To be eligible for SARPAL, an applicant must meet the following two criteria:
1. Be actively farming or own actively farmed land in Ontario as demonstrated by:
   • A valid Farm Business Registration Number (FBRN)For information on registering a farm business and/or a religious exemption, visit Overview (agricorp.com).
       OR
   • A Religious Exemption Letter provided by the OMAFRA Appeal Tribunal (provide with application submission)
       OR
   • A Cultural Exemption Letter provided by the First Nations Agriculture & Finance Ontario to First Nations farmers, verifying the farm business operates in a First Nations community (include with application submission)
       OR
   • Proposed project is located on 25 acres of land or more, assessed as ‘Farm’, as indicated by the most current Municipal Property Assessment Notice or Municipal Tax Bill in the name of the farm business (include with application submission)
       OR
   • An income exemption from the Farm Property Class Tax Rate Program (i.e., Start-up farm businesses, Business structure change, Not a normal production year, Age/Illness/Death of a spouse) (provide with application submission).
2. Have a completed Environmental Farm Plan (4th Edition) and Action Plan verified complete by OSCIA.

Applicants planting trees are encouraged to secure tree advisory services from a qualified forestry professional, such as a Conservation Authority or registered professional forester, who will undertake the work in compliance with the Professional Foresters Act of Ontario and according to the guidelines endorsed by the Ontario Professional Foresters Association (OPFA). It is important that the area where planting is to take place and the chosen tree species will not prove harmful to SAR. Only native trees or shrubs are eligible. Costs, including in-kind costs, for native species of cover or nurse crops to support a planting project may be eligible. Non-native species are not eligible.

Cost-share applies to the total eligible project costs up to $50 per tree, including trees, planting costs and in-kind contributions.

A single application can support one of the following types of planting:

Reforestation (Block Tree Planting)
Block planting applications require a planting plan to be submitted with the application. This must be prepared by a qualified forestry professional, such as a Conservation Authority or a Registered Professional Forester.

Tree Windbreaks
Trees planted along a pasture, in a field, or edge of field.

Buffer Strips
Permanently vegetated multi-species buffer establishment (a minimum of five metres in width) along a natural habitat area (e.g., stream, wetland, pond, forest, or grassland).

Eligible activities and costs may include:
• Site preparation (limited to up to 50% of total project costs)
• Planting of native trees and shrubs (seeds, seedlings, potted stock or plugs)
• Weed and rodent control systems (mulch, mowing, tree guards, etc.)
• Establishment support as recommended and provided by a Professional Forester, or other qualified party
• Woodlot management practices that support SAR (e.g., releasing eastern flowering dogwood or American chestnut from canopy suppression)
• Maintenance costs associated with renovating existing tree plantings to enhance windbreak function
• Permanent fencing to exclude livestock from the newly planted natural areas. Fencing costs will be supported at a maximum cost of $18.00/m, inclusive of all material, installation, and in-kind costs.

Information for 2025 Planting projects:
• Farm businesses can purchase trees and shrubs from an appropriate 3rd party provider, but may perform site preparation, planting and maintenance themselves as in-kind contributions (they may also pay the 3rd party provider to do this work)
• Associated in-kind costs are eligible in accordance with the SARPAL in-kind contribution policy (see What You Need to Know About in-Kind Contributions)
• All planting must proceed as identified in the approved SARPAL application, if any aspects require adjustment contact OSCIA to confirm eligibility
• All aspects of the planting project must be complete by December 15, 2025

Information for Spring 2026 Planting:
Projects with anticipated Spring 2026 planting will be conditionally approved. The following conditions must be met to obtain full approval, and to be able to prepare an eligible claim:
• A minimum of 50 trees for a windbreak or 500 for a block planting must be planted
• Spring 2026 planting must be done directly through a Conservation Authority or eligible Planting Delivery Agent and prepayment for all services and fees must be completed with proof of payment submitted to OSCIA by December 15, 2025
• Applicant must enter into a Tree Service Agreement (provided by OSCIA to applicant upon conditional approval of proposed project). The agreement must be signed by the applicant and the Planting Delivery Agent (e.g. the Conservation Authority) before being submitted to OSCIA
• The Tree Service Agreement must include a Planting Plan prepared by the Planting Delivery Agent, and must include at minimum a site map and a species list
• All planting must proceed as identified in the planting plan
• In-kind costs associated with Spring 2026 plantings are not eligible

