Stream 2: Wine Grape Replant is open to existing wine grape producers who are replacing existing acreage with new vineyards.

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Stream 2: Wine Grape Replant

Eligibility Criteria

The Enhanced Replant Program requires applicants meet the program-wide eligibility criteria AND funding stream-specific eligibility criteria. This page outlines the eligibility criteria for Stream 2: Wine Grape Replant projects.

Applicants are responsible for reviewing and understanding both program-wide and stream-specific eligibility criteria before submitting their application.

Wine Grape Replant Eligibility Criteria

ERP Stream 2: Wine Grape Replant includes existing wine grape growers in British Columbia.

Replant funding is for wine grape producers who are replacing existing acreage with new vineyards. In addition to the program-wide eligibility criteria, the following applies to all wine grape replant projects.

Eligible Applicants

  • The applicant is in good standing with the BC Wine Grape Council (BCWGC), with all levies paid on fruit grown in the previous year.
  • The applicant must justify their marketing strategy by selecting the wine style from the Replanting Guidelines and Recommendations report that the new vineyard will achieve.
  • If replanting the same variety, the applicant must justify how management practices are being adapted to ensure success.
  • The applicant must have a soil nutrient test from the field site within the last 3 years.

Ineligible Activities

  • Replanting tree fruits with wine grapes.

Variety Eligibility

  • Vines must be purchased from a nursery identified by the Canadian Grapevine Certification Network (CGCN-RCCV) as certified for Canadian plant material and to a CFIA approved international standard.
    • Domestic vines: Must be Certified Plus, Certified, or Verified by CGCN-RCCV and produced by a CGCN-RCCV registered nursery.
    • USA imported vines: Must be certified virus/pathogen-free by State certification programs in California, Oregon, Washington, or New York and free of any viruses/pathogens on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s quarantine list.
    • International imported vines: No other international certification programs are currently recognized by CGCN. France has a program under review for 2025. Other programs seeking inclusion may submit requests directly to CGCN-RCCV for review.
  • Planting the varieties of Grenache or Mourvèdre is ineligible for cost-sharing.
  • Planting Gewürztraminer is not widely recommended and must not represent more than 20% of an applicant’s total acreage; applicant must provide a justification in the marketing and sales section of the business plan before being approved for replant funding.
  • Planting Syrah is only eligible for funding on sites where regular extreme heat events are more of an issue than regular extreme cold events.

Planting Density Eligibility

  • Standard planting density of 1300 to 2200 plants/acre.
  • If planting is outside of a 1300 to 2200 plants/acre range, verification from an Accredited Professional may be required from the applicant, to verify the planting density and horticultural practices proposed by the producer.

Wine grape growers located on Vancouver Island are exempt from the following program eligibility requirements:

  • Applicant must be in good standing with the BC Wine Grape Council (BCWGC).
  • Irrigation systems must be installed in all field(s) at the time of planting.

Applications

Important Dates

Applications for Stream 2: Wine Grape Replant will open on October 29, 2024. Applicants will have the opportunity to prepare and draft an application before submission.

Applications Open: October 29, 2024
Information Session: November 12, 2024, at 12 PM PT (Register)
Submissions Open: November 26, 2024, at 9 AM PT
Applications Close: December 3, 2024, at 4 PM PT

Replant activities cannot start until after a producer has received funding approval. 

Application Process

Applicants apply through the IAF Client Portal. The application process and required documents are specific to each funding stream. The application process will generally consist of:

REMINDER: Do not wait to start this process – it can take up to two business days to validate your organization!

Create a personal profile (name and email)

Provide organization information, including:

  • Name
  • Contact details
  • Type of organization
  • BC ID / CRA numbers
  • Primary contact
  • And more

Select the Enhanced Replant Program from Funding Opportunities, and provide:

  • Additional applicant information, including commodity type
  • Parcel Identification Number PID and civic address for each planting or removal/renewal site
  • Planting proposal, including field size (acres), variety, planting density, site map etc.
  • Total Plant Cost (if applicable) and Funding Request
  • All applicants may also be required to complete and submit an AF Demographic Survey with their ERP application; Confirmation ID numbers are submitted with each ERP application.
  • Participants of the Business Risk Management (BRM) program, will also be asked to provide:
    • Production Insurance Policy Number, physical address of the planting that is being removed or replanted; and the Land Titles Parcel Identification (PID) number. How to Find the BC Land Titles Parcel ID (PID) Using a Civic Address.
    • Any payments received for Production Insurance plant loss claim or if a plant loss claim is in progress.
    • AgriStability Participant Identification Number, if enrolled.
  • Supporting documents (i.e. confirmed plant order). 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 erp(at)iafbc.ca with any questions about the program or to receive support in developing their application or book an appointment for a phone call.

