture Financial Services (AFSC) brings producers peace of mind through its insurance offerings, which includes annual and perennial crops as well as honey and bee overwintering.

Crop Insurance in Alberta includes Agrilnsurance and is one component of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. This agreement is Canada’s and Alberta’s commitment to agriculture, and focuses on achieving results, reflects input from across the sector, and strives to deliver programs that are responsive to the needs of producers.

Federal and provincial governments support AgriInsurance programs by paying all administration expenses and sharing premium costs with clients. The client’s premium is calculated by multiplying the dollar coverage by the client’s share of the premium rate and applying any applicable premium adjustments.

AFSC also administers an additional business risk management program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership – the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program. This program compensates agricultural producers for wildlife damage to eligible harvested crops. Producers wishing to participate in the program are not required to have insurance to qualify for a claim.

AgriInvest helps producers manage small income declines and provides support for investments to mitigate risk or improve market income. It’s part of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

An AgriInvest account builds as annual deposits are made, which are based on a percentage of a producer’s allowable net sales (ANS), and receive matching contributions from federal, provincial and territorial governments.

The AgriMarketing Program is a $129.97-million program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).

The program aims to increase and diversify exports to global markets and seize market opportunities via industry-led promotional activities to differentiate Canadian products and producers, by leveraging Canada's reputation for high-quality and safe food. The program supports a wide range of agricultural sectors, such as:

• field crops
• fish and seafood
• food and beverage
• horticulture
• livestock

AgriRecovery is a federal-provincial-territorial disaster relief framework to help producers with the extraordinary costs associated with recovering from disaster situations. This program is not intended to cover income or production losses, recurring disaster events or replace the need for multi-year strategies to help industries adjust to long-term realities of a disaster.

Eligible costs will be supported on the 60/40 federal/provincial cost-shared basis outlined under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

AgriStability protects against production loss, increased input costs, and changing market conditions—covering the full spectrum of risks that can reduce farm profitability.

It’s a comprehensive safety net that works alone or alongside other tools like crop insurance and Livestock Price Insurance—helping you protect your investment and your livelihood. It’s a practical, affordable program that protects farm income when profit margins take a hit.

If a farm’s profitability drops below 70 per cent of its historical average, AgriStability steps in. The program covers 80 cents for every dollar lost, up to 70 per cent of the historical average or a maximum of $3 million. This whole-farm approach makes AgriStability different from other risk management tools—it looks at the entire operation, not just one crop or commodity.

AgriStability is offered as part of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership between the province and the federal government.

The Alberta VBP+ Incentive program allows eligible cattle producers to apply for rebates to facilitate further adoption of best management practices on-farm. By doing so, farmers and ranchers will improve on-farm practices and strengthen public trust.

This program is possible thanks to $1.9 million in funding for VBP+ through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

Approved eligible expenses and equipment costs are funded at 50 percent to a maximum program payment of $2,500 or $5,000 depending on the application stream. Expenses include squeeze chutes with neck extenders, isolation pens, calving cameras, etc.

Application streams:

• Stream 1 - VBP+ Training Stream: for beef cattle operations that are not yet VBP+ audited, but have completed the training since 2016. Applications through this stream are eligible for up to $2,500 in funding.
• Stream 2 - VBP+ Audited Stream: for beef cattle operations that are VBP+ audited. Applications through this stream are eligible for up to $5,000 in funding.

Eligible expenses include:

• Veterinarian assessments ($500 rebate)
• Animal welfare improvements (bud box, feed scale, cattle oiler, weight scale, squeeze chute, tilt table, etc.)
• Biosecurity improvements (segregation pens, deadstock site fencing, RFID tag reading equipment, etc.)
• VBP+ initial audit or recertification

The Emerging Opportunities Grant Program supports the Government of Alberta’s strategic objectives related to growth and development of Alberta’s value-added agriculture sector.

The program supports projects that focus on innovation and result in significant company growth and sector impact. Projects can include new technologies, best new practices, significant capacity expansions and new builds.

The Growing Greenhouses Program supports the year-round availability of locally grown food by accelerating growth in Alberta’s controlled environment agriculture (CEA) sector. The program supports the construction of new greenhouses and vertical farms and projects that increase the productivity of existing operations and vertical farms.

Program funding maximum per applicant is $4 million over the duration of the program term and $2 million per fiscal year.

The intent of the On-Farm Efficiency Program (OFEP) is to support producers in achieving environmental benefits by improving the efficient use of agricultural inputs. These practices contribute to environmental sustainability by:

• reducing emissions
• minimizing chemical runoff
• promoting the efficient use of natural resources

New technologies that are progressive, commercially available, and that have already been successful in Alberta are most likely to be successful in applications.

