Funding to help farmers protect Erie and St. Clair water quality

$15.6M LEADS program includes projects to control erosion and nutrient loss

The federal and provincial governments will soon be accepting applications for funding to help Southwestern Ontario farmers protect the Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair watersheds.

Starting Jan. 20, landowners can apply for the new intake under the Lake Erie Agriculture Demonstrating Sustainability (LEADS) initiative, a regionally targeted cost-share program provided under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

“The Government of Canada is committed to helping farmers protect our environment, including our natural bounty of lakes, rivers and other freshwater systems,” said Marie-claude Bibeau, federal minister of agriculture and agri-food.

“Through the LEADS initiative we are helping farmers take concrete actions to improve soil health and water quality in the Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair watershed areas.”

Upon approval, eligible projects will aim to improve soil health and reduce the risk of nutrient losses in both watersheds.

Applications will be received and assessed on a continuous basis, while funding is available. Nearly $2.6 million is earmarked for supporting approved LEADS projects this year.

“Our government is committed to protecting our environment now and for future generations,” said Ernie Hardeman, Ontario minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs.

“Through this latest round of LEADS funding we are building on the work that has already been done to help farmers increase the environmental sustainability of their operations and improve the quality of Ontario's water system.” Examples of eligible projects:

■ Establishing vegetated buffer strips next to streams, rivers, drains, ponds, wetlands and other bodies of water to reduce nutrient loss and soil erosion;

■ Retiring environmentally fragile lands from agricultural production and planting vegetation to reduce the loss of soil and nutrients;

■ Modifying equipment to improve nutrient management, support reduced tillage and reduce soil compaction;

■ Installation of erosion control structures.

LEADS is a five-year, $15.6-million investment, available until March 2023.

Since 2018, more than 730 projects have been approved.

For more information, contact 1-800-265-9751 or Leads@ontariosoilcrop.org