Agriculture & Agri-Food Grants for Ontario Farmers 2026

Published March 2, 2026 · Updated for 2026 program data

Ontario's agricultural sector — from the grain and oilseed farms of Huron County to the tender fruit operations of Niagara and the cash crop farms of Essex — has access to a substantial stack of federal and provincial funding programs in 2026. The Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) framework continues to structure most joint federal-provincial agricultural funding, while sector-specific programs address livestock, environmental stewardship, farm safety, and agri-food innovation. This guide maps the programs Ontario farmers and agri-food processors are most likely to qualify for.

Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) — Ontario Programs

The Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) is the national framework agreement between federal and provincial governments to support Canada's agriculture sector. In Ontario, CAP is delivered through a suite of programs administered by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA):

Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance

• Funds applied research partnerships between farmers, agri-food businesses, and Ontario's agriculture universities (Guelph, Ridgetown)
• Projects typically range from $50,000 to $500,000 over 1–3 years
• Applications through the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO)

New Directions — Research and Innovation in the Agri-Food Sector

• Supports research and adoption of new practices, tools, or technologies that address Ontario agri-food sector challenges
• Non-repayable contributions from $25,000 to $200,000 (industry-led projects)
• Applicants must demonstrate a clear pathway to adoption by Ontario producers

On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF)

• Federal stream (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, delivered through Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association)
• Covers up to 50% of eligible costs for practices that reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions: cover cropping, nitrogen management, livestock feed changes, rotational grazing
• Per-practice payment structures (e.g., $50–$65/acre for cover crops), up to a maximum annual payment
• Rolling intake; apply at ontariosoilcrop.org

AgriInvest

AgriInvest is a federal savings account program where the government matches producer deposits dollar-for-dollar (up to 1% of Allowable Net Sales), with the government contribution treated as a non-repayable grant for income stabilization purposes:

• Deposit up to 1% of your Allowable Net Sales; government matches 100%
• Funds accumulate in a government-held account and can be withdrawn for any purpose
• Maximum annual government contribution: varies by farm size, but has no hard cap at the producer level
• Enrol through the AgriInvest Administrators (varies by province; Ontario uses Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada directly)

AgriStability

AgriStability provides income support when a producer's program margin falls more than 30% below the Olympic average of the previous five years. While not a grant in the traditional sense, AgriStability is a critical safety net:

• Government covers 70% of the eligible shortfall below the reference margin
• Producers pay an annual participation fee based on their reference margin
• Ontario deadline for the 2025 program year: April 30, 2026 (verify at omafra.ontario.ca)

Ontario Farm Environmental Plan (OFEP)

Ontario's environmental farm plan support provides funding for farmers who complete an environmental farm plan assessment and implement priority environmental improvements:

• Completing the plan qualifies for cost-sharing on implementation activities
• Eligible improvements: water quality management (buffer strips, cover crops), soil health, wildlife habitat, energy efficiency
• Delivered through the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA)

Agri-Food Processing Grants (OAFP)

Ontario agri-food processors — businesses that transform raw farm products into value-added goods — can access:

• Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre (OAFVC): Subsidized access to commercial kitchen incubator and food processing equipment for small processors entering the market
• Food and Beverage Ontario (FBO) Programs: Market development support, trade show co-op funding, and export readiness assistance for Ontario food and beverage manufacturers
• Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF): For large-scale agri-food processing investment ($10M+ projects)

Beginning Farmer and Young Farmer Programs

New entrants to farming have dedicated support streams:

• Farm Credit Canada (FCC) AgriStart: Loans and financial planning support for first-generation farmers
• OMAFRA Beginning Farmer Tax Credit: A provincial income tax credit for qualifying farm asset transfers to beginning farmers (10% of eligible farm asset value, to a maximum of $25,000 annually)
• Young Farmers Forum: Ontario Federation of Agriculture-affiliated programming with access to extension services and peer networks

Application Strategy for Ontario Farmers

Work with OMAFRA advisors. Regional OMAFRA offices have Agricultural Information Contact Centre staff who track program intakes and can connect you with the right program for your situation. This is a free government service — use it.

Maintain current production records. Most programs require Gross Farm Income, Allowable Net Sales, or Field Activity records. Set up simple record-keeping systems from the start of the farm year.

Join commodity organizations. Many programs are delivered or co-administered through Grain Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Pork, Beef Farmers of Ontario, and other commodity groups. Membership often gives priority access to program announcements and application support.

Related reading: Grants for Ontario Farmers | Green Business Grants Ontario 2026 | Grant Blog