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Homegrown Success Program 2012-2013


Purpose and Objectives
Eligibility
Financial Assistance
Application Process
Claiming Process
Application Form
Innovation Theme
Environment Theme - BMP's Closed April 30, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Soil Amendment Program Closed May 18, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Nutrient Management Planning Closed May 18, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Business Development Theme
 Quality Assurance Theme

The Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture (NSDA) supports sustainable growth in Nova Scotia farm businesses by providing investment for projects, individually and collectively support business development and advance competitiveness of agri-businesses.

Program Objectives

The objectives of the Programs are:
  		• Accelerate the Pace of Innovation and Facilitate the Adoption of New Technologies;
  		• Enable competitive Enterprises and Sectors;
  		• Enhance the Safety and Security of Canada’s Food System;
  		• Promote Environmentally Responsible Agriculture.

     

    Eligible Applicant

    Farms:
    a. has a current registration under the Farm Registration Act;
    b. has a Fur Farming Licence where applicable (new entrants must have initiated the application process);
    c. is actively farming;
    d.

    generates an annual eligible gross farming income of $10,000 or more. The eligible farming income will be based on the Statement of Farming Activities (T2042, T1273) or Schedule 125 (for Corporations) that was filed with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the most recently filed tax year. Verification must accompany your application. The requirement of generating $10,000 in farm income will be waived for new entrants. The minimum income requirement must be satisfied by eligible commodity sales or custom work; however, only up to 25% of sales may be comprised of forest product sales or custom work.

    New Farm Entrant Criteria:
    An applicant is considered a new entrant for the first five years that the farm is registered. To qualify as a new entrant, the applicant:
    • has registered a farm for the first time during or after the 2008-09 registration year;
    • has purchased or inherited a farm for the first time;
    • is 19 years of age and has a minimum of 25 per cent controlling interest in the farm business;
    • Note: If changing from one commodity to another, a producer will be assessed according to new entrant criteria. Verification of new entrant status may be requested.

    Note: If a farm owner has multiple registered farms please provide details on the interactions between farms on Section G of the application form. The program administration has the final decision regarding whether the registered farms will be considered one entity (one eligible applicant) for programs purposes.
    Agri-Businesses:
     

    Eligible applicants include agri-businesses and agricultural industry associations that represent identifiable Nova Scotia agriculture and agri-food products. These entities must clearly demonstrate a direct partnership and beneficial economic impact to the Nova Scotia primary agricultural industry (i.e., buying greater than 50% of inputs from Nova Scotia farmers). In addition, eligible agri-business applicants should demonstrate value-added processing to the raw Nova Scotia agriculture product. Government agencies (e.g. Regional Development Authorities {RDA’s}) and universities may be eligible, provided that industry support/contribution and partnership are demonstrated. Partnership must be indicated through letters of support from industry, as well as an Agriculture Resource Coordinator (NSDA). Contact for the local Agriculture Resource Coordinator is available from PBRM office or on the website. Applicants must clearly demonstrate that they are a separate and legal business entity.

    Note: The following are not considered eligible applicants: service providers to agriculture/agri-food industry (e.g., consultants, engineers, government departments) and wholesalers.

    Application Process

  		•  Read the application form and guidelines carefully.
  		• Applications can be submitted by mail, fax or in person. Only ONE application per person will be considered for processing.
  		• In addition to the application form, some projects may require third party assessments prior to funding approval.
  		• If you are a Registered Farm provide a copy of your most recent Statement of Farming Activities or Schedule125 (for corporations) that was filed with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
  		• If you are a Registered Farm provide a copy of Appendix B: Action Plan from your Environmental Farm Plan document, if not previously submitted.
  		• If you have any questions contact the Programs and Business Risk Management (PBRM) office.


    Note: Applications must be deemed complete by the PBRM office before starting project activities or purchases. Project expenses incurred after the PBRM office receives the completed application, up to the date of approval, are at the applicant's risk. The only exception to this requirement is for limestone transportation assistance; refer to Soil Enhancement Program for details.

    Application Processing

  		•  Programs are subject to annual budget approval. Therefore, the number of applications and amounts committed will determine the closure of the program year.
  		• Applications will be reviewed in sequence based on the date the application is deemed complete.
  		• Once the original Letter of Agreement has been generated, project changes may be submitted in writing only once within 30 days of the date noted on the original Letter of Agreement.
  		• In the event of a dispute or disagreement regarding the Program administration staffs’ interpretation of any aspect of the Program or committee decisions regarding proposals, the decision of the Program administration staff will prevail and is final.

    Financial Assistance

    All programs are subject to annual budget approval by government. Numbers of applications and budget limitations may necessitate early program closure.

