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Agricultural Stewardship & Grants

Agricultural Stewardship

Approximately 80% of the region’s land base is dedicated to important agricultural land uses. Farming provides food sources across Ontario and beyond, and is important to our region’s economy. Essex Region Conservation has a long history of working with farmers to exchange information that will ultimately help to protect and improve soil health while protecting water quality. Soil protection structures, windbreaks and buffer strips are just some of the ways farmers protect water quality. Essex Region Conservation has grants available to assist in implementing these projects. 

Landowner Grants

In an effort to ‘share in the responsibility’ of a clean and healthy environment, ERCA has a comprehensive Clean Water – Green Spaces program aimed at improving regional water quality and enhancing natural areas and biodiversity. Grants of up to 90% of project costs are available to qualifying landowners to implement projects which will help improve local water quality, reduce soil erosion, and increase natural areas cover. Further details are included in the table below. Participation in the program is entirely voluntary, and will not have any impact on your property rights.

Please be sure to contact the ERCA office before initiating any project for which you wish to apply for a grant.


Clean Water~Green Spaces 2025 Agricultural Grants Available

 Applications will be accepted starting on May 1, 2025
 

Eligible Products
Grant Rate
Maximum Grant
Staff Contact (519-776-5209) Copy
Wetland Creation – Please inquire regarding eligibility and grant availability
TBD
No Maximum
Kathryn Arthur, ext. 303, karthur@erca.org
Prairie/Meadow Seeding (minimum 1 acre)
Up to 90%
No Maximum
Kathryn Arthur, ext. 303, karthur@erca.org
Tree Planting – Blocks larger than 5 acres (2 hectares)
Up to 90%
No Maximum
Paul Giroux, ext. 310, pgiroux@erca.org
Tree Planting – Blocks of up to 5 acres (2 hectares)
Up to 75%
$5,000
Paul Giroux, ext. 310, pgiroux@erca.org

Download Application Forms Below

  • Cover Crops

  • Strip Tillage

  • Phosphorus Placement

  • Soil Sampling and Crop Nutrients Plan

  • Permanent Buffer Strips

  • Header Tile Retrofits

  • Rock Chutes

  • Equipment Modification

  • Innovative Actions

Landowner Grants

In an effort to ‘share in the responsibility’ of a clean and healthy environment, ERCA has a comprehensive Clean Water – Green Spaces program aimed at improving regional water quality and enhancing natural areas and biodiversity. Grants of up to 90% of project costs are available to qualifying landowners to implement projects which will help improve local water quality, reduce soil erosion, and increase natural areas cover. Further details are included in the table below. Participation in the program is entirely voluntary, and will not have any impact on your property rights.

Please be sure to contact the ERCA office before initiating any project for which you wish to apply for a grant.


Clean Water~Green Spaces 2025 Agricultural Grants Available

 Applications will be accepted starting on May 1, 2025
 

Eligible Products
Grant Rate
Maximum Grant
Staff Contact (519-776-5209) Copy
Wetland Creation – Please inquire regarding eligibility and grant availability
TBD
No Maximum
Kathryn Arthur, ext. 303, karthur@erca.org
Prairie/Meadow Seeding (minimum 1 acre)
Up to 90%
No Maximum
Kathryn Arthur, ext. 303, karthur@erca.org
Tree Planting – Blocks larger than 5 acres (2 hectares)
Up to 90%
No Maximum
Paul Giroux, ext. 310, pgiroux@erca.org
Tree Planting – Blocks of up to 5 acres (2 hectares)
Up to 75%
$5,000
Paul Giroux, ext. 310, pgiroux@erca.org

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