The Prairie Watershed Climate Program (PWCP) provides funding to producers who implement any of these three eligible beneficial management practices (BMPs) on their farm – cover cropping, nitrogen management, or rotational grazing. Within each category, there are various practices that are qualified to receive funding. BMPs have many positive outcomes such as storing carbon, reducing greenhouse gases, improving biodiversity, and increasing the profitability of your farm.
PWCP Funding has been provided by the Agriculture Climate Solutions – On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The PWCP is led by the Manitoba Association of Watersheds (MAW) and delivered by Manitoba’s 14 watershed districts, with the Redboine Watershed District being one of them. Current Funding
There Is still limited PWCP funding remaining in the Redboine Watershed District for the 2024 crop year! If you have implemented any of the eligible BMPs that are listed on our website, please apply and receive the funding that is available to you! New Announcement of funding
The first phase of the Prairie Watershed Climate Program (PWCP) was approved to run from Feb 7, 2022, until March 31, 2025, and with the end of the first phase of the program approaching, MAW announced that the PWCP funding will be extended for an additional 3 years until March 31, 2028! MAW will continue to lead the second iteration of the program, and it will be delivered exclusively in Manitoba this time around. PWCP 2.0 has been approved to receive up to $40 million over the next 3 years under OFCAF. This means that the program will be rolling over to next year without any delays and producers can continue to apply for funding for the 2025 crop year under the eligible BMP’s that are available.
PWCP success in RBWD
Redboine has had tremendous success with the first iteration of the PWCP. We have seen participation from 165 producers throughout our district and provided them with over $1.78 million dollars in funding for the adoption of new beneficial management practices. We are thrilled by the response from the farming community within our district and we are encouraged by the steps these producers are taking to improve efficient farming.
What do landowners get from PWCP/Benefits?
These producers benefit from being able to adopt new beneficial management practices on their farm. Many producers have spoken about how the Prairie Watershed Climate program has made it accessible to experiment with new BMPs on their farm that they wouldn’t normally be able to implement due to financial restrictions. With PWCP funding, the risk of implementing a new project on their farm becomes much smaller. Whether it is trying a new cover crop, getting soil mapping done on their fields, or putting up fencing for rotational grazing – producers are grateful for the opportunity to advance their operations in a progressive and beneficial manner.
How landowners can apply for PWCP
If you are located in the Redboine watershed district, you can apply for the PWCP by visiting our website and following the instructions online to fill out the application forms. There is a general application form that all producers will need to fill out to apply and then there are BMP-specific forms that you can select for the BMPs that you would like to apply for. It is helpful if you can provide quotes, invoices, and photos at the time of application, but it is not necessary. You will eventually be required to provide paid invoices for your project and photos that have been completed. If you are unsure if you are located within the Redboine watershed district, need any assistance with your PWCP application, or have any questions regarding the PWCP - contact our PWCP Coordinator – Steven Lucovic at 204-526-5278 Ext. 6 or email pwcp@redboine.com.
Where to find PWCP Info
If you are looking for more information on the PWCP program, you can visit the Manitoba Association of Watersheds (MAW) website.
You can also follow us on most social media platforms at - Redboine Watershed District for updates on the PWCP.
