The federal and provincial governments are investing up to $3 million to help Ontario farmers improve energy efficiency on their farms through a new round of funding under the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (ASI).
The announcement, made July 8, marks the launch of the third intake of ASI, aimed at supporting farmers in adopting more sustainable and cost-effective practices as they face economic pressures, including U.S. tariffs.
Eligible applicants can access between $10,000 and $90,000 for on-farm energy upgrades, such as geothermal heating systems, high-efficiency motors, ventilation, cooling, refrigeration, grain drying, and lighting systems. The program is delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), with applications open from Aug. 13 to Sept. 3.
The funding is part of the broader Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, $3.5-billion agreement between federal, provincial, and territorial governments. The program includes $1 billion in federal funding and a cost-shared $2.5 billion for regional initiatives. Since 2023, the ASI has supported more than 870 projects with up to $12.5 million in funding.
“Farmers are true stewards of the land,” said federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald. “With this latest round of funding, farmers across Ontario will be able to invest in greener, more efficient equipment, keeping their farms strong and sustainable for the future.”
Ontario Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Minister Trevor Jones said the initiative strengthens the sector during uncertain economic times.
“The Agricultural Stewardship Initiative is helping our farmers make their businesses more efficient and boosting the long-term competitiveness of the sector to withstand the current economic uncertainty and whatever else comes our way,” he said. “With this third round of funding, up to $15.5 million of total investments will help hundreds of farming businesses across Ontario continue to grow and thrive.”
Eleanor Renaud, president of OSCIA, said the program helps farmers better understand their energy use and make practical improvements.
“The opportunities offered under the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative will support producers in understanding how much energy is used on their farms, and in implementing energy efficiency improvements that can reduce electrical and fossil fuel use and the rising costs of agricultural production,” she said. “The initiative’s objectives align with OSCIA’s mission to support farmers with knowledge, programs and community to facilitate responsible economic management of soil, water, air and crops through development and communication of innovative farming practices.”
Information on eligibility and applications is available on the OSCIA website.