What is happening?
Growing Forward 2 (GF2) Cost-share Funding Assistance Program for Producers is now offering new support for farmers to make changes in their farming operation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is to support producers to transition to low carbon production and encourage energy efficiency and energy conservation on-farms.
Why should you care? One of the new Best Management Practices is especially applicable to greenhouses – A13: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from indoor agriculture facilities.
Have I got your attention? Read on to find out more!
Why should I consider applying to this program?
- You own and operate a greenhouse operation in Ontario.
- You are concerned about rising energy costs, and want to make your operation more energy-efficient.
- You are looking to do some upgrades or retrofits in your greenhouse, or know someone who is.
- You still have some room left in your Growing Forward 2 lifetime cap.
What is eligible?
Under the reducing greenhouse gas emissions from indoor agriculture facilities best management practice, several activities are eligible for cost-share funding. Note that some activities are not eligible under this program, but are eligible under other new BMPs (A14, 15 and 16).
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from indoor agriculture facilities (A13) has the following eligible activities:
- Installation of new or upgraded energy curtains on greenhouse production facilities
- Upgrades to boiler systems or heating systems
- Upgrades to improved permanent greenhouse cover materials including the addition of extra layers or replacement with more energy efficient options
- Retrofits to grain dryers for heat reclamation
- Installation or upgrades to ventilation heat exchangers
- Engineering, installation and calibration costs related to design and installation of these systems
The infographic below explains more clearly, and additional details are available in the program guide from OSCIA.
Visit the GF2 webpage here to get an idea of the application process and the forms that will need to be completed as part of your application process.
How do I apply?
Complete the “GO-CALC” (Greenhouse Gas Ontario Covered AgricuLture Calculator) tool as part of your application package to determine the merit of your project. Don’t worry – it’s simple (I promise!) and won’t take long! We’ve even created a helpful video to walk you through.
What information will I need to apply?
- Utility bills for the last 12 months
- The dimensions of your greenhouse
- What materials were used in its construction
- Information about what retrofits you plan to complete
Important Dates:
There are two application windows: April 4-18, 2017 and May 12-June 1, 2017.
Projects must be completed by December 15, 2017 and all claims with paid invoices must be submitted by January 15, 2018.
More questions that weren’t answered in this post? Check the Q&A’s here, or call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre (AICC) at 1-877-424-1300.