Alternative land Use Services
The Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) Program aims to empower farmers and farmland owners in conservation and regeneration of agricultural landscapes. ALUS supports the maintenance, enhancement, and production of ecological goods and services (EG&S) to reduce soil erosion, improve air and water quality, enhance wildlife habitat and biodiversity, sequester carbon and build resilient agricultural landscapes. ALUS provides financial assistance to farmers and farmland owners through a multi-year land use agreement. The agreement provides annual payments for the adoption and maintenance of beneficial management practices (BMPs) on agricultural land and for the conversion of targeted environmentally sensitive land from annual crop production to biodiverse, carbon sequestering perennial landscapes. The delivery of ALUS is a joint effort of two provincial government departments: The Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action. Guidance for ALUS activities will be provided by the ALUS Partnership Advisory Committee comprised of members from industry, conservation and watershed groups
Quick View
Funding
Amount
Up to $300/Hectare/year
Eligible Applicants
Farmers, Agricultural landowners
Eligible
Purposes
ALUS supports the maintenance, enhancement, and production of ecological goods and services (EG&S) to reduce soil erosion, improve air and water quality, enhance wildlife habitat and biodiversity, sequester carbon and build resilient agricultural landscapes.
Such As:
Converting marginal or high-risk croplands that have been in annual production at some point
since 2015 into biodiverse, perennial, carbon-sequestering landscapes. Eligible lands include:
Expansion of buffer zones beyond the regulated 15m;
Seasonally wet annual cropland, restored wetlands, and sediment ponds;
High slope cropland; and
Field margins.
Maintaining land under soil conservation structures, or natural hollows left as permanent grass;
Excluding livestock from watercourses and wetlands;
Establishing and maintaining habitat and nectar sources for pollinators and other beneficial insects;
Planting trees & shrubs on ALUS-retired lands;
Delaying cutting and harvesting of grass in forage fields, and deferring grazing of forages in
Establishing and maintaining innovative agroforestry systems; and
Avoiding conversion and enhancing management of previously enrolled ALUS features.
Deadline
to Apply
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