Tag Archives: Organic Farming

The top 6 Issues for Farming in 2022

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Time marches on, and with it comes changes to what we know about agriculture and the realities of modern farming. In 2022 there are some issues to keep in mind as a potential new or existing farmer:

1. Shifting Farm Demographics. The average Canadian farmer is 57 years old, and a large number are over 65. In the coming years, farm assets will have to be transferred to younger producers. A new generation of farmers needs to be ready to take up the job left for them by the older generation. Farmers of all ages need to be aware of this trend and prepare accordingly. It’s important to have a farm succession plan in place to ensure a smooth transition when it becomes advantageous to do so.

2. Spreading Technology. Software and data will supplement existing knowledge for farmers and will change and improve on-farm practices. Investing in the tools and resources to maximize yields will be an increasing priority for Canada’s Farmers.

3. Continued Implementation of Bio-Technology. Genetically Modified Organisms(GMOs) are spreading through the marketplace. Although they have been proven to be safe and effective, there are political and public relations issues remaining around them. Farmers need to stay up to date on the news and make wise decisions about what to grow and when.

4. Resource Scarcity. More than 40% of the food production increase since the 1960’s has been accomplished through the use of irrigation. Unfortunately, groundwater supplies are limited.  Improving irrigation efficiency should be a priority on any farm.

5. Public Scrutiny of Livestock Treatment. Consumers are increasingly focused on livestock health and wellbeing. Animals raised with more space and a more natural diet command a premium on the market. Producers and retailers can command an advantage by properly labeling and offering process transparency to consumers.

6. Environmental Concern is Growing. Fertilizer and pesticides have been the focus of many new scientific studies and regulations. This trend is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Farmers have to keep up to date on a complex list of changing regulations. With every challenge comes opportunities. The Public’s interest in these issues has created a niche for Organic food produced without pesticide or artificial fertilizer.

As a farmer, there are many issues financial and otherwise facing your business. There are financial programs to help navigate and implement policies relating to many of these issues.

If you are ready to start or expand your farm, Farm Grants can help you find funding. Use our funding finder tool:

https://farmgrants.ca/farm-business-funding-finder/

Farm Grants for Organic Farming

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Organic crops are produced without synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides or fungicides on land that has been free of these chemicals for at least 3 years. Animal products fed organic grains and forage, synthetic hormones, antibiotics, and drugs can be considered organic.

In order to be considered organic, a producer must be certified by the appropriate certification body in keeping with the Canada Organic Regime.

Land Transition Requirements:

In order to use land fro organic crops, the land must be tended for 36 months with no prohibited inputs (fertilizer, herbicide, etc) before organic status.

Under the Canadian system, new applicants who wish to market organic field crops must apply for certification 15 months prior to the expected marketing date. Existing clients wishing to add new land to their certification must ensure that the land is managed according to the Canadian regulations for at least 12 months prior to certification. The European Equivalency Agreement which came into effect July 2011 now recognizes as organic any product certified under the Canadian system.

Livestock Transition Requirements:

There is a one-year transition for livestock to become organic breeding stock. Breeding stock cannot be sold for organic slaughter. Offspring from organic breeding stock is eligible for organic slaughter. If conventional or transitional livestock are managed organically from the start of their third trimester of gestation, then the offspring is eligible for organic slaughter.

Dairy cattle have a one year transition before the milk produced is eligible for organic status. Poultry must be under organic management beginning no later than the second day of life.

Organic certification can be a great way to drive revenue growth on a new or existing farm.

If you are ready to consider becoming an organic certified producer, the Canadian Grants Business Center can help find funding. Find funding at:

http://www.canadiangrantsbusinesscenter.com/Funding-Finder.html

Or call us Toll-free at:

1-888-231-0075

5 Most Profitable Agriculture Businesses

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Fall, 2016

The agriculture industry will be the next big boom in north America. Food production over the next 10 years will double according to industry analysts. Domestic and export demand is growing and to meet these needs, many entrepreneurs are moving to this industry. To earn income for the agriculture business, will require you to select the right niche to start or expand your farm.

Here are 5 of the top agriculture business:

  • Organic Fertilization Production: Organic fertilizer production is booming. Everywhere you go people want organic. With a little investment and the proper know-how, you can become a producer of composted organic fertilizer.
  • Dried Flower Industry: This industry is becoming a hugely profitable venture around the world. Producing flowers, is becoming one of the faster growing agriculture trends today. With world-wide strong demand for any type of flowers, the interest in dried flowers has increased exponentially.
  • Organic Fertilization Distribution: Along with production, distribution is one of the most up and coming profitable business venture today with modest capital investment.
  • Organic Green House: Green houses have high growth. Organic green houses have exponential growth due to global demand for organic produce. Entrepreneurs are investing in land for organic farming. A modest investment can have your own organic green house up and running.
  • Poultry: The poultry industry is booming. Technology has allowed this industry evolve completely from previous decades. With new tech, annual egg production is 10% higher than it has ever been annually and the broiler industry production has increased by 20%. With investment entrepreneurs can see large returns.

