Application period for Growing Forward funding begins next week

Thursday, September 5, 2013

by SUSAN MANN

Applications to get money for a range of projects that could be funded as part of the national agricultural policy framework, Growing Forward 2, are being accepted starting Monday.

John Laidlaw, program manager with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, says the projects being considered for funding are part of the “implementation” category. Under this category are several sub-categories for projects, including environmental and climate change, assurance systems (including food safety and traceability), animal and plant health, market development, labour productivity enhancement, and business and leadership development.

The application deadline is Oct. 24 for the implementation projects. There will be other intake periods this year and more next year.

Laidlaw says there isn’t a benefit to being the first one in with your application or a disadvantage to filing your application on the last day of the intake period. The approvals are based on the merit of the project. “Not every project that comes in will necessarily be funded,” he notes.

If a farmer’s application isn’t successful, he or she can submit it again in another intake period. “We will be giving generic feedback as to why their application wasn’t successful,” he explains. For example, famers will be told if their project isn’t eligible for funding under the program. If an application is in the wrong category the farmer will be advised to resubmit it to the proper one.

The other category of projects eligible for funding is “capacity building.” Applications in that category are being accepted on an on-going basis.

Laidlaw says in general, capacity building projects are the smaller ones, such as business plans, succession plans, educational programs, assessments and audits. Since June 26, the start date for capacity building project applications, the association has received about 90.

Laidlaw advised farmers to check out the Growing Forward program guides on the association’s website for more information and on how to apply. BF