Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation

Grazing and Forage Establishment Incentives

» Program Objectives

To assist landowners and rural communities with the protection and restoration of riparian habitat for wildlife, fish and cleaner water.

» Availability

The program is available to landowners and rural communities.

» Eligibility Criteria:

• Eligible sites must be riparian areas (along permanent waterways or lakeshores) under permanent cover, preferably native vegetation
• Interested landowners or communities are encouraged to contact the closest office to discuss specific program criteria

» Assistance and Incentives:

• Cost/shared fencing of riparian and associated lands to a maximum of $2,500
• Assistance to explore off-site water supply options
• Payment of $30/acre for seed to establish permanent forage buffer strips on cultivated lands adjacent to permanent wetlands
• Recognition for landowners who protect riparian areas under the Riparian Stewardship Program
• Incentives based on a 10 year, pro-rated agreement

Riparian Stewardship Program

» Objective

To assist landowners and rural communities with the protection and restoration of riparian habitat for wildlife, fish and cleaner water.

» Availability and Criteria

This program is available to any interested livestock producer with permanent waterways, riparian habitat and preferably native vegetation on their property.

» Assistance

MHHC, the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration and Manitoba Agriculture and Food work in cooperation with to deliver this initiative, which resulted from the formation of the Riparian Health Council and is funded through the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council. Assistance available under this program includes:

• Cost/shared fencing of riparian and associated lands to a maximum of $2,500
• Assistance to explore off-site water supply options
• Payment of $30/acre for seed to establish permanent forage buffer strips on cultivated lands adjacent to permanent wetlands
• Recognition for landowners who protect riparian areas under the Riparian Stewardship Program

» Examples

MHHC's Riparian Stewardship Program (RSP) has helped landowners to establish managed grazing plans, perennial forage buffer strips and establish and maintain willow cuttings to stabilize and rehabilitate severely damaged stream banks. Since MHHC began Riparian Stewardship Initiatives in 1994, over 100 projects have been completed or are in progress. MHHC has helped put 20,000 acres of pasture into more sustainable grazing management practices. In addition to enhancing 125 miles of shoreline and 3,300 acres of riparian habitat.

» Contact

MHHC, Killarney (Al) 523-7569
MHHC, Minnedosa (Gerald) 867-5245
MHHC, Reston (Ian) 877-3162
MHHC, Shoal Lake (Roy) 759-2807
PFRA, Beausejour (Steve) 268-3233
PFRA, Dauphin (Jamie) 638-6108
MHHC, Winnipeg (Melanie) 784-4358
MHHC, Portage (Shaun) 239-3353

For more information: MHHC Programs [pdf]

Manitoba Conservation - Fisheries

Fisheries Enhancement Initiative

» Objective

To fund projects that strengthen fish populations, improve fish habitat or raise public understanding of fish and their environment.

» Availability

The program is open to a number of organizations including: fish and game associations, service clubs, community groups and associations, business organizations, local government agencies, school and youth groups, and conservation and environmental groups.

» Eligibility Criteria:

• Projects must be environmentally and technically sound
• Projects must result in fisheries that are sustainable over the long term, both biologically and economically
• Projects must encourage local involvement and participation

» Assistance

Each project may receive a maximum of $25,000, although assistance consideration will be given to special cases requiring more.

» Examples of eligible project initiatives:

• Improve spawning habitat by gravel placement
• Create pools and riffles for spawning and rearing young
• Remove obstacles or build fishways to ease passage
• Maintain lake levels and prevent winter kills by building outlet controls
• Improve lake habitat and reduce winter fish kills through aeration
• Restore damaged stream banks using vegetation, rubble or fencing
• Watershed management projects

» Contact

Laureen Janusz
Manitoba Conservation Fisheries Branch
Box 20, 200 Saulteaux Crescent
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3J 3W3

Phone: (204) 945-7797
Email: ljanusz@gov.mb.ca
Fax: (204)948-2308

Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI)

Agricultural Sustainability Initiative "Covering New Ground"

» Objective

To offer new farming options to producers which improve the agricultural industry's environmental performance. This primary goal should be met by advancing economically viable and measurable solutions to environmental and social challenges.

» Availability

The program is open to local Manitoba producer groups and provincial commodity organizations who have an interest in conservation, are legally constituted bodies representing farmers in their geographic area, and who identify partnership funding and in-kind contributions.

» Assistance and Criteria

Covering New Ground (CNG) provides funding and technical assistance to carry out sustainable agriculture projects. The program was initiated in 1998 with an annual provincial contribution of $1.2 million.

» CNG supports activities an projects that are:

• Built on partnerships, particularly between producers, government and industry
• Proposed by local producer bodies seeking local solutions to issues of local concern
• Proposed by provincial industry bodies seeking sector-wide solutions

CNG is driven by grassroots producer groups and commodity organizations providing technology transfer directly to the producer, while program direction and management is provided by Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives. The program is focused on projects which serve to create greater awareness of environmental issues and increase the adoption of practices by producers and local organizations to preserve the long term sustainability of natural ecosystems.

» Examples of Projects Funded:

• Erosion/degradation on sensitive soils and landscape
• Water quality
• Sustainable management of forage/livestock operations
• Agricultural sustainability awareness and education
• Sustainability of pasture/grazing systems
• Crop management
• Agricultural pest management strategies
• Fertilizer and manure impacts on soil and landscapes

For more information: CNG Brochure [pdf]

Manitoba Water Services Board (MWSB)

Pasture Watering Program

» Objective

To increase livestock production and overall herd health while providing technical and financial assistance in the promotion and installation of properly designed off-site watering facilities on summertime pastures.

» Availability and Criteria

Assistance is available to all bona fide farmers wishing to install off-site summer pasture watering systems built to a minimum design standard as outlined by MWSB.

» Assistance

Assistance under the MWSB pasture-watering program includes:

» Contact

MWSB, Brandon (Rob Sykes) 204-726-6078
MWSB, Dauphin (Wes Friesen) 204-622-2116
MWSB, Beausejour (Rob Sykes) 204-268-6059