Stewardship Plans

Stewardship Plans, a Growing Forward initiative to help manage your natural resources and strengthen your competitive position by demonstrating environmental responsibility.

The Growing Forward Stewardship Plans are being updated on a continual basis. Work Plan templates and Program Applications are not yet available. Please contact the Ag Info Centre at 310-FARM (3276) for the most current program information.

Program Description

Stewardship Plans are designed to help producers demonstrate their environmental practices and plan for operational improvements that will reduce their environmental impact. There are three Stewardship Plan programs: Integrated Crop Management, Grazing & Winter Feeding Management, and Manure Management. Producers develop a work plan that identifies mitigating actions that will address their highest environmental risks and will reduce or minimize their impact on the environment. Producers can apply for grant funding for projects that will help them achieve actions identified in their work plan.

Stewardship Plan programs include:

Grazing and Winter Feeding Management
Integrated Crop Management
Manure Management

Application Process

Applicants must be registered with Growing Forward and have completed an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP). Applicants then complete a Work Plan for the Program of interest and an accompanying Program Application. Work Plans and Program Applications are submitted together to ARD for review and approval.

Steps to apply:

Complete and submit a Growing Forward Registration form (click here for form)
Complete an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) for their farming operation if one has not been completed in the past (for assistance click here)
Develop a Work Plan that identifies mitigating actions that will address their highest environmental risks (in development)
Complete Program Application form (in development)
Submit Work Plan and Program Application for approval

Program Eligibility

Stewardship Plans are targeted at Alberta taxpayers with $10,000 gross farm income or new producers with a projected 3-year average gross farm income of $10,000.

Available Funding

Assistance will be funded on a 50/50 cost share basis.

Maximum funding amounts per program area are as follows:

Grazing and Winter Feeding Management $15,000
Integrated Crop Management $20,000
Manure Management $50,000

To access a Funding List for the:

Grazing and Winter Feeding Management Program, please click here.
Integrated Crop Management Program, please click here.
Manure Management Program, please click here.

Retroactive Period 2009-2010

The original launch date for Growing Forward – Stewardship Plans was September 1, 2009. To mitigate the delay in program launch, retroactive funding will be available to successful applicants for eligible costs incurred back to September 1, 2009 to complete an approved project. If proceeding with a project prior to approval, an individual needs to be aware that s/he carries the risk of not receiving funding if her/his application is rejected. The period for retroactive funding for approved projects terminates March 1, 2010.

Contact a work plan coordinator if interested in pursuing a project without prior approval that is in the following list: petroleum storage, pesticide storage, permanent fencing, watering systems, pasture pipelines, wetland restoration and manure management construction projects. (see Stewardship Plans: Frequently Asked Questions for further details) End.