By Jamie Shanks, Communications Branch, Regina
When the new Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) was announced in 2023 to help producers in Saskatchewan meet the changing demands of agriculture for the next five years, it wasn’t simply the same set of programs, services and funding packed in a new toolbox.
Far from it. The tools in this kit have been upgraded and expanded, and in other cases they’re brand new to the box. Some are proving to be a big hit—such as the land use agreement option which was built into the existing beneficial management practice (BMP) for seeding tame forage.
“It’s new in Sustainable CAP, and I think almost all of the applications I’ve done have people who’ve signed the land use agreement,” says Keana Boere, a Ministry of Agriculture agri-environmental specialist based in Outlook. “It’s very popular.”
This particular BMP converts cropland to perennial forage cover. The advantages were already many: perennial grasses and legumes sequester carbon, reduce soil erosion, improve water infiltration and provide biodiversity benefits.
carbon, reduce soil erosion and also
support pollinators like this one.
It received a serious upgrade with the land use agreement option, however, which covers 50 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of $60,000.
“It’s an agreement the producers sign when they’re seeding their tame forage stand, to keep the stand in for five years from the date of the agreement,” Boere explains, adding that the goal is to help people keep their forage stands in for longer periods of time, which is good for the environment.
The funding assistance the agreement provides can make the difference and even be the deciding factor.
“Forage seed is expensive and establishing the stand is the hardest part, especially if it’s dry,” Boere added. “If they have that financial incentive to get that seed in the ground and if they do need to re-seed it, they can use that to help establish it next year.”
This isn’t the only BMP getting a positive reception from Saskatchewan producers. They’re part of the Resilient Agricultural Landscapes Program which provides funding to achieve outcomes related to water quality, soil health and biodiversity. It does this through the adoption of BMPs, defined as any practice that ensures the long-term health and sustainability of agricultural land, positively impacts the long-term economic and environmental viability of agricultural production and minimizes negative impacts and risk to the environment.
In the adverse situations that can come with below-normal moisture conditions, BMPs can actually be one of the most useful and versatile tools in the box. In addition to the tame forage assistance, others that can help set producers up for success include the new Sulphate Water Treatment BMP, which assists producers in providing high-quality water to their livestock, and the Extensive Wintering Site Management BMP, which helps create or improve extensive winter-feeding sites to protect soil and water resources.
For more information on the Resilient Agricultural Landscapes Program and BMPs that can enhance your operation, call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377 or contact your local regional office to speak to a specialist.