Applications are now available for the Manitoba Sustainable Agriculture Practices Program (MSAPP), Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Rosann Wowchuk announced. This program includes a beneficial management practices (BMPs) incentive to encourage producers to adopt and implement sustainable agriculture practices to help reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to climate change. This new program will be administered in conjunction with the Growing Forward, Environmental Farm Action Program.
“Greenhouse-gas emissions contribute to climate change that affects everyone and our producers have been among the first in line to do their part in reducing emissions,” said Wowchuk. “Manitoba farmers support environmental and ecological programs because their livelihood depends on sustainable land and livestock management.”
The minister noted projects that help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions include planting perennial cover crops to secure sensitive land, using manure storage covers to reduce GHG and odours, utilizing reduced tillage and increasing the use of perennial legumes in crop rotations.
MSAPP is a provincially funded program administered and delivered by Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives. It is part of the overall effort to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and help Manitoba to become a low-carbon, green economy along with other benefits including improved water quality, reduced production costs and improved rural economic development, the minister said.
Applicants for MSAPP must have completed an environmental farm plan or an equivalent agri-environmental plan and have received a valid statement of completion. Statements of completion are considered valid for a period of five years from the date of issue.
In addition to environmental and economic benefits, selected BMPs can help producers become better prepared for adapting to climate changes such as unpredictable and extreme weather events, longer and more frequent droughts and pest infestations, Wowchuk said.
Further information on MSAPP is available at any GO office throughout the province or online.
