The Provincial Government is investing nearly $757,000 to support agriculture infrastructure projects for dairy and livestock producers through the 2023-24 Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program, including more than $185,000 for pasture development projects and more than $60,000 for four new entrants to the livestock sector.
Access to good food is a key social determinant of health, and these projects will help support the well-being of residents by increasing food self-sufficiency, agricultural growth, and secondary processing in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Investments in 2023-24 include:
- $358,034 to support dairy production;
- $123,866 to support livestock production;
- $89,350 to support poultry production; and
- $185,432 to support pasture development.
Agriculture infrastructure projects support enhanced environmental sustainability and stewardship in dairy and livestock sectors, improve animal health, reduce wastage, support on-farm diversification, and help farmers and producers adapt to climate change. Details on investments are available in the backgrounder below.
Budget 2023 approved $2.25 million for the Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program to support current farmers and new entrants to the province’s agriculture and agrifoods sectors. The program has two streams, focusing on agriculture infrastructure and land development. Projects support food self-sufficiency, and increase agricultural growth and secondary processing.
The Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program is one of two major programs that support Newfoundland and Labrador’s agriculture sector. Under the five-year, $3.5-billion Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), Newfoundland and Labrador’s farmers and producers can also access more than $42 million in cost-shared funding.
Quotes
“Every project funded under the Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program’s infrastructure stream gives a farm enterprise the opportunity to grow and thrive. By enhancing environmental sustainability and stewardship, and helping farmers and producers adapt to climate change, we continue to build strong and vibrant livestock and dairy sectors in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
“The Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program is an important mainstay for Newfoundland and Labrador’s agriculture sector. Whether a farmer is investing in new land development, upgrading on-farm technology, or working to improve environmental sustainability, this program responds to challenges. We appreciate the Provincial Government’s ongoing commitment to offering solutions and supporting new opportunities in agriculture.”
Wayne Simmons
President, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture
“The Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program has been government’s ongoing commitment to recognizing the economic importance of agriculture in Newfoundland and Labrador. It provides farmers within all sectors of the industry an opportunity to invest in their enterprises based on a broad range of program objectives. Headline Holsteins has benefited from the program through projects involving adoption of new technologies and improvements to animal welfare. We are grateful for the support.”
Pauline Duivenvoorden and Phil MacLean
Headline Holsteins
-30-
Learn more
Agriculture Programs and Funding
Follow us on Twitter @GovNL and @FFA_GovNL
Follow us on Facebook
BACKGROUNDER
2023-24 Agriculture Infrastructure and Regional Pasture Development Projects
| Dairy Production | |||
| Project | Purpose | Proponent | Approved Funding |
| Manure alley scraper | Enhance manure handling efficiency, enhance environmental sustainability | New World Dairy Inc., St. David’s | 75,000.00 |
| Manure pit | Increase waste management capacity, enhance environmental sustainability | Larch Grove Farm Ltd., Cormack | 75,000.00 |
| Dairy barn extension | Improve cow health, enhance productivity | Whiteclift Farms Ltd., Robinsons | 34,978.00 |
| Ear tag software system, ventilation for dairy barn | Improve herd management and monitoring, improve cow comfort | Richard, Marjorie and Darryl Walsh, Bay Bulls | 54,711.00 |