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

Note: Applying to the program is not a guarantee of funding. Applications that are incomplete or do not meet eligibility criteria will not fulfill the program’s requirements and may adversely affect your funding decision.

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.

Review and Adjudication

Prior to funding decisions being made, project applications are screened and reviewed by IAF and may be reviewed by a technical expert. The application review process will include:

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

Upon successful completion of review by IAF staff, 10% of eligible applications will be selected for further audit and review. This audit will include a secondary review of applications by an Accredited Professional focused on validating/verifying any or all the technical information supplied or required. Additional information may be requested from the applicant before it can be considered for funding.

Note: Applications that fail the audit requirements may be deemed ineligible and not funded.

Program Scoring Criteria

All eligible applications will be scored based on specific criteria provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food; this may include:

  • Confirmed plant order for all fields at the time of application.
  • Enrollment in Production Insurance.
  • Enrollment in AgriStability or vertical integration that makes them ineligible for AgriStability.
  • A current Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) or in the process of renewing/applying for one.
  • A business plan that meets Ministry requirements and was developed within the last five years.

Additional Scoring Criteria

The additional scoring criteria for Stream 2: Wine Grape Replant includes:

Stream 2: Wine Grape Replant

  • Field(s) being replanted will be cover cropped or left fallow for at least 12 months prior to planting.
  • Sustainable Winegrowing BC (SWBC) member OR have completed the SWBC online self-assessment.

Funding will be awarded to high-scoring applicants first, until the program allocations are exhausted.

Field Inspections

Field inspections will be conducted for a minimum of 25% of completed projects, by a qualified professional scheduling an on-site visit with the producer. Approved projects selected to participate in the field inspection audit will be automatically notified when a final report is completed / submitted to IAF through the IAF Client Portal.

Have a Question?

If you have any questions about your application, program eligibility, required documents, etc. IAF encourages you to reach out to erp@iafbc.ca.

Book a call

Starting on October 29, 2024, you can book a 10-minute phone consult with an IAF staff member. Prior to booking an appointment, you must start your draft application and provide the ID number (ERP-202425-0####). This gives you and the IAF staff member a specific application to reference and provide support for during the 10-minute phone call. Applicants are limited to one phone call appointment currently.

Information Session

IAF will host a webinar on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 12:00 PM. Join us to find out more about eligible participants, activities, funding amounts and more.

Ready to Apply?

Stream 2: Wine Grape Replant applications open on October 29, 2024.

Are you new to the IAF Client Portal? Create your account today! It can take up to two business days to validate your organization.

Resources

FAQ

No, tree fruit growers cannot replace previous tree fruit orchards with wine grapes.

All imported vines will only be eligible for funding consideration if it was produced following a protocol reviewed and recognized by CGCN and meets CFIA requirements.

At this time, any material from France can only be conditionally approved for ERP funding because the CGCN is still reviewing the protocol implemented in France.

Yes, projects can plant multiple varieties of the same fruit in one acre if the planting meets the minimum of one contiguous acre.

Your organization must register through the IAF Client Portal to apply to IAF programs. Please note, if you have not already registered this process can take up to 2 business days and must be completed before the application deadline.

IAF provides payments by EFT (direct deposit). To get your EFT information set up to ensure timely delivery of your payment(s), please follow the directions provided here to update your client portal.

Producers accessing replant funding will have up to 24 months from the time of approval to complete projects.

Please provide the status of the permit and any supporting documentation at the time of application.

All recipients are required to comply with all necessary laws and regulations.

Have a Question?

Contact the IAF Team

Program Guide

Download the Enhanced Replant Program Guide.

Stream 2: Wine Grape Replant Eligibility Criteria

Download the Stream 2: Wine Grape Replant Eligibility Criteria.

Have an Active Project?

Please visit the program’s Project Resource Hub for more information.

Best Practices for Replanting Wine Grapes

Check out the Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s Best Practices for Replanting Wine Grapes.

Re-Planting Guidelines and Recommendations

Check out the Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s Re-Planting Guidelines and Recommendations for wine grapes.

BCWGC Financial Planning for Wine Grapes

Check out the BCWGC’s Financial Planning for Wine Grapes information.

Sustainable Winegrowing British Columbia

Visit the Sustainable Winegrowing British Columbia website (login required for Self Assessment).

Funding provided by:

CAP Logo, Province of BC Logo, Government of Canada Logo

Please note: the Government of BC may, from time to time, give instructions to IAF in relation to the delivery and administration of this program. IAF must and will comply with those instructions.