Outdoor micro cultivators in New Brunswick can now apply for financial assistance under a provincial program to help farmers.

New Brunswick’s Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP)—part of a five-year, $3.5-billion agreement between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments—was recently extended to now include micro cannabis cultivators growing outdoors. The program aims to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector.

The cross-jurisdictional agreement includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and $2.5 billion in cost-shared programs and activities funded by federal, provincial, and territorial governments.

Adam Hicks, founder and head grower at Green Rose Farms, a micro located near Sackville, NB, told StratCann he recently learned the program now includes micro cultivators after reaching out to the provincial Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fisheries, Pat Finnigan. 

In a reply to an email that Finnegan sent to Hicks on March 10, Hicks said the department recently determined that holders of federal micro cultivation licenses are eligible to apply for financial assistance under New Brunswick’s Strategic Initiative SCAP Programs. 

The provincial program provides support for New Brunswick fruit and mixed vegetable producers who want to increase production by providing financial assistance for the adoption of season extension and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) technologies, the enhancement of storage capacity, and investment in on-farm equipment to improve efficiencies and build production capacity.

A media representative with the provincial Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fisheries agency confirmed to StratCann that the decision to include micro cultivators was recently shared by Minister Hicks, and that no micros have yet applied under the program. 

“Outdoor micro-cultivators can apply for non-repayable financial assistance under New Brunswick’s Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership Strategic Initiative Programs,” confirms Heather Pert, the department’s Director of Communications, via email. Each program has specific eligibility criteria. Program details can be found here.

Pert adds that applications can be submitted anytime, but some programs have an application deadline, noting that the program applies to outdoor micro cultivators only.

Featured image via Green Rose Farms

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