Prairie Watershed Climate Program (PWCP)

 

About this Program

The Prairie Watersheds Climate Program (PWCP) is led by the Manitoba Association of Watersheds (MAW) and delivered by Manitoba’s Watershed Districts and the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds (SAW) with supporting partner Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association. Read MAW’s press release regarding PWCP.

The PWCP provides up to $40 million in financial support, through OFCAF, to producers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan to accelerate their adoption and implementation of on-farm beneficial management practices (BMPs) to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, support production efficiency, sustainability and resiliency on their farm operations. To assist producers with their adoption of new BMPs, the program offers producers resources to support BMP implementation and provide BMP design recommendations.

The three BMP streams in the PWCP program are:

1. Improving nitrogen management: For example, agronomic services to develop farm-specific nutrient management plans, equipment modifications for fertilizer application in fields, and soil sampling and analysis.

2. Increasing adoption of cover cropping: For example, payment-per-acre to cover adoption or related costs such as seeds and equipment. Cover crops are plants, like clover and alfalfa, that are planted to cover the soil rather than for the purpose of being harvested.

3. Expanding the adoption of rotational grazing: For example, agronomic services to develop grazing management plans, interior cross fencing, water system infrastructure, legume and forage seeds. Rotational grazing is the practice of containing and moving livestock through pasture to allow forage plants to recover, deepen their root systems and improve soil health.

For more details about this program, visit the MAW’s Prairie Watersheds Climate Program page.

Resources

Webinar on the PWCP BMPs and project details

This webinar was held on August 25, 2022 for crop advisors, agronomists, agrologists, farmers and producers to provide details on the PWCP BMPs and overall information about the project:

Fact Sheets

BMP fact sheets are the primary source of information for the PWCP. Further information can be found on the MAW website’s PWCP page.

Nitrogen Management
– Manitoba - April 1, 2023 update
– Saskatchewan - April 1, 2023 update

Cover Cropping
– Manitoba - December 3, 2022 update
– Saskatchewan - December 3, 2022 update

Rotational Grazing ­­
– Manitoba - December 3, 2022 update
– Saskatchewan - December 3, 2022 update

About the On-Farm Climate Action Fund

Agricultural Climate Solutions – On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) is a $200 million, 3-year fund (from 2021 to 2024) which funds 12 different programs (PWCP being one such program) to support farmers in adopting beneficial management practices (BMPs) that store carbon and reduce greenhouse gases as well as provide other environmental benefits such as improved biodiversity and soil health. Activities such as outreach, education, and training are supported to promote the adaption of the BMPs.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada program anouncement

Ce projet est financé en partie par le ministère de l’Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada sous le programme Solutions agricoles pour le climat (SAC) – Fonds d’action à la ferme pour le climat (FAFC).

Funding for this project [in part] has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – On-Farm Climate Action Fund.