Beneficial Management- Plans & Designs BMPs

Overview of the Beneficial Management- Plans & Designs BMPs program:

The Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) Program is a five-year investment program funded by federal, provincial, and territorial governments through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP), with $4 million available in 2023/24 to help producers contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment with projects that improve: waste management, air quality control, emissions control, soil and riparian integrity, water quality, and environmental impacts.

Benefits of the Beneficial Management- Plans & Designs BMPs program:

• To increase the adoption of technology and practices to mitigate high-risk activities or emerging challenges by promoting agricultural sustainability, climate mitigation, and climate adaption practices that contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment.

Eligibility criteria of the Beneficial Management- Plans & Designs BMPs program:

• Applicants must:
• Have an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) that is less than 5 years old and reflects the current farm or ranch operation. The EFP must be renewed if it is more than 5 years old, or if there have been changes made to the farm or ranch operation that could have impacted the environmental risk. This does not imply the farm operation will be able to access BMP program dollars nor does it imply the farm cap will be reset.
• The farm or ranch operation must be in British Columbia and have valid Farm Class land as designated by the BC Assessment Authority or be a First Nations agricultural operation with designated authority to use the land.
• The applicant must have a valid business (GST) number.
• Access to certain BMPs require additional assessments, planning or design that must completed prior to approval (e.g., Nutrient or Riparian Management Plans). These BMPs are linked, and the planning BMP must be completed and submitted prior to beginning a project. Concurrency of planning and/or technical assessment may be allowed for projects that are not contingent on a final design for the project construction activity or may be waived at the discretion of the Program Manager. All Planning BMPs require prior approval.