The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) has $13 million available for area farmers looking to prioritize the health of their fields.
The money comes from the Canada Water Agency, which is working to prevent algae blooms in Lake Erie caused by phosphorus loading in the Thames River.
While recognizing phosphorous as a nutrient essential for crop growth and soil health, the LTVCA is offering the Precision Phosphorous Reduction Program (PPRP) to help landowners implement agricultural best management practices (BMPs) that reduce phosphorus runoff in a sustainable way for their farms.
The conservation authority is offering funding for eight categories:
Cover Crops
Crop Planning
Alternative Phosphorous Use
Erosion Control Structures
Buffer Strips
Windbreaks
Innovative Projects
Financial support is available as cost-share or per acre incentives. Farmers can apply to multiple funding categories, for a maximum of $15,000.
The LTVCA phosphorus program is one of 50 projects working towards reducing phosphorus in the Great Lakes region and will run through 2028. Landowners can reapply for funding each season.
More information can be found here.