This program requires a complete Environmental Farm Plan, and has four streams:

• $100,000 for Efficient Grain Handling
• $50,000 for Smart Farm Technology
• $50,000 for Energy Efficiency
• $2,000 for Farm Security

The On-Farm Value-Added Grant Program supports primary producers in adding value to their agricultural products to grow sales, expand production capacity, explore market opportunities and create jobs in Alberta in the following categories:

• Processing Capacity Expansion
• Food Safety Improvement
• New Product and Process Development
• Market Development and Access

The program has 2 streams:

• On-Farm Value-Added Stream A: (maximum grant $50,000) applications are assessed based on eligibility criteria and merit scoring
• On-Farm Value-Added Stream B: (grant over $50,000 to maximum grant $250,000) applications are assessed based on eligibility criteria and merit scoring.

Applicants will select either Stream A or B at time of application and may apply only once per Program fiscal year (April 1 to March 31).

Eligible capital expenses: will be cost-shared at 25% grant and 75% applicant.

Eligible non-capital expenses: will be cost-shared at 50% grant and 50% applicant up to a maximum total amount of $50,000. The $50,000 maximum includes a $5,000 maximum for travel expenses.

The Grant will be paid on a reimbursement basis, based on eligible expenses claimed by the approved applicant, and approved by the Minister.

The Resiliency and Public Trust Program enables stakeholders to gain resiliency and build public trust in Alberta’s agriculture and agri-food sectors. This includes opportunities for better awareness and education about industry best practices and the development, adoption and enhancement of assurance systems that will help to build trust and resiliency in the industry.

Priority areas to increase resiliency and public trust include:

• animal health
• animal welfare
• biosecurity
• sustainability integration
• food safety
• plant health
• apiculture
• quality standards
• livestock traceability
• mental health
• farm safety
• agriculture literacy
• youth agriculture education
• industry governance

The Water Program supports agricultural water management by helping primary producers adopt agriculture water better management practices and priority actions. This supports better management of risks to water quality and supplies, adaptation to climate variability and the efficient use of water resources.

An applicant may apply to one or both of the program streams:

On-Farm Irrigation Stream

• Maximum $35,000 per year
• Covers purchases and upgrades
• Low pressure centre pivot, subsurface drip, sprinkler, pumps, control panel, etc.

On-Farm Water Supply Stream

• Maximum $40,000 per year
• Covers new installations and some expansions
• Wells, dugouts, spring developments, cisterns, dams, etc.

The Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) program aims to create an enabling environment for the development and adoption of clean technology that will help drive the changes required to achieve a low-carbon economy and promote sustainable growth in Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector.

As part of the Government of Canada's strengthened climate plan, 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy, the ACT program offers support under 2 streams:

• Adoption Stream (ACT-A)
• Research and Innovation Stream (ACT-R&I)

For-profit agri-businesses, Indigenous organizations, and non-profits operating in agriculture are eligible to apply. Applicants must demonstrate an environmental benefit, and submit a detailed project proposal with outcomes and costs.

Alberta Indigenous Agricultural Funding supports Indigenous producers, organizations, and grazing associations that generate at least $25,000 annually and have completed an Environmental Farm Plan.

The program offers the possibility of multi‑year support and provides a range of non‑repayable and cost‑shared funding options, starting at a minimum of $2,000. Primary producers may receive up to $150,000, while community projects may be eligible for up to $300,000.

The ALUS Parkland Program works with farmers and ranchers to establish ALUS projects that produce ecosystem services on marginal or environmentally sensitive agricultural land, providing support and annual per-acre payments for the maintenance and management of these projects.

ALUS is a national charitable organization that provides expertise, resources, and direct financial support to farmers and ranchers to establish and steward nature-based solutions on their land. These solutions help sustain agriculture and fight climate change and biodiversity loss for the benefit of communities and future generations.

The Supply Management Processing Investment Fund supports processors of supply‑managed commodities such as dairy, poultry, and eggs who are undertaking projects to improve productivity through automation or technological upgrades. Eligible applicants can receive up to $5 million in non‑repayable contributions, with funding generally covering 50% of project costs.

Women in Ag provides funding for women who are legal residents of Alberta, age 19 or older, who are working or planning to work in the agriculture sector. Applicants must have a business plan or a clear plan to enter the agricultural industry, along with proof of residence and gender. The program awards two non‑repayable grants of $10,000 each year.

The Young Farmers Loan supports producers under 40 years old or new entrants to farming who are actively engaged in agriculture and have a valid farm business plan. Applicants must provide a business plan and proof of age or new‑entrant status, and some programs may also require meeting residency or production thresholds. Funding is available up to $75,000 through non‑repayable grants and cost‑shared support.