Top: Example of compost use in crop agriculture in Ontario.

The Compost Council of Canada shared exciting news about the province of Ontario’s On-Farm Climate Action Fund, which provides a market stimulus that can benefit compost and digestate producers. Funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and managed by the Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), the cost-sharing program is designed to support new on-farm soil health practices in Ontario pertaining to nitrogen management, cover cropping and rotational grazing. “This is an opportunity for farmers who want to implement a new practice within their field-based nitrogen management activities, including application of a commercial fertilizer substitute such as manure, compost and digestate,” explains the Council. “A new practice is a practice that has not been previously implemented by the applicant on the acres included in the application.”

There are specific requirements that the farmer must undertake to be eligible, e.g., a crop nutrient plan completed by a qualified third-party that supports use of materials like compost and digestate, as well as details about the cost for implementing the new practice. Applications will be accepted from August 3-17, 2022. If approved by OSCIA, the cost-share funding is 65% up to a total of $30,000. Full program details are available at this link.