Ineligible activities and costs include:
• Ongoing maintenance costs that are not specifically to enhance windbreak function
• Planting invasive or non-native trees (e.g., European Larch and Norway Spruce)
• Opportunity costs associated with payments for land taken out of production
• Trees, shrubs or other plantings for landscaping, or around buildings
• Establishment of trees, shrubs, or other plantings that are intended for harvest for economic benefit within 15 years, such as fruit orchards, Christmas trees, ornamental nursery stock, etc.
• Tree spaded stock or the transplant of large caliper trees
• Vines, ornamentals and other species unlikely to offer value to SAR habitat
• Fencing costs not directly associated with livestock exclusion from the newly planted area(s)

Reasonable hours of labour invested by the applicant, his/her dependents, and business partner(s) may be claimed as in-kind contributions for cost-share funding. Eligible in-kind contributions will be considered equivalent to cash payments for purchased goods and services. As such, the cost-share level and maximum funding level for the project category apply to eligible in-kind contributions.

Eligible in-kind contributions are invested in the project in the form of unpaid labour and/or use of farm business equipment and may be claimed as follows:
• The maximum eligible labour rate is $25 per hour. OSCIA will make a final determination on what a reasonable number of hours claimed is based on the project and the nature of the work performed.
• The maximum eligible in-kind equipment rate for a tractor and implement is $75 per hour of operation. Applicable in-kind operator charges may be claimed along with the in-kind equipment rate, at up to the accepted maximum hourly labour rate.
• Applicants can submit up to a maximum claim of $7,000 in eligible in-kind contributions for all project categories

Examples of eligible in-kind contributions:
• Applicant’s child planting trees
• Applicant stringing wire for cross fencing projects
• Applicant’s tractor used for auguring post holes
• Applicant/business partner operating tractor

Examples of ineligible in-kind contributions:
• Staff or employee time
• Time invested for education (including the Environmental Farm Plan workshop), project planning, supervision, or administration
• On-farm materials used for project (e.g., on-farm posts, electric wire purchased outside of program year, wood for nesting boxes, trees, etc.)
• Equipment costs for use of hand power tools

If a business plans to claim in-kind contributions, accurate estimates to the best of the applicant’s ability must be reflected in the total project cost submitted with the SARPAL Application.

Claims for in-kind contributions must be supported by an In-Kind Claim Declaration Form, which details specific hours worked, who performed the work, dates the work was performed, and the hourly rate(s) charged.

50% of Eligible Project Implementation Costs

SARPAL cost-share is up to 50% for applicants wishing to implement an eligible BMP activity on their farm property. You must enrol with OSCIA and submit a complete SARPAL Application Form and sketch, accompanied by any other required documentation for the BMP activity you are applying for.

Farm businesses can access up to $40,000 in SARPAL cost-share per program year. Past participation in previous program years does not count towards this limit.

An objective of the SARPAL program is to continue to assess the effectiveness of Conservation Agreements as a method of supporting species at risk recovery through habitat protection on private agricultural lands. Approved SARPAL applicants are required to sign a Conservation Agreement with Environment and Climate Change Canada before funding is released. In the agreement, participants commit to maintain and monitor the funded BMPs for the duration of the agreement (or for the approved number of years for delayed haying projects).

Agreement duration is typically three years for all BMPs except for delayed haying. Agreement duration for delayed haying is typically one year.

A Conservation Agreement with information specific to your project will be provided via email after project approval decisions are released. You will be required to read, initial, and sign this document.