| Footbath system, steel gating, electrical, plumbing | Automated technology to maintain cow health | Headline Holsteins Ltd., Little Rapids | 12,790.00 |
| Vacuum pump | Support environmental stewardship, enhance productivity | H&E Williams Dairy Farms Ltd., Goulds | 16,431.00 |
| Dairy barn ventilator | Maintain cow comfort, optimize healthy livestock housing | Craig & Patricia Lester, St. John’s | 40,850.00 |
| Feeding system, feed tanks, flex auger, circulation fans, LED lighting | Enhance farm productivity, advance adoption of technology | Gary, Marjorie and Matthew Rose, Logy Bay | 48,274.00 |
| Total dairy production: 358,034.00 | |||
| Livestock Production | |||
| Project | Purpose | Proponent | Approved Funding |
| Square bale hay elevator | Increase forage production in livestock sector | Patten’s Farm Ltd., Burin-Grand Bank | 2,730.00 |
| Manure spreader | Support environmental stewardship, increase forage production in livestock-sheep sector | Gail Hansford, Goulds | 10,500.00 |
| Cattle chutes and gates, barn cleaner | Improve livestock handling, enhance environmental sustainability | Connors Farm Ltd., Torbay | 10,000.00 |
| Cattle head gates, on-farm fuel tank | Enhance cattle feeding, reduce hay wastage, support environmental stewardship | D&D Mink Inc., Cormack | 9,989.00 |
| Robotic manure scraper, beef barn enhancement | Adopt green technology, improve cow environment and animal health | Big Falls Agriculture Ltd., Cormack | 50,000.00 |
| New Entrants (Livestock) | |||
| Baler wrapper combo | Increase forage production in livestock-beef sector | Jonathan Omiachi, Victoria | 1,697.00 |
| Cattle handling system | Enhance cattle handling, support diversification in livestock-beef sector | Morning Star Ranch Inc., Glovertown | 18,950.00 |
| Manure spreader, feed mixer | Reduce synthetic fertilizer use, enhance feeding efficiency in livestock-beef sector | HRT Beef Farm Ltd., Robinsons | 20,000.00 |
| (Total new entrants: 40,647.00)
Total livestock production: 123,866.00 |
|||
| Poultry Production | |||
| Project | Purpose | Proponent | Approved Funding |
| Ventilation fans, environmental controls, quick disconnection cords | Improve barn ventilation to enhance poultry health, support environmental stewardship and adapt to climate change | Country Ribbon Inc., St. John’s | 69,350.00 |
| New Entrant (Poultry) | |||
| Tractor, loader attachment, ice machine | Support commercialization, enhance farm productivity, properly cool product and meet food safety requirements | Kennedy Farms Ltd., Carbonear | 20,000.00 |
| (Total new entrant: 20,000.00)
Total poultry production: 89,350.00 |
|||
| Pasture Land Development | |||
| Project | Purpose | Proponent | Approved Funding |
| Pasture land development | Rough clearing and land enhancement to increase availability of grazing land, enhance pasture stocking capacity | Trinity Placentia Pasture Inc., Placentia Junction Area | 30,000.00 |
| Pasture amendments and fencing | Pasture amendments and fencing to increase availability of grazing land, enhance pasture stocking capacity | Carbonear Cattlemen Association Inc., Carbonear | 14,330.00 |
| Pasture amendments and fencing | Pasture amendments and fencing to increase availability of grazing land, enhance pasture stocking capacity | Cape Shore Cattle Association Inc., St. Bride’s | 14,250.00 |
| Pasture fertilizer | Pasture amendments to increase availability of grazing land, enhance pasture stocking capacity | Robinsons Pasture Association Inc., Robinsons | 29,520.00 |
| Pasture fertilizer | Pasture amendments to increase availability of grazing land, enhance pasture stocking capacity | Port Albert Regional Pasture Association Inc., Stoneville | 10,000.00 |
| Pasture land development | Rough clearing and land enhancement to increase availability of grazing land, enhance pasture stocking capacity | Hy-Gan Cattle Inc., Makinsons | 30,000.00 |
| Pasture amendments and fencing | Pasture amendments and fencing to increase availability of grazing land, enhance pasture stocking capacity | O’Regan’s Pasture Inc., O’Regan’s | 28,142.00 |
| Pasture fencing and fertilizer | Pasture fencing and fertilizer to increase availability of grazing land, enhance pasture stocking capacity | Rock Iron Pastures Corp, Pouch Cove | 29,190.00 |
| Total pasture land development: 185,432.00 | |||
| Total Agriculture Infrastructure Projects: 756,682.00 | |||