When you are ready to start or expand your farming business, the Canadian Grants Business Center can help.

Contact us Toll-Free at 1-888-231-0075 or Contact us now to find out more!

5 Easy Farm Grants: Government funding for Farms

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The agriculture industry is a hot commodity for government investment. These investments usually bring jobs, market stabilization, environmental improvements, and health benefits to consumers. Below are the top 5 Agricultural initiatives you could be doing right now to obtain Government Funding:Two Young Yellow chicks

  • Go Organic: By going organic not only are you making your produce healthier to consume for the average customer you are
    also decreasing any environmental hazards that may come from your product processes. Government agencies love these types of commitments as it’s a positive political position shown to the mass populace. Targeting this area will more likely help with your quest for government funding.
  • Humane Environment for Livestock: Just as the Go Organic craze, is a positive political position for the Government, the Humane Livestock is an area that will most likely help you get government funding while doing what is naturally right for your stock. Improving livestock area’s, feeding them healthier choices, and just finding ways to make the animals lives the best they can be, are all areas that can help in your quest for farm grants.
  • Equipment R&D: Coming up with more efficient ways to do your day to day job is something that the government loves. As if it’s something feasible, they can push as legislation to decrease costs all across similar agricultural markets. If you have a new way to formulate dairy products that are cheaper than current practices, the government will definitely give your business a few looks for investment.
  • Jobs: The labour market is slow at the moment, and any potential areas of job creation are   something the government will likely invest in. If you need employees for strenuous job roles, there maybe are subsidies from the government available to you in terms of government funding.
  • Grain: The grain market is hot right now, if your agriculture business main activity is Grain, there may be government funding for you to put towards harvesting and transportation.

For more information on Government Grants and Loans for Canadian Farmers, you can contact the Canadian Grants Business Center:

Call us at: 1-888-231-0075

Contact us now to find out more!

Nova Scotia Farm Succeeds with Community Initiatives

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The Bonny Lea Farm team and David Outhouse in Nova Scotia, feel that having connected growing their business and the community is as organic as the products they make to support the green life style.

The current demand for their garden mulch product (mixed blend of hemlock, composted chicken and mulch) is exploding. Their factory will seeon be expanding creating opportunities with special needs in its process.

For more than 40 years, the Chester-based operation has been helping young people with intellectual disabilities develop their potential. As one of the biggest employers in the town, the Farm has built its life skills program on several non-profit business ventures, from herb garden products to custom packaging and wood-working.

Now, the Bark Barn, one of the farm’s most successful businesses, is expanding from 135 sq. m to 450 sq. m, allowing the production line to run inside, rain or shine, all year long.

Of the 45 trainees involved in the program, more than half live at the farm. The others come in every day from their homes in surrounding communities.

In addition to helping them produce more garden products, a bigger barn brings the possibility of expanding the whole operation to include more potential clients on their waiting list.

David says the expansion has been possible thanks to generous private donations and a $143,000 investment from the government’s Innovative Communities Fund.

By integrating good business and good training, Bonny Lea Farm continues to grow opportunities to include everyone in local life and economy.

For more information on innovative funding for your farm or agri-business please contact the Canadian Grants Business Center at 1-888-231-0075

Leading Agricultural Initiatives Lead To Government Funding

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Today agricultural development and general farming are getting more cutting edge in their practices. Driven by potential government funding, these agricultural entrepreneurs are coming up with ways to increase output, improving efficiency, and minimize environmental impact.

Currently the Central Canadian provinces are leading the way in minimizing environmental impacts created by agricultural development. In these provinces, the agricultural community is coming up with ways to reduce or recycle waste, push energy saving processing techniques and hardware and adapting JIT (just in time) exporting ideas , minimizing the need for storage and increasing the freshness and healthiness of their produce.

In the Western provinces, agricultural companies are pushing new processing and shipping techniques. These new techniques rely on solar and wind energy to power and reduce industrial emission, leaving a positive impact on the environment while creating newly and highly skilled jobs to operate, maintain and manage these new techniques.

The discussed initiatives are a key to obtaining government funding, by showing that your agricultural business is providing positive impacts you will stand out from the rest of the applicants and be in the driver’s seat for obtaining the government funding you apply for (if applicable to your niche of course!)

The Canadian Grants Business Center provides funding information. For help in finding what programs are available to you, please contact us at:

canadiangrantsbusinesscenter.com

5 tips for Preparing a Farm Grant Business Case

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Previous grantees say the key to a successful grant application is the same as a solid foundation to a farms business plan:

Layout a strategic blue-print of your farms short and long term vision. Local, provincial and federal government agencies are looking at people who think big and look at the granular scale of things. As there are thousands of applicants in this highly competitive funding area, you will need to follow these top 5 farm funding essentials in writing your proposal.