Applications are only accepted during application intakes, which can be found above. Be sure to carefully review the program guide in its entirety – only eligible and complete applications will be considered. Make sure the following is included with the application submission:
• Certificate of completion for a 4th Edition Environmental Farm Plan
• Detailed site sketch based on a satellite image (e.g., using Google Maps or AgMaps) of the project location. The site sketch must show the precise location (address or GPS coordinates) and dimensions of the project. Hand drawn sketches will not be accepted – if you need help using GoogleMaps or AgMaps, please contact your local OSCIA Client Services Staff for assistance, click here for contact information.

Applications for Reforestation (Block Tree Planting) require a planting plan prepared by a qualified 3rd party forestry professional, such as a Conservation Authority or Registered Professional Forester. The planting plan must include a site map and indicate the tree species, how many trees will be planted, and where they will be planted. The map included with the planting plan should meet the mapping criteria outlined in the section What Do I Need to Apply? and will meet that mapping requirement (two maps are not required).

1. If the applicant goes ahead with the project before receiving final approval from OSCIA, they do so at the risk of forfeiting the cost-share if all terms and conditions are not satisfied.
2. OSCIA issues payments after projects have been completed and the required documentation (including a signed Conservation Agreement) is received. This means projects must be paid for in full by the applicant prior to cost-share being issued.
3. When determining the total estimated cost of the project, obtain quotes and be accurate to the best of your ability regarding figures for all applicable materials, services, equipment and in-kind contributions. Please be very clear in your cost descriptions. Gross over-estimates lead to program dollars being unnecessarily allocated and can limit opportunities for other applicants.
4. The maximum cost-share contribution per farm business is $40,000 in the 2025-2026 SARPAL program year.
5. SARPAL cost-share is available to new projects initiated on or after April 1, 2025 to December 15, 2025. No cost-share will be offered for project invoices issued before this date. To receive cost-share, all projects must be complete and operational and the complete SARPAL Claim Form received in the OSCIA Guelph office by December 15, 2025 (or, August 15, 2025, for Forage Harvest Management (delayed haying) projects). OSCIA reserves the right to perform a project inspection at a mutually agreeable time.
6. SARPAL cost-share may be utilized by eligible applicants for approved Best Management Practices on farm properties owned, rented, leased, or otherwise under their control.
7. Stacking of SARPAL contributions towards the same project by two or more farm businesses is not permissible.
8. Applicants are entirely responsible for securing all necessary approvals and permits for the proposed project before starting construction and complying with all applicable municipal bylaws and provincial or federal regulations. OSCIA will require copies of permits obtained for some projects before issuing program funding.
9. Only invoices from vendors or service providers directly engaged in the business reflected in the item or service purchased in accordance with the approved SARPAL Application will be accepted with the project claim.
10. All invoices that support materials or services provided to a project must be completed at arm’s length and originate with companies or individuals not in any way associated through ownership with the farm business making the project claim. Refer to Section 251 of The Income Tax Act for the detailed statutory provision for determining Arm’s Length relationships.
11. All eligible invoices must match the farm business name identified on the Enrolment Form.
12. Materials or products produced on-farm (e.g., fence posts) or purchased outside the eligible invoice dates cannot be cost-shared.
13. OSCIA reserves the right to require additional documentation and ultimately accept or reject submitted project invoices and proof of payment for cost-share consideration.
14. A single project may receive cost-share from one BMP category only. Multiple categories cannot be accessed for a single activity in efforts to maximize SARPAL contributions (i.e., cost-share will only be applied once to a project cost item).
15. Eligible projects must be new to the farm business, unless otherwise indicated in the project category description.
16. The farm business shall ensure that the total cost-share assistance from all sources, including other government or nongovernment programs, for eligible expenses shall not exceed 100 percent of project costs. The farm business is required to confirm at the time the claim is submitted all other sources of funding for eligible project expenses.
17. Across all BMP categories, HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) is not eligible for cost-share.
18. Across all BMP categories, maintenance, extended warranties, hand and power tools and attachments are not eligible for cost-share.
19. OSCIA will not accept additional SARPAL Applications after the Application Submission Deadline.
20. All applicable information on the SARPAL Application Form must be complete before it is submitted to OSCIA. Only proposed projects detailed on SARPAL Applications deemed to be complete by the OSCIA Guelph office will be considered for cost-share.
21. In order to be eligible for a SARPAL allocation, the same project cannot be funded by any other funding programs delivered by OSCIA (e.g. OFCAF) or by the Federal government. Other cost-share programs may be available from local Conservation Authorities, Ducks Unlimited Canada and other stewardship organizations.
22. OSCIA will not accept additional SARPAL applications once the total SARPAL funding available for the program year has been committed.
23. SARPAL cost-share allocation is based on the eligible project costs outlined on the approved SARPAL Application Form. Accurate estimates must be reflected in the total project costs submitted on the SARPAL Application Form. If final project costs exceed the original estimates, there is absolutely no obligation by OSCIA to extend cost-share beyond the original allocation.
24. Information presented is the best available at the time of printing. Check with OSCIA for applicable updates. Material is subject to change without notice.
25. Site preparation costs that exceed 10-times the cost of planting/seeding are not eligible.

