Land Stewardship II
(LS II)

As outlined in the brochure
"Land Stewardship II"
by
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Purpose

LAND STEWARDSHIP II is a continuing commitment to planned conservation systems and environmental protection measures. It is a $38 million program, effective from September 1, 1990 to March 31, 1994.

1. A new emphasis on Conservation Farm Planning.
2. Extension, Education and Technology Transfer field staff.
3. Grants to:
   • farmers who adopt practices or build structures as part of their conservation farm plan (as outlined in this brochure);
   • organizations for on-farm demonstrations and evaluation; and
   • organizations for conservation promotion and education.
4. Farmer-led administration: a grant to the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) to establish local Land Stewardship committees.
   These committees will review and accept conservation farm plans and projects for funding and hire part-time staff to assist in the program administration.

** LAND STEWARDSHIP II is part of the Canada-Ontario Accord for Soil and Water Conservation and Development. Under this accord, Canada and Ontario have agreed to co-ordinate soil and water conservation programs.

Another program under the accord which may interest the applicant is: the $11.1 million National Soil Conservation Program which provides assistance for the retirement of fragile lands.

LAND STEWARDSHIP II provides incentives for planned conservation systems and environmental protection measures.

This brochure describes the grants available to farmers who adopt new practices or build structures as part of their conservation harm plan.

AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE

A farmer may receive grants for each acre under an eligible conservation practice or for 50 per cent of the eligible costs of installed conservation structures.

The maximum grant to any individual, partnership or corporation is $10,000 minus one half of the total grants already received from the Ontario Soil Conservation and Environmental Protection Assistance Program II (OSCEPAP II) and the original Land Stewardship Program.

Grants are available to farmers to help implement components of their conservation farm plans as described in their project proposals.

Conservation farm plans will outline farm resources, current practices and structures, degradation problems and alternative solutions.

Project proposals will describe the combination of practices and/or structures that will address a specific soil and water resource degradation problem identified in the conservation farm plan.

HOW TO APPLY FOR GRANTS

Applicants are advised that acceptance of a project for grant assistance does not indicate that either the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) or the government of Ontario or of Canada warrants or guarantees the technical or structural adequacy of the proposed practices or structures.

1. Obtain forms and program literature at OMAF field offices or from local OSCIA Land Stewardship II committees.
2. Attend conservation farm planning workshops, which will explain the program and offer help in completing the conservation farm plan and project proposals. All applicants are urged to attend. One-on-one assistance to complete the forms will not be available from either OMAF or the OSCIA staff.
3. Complete the Land Stewardship II conservation farm plan and project proposal forms to be eligible for the program.
4. Submit the plan and project proposals to the local OSCIA Land Stewardship II committee. The Committee will advise the applicant if the project proposals have been accepted. The project proposal will then be signed by both OSCIA and OMAF staff.
5. Implement the accepted projects as part of your conservation farm plan.
6. Have OSCIA verify the completion of your projects.

NOTES:

Additional guidelines and conservation information are available from local offices of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
Any proofs-of-payment attached to the Land Stewardship II Project Completion form will not be returned.

ELIGIBILITY

1. A grant to implement all or parts of a conservation farm plan may be paid to an individual applicant:
   1. who is a resident of Ontario;
   2. who is a registered owner of property in Ontario used as a farming enterprise that:
      1. produces at least $12,000 in agricultural products, or
      2. produced agricultural products of value less than $12,000 in the previous production year because of exceptional circumstances; and,
   3. who completes an approved Land Stewardship II conservation farm plan.

   Under this program, a person is deemed to be the owner of land if:

   1. the person leases the land for farming from the registered owner and has signed a lease that is satisfactory to the Director of the Resources Management Branch; or
   2. the person is an Indian under the Indian Act (Canada) and who is lawfully in possession of land on a reserve under the Act for which a conservation farm plan has been prepared.
2. If an applicant fora new grant has a shared interest in an existing grant paid to another individual, partnership or corporation, then the amount of the new grant will be reduced by the applicant's share of the existing grant.
3. A partnership or corporation, controlled by Ontario residents, is considered to be one applicant and must meet all of the above conditions and must complete a special section of the project proposal form.
4. The following costs are eligible for grant assistance:
   1. (a) Required permits
   2. Purchased materials and supplies
   3. Professional fees
   4. Fees for design, construction and supervision
   5. Repairs to existing structures.
   NOTE: The labor and machinery use of the applicant and family dependents are not eligible.

