Agricultural Land Enhancement Program

2013-2018 PROGRAM GUIDELINES

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Agricultural Land Enhancement Program
1. Objective
2. Eligibility
2.1 Applicants
2.2 Land
2.3 Environmental considerations
3. Eligible Costs
4. Program Elements
4.1 Land Improvement Element
4.1.1 General Land Clearing
4.1.2 Blueberry Land Clearing
4.1.3 Land Consolidation
4.1.4 General Land Levelling/Land Forming
4.1.5 Blueberry Land Levelling
4.2 Site Suitability Assessment Element
5. Application Process and Administration
5.1. Application Process
5.2. Management
5.3. Project Review, Planning, Approval and Monitoring
5.4. Applicants Responsibilities

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Agricultural Land Enhancement Program

1.

OBJECTIVE
The Agricultural Land Enhancement Program under the Canada/New Brunswick
Agreement of Growing Forward 2 will help fulfill demands for the development of
land for agriculture in New Brunswick. This program will support agriculture
producers in bringing new land into production and in improving the productivity
of existing land through:
more sustainable crop rotations;
increased land base for the production of crops; and
increased self-sufficiency in the production of livestock feed crops.

2.

ELIGIBILITY
2.1

Applicants
This initiative is available to agricultural producers, partnerships and
incorporated companies carrying out agricultural operations in New
Brunswick.
Individual applicants must be nineteen years of age or older.
No current or former public office holder, public servant, Member of the
Legislative Assembly or Member of the House of Commons who is not in
compliance with applicable conflict of interest guidelines and legislation
shall derive any benefit from this initiative.

2.2

Land
Financial assistance provided under this initiative is available for land that
is suitable for the intended crop and
1. is owned by the applicant, or
2. is under an Agricultural Development Board (ADB) Land Lease
program, or
3. is leased under a written, long term lease agreement (at least 5
years) a copy of which may be required, or
4. is accessible to the applicant under a Licence of Occupation.
5. is potentially accessible to the applicant (Site Suitability
Assessment element only)
In the case of un-cleared land, it is the responsibility of the applicant to
provide the necessary information to the Department of Agriculture,
Aquaculture and Fisheries (DAAF) to determine the lands suitability for
the intended crops production. In the case of cranberry development, the
Applicant must have an approved EIA Determination in order to be eligible
for any site development activities.
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2.3

3.

Environmental Considerations
Any project funded under this initiative must meet all requirements of
applicable federal and New Brunswick environmental legislation.

ELIGIBLE COSTS
All projects will be reviewed to ensure that unit costs are reasonable.
DAAF reserves the right to limit eligible project costs.
Any land development activity initiated before the project approval date is not
eligible under this initiative (no retroactivity).
It is important to note that the following are not eligible for funding under this
initiative:
(a) Legal costs
(b) Land acquisition costs (purchase of lands or any interest therein)
(c) Leasing costs (land, buildings, equipment)
(d) Maintenance and operational costs
(e) Refundable portion of the Harmonized Sales Tax
(f) On-farm labour costs
(g) Lime or wood ash
(h) Unspecified miscellaneous costs
(i) Permitting costs
(j) Engineering services (Except under Site Suitability Assessment
element)
(k) EIA registration fees (Except under Site Suitability Assessment
element

4.

PROGRAM ELEMENTS
4.1 Land Improvement Element
Eligible Assistance - Up to 35% of eligible expenses up to a maximum total
assistance per applicant of $5000 under this element.
4.1.1 A: General Land Clearing
4.1.1.1 Objective To provide an expanded land base to support
beneficial production techniques such as lengthened crop rotations
for potatoes or to promote increased or improved crop production
on an expanded or renewed land base by removing trees, stumps,
roots, brush, rock and other debris and by preparing the newly
cleared land for cultivation.

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4.1.1.2 Eligible Activities Eligible costs include: removal of trees,

stumps, roots, brush, stones, rock and other debris; chipping and
spreading or removal of resulting biomass; the grinding off of
stumps and wood debris flush with the soil surface; pulverization of
rock and wood debris down to a depth of eight (8) inches. The land
clearing site should be suitable for the intended crops. Projects on
land with a slope greater than 10% will not be eligible unless it can
be fully integrated with a terracing system or will be under
permanent vegetative cover.
The applicant is responsible to submit a work plan and a written
quote or estimate from a Land Clearing Contractor or a DAAF
Development Officer. The quote/estimate shall show the area to be
cleared, land clearing method to be used, and provide details of
any other land consolidation, levelling, rock picking or debris
disposal costs.
4.1.2: Blueberry Land Clearing
4.1.2.1 Objective To provide an expanded land base to support
beneficial production techniques as well as to promote increased or
improved blueberry production on an expanded, or renewed land
base by removing trees, stumps, roots, brush, rock and other
debris.
4.1.2.2 Eligible Activities Eligible costs include: removal of trees,
stumps, roots, brush, rock and other debris; chipping/mulching and
spreading or disposal of resulting biomass; the grinding off of
stumps and wood debris flush with the soil surface; pulverization of
rock and the preparation of the newly cleared or re-cleared land for
production. The land clearing site should be suitable for wild
blueberries, and meet federal, provincial and municipal regulations.
The applicant is responsible to submit a work plan and a written
quote or estimate from a Land Clearing Contractor or a DAAF
Development Officer. The quote/estimate shall show the area to be
cleared and land clearing method to be used, as well as rock or
debris removal costs.
4.1.3 Land Consolidation
4.1.3.1 Objective To remove rock piles, bedrock outcrops and line
fences that are impediments to efficient and sustainable modern
mechanized agricultural practices.