    Farms:
    Eligible projects must be directly applicable to the registered farm qualifying for the assistance on agricultural land owned or leased. A copy of the long term (10 years) lease or rental agreement must accompany the application form for all physical projects applicable to the leased/rented land. It is a condition of approval that the lease be of at least 10 years duration. You must advise us immediately, in writing, if the lease is terminated, if the term of the lease changes or if the identity of the lessor changes in any way (for example, if the lessor assigns the lease or if the lease changes in composition).

    Financial assistance will only be offered on transactions (invoices) that involve a supplier/service provider with an arms length relationship to the applicant for approved projects. In extenuating circumstances an exemption may be granted with details provided in Section H of the application. For program purposes, arms length relationships are defined as those where the applicant is not connected by blood relationship, marriage, common law partnership, or adoption.
    All approved project work must be completed in the current program year prior to March 1, 2013. Unused offered assistance cannot be carried forward from one program year to the next. All funding is on a cost-shared basis. Percentage level of assistance offered depends upon the eligible activity. Repeat initiatives may not be assisted, or may receive a lower level of contribution as determined by the Program Administration.

    To access provincial funding in the Environment theme, applicants must have a completed Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) at the time of application to access the Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) funding for BMP 1-35. An EFP is also required for Nutrient Management Plans with the exception of new entrants.

    To access the federal funding for Beneficial Management Practices (BMP’s), applicants must have a completed Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) at the time of application and all physical projects will require an assessment of environmental impacts (Canadian Environmental Assessment Act [CEAA] equivalent).

    Applicants can qualify to receive an offer of assistance according to the table below.

    Annual Assistance Caps
    Innovation
    Technology Development - Project
    20K
    Technology Development - Research Chair
    30K
    Supporting the Innovation Capacity of Farmers - Trials
    15K
    Supporting the Innovation Capacity of Farmers - Project
    25K
    Innovation & Commercialization of New Opportunities for Agri-Based Products
    100K
    Environment
    Federal
    Provincial
    BMP 1-30
    n/a
    50K**
    *
    BMP 31-32
    15K**
    *
    Soil Amendment Program
    n/a
    n/a
    based on NMP
    Biodiversity - Beaver Pond Management
    n/a
    n/a
    *
    Biodiversity - Wetland Restoration
    n/a
    n/a
    n/a
    Business Development
    Business Development and Market Enhancement
    10K
    *
    Genetic Enhancement
    n/a
    Various
    Quality Assurance
    Food Safety
    10K
    *
    Farm Safety
    n/a
    *
    Biosecurity
    n/a
    *
    Traceability
    10K
    n/a

    * Total combined assistance offered for eligible project in these areas will not exceed $10K
    ** Assistance cap is assessed over the period of the Growing Forward Agreement (2009-2013)
    Note: Federal assistance cap of $15K for BMP 31-32 is recognized withing the $50K overall cap

    Items NOT eligible for assistance include:
  		• Capital infrastructure (with the exception of proposal based programs);
  		• Retail outlets, roadside stands and roadside signage;
  		• Reprints of promotional material;
  		• Promotional material not tied to a targeted marketing campaign;
  		• Input (raw) food or product costs;
  		• Equipment, including computer hardware or software (except Traceability and Genetic Enhancement);
  		• Investigative travel (except in Innovation and Commercialization of New Opportunities for Agri-Based Products and Technology Development);
  		• Speaker or conference participant gifts, door prizes, honorariums, per diems;
  		• Current staff resources/salaries;
  		• HST/GST; Operating expenses;
  		• In-kind contributions; and
  		• Used equipment.


    Project and Applicant Requirements

    All activities must be conducted in an environmentally sound manner. Regardless of any involvement by the applicant in the Environmental Farm Plan program, it is the applicant's responsibility to seek out regulatory requirements, obtain required permits and ensure environmental compliance for any project under this program. It is also the applicant's responsibility to ensure that project design and construction meet all regulatory requirements, including building and other permits. Applicants are responsible for ensuring accuracy of listed project activity and budget information.

    Applicant Claiming Process

    Upon approval, applicants will receive a Letter of Agreement which identifies the eligible project activities, assistance offered and the terms and conditions to which the offer of assistance is subject.