LIMITATIONS TO GRANT AVAILABILITY

1. Any applicant who proceeds with a project before it has been accepted by the local Land Stewardship 11 committee has no assurance that financial assistance will be provided.
2. An applicant must specify the program year in which the project will be completed. If the project cannot be completed within the specific year, the grant will not be paid. However, the applicant may appeal to the local Land Stewardship 11 committee for an extension.
3. No payment will be made for projects initiated before September 1, 1990.
4. Funds for the financial assistance portion of the program will be allocated on a county/district basis.
5. If the projects proposed in a single year exceed the county/district budget, the remaining applications may be carried over to the next program year. No approvals will be given once the program budget has been committed.
6. The local Land Stewardship 11 committee may restrict the levels and maximum amounts of grants available to meet local priorities and budgets.
7. Project costs used to match financial assistance received from another government program are not eligible.
8. No grant will be paid for more tillable acres than were farmed in the year previous to application for grant.

1. SOIL CONSERVATION SYSTEMS

   Grants are available for practices and structures which protect agricultural soil and water in Ontario from erosion and degradation.

   NOTE:

   In any one program year, an acre of land can receive a grant for only one of the following three erosion control practices: residue management, cover crops or strip cropping.

   A.1 RESIDUE MANAGEMENT

   • Grants of up to $20 are available for each acre with at least 20 per cent of the soil surface covered by the residue of the previous crop from immediately after harvest to immediately after planting. Inspection will be made in the spring to verify the cover was there over the winter.
   • Up to 30 per cent of the acres planted in the previous year to a maximum of 100 acres per applicant are eligible for each year of the program.

   A.2 COVER CROPS

   • Grants of up to $30 per acre are available for the spring, summerorfall establishment and over-wintering of cover crops. These crops may be ti I led no sooner than the spring of the year following planting.
   • Up to 30 per cent of the acres planted in the previous year to a maximum of 100 acres per applicant are eligible for each year of the program.
2. Only cover crops used forcover exclusively are eligible for grants. This excludes crops such as winter cereals, winter canola and forages that are harvested or grazed.

   A.3 STRIP CROPPING

   • Grants up to $10 are available for each acre that is part of an accepted strip-cropping system.
   • Up to 30 per cent of the acres planted in the previous year to a maximum of 100 acres per applicant are eligible for each year of the program.
   • Grants to a maximum grant of $1,000 per applicant for up to 50 per cent of the costs of survey, design, layout and construction required to establish the crop strips are also available.
   • Only new strip-cropping systems designed exclusively for erosion control and established after September 1, 1990 are eligible.
   • Each strip-cropping system can receive funding for one year only.
   • For further information refer to OMAF factsheet No. 89-171 "Strip Cropping for Water Erosion Control".

   A.4 CONSERVATION EQUIPMENT PURCHASE, MODIFICATION AND RENTAL

   • Grants, to a maximum of $3,000, are available for 50% of the costs of conservation equipment purchase, modification and rental. Local Land Stewardship II committees may limit grants to cover only the cost of the residue management component of the equipment.
   • Conservation equipment includes implements that are designed or modified to leave, after planting, at least 20% of the soil surface covered by residue from the previous crop, or to deal with this level of residue after planting. All such equipment MUST have demonstrated this ability. If this cannot be verified because of the burying or decomposition of the residue, then the grant may not be paid. Therefore, the applicant must contact the OSCIA fieldperson immediately after the equipment is used.
   • Local Land Stewardship II committees may define which of those types of equipment listed in provincial guidelines are eligible for grants in their county or district.
   • The following equipment may be eligible for purchase:

     - new conservation tillage equipment
     - new or used planters and drills designed specifically to handle at least 20 per cent residue cover
     - new or used high residue inter-row cultivators (e.g. high-clearance cultivators with coulters)

   • The following equipment may be eligible for modifications to handle or leave at least 20 per cent residue:

     - modifications for new or used planters and drills to meet the above requirement
     - modifications to include nutrient or manure injection equipment that meet the residue handling requirements

   • All the equipment listed above may be eligible for rental or custom work on up to 30 per cent of the acres planted in the previous year to a maximum of 100 acres per applicant.
   • Either new or used components may be used for modifications.
   • Used equipment or components for which grants have already been received may be disallowed for further grants by the local Land Stewardship II committee.

   A.5 SOIL CONSERVATION STRUCTURES

   • Grants are provided, to the maximum amount for which the applicant is eligible, for 50% of the costs of soil conservation structures required to correct existing erosion problems on farm fields, ditch banks and in open water courses.
   • Information Sheets on sizing and safety features must be completed as part of a Land Stewardship II project proposal for the items eligible in this section. Information Sheets and further information on sizing and safety are available at your local OMAF field offices.
   • Projects may need approval by municipalities or other government agencies prior to acceptance by local Land Stewardship II committees. For further information contact your local OMAF field office.