Assess your financial wants and needs

You will have to decide what type of funding you need to achieve your goals. Do you need funding for equipment? Or to develop your produce line more efficiently? Or to research new marketing venues? You need to firmly assess what requirement you need the funding for. Once you explore your options and assess your wants and needs, you can begin the next step.

Research all available farm grant options for your needs.

After your need is assessed, you will have to begin your market research. This is where the Canadian Grants Business Center comes in. We have invested thousands of hours of research in all available funding for farm and agricultural grants. For 2016 we have the latest funding programs available for you at your provincial and even federal level. We have identified funding programs for different types of farms (organic, artificial, etc…), different types of niches (organizational, research focused, environmental, etc…) and will direct you to the proper funding options available.

Create your Grant Case

Once you find the grant that suits you, you will need to make your business case by filing out a grant application. Your case needs to be clear and concise, follow all the grant requirements carefully, and communicate your potential positive impact on the economy. Communicate all your farming ideas clearly, do not make the grant administrator search to connect how the funding will help your farm based on the grant requirements. Focus on short and long term goals and how you can use the funding to achieve them.

Here are some more tips to keep in mind as you draft your grant application:

    • Realistic timeline: Take into account weather factors and environmental changes. Make sure you give a timeline that can be met.
    • Adequate resources: Make sure you show you can achieve your objectives you’re potential staffing.
    • Evaluation plan: Show that you’re keeping track with a proper blueprint or project time line.
    • Collaboration: Find others in your area that you can collaborate with, show you are willing to branch out and aide others with your project.
    • Sharing: Transparency, everything needs to be layed out, no hidden fences.

Submit your application and prepare for post-mortem learning

Submit your application as soon as possible; there could be many obstacles along the way that you may not foresee. Be prepared for rejection, it is apart of the process, learn, adapt and achieve. Ask the granter why you didn’t get it, this can help you next time in being approved for funding. Don’t argue with the granter; just get feedback for next time.

If you are approved, congratulations, your next steps are critical in achieving your goals.

Continue being pro-active

Be active in the grant community; help your colleagues try to achieve your success. Talk about grants and how they can be beneficial for everyone. Also, you can apply for more funding any time if required as there are no rules on how much funding you can get.

The Canadian Grants Business Center is a leading source of information on Farm Grants and Business Grants. We do the research work, so you don’t have to. Contact us today to see what funding is available for you:

canadiangrantsbusinesscenter.com

 

Farming Grants & Farming Loans Update 2015

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Grants for purchasing farm land

There are a limited number of provincial and federal programs that offer grants and loans to purchase land for farming. The majority of these grant & funding programs available provide funds to government related agencies and private entities, such as colleges and universities for research and development. However there are certain grant programs that contain clauses that allow grantee’s to make sub-grants to ranchers and farmers. To purchase new farms or expand existing land holdings Ranchers and farmers can receive funding through loan or grant programs provided by the Canadian government.

Funding Initiatives

Many Canadian national institutes have multiple grant and loan programs to fund initiatives related to food security, farm pest management, biotechnology and nutrition. These development programs help and support farmers and ranchers to start up within the above mentioned initiatives . These programs extend eligibility to post secondary and other educational institutes from the provincial or federal governments. Grantee’s can use these funds to help ranchers and farmers to purchase land that meet all environment compliances. The provincial and federal government have budgets allocated to this sector, but do not have any information and the amounts available to individuals.

Organic farm grants

Government grants and loans offer financial assistance to support organic farms that are run by women. These programs encourage women to hand in more proposals to focus on improving organic productions, adding more value to organic products and educate the public about organic farming and the importance of organic products. Government grants vary based on the needs of the individuals with new proposals.

Farm Grants for produce sustainability

Research and educational sustainable produce programs offer multiple grants for research that include farmers, students and educators throughout Canada. These grants help farmers and researchers to conduct field trials and demonstrate new technology techniques to sustain the best produce.

Government grants to start up farms

Farming is just like any other type of business, it comes with a long list of challenges and expenses when starting up. Many farmers turn to bank loans or any other type of loans that need to be repaid back with interest. Most of them are not aware of government grants and loans programs that that do not need to be repaid back. The only issue is that they must compete with other farmers for the loans and grant funding.

Small and medium sized farms

There are grants to develop new technology for small and mid size farms, this includes cattle farms. The priority in your ability in getting the grant is that you must be able to develop and market new farming specialty products or equipment to increase the efficiency and profitably. These products or equipment must be able to develop new farming methods that increase the efficiency to use natural resources and how to learn and operate a profitable farm.