The Region of Peel has announced new funding opportunities for farmers as part of their Peel Rural Water Quality Program (PRWQP). The new funding is available for projects that support environmental enhancement and sustainability, and build on the program’s core mandate to improve water quality.
The PRWQP has been designed to support agricultural landowners as they try to make a better connection between agriculture, rural land use and the environment; providing technical assistance and financial incentives, the program aims to help farm owners address rural water quality issues on their property.
The three new project categories are:
Cover Crops: $100/acre up to 50 acres to assist with growing cover crops to help reduce the risk of soil erosion.
Natural Area Enhancement and Creation: For example, creating wetlands, native meadows or prairies.
On-Farm Composting: Establishing of small-scale on-farm composting systems for vegetable and field crop matter.
“A tremendous amount of work has been put into expanding and updating the program,” said Heather Laidlaw, Chair of the Region of Peel Agricultural Advisory Working Group. “All of the program partners are very excited to be able to offer new grant opportunities that directly support our agricultural community.”
Although the program is confidential, we got some insight from Don Carruthers of Stone Ridge Farm, who was happy to share his participation in the program with us.
“Located at the top end of the Credit River Watershed,” Don explains, “we felt it is our responsibility to ensure that the Credit River Watershed starts with the best water possible.”
The PRWQP allowed them to install and employ a controlled water runoff management system from their livestock and associated buildings, which they feel has significantly enhanced the quality of water that now leaves their farm property.
The program directly supported them in building a non-permeable yard and manure storage for the livestock, as well as installation of a water bypass and diversion system for all building roof runoff, including a wetland to capture and retain yard runoff.
Don shares: “As a small producer, the economics of this as a stand alone project is simply not feasible, but with the assistance of the the Peel Rural Water Quality Program we were able to do our little part in helping to reduce the risk of water runoff and hopefully improve the water quality in the Credit River Watershed.”
The importance of our water quality cannot be overstated, and so it is fantastic to see such a program coming from the Region of Peel that is truly, directly supporting initiatives to improve our water and keep it clean, and working with farmers to do so.
The program comes from a partnership between the Region of Peel, Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) and Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA). The program was developed with the Peel Federation of Agriculture and Peel Soil and Crop Improvement Association.
For a list of projects available for funding, visit: http://www.peelregion.ca/planning/paawg/prwqp.htm
For more information on the technical assistance and financial incentives offered through the Peel Rural Water Quality Program, or for eligibility criteria, please contact CVC at 905-670-1615 ext. 430 or TRCA at 416-661-6600 ext. 5349.