FREDERICTON (April 20, 2021) – The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) is celebrating this week’s Federal Budget, which included the announcement of unprecedented funds to help Canadian farmers adopt climate-friendly practices.
Investments in the budget include:
- $200 million in new funding over two years to support farmers to reduce emissions by improving nitrogen management, increasing adoption of cover cropping, and normalizing rotational grazing
- $60 million over the next two years to protect existing trees and wetlands on farms through a reverse auction program
- $10 million over the next two years to power farms with clean energy. The investments are expected to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated on farms.
This funding responds directly to Farmers for Climate Solutions’ (FCS) Budget 2021 recommendations report, which was the result of a first-of-its-kind farmer-led Task Force. The CFGA joined the national farmer-led coalition in 2020, and CFGA executive director, Cedric MacLeod, sits on the Task Force that championed a suite of high-impact practices for reducing agricultural emissions and strengthening farm sustainability by supporting farmers to implement the practices and priorities that were directly referred to in the federal budget.
“This investment proves the federal government knows farmers play an important role in Canada’s climate plan,” says MacLeod. "The budget announcement is similar to support farmers in other countries receive for tackling climate action. In Canada, our farmers are passionate about this issue - and this investment will help us work towards climate action goals together."
Canadian forage and grasslands are the single largest land use component of Canadian agriculture, covering over 70-million acres of agricultural land area. It is well-known that forage and grasslands safeguard valuable carbon stores through soil carbon sequestration, making the sector vital in the fight against climate change.
“The CFGA played a central role in developing the budget ask from Farmers for Climate Solutions and we are pleased with the news of the investment of $185-million per year over two years,” says CFGA Chair Chris Martin. “Grazing management, cover cropping and nitrogen management all directly touch the forage and grassland sector so this is particularly exciting news for those of us in the industry.”
Media Relations:
Trudy Kelly Forsythe, Communications, Canadian Forage and Grassland Association
506-333-4260
About the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association:
Incorporated in 2010, the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association provides a national voice for all Canadians who produce hay and forage products and for those whose production is dependent upon forage/grassland production.
