Local farmers who want to help the environment just got a $13-million shot in the arm from the Canada Water agency.
That’s the amount of funding provided to the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) as part of the Precision Phosphorus Reduction Program initiative.
Farmers will be able to apply to the LTVCA for financial support on either a per-acre or cost-share incentive, in a range of programs focusing on education, resources and funding to implement best management practices. Categories covered include crop planning; alternative phosphorus use; erosion control structures; buffer strips; windbreaks; cover crops and innovative projects.
The LTVCA is one of 50 organizations to receive funding under the Great Lakes Ecosystem Initiative. The aim is to reduce excess phosphorus in streams and lakes that lead to algal blooms which negatively impact water quality and aquatic life.
The goal is to work towards preventing nuisance algae in Lake Erie brought about by phosphorus loading in the Thames River.
Kent Federation of Agriculture president Jim Brackett said the cash influx is welcomed by the agriculture community.
“Farmers in our area are going to appreciate the funding especially if they were planning on doing a project,” Brackett said. “It’s a great program for our farmers.”
Phosphorous is an essential nutrient for plant growth and a balanced aquatic ecosystem and only becomes a problem when there is too much of it.
