Cover crops, rotational grazing and nitrogen management are targeted.   Ottawa—Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has established the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF), which will have $200 million to support farmers who adopt management practices to store carbon and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. She called for proposals from producer groups, commodity organizations and provincial Crown corporations to be delivery partners for OFCAF. They will distribute the funding to farmers who adopt cost-effective measures to improve soil health and achieve other environmental benefits through cover cropping, nitrogen management and rotational gazing. Mary Robinson, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, said OFCAF “will support farmers in their sustainability efforts and assist in adopting on-farm practices that have the potential to enhance our sector's capabilities as a net carbon sink for Canada.” Agriculture is among the sectors most affected by erratic weather and has invested heavily in mitigating the impacts of climate change, she said. “Climate change related events have put many farmers in difficult financial circumstances, with their operations hurting from several consecutive hard years from factors entirely outside of their control.” OFCAF is the kind of support farmers need to be able to adopt carbon sink practices and ensure “their operations are sustainable for the future, while continuing to grow healthy and affordable food for Canadians. This kind of program will help ensure that Canadian agriculture will continue to move ahead in creating more sustainable farms, regardless of the impacts of climate change.” The cover crop program would assist with the purchase of seeds and equipment to plant crops, like clover and alfalfa, to cover the soil rather than be harvested. Nitrogen management will include agronomic services to develop farm-specific nutrient management plans, equipment modifications for fertilizer application in fields, and soil sampling and analysis. Rotational grazing could include grazing management plans, interior cross fencing, water system infrastructure and legume and forage seed purchases. Extreme weather events, like this year's drought, and other environmental impacts like challenges related to water availability and quality, soil health and biodiversity are projected to become more severe and costly for the sector in the coming decades, Bibeau said. Farmers are already innovating and adopting more sustainable practices and technologies to improve their climate resiliency. Activities supported by OFCAF are expected to reduce GHG emissions by up to 2 million tonnes by 2024, and by 1 million tonnes per year ongoing, compared to current projections, and bring a total of 792,000 hectares of land under improved management practices. Funding for the program runs to 2024 and applications will be open until Sept. 26. Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.