Agricultural Climate Solutions — On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) 2025-28
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
A $300 million federal renewal (2025-2028) of Canada's flagship on-farm climate program, delivering direct payments to farmers adopting three priority beneficial management practices: nitrogen management, cover cropping, and rotational grazing. Funding flows from AAFC through 13 recipient organizations (agricultural non-profits and producer associations) that recruit and support farmers in each province and territory. Individual farmers apply to and receive payments from their regional recipient organization, not directly from AAFC. The program program period runs to March 31, 2028; recipients manage farmer intake on their own schedules.
Eligibility Requirements
- Canadian farm operations (any province or territory)
- Must adopt one or more of the three eligible beneficial management practices (BMPs): nitrogen management, cover cropping, or rotational grazing
- Farmers may receive support from only one recipient organization per eligible BMP
- For-profit and incorporated farm operations both eligible
- No minimum revenue or size threshold stated — program is accessible to small and large operations
- Must not have an existing active agreement with another OFCAF recipient for the same BMP
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- $25K–$75K+ per farm operation (varies by BMP and recipient organization)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Deadline
- Recipient-managed — contact your regional organization; program runs to March 31, 2028
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win OFCAF — $19
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 5-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 5-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 4-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipBecause funding flows through 13 regional organizations, the application experience varies significantly by province and BMP type. Find your specific recipient organization using the filterable table on the AAFC program page — filter by province and BMP — then contact them directly for their current intake status and requirements. Some organizations have waiting lists due to high farmer demand; apply early. The program does NOT require organic certification or certification to any specific standard — conventional farmers are fully eligible.
Success Profile
A Canadian crop or livestock farmer in any province willing to formally adopt one or more of the three BMPs. Grain and oilseed farmers are strong candidates for nitrogen management and cover cropping. Cattle, sheep, and bison operations are ideal for rotational grazing. Farms with some existing BMP experience (even informal) are well-positioned to demonstrate adoption credibly.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications evaluated by regional recipient organizations based on: (1) eligibility of the proposed BMP; (2) quality and credibility of the implementation plan; (3) farm operation's readiness to adopt the practice; (4) availability of funding within the recipient's allocation. This is not a competitive ranking process in most regions — eligible farmers who apply during an open intake window are approved based on first-come, first-served or allocation capacity.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 5
Eligible Expenses 5
- Equipment and infrastructure for implementing the eligible BMP (e.g., precision nutrient application equipment, fencing and water systems for rotational grazing)
- Certified seed for cover crops
- Soil testing and nutrient management planning
- Technical assistance and advisory services for BMP implementation
- Monitoring and verification costs
Ineligible Expenses 4
- Operating expenses unrelated to BMP implementation
- Land purchase or long-term land improvements not tied to the BMP
- Activities completed before the agreement signing date
- Marketing or business development costs
Intake Periods
Managed by 13 regional recipient organizations; each sets its own intake windows within the 2025-2028 program period. Contact your regional organization for current availability.
Deadline Notes
Farmer-level intake is managed by 13 regional recipient organizations across all provinces and territories — each sets its own application windows and timelines within the 2025-2028 program period. The AAFC central intake for recipient organizations closed in 2025; farmers must contact their regional organization directly. Program ends March 31, 2028. The tracker record noted Aug 31 2026 as a deadline — this likely reflects one recipient organization's farmer intake window, not a national deadline.
Ineligible Organizations
- Non-farm businesses
- Organizations outside Canada
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskClawback applies if the BMP is not implemented as agreed or if the farm ceases operations within the program period. Capital items must be maintained for their intended use.
How OFCAF Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Climate Solutions — On-F... | $25K–$75K | Easy | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Recipient-managed —... |
| AgriInvest Program | up to $10,000 | Easy | Advance Payment | Annual — 2025 program... |
| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... | Up to $50 million | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — continuous... |
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