Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP), Advancing Beekeeper Business Capacity (2022)

Description:

This program provides cost share funding to support 50% of eligible costs of Ontario beekeepers who wish to significantly increase their sales by developing new products or processes, or who wish to increase their sales in the Canadian market by implementing a comprehensive business or marketing plan. It aims to diversify and build beekeeper business capacity through support for: bee breeding for pest/disease resistance; development or marketing of niche/retail products; or pollination services expansion.

Comments on Funding:

Cost share funding is available to support 50% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $15,000 per business for commercial beekeepers and $6,000 per business for hobbyist beekeepers, for all cost-share funding paid under the Targeted Intake to Support Managed Bee Health.

Eligibility:

Applicant must:

  • be beekeepers holding a valid certificate of registration, issued under the Bees Act, for the current beekeeping season;
  •  have 10 or more colonies registered with the Provincial Apiarist for the current beekeeping season;
  • not have previously been approved for two (2) projects under this current intake (applications approved after June 21, 2021). Applicants are only eligible for two (2) approved applications per business (or per OMAFRA beekeeper registration ID) between both project categories under the Targeted Intake to Support Managed Bee Health.
  • be a legal farm business that produces agricultural commodities in Ontario;
  • Applicants are not required to have a Premises Identification Number for the farm property where the project is to take place.
  • Applicants that are not required to have a Farm Business Registration Number (FBRN) according to the Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act are eligible for cost-share funding under the condition that they are a registered beekeeper and hold a valid certificate of registration, issued under the Bees Act for the current beekeeping season.
  • be in compliance with all Requirements of the Law and remain in compliance for the duration of the project.

Ontario beekeepers holding a valid certificate of registration, issued under the Bees Act, for the current beekeeping season who wish to significantly increase their sales by developing new products or processes, or who wish to increase their sales in the Canadian market by implementing a comprehensive business or marketing plan.

Applications Steps:

If they cannot apply online or by email, they may send hard copy applications and all required documentation to OSCIA by post or courier to 1-367 Woodlawn Road W, Guelph, ON, N1H 7K9

Documentation Needed:

Applicants must submit:

  1. a valid certificate of registration issued under the Bees Act, for the current beekeeping season;
  2. quotes or proposals for all activities that will be sourced from third-party suppliers (e.g., consultants) detailing services, outcomes and costs.

Other Things to Note:

  1. Projects approved after October 12, 2022, under this category must be complete and operational, including having received all goods and/or services, no later than November 30, 2022.
  2. Farm Business Registration Number (FBRN): All farm businesses in Ontario that gross ,000 or more annually are required by law to register their farm business with Agricorp. More information on the FBRN and allowable exemptions is available from Agricorp.
  3. Commercial beekeepers are those with 50 or more hives as of the date of the first approved application to this intake.
  4. Hobbyist beekeepers are those with less than 50 hives as of the date of the first approved application to this intake.

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