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4.1.3.2 Eligible Activities Eligible costs include work such as

removal of rock piles, bedrock outcrops, fence lines and other
obstacles. Costs associated with road work that is incidental to the
rest of the project may also be eligible.
4.1.4 General Land Levelling/Land Forming
4.1.4.1 Objective To improve land productivity or production
efficiencies by the levelling or forming of fields to improve the ease
of mechanized production.
4.1.4.2 Eligible Activities Eligible costs include work such as the
movement of soil within a field as well as land forming and land
levelling costs.
4.1.5: Blueberry Land Levelling
4.1.5.1 Objective To improve land productivity or production
efficiencies by the levelling of fields to allow for or improve the ease
of mechanized production techniques (harvesting, pruning).
4.1.5.2 Eligible Activities Eligible costs include work such as
removal of stumps, rock and other obstacles. The flattening and
filling in of surface irregularities through tracking with an excavator
or another technique suitable to minimize ground surface damage.
4.2 Site Suitability Assessment Element
Eligible Assistance - Up to 50% of eligible expenses up to a maximum total
assistance per applicant of $50,000. Higher levels of assistance (e.g. higher
% assistance or higher maximum contributions) may be considered where
strong rationale and significant benefit back to the sector as a whole can be
demonstrated.
4.2.1 Objective - to support the identification and assessment of suitable
crop and livestock lands by supporting the professional assessment of
lands for the production of existing, new and emerging crops.
4.2.2 Eligible Activities - Eligible work may include preliminary assessment
for mapping, site layout plan including details on the location and layout of
future phases, pre-engineering for soil/water and subsurface analysis and
topographic survey work. The site assessment should include an
orthographic map to indicate site location, a colour aerial photograph of
the site, a scaled sketch of the planned site layout showing intended
production location, acreage and source of water (if applicable). The
assessment may include an estimate of water drainage or water use

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requirements for the site. All watercourses and wetlands on or adjacent to

the site may also have to be identified. In some environmentally sensitive
areas, a wetland delineation, rare plant survey, archaeological survey or
migratory bird survey may be required.
The pre-engineering or site assessment work may include testing of soil,
sand and water. This could also include a soil profile analysis, testing
sand for particle size, and testing of native soils onsite for drainage
characteristics. A comprehensive study of the water supply could include a
determination of the watershed size, prediction of drainage flows, run-off
and actual flow measurement of surface water sources. This data is
essential for determining the suitability of the site for the intended crop or
livestock activity.
If required, activities by the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and
Fisheries or the applicant associated with First Nations engagement or
consultation are also within the scope of site evaluation.
Work using or developing computer models, acquiring GIS layers to assist
in establishing support information required to finalize plans for agricultural
development areas within the province will also be an eligible expense.
This sub-program will also help support the development of documents for
standard operating practices related to environmental sustainable
production and site development.

5.

APPLICATION PROCESS AND ADMINISTRATION

5.1

Application Process
Application forms for this initiative are available from all offices of the New
Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries (DAAF)
and the departmental website. Completed application forms are to be
submitted to any to any Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture &
Fisheries (DAAF) regional office or directly to the Growing Forward 2
Administrator, Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture & Fisheries, P.O.
Box 6000, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5H1 or by email at GFCA.admin@gnb.ca.
A DAAF Development Officer will review each application for
completeness.

5.2

Management
The co-ordination and administration of the Agricultural Land
Enhancement Program is the responsibility of the Sector Specialist
Services Branch and the Industry Financial Programs and Financial
Services Branch of DAAF.

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5.3

Project Review, Planning, Approval and Monitoring

Following a review by DAAF staff, DAAF will advise the applicant in writing
whether or not the project has been approved.
Letters of offer will indicate eligible project items and include the name of
the designated Project Officer.
The applicant will submit through the Project Officer, copies of detailed
paid invoices or receipts from the contractor or other service provider for
eligible project costs.
Each project completed will be inspected by the Project Officer to ensure
each project is completed to an acceptable standard and that the actual
costs are reasonable. If the above conditions are met, the Project Officer
will certify the applicants Claim for Reimbursement and submit it for
reimbursement.
In addition to the above, a DAAF Development Officer will prepare a PreSite Inspection Report for each project prior to review of the projects
application (except for projects under the Site Suitability Assessment
Element).

5.4

Applicants Responsibilities
To submit a properly completed application form and supporting
documentation including project details, cost information and contractors
quotes/estimates or estimate prepared by the Project Officer.
To provide, in the case of un-cleared land, the necessary information to
DAAF to determine the lands suitability for the intended crop production.
To ensure that construction work is performed using appropriate
equipment and methods.
To ensure that the project meets all applicable regulations and to obtain all
permits necessary to satisfy environmental, zoning, building, electrical, fire
safety and other legal requirements.
To notify their Project Officer when the project is to start once the project
has been approved.
To notify the assigned Project Officer immediately upon becoming aware
of unforeseen circumstances that may increase the submitted projects
budgeted costs. In the absence of such notification, a request to amend a
project may be denied.
To provide access to DAAF staff and persons authorised by DAAF, for

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inspection, evaluation, demonstration, audit and public information

purposes, upon request.
To provide to DAAF, on request, any necessary information related to the
implementation of the project.

The Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries reserves

the right to terminate this initiative or to modify these Guidelines at
any time without notice.

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