Cost-shared funding for producers to purchase light reflective materials (LRMs) for installation and use in the 2023 growing season.

The program provides cost-shared funding for producers to purchase light reflective materials (LRMs) for installation and use in the 2023 growing season. Research and practical demonstrations show that light reflecting materials improve colouring and enhance product quality when apples are harvested at the proper ripeness (e.g. not overripe due to delays in harvest to attain higher colour saturation).

Applications are no longer being accepted.

Sign up for Tree Fruit Updates

Please send me:

Jump To:

Overview

Eligibility

Application

Apply

Resources

Program Details

Applicants are eligible to apply for 50% cost-sharing of eligible materials, for a minimum funding reimbursement of $500 to a maximum of $30,000 to be paid.

For more information on the effectiveness of light reflecting fabric, see the Resource section.

Application accepted from October 25, 2022 – March 15, 2023.

Applications will be reviewed and approved on a first come, first serve basis until funding is fully allocated.

Untreated ApplesWith LRM

Slide the vertical bar on the image above shows affect with no LRM (first image) vs with LRM (second image)

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Participants

To be eligible to participate in the Light Reflecting Materials Program, applications must:

  • be a primarily apple grower(s) or other tree fruit crop producer (includes grapes);
  • be located in BC and be the operator of the farmed property at which the material will be primarily used;
  • use best efforts and follow good horticultural practices to place the material on their crops.

Eligible Activities & Expenses

To be eligible for reimbursement, activities and expenses must meet the following criteria:

  1. An invoice and receipt for payment of the materials must be provided.
  2. Purchase from approved seller:
    • Extenday
    • Farmsolutions.net
    • Bright White Reflective Fabric (Sulzer) – Growers Supply.
  3. Purchase new and approved materials:*
      • Extenday
      • ReflectaKnit
      • Bright White reflective Fabric
  4. Hardware necessary for installation (e.g. rubber cords, wire claws, corner ties, tree ropes, PVC pipe for storage) and installation equipment (maximum cost $3,500) are eligible for 50% cost-sharing.
  5. The amount (square footage) of materials eligible for the lifetime of the program is limited to the materials required for the operator’s acreage.

*Materials not listed as approved will be ineligible for the program. Specifically, mylar materials are not eligible. Additionally, GST is NOT eligible for reimbursement.

NOTE: All Materials must be delivered in the Program Year. The 2023 Program Year is from October 25, 2022 to December 31, 2023. Back dated invoices / payment of eligible materials will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Applicant Requirements and Supporting Documents

  • Light Reflecting Material Program Application is completed and submitted through IAF’s online portal;
  • A detailed plot plan showing variety planted, by block, indicating approximate date of deployment of materials for the blocks where the material will be utilized.
  • Paid receipt(s) or invoice(s) for each expense to be cost-shared under the program.
  • If paid receipt or invoice not available, copy of order confirmation (including order number).

Required On-site Material Inspections

Approved applicants will be required to complete an on-site material inspection.  Inspections will take place between July – September 2023, depending on location, variety and crop. A minimum one week lead time will be provided by BCMAF inspectors for on-site visits.

If an inspection takes place after harvest and the materials can only be viewed in storage, Growers should take photos to prove the usage. Please note, final payment (25% of approved funds) will only be released following physical inspections of materials installed.

Application Details

When you click apply, you will be directed to IAF’s Client Portal. Please create an account and register your organization (i.e. farm). Once the IAF Team have validated your information you will be able to apply to the fund. Do not wait to start this process – it can take up to two business days to validate your organization.

Following your organization validation, you will answer questions about your operation and material expenses. The IAF Team may contact you for additional information or to adjust applications as required.

During the application window*, the IAF Team are available to answer any questions regarding eligible activities and costs.

Applicants can contact funding(at)iafbc.ca with any questions about the program.

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

Notifications & Obligations

Funding Notifications and Contracts

If an application is approved, IAF will inform the applicant of the details of the decision and any associated terms and conditions via email. The applicant will then receive an approval letter which outlines the obligations of each party to receive program funding. If an application is not approved, the applicant will be informed via email. Funding decisions will be communicated as they are made, but no later than one month following the application close date. To see your project’s status, visit the IAF Client Portal.

Payment Requirements

Applicants with a complete application (maps, paid receipts/invoices showing eligible materials purchased) will receive 75% funding upon approval of project and receipt of the approval letter. The balance of 25% funding to be paid following the physical inspections of materials installed on-site.

Applicants who provide proof of order confirmation will still be approved for cost-shared funding and be eligible to submit paid invoices/receipts to IAF for reimbursement when payment information available.

Proof of payment (cheque number, EFT ref number etc.) is required for all purchased materials prior to receiving funds from the program.

Expenses will be reimbursed based on audited receipts, and a 50% cost-share of eligible expenses.

Funding Acknowledgements

Communications and marketing activities, including public announcements or social media posts regarding project funding must be pre-approved by the IAF Communications Team.

If your application is successful and you would like to make a public announcement or share the news on social media (or similar), please contact the Communications Team in advance. Please see the Funding Acknowledgement Requirements below for further details.

Ready to Apply?

Applications will be accepted until March 15, 2023 at 4:30pm Pacific, on a first-come, first-serve basis until funding is fully allocated.

Reminder: All materials be delivered in the Program Year. The 2023 Program Year is October 25, 2022 to December 31, 2023.

Resources

Have a question?

Contact the IAF Team

Program Summary

Download the program summary including program details and survey results on the effectiveness of reflective tarps on Ambrosia.

Effectiveness Video

The NTFVDC engaged Charlotte Leaming and Lindsay Hainstock, BCMAFF, to collect information on the effectiveness of Light Reflecting Materials. The use of light reflecting materials showed increases in premium grades of apples and decreases in lower grades of apples.

Funding Acknowledgement Requirements

Download the Funding Acknowledgement Requirements.

Have a Current Project?

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

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.