    Application based programs:
  		• all claims must be postmarked by the post office or received in the PBRM office by March 1, 2013. Late claims will not be processed;
  		• signed copy of the Letter of Agreement;
  		• submission of a Claim Form, based on the amount of the original approval or the actual activity costs, whichever is less;
  		• copies of all invoices with proof of payment (i.e. cancelled cheques, credit card statements, debit slips or official invoices marked paid and signed by supplier) to support completed approved project activities;
  		• in addition to the claim form and proof of payment documents, copies of municipal building permits (if applicable) must be provided for the following approved projects: manure, pesticide or fertilizer storage construction;
  		• copies of permits or letters of approval obtained from DFO, NWPP, NSDE, etc;
  		• food safety projects - copy of provincial operating license for new establishments and letter of support from provincial food inspection staff indicating the process of being licensed;
  		• eligibility of financial assistance will be determined from initial invoices submitted at claiming;
  		• payments will be made based on date of eligible project activity NOT invoice date;
  		• the applicant consents to the release of his/her name and the amount of any support received under the programs as public information, to be actively disseminated by the Department of Agriculture;
  		• all physical projects must be viewed prior to release of payment.
  		• Note: All eligible activities relating to the Provincially Inspected Slaughter Facilities and Primary Meat Processing Facilities must be reviewed by a provincial meat inspector prior to release of payment.

    Note: Interim claims may be submitted at any time after project completion and prior to the March 1, 2013 deadline for all final claims.

    Additional Claiming Requirements (Provincial Projects):

  		•  tile drainage - copy of the tile drainage installation plan;
  		• nutrient management plan - nutrient management plan summary template and the three (3) year lime/wood ash program template;
  		• limestone and wood ash transportation - invoices and proof of payment for transportation expenses.
    Note: invoice must indicate total amount of limestone and/or wood ash transported.

    Additional Claiming Requirements (Federal Projects):

  		•  federal projects with identified mitigation measures will require a site audit prior to the release of payments;
  		• all mitigation measures listed in the Letter of Agreement must be completed prior to release of funding.

    Proposal based programs:

  		•  Only those expenditures approved in the detailed proposal submission are eligible for reimbursement.
  		• Where adjustments to the budget items are requested, the applicant must submit a revised budget in writing to the PBRM office, including the justification for the revisions. The request will be reviewed by the PBRM staff and/or Selection Committee (as applicable) prior to approval.
  		• Total payment requested may not exceed the approved funding specified in the Letter of Agreement.
  		• For multi-year projects, unclaimed funds at the end of one year will not be available in a subsequent program year.
  		• Unclaimed funds at the end of the Letter of Agreement will not be available beyond the end date of the Agreement.
  		• PBRM may hold back a percentage of the value of the award in each year until receipt of a satisfactory interim or final project report.
  		• Revisions to the budget must be approved by the PBRM office in advance by submission of a revised budget accompanied by a justification of the requested changes in writing within six months of the Letter of Agreement. The request will be reviewed by PBRM staff and/or the Selection Committee prior to approval.

    Project Evaluation

    Review and evaluation of projects may be carried out by officials of the Department of Agriculture or other parties chosen by the Department of Agriculture for the purpose of audit, analysis, evaluation, program development and determining assistance.

    This review and evaluation process may be conducted prior to project commencement, during work or upon project completion.

    Payment Recovery Criteria

    Financial contributions under these programs will be repayable if it is demonstrated that funds have been used for purposes or projects other than those approved in the agreement. The applicant will also be ineligible to apply to programs for the following two program years.

    Funding claimed through this program by an applicant may be used to offset any debt(s) the applicant has owing to the Crown in Right of the Province of Nova Scotia and/or the Crown in Right of Canada.

    Note: No more than 75% federal/provincial funding can be received for any project regardless of source (except Nutrient Management Plans). Applicants are required to disclose their funding sources.


    Program Communications:

    Unless otherwise specified in a written agreement with the applicants, the results from the project may be published.

    Aussi disponible en français

    The application form below is available as a download in Adobe Acrobat (PDF file) format. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your local computer please see
      Obtaining and Installing Adobe Acrobat Reader.

    Home Grown Success Guidelines (Acobat Reader format)
    Home Grown Success Application Form (Acobat Reader format)
    Home Grown Success Application Form - Interactive (Acobat Reader format)
    Genetic Enhancement Application and Guidelines
    Technology Development Application Form  
     Supporting the Innovation Capacity of Farmers Application Form 
    Innovation and Commercialization of New Opportunities for Agri-Based Products Application Form
    Nutrient Management Planners
    Engineers

     

    How to contact us:
    Programs and Business Risk Management Division
    Development Programs - Home Grown Success Program
    Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture
    176 College Road, PO Box 550, Truro, NS B2N 5E3
    Tel: (902) 893-6510     Toll-free: 1-866-844-4276
    Fax: (902) 893-7579
    Email: Programs and Business Risk Management Webmaster

     

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      Last Update: May 18, 2012