   Financial assistance is available for soil conservation structures such as: Grassed waterways Water diversions Field terracing Water and sediment control basins Drop structures Channel bank reshaping Ditchbank stabilization structures Tile outlet protection Seepage control devices (e.g. Interceptor tile) Mid-level, low flow ditch and stream crossings with culverts for livestock and machinery Low-level, ditch and stream crossings for machinery only Fencing of watercourses Livestock watering devices adjacent to watercourses Field tree windbreaks

3. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

   • To protect the environment, grants are provided, to the maximum amount for which the applicant is eligible, for 50% of the costs of establishing the environmental protection structures described in this section.
   • Information Sheets on sizing and safety features must be completed as part of the Land Stewardship 11 project proposal for all items eligible in this section. Information Sheets are available at your local OMAF field office.
   • Information regarding the safety and sizing requirements, and eligible costs are included in the following descriptions. For further details contact your local OMAF field office.

   B.1 MANURE STORAGE AND HANDLING SYSTEMS

   • To encourage environmentally responsible manure storage, handling and incorporation practices, grants are provided for the construction of manure storage and handling facilities.
   • Safety requirements for open storage: a permanent barrier with a minimum height of at least five feet above ground level is required.
   • Sizing requirements: every manure storage must have a minimum 200-day storage capacity for all manure and liquid wastes.
   • Eligible costs include fees for professional assessment of surface and ground water.
   • Storage must comply with local by-laws.

   B.2 MILKHOUSE/MILKING PARLOUR WASHWATER DISPOSAL SYSTEMS

   • To encourage environmentally responsible management of wastewater, grants are provided for the construction of adequate systems for storing or handling of milkhouse/milking parlour wastes.
   • Safety requirements for open storage: permanent barrier with a minimum height of at least five feet above ground level is required.
   • Sizing requirements: systems using liquid storage must provide at least 200-day capacity for the washwater produced. Minimum storage volumes are 4800 cubic feet (30,000 gal.). Systems must meet all legal requirements, including local municipal by-laws and provincial statutes.
   • Types of systems include: storage with an existing or proposed manure storage system; storage in a separate unit; and processing in a sediment tank and stone-filled treatment trench system.
   • Systems utilizing a sediment tank and stone-filled treatment trench are eligible only on well-drained soil types. Refer to the "Milkhouse Waste Management Information Package" available at your local OMAF field office.

   B.3 PESTICIDE-HANDLING FACILITIES

   • To increase the efficiency of pesticide use and to protect the environment, grants are provided for construction of proper pesticide-handling facilities.
   • All storage must conform to the regulations under the Pesticides Act for the storage of pesticides to be eligible. For further information refer to these OMAF factsheets and plans which are available at your local OMAF field office

     "Storing Pesticides on the Farm" (Agdex 607, order no. 86-063)

     "Pesticide Contamination of Farm Water Supplies - Recommendations On Avoidance and Cleanup" (Agdex 607, order no. 86-077)

     OMAF Plan: "Pesticide Handling Facility" (Ont. 8000)

   • Only separate free-standing structures of less than 150 sq. ft. will be eligible.
   • Mixing loading stations MUST be at a suitable site at least 150 feet from the closest well or stream.
   • Also eligible for grants are: permanent holding tanks and required plumbing; automatic "shut-off" devices for tank-full situation; well caps; electrical hook-ups from an existing panel; and, construction of earthen berms.

    

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

THE PROVINCE

• provides information to farmers regarding conservation practices, structures, and stewardship practices that may qualify for grants;
• establishes program guidelines and ensures that the program is properly administered; and,
• allocates funds equitably on a county/district basis.

THE ONTARIO SOIL AND CROP IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION

• ensures that the program is fairly administered on a county/district basis in accordance with the program guidelines;
• ensures that information on the administration of the program at a county level is available to all potential applicants in the county;
• provides local workshops for conservation farm planning;
• reviews conservation farm plans and project proposals for acceptability for grant assistance; and,
• verifies that projects had been completed.

THE APPLICANT

• ensures that the information on the application is complete and correct;
• ensures that the project meets all relevant local, provincial and federal laws and regulations;
• ensures that the project proposed is of sound design and construction and an effective solution to the problem it is meant to address;
• contacts the OSCIA promptly so that verification of the completed projects can be made; and,
• maintains receipts for materials or items purchased until March 31, 1996, and provides these receipts for audit, if necessary.

Although OMAF and OSCIA may provide information regarding the applicant's conservation farm plan and the practices and structures contained in the plan, it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the practices and structures undertaken are suitable to the applicant's operation and technically and structurally adequate. Neither OMAF nor OSCIA are liable for any loss arising from the use of any advice or information provided as part of or under this program.

 

 

Land Stewardship Home

Created: 7-28-1996
Last Updated:Sunday, May 08, 2011 07:08:54 PM