Soil Carbon BMPs

Program Details

Cost Shared Ratio: 50% or 90%, if indicated below

Maximum funding amount for all projects undertaken in the Soil Carbon category: Up to $35K unless otherwise noted

Application Window: Opens February 27, 2024

Submission Window: March 12, 2024 at 9 AM to March 18, 2024 at 4 PM

Project Completion Date: + 140 days from Project Approval/Start Date

Categories:

• Cover cropping for soil health and erosion control
• Strip tillage
• Transition to conservation/no-till tillage
• Improved drainage*
  • 90% cost-share in the areas eligible under the Fraser Valley Flood Mitigation Program

BMPs eligible for Fraser Valley Flood Mitigation Program funding are indicated with * and orange text.

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Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Applicants

Applicants must:

• Have an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) that is less than 5 years old and reflects the current farm or ranch operation. The EFP must be renewed if it is more than 5 years old, or if there have been changes made to the farm or ranch operation that could have impacted the environmental risk. This does not imply the farm operation will be able to access BMP program dollars nor does it imply the farm cap will be reset.
• The farm or ranch operation must be in British Columbia and have valid “Farm Class” land as designated by the BC Assessment Authority or be a First Nations agricultural operation with designated authority to use the land.
• The applicant must have a valid business (GST) number.
• Access to certain BMPs require additional assessments, planning or design that must completed prior to approval (e.g., Nutrient or Riparian Management Plans). These BMPs are “linked”, and the planning BMP must be completed and submitted prior to beginning a project. Concurrency of planning and/or technical assessment may be allowed for projects that are not contingent on a final design for the project construction activity or may be waived at the discretion of the Program Manager. All Planning BMPs require prior approval.

Ineligible Activities and Expenses

Unless specified in a BMP Practice Code, the following costs are ineligible:

• Fertilizer, seed, and crop protection products
• Fees for permits, approvals, or legal activities
• Typical farm equipment and related accessories or attachments (including tractors, skid steers and trailers)
• Costs of ongoing activities
• Maintenance or repair costs
• Financing charges, loan interest payments, bank fees and charges
• Maintenance or extended warranties on equipment, electronics, or technology purchases
• New building construction including sheds, barns, or storages (for products or by-products)
• Expenses incurred prior to approval, or expenses after the project completion date unless consent is received from the program.

Additional Eligibility Requirements & Notices

• Stacking of funds from other government programs is not allowed.

Applications

Applicants will apply through the IAF Client Portal. REMINDER: Do not wait to start this process – it can take up to two business days to validate your organization!

The application process will consist of:

Applicants may be required to provide supplementary materials in support of their application (e.g., budget, water licence, change approval). These documents can be uploaded through the IAF Client Portal as attachments to the application.

IAF staff are available to answer questions regarding eligible activities, costs and/or the application process. IAF may also contact applicants for additional information or clarification to assess their application. Applicants can contact bmp@iafbc.ca with any questions about the program or to receive support in developing their application.

Applicants are encouraged to include only activities they are confident will be completed on time and within budget limits.

Need help with IAF’s Client Portal?

We’ve created a number of tutorials and FAQs about the IAF Client Portal to help you navigate this resource successfully.

Demographic Information

As this program is funded under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, you are required to provide additional demographic information. The demographic information is collected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and must be done prior to submitting your application. To provide your demographic information:

• Start drafting your application in the IAF Client Portal.
• Copy your application ID (it will be provided to you at the Demographic data section of the application, or see the top of your application form). You will need to put this ID into the Ministry’s form.
• Visit the Ministry’s webpage through the link on the application and complete the form. (Note: this will open a new browser tab).
• Once the form is complete, copy the Ministry’s confirmation number and enter it in the application form. It should look something like this AB123456

Note: Demographic information will not be used to assess eligibility for the program.

Review and Adjudication

NEW THIS YEAR: Applicants are invited to start (i.e. draft, edit & view) their application prior to the submission window opening.

Upon submission of an application, all BMP applications will be reviewed under the first-come, first-serve model for 2024/25 intakes. Project applications are screened and reviewed by IAF Staff. This review involves:

• Ensuring application completeness.
• Organization/Applicant eligibility check.
• Project alignment and eligibility check.

Applications will be considered until all available funding is committed. All decisions regarding application status are final. All applicants will receive a funding decision email from IAF.

Notifications & Obligations

Funding Notifications & Contracts

If the project is approved, IAF will inform the applicant of the details of the decision and any associated terms and conditions by email within eight weeks of the application close date or the submission of the application if in the case of an ongoing intake window.
Funding is application and project-specific and must be used for the approved project and related expenses. Funds are non-transferable.
Retroactive costs will not be considered.
Projects funded in 2024 may begin on or after April 1, 2024, and must be completed by set dates determined by category. If the project is not approved, the applicant will receive a written response from IAF.

Changes to Contracted Projects

If you are not able to complete your project or require a change, please inform the IAF Team as soon as possible using the IAF Client Portal.

Funding Acknowledgement

This program is funded by the Government of BC and/or Canada, as such acknowledgement of funding is required when publicly communicating about a project and/or funding. To ensure appropriate acknowledgement, all communications and marketing materials, including public announcements or social media posts, must be pre-approved by the IAF Communications Team. Materials can be submitted via the IAF Client Portal.

Reporting Requirements

Successful applicants must complete a final report prior to receiving funds from the program. This report must be filled out and submitted to IAF along with all invoices for the project to be considered for funding reimbursement. It is important that the final report is submitted on time and with all required information. Expenses will be reimbursed based on the submitted receipts, the approved project budget and the corresponding cost-share ratio. All reporting will be completed via the IAF Client Portal.

Resources

FAQ