• Normal operating costs associated with conducting or expanding a business’s current operations
• Any cost that is eligible for a rebate, credit, or refund (e.g., a refundable portion of the Harmonized Sales Tax)
• Gifts and incentives
• Costs related to activities that directly influence or lobby any level of government
• Costs of basic research, ongoing activities, normal commercial expansion costs, and annual services fees of any type
• Lease of land, buildings, and facilities, or new building construction
• Costs of training and skills development that fulfill any academic requirements towards completion of a professional certificate, diploma, or degree program
• Costs of sponsorship for conferences and learning events or initiatives
• Costs of travel, hospitality, meals, and/or accommodations
• Permits and approvals
• Purchase or sale of land, buildings or facilities, and associated taxes or fees (e.g., land transfer tax)
• Mentoring or coaching services that do not support the development of a written plan
• Multi-use items (e.g., items that can reach beyond the scope of the project such as computers, printers, hand or power tools and attachments, etc.)
• Opportunity costs
• Irrigation systems

If an application is approved for a cost-share allocation, written confirmation will be provided from OSCIA by email. This approval will confirm:
• If any additional information must be provided (e.g., in the case of a conditional approval)
• Any costs from the application that were deemed ineligible
• Eligible invoice dates, project completion dates and claim submission deadlines
• Information on how to submit the claim
• Links to the necessary documents (e.g., Claim Form, Electronic Funds Transfer Form)

Each project must be complete*, and fully paid for before a claim is submitted. As part of an eligible project, every claimed cost must be supported by an invoice in the name of the applicant farm business and one of the following proofs of payment:
• Copy of front and back of cancelled cheque
• Electronic image of processed cheque
• Statement from banking institution indicating to whom the processed cheque was written, or electronic payment made, and for what amount
• Credit card or debit card receipt clearly identifying amount and to whom the payment was made. Credit card or debit card numbers and other information, including costs that are unrelated to the project, should be blacked out.

Cash payments for project costs are strongly discouraged, as they may not meet requirements for proof of payment. If proof of payment by the applicant is not provided, OSCIA cannot support the cost. OSCIA may request any additional information from the applicant that OSCIA deems necessary (e.g., copies of any audit reports, plans or permits obtained by the applicant in conducting the project) to support their claim. Cost-share payments are made by electronic funds transfer (EFT) in the name of the legal farm business. All cost-share funding is considered income to the farm business for tax purposes. OSCIA will issue a tax form (AGR-1) and report the amount paid to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA); this is why an applicant’s Social Insurance Number (SIN) is collected if the applicant does not have a CRA Business Number.

* Tree planting projects that will not be completed until spring 2026 require a Tree Service Agreement, signed by the applicant and the Planting Delivery Agent (e.g., Conservation Authority). In these cases, if an application is approved full instructions will be provided to the applicant in the written confirmation of conditional approval.