Saskatchewan Watershed Environmental Agriculture Program

This program begins April 10, 2025

The Saskatchewan Watersheds Environment Program (SWEAP)  has been awarded $40 million dollars of funding through the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s On Farm Climate Action Fund OFCAF)  to deliver extensive agriculture stewardship programming to Saskatchewan Producers.  SAW works with producers to increase the implementation of select Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) on farms in Saskatchewan to address issues related to climate change in agriculture.  

The BMPs eligible under SWEAP focus on three categories:

  1. 1. Improving Nitrogen Management:  

  1. a. The use of Polymer Coated Urea (PCU), urease and nitrification inhibitors.

  1. b. Incorporating legumes into crop rotation.

  1. c. Split fertilizer application and equipment upgrades 

  1. d. Soil testing, soil mapping and agronomic services.

  2.  

  1. 2. Increasing adoption of cover cropping: payment-per-acre to cover adoption or related costs such as seeds and equipment. 

  2.  

  1. 3. Expanding the adoption of rotational grazing:  

  1. Interior cross fencing and perimeter fencing to support a grazing plan developed by a Professional Agrologist.

  1. Water system infrastructure to support a grazing plan developed by a Professional Agrologist.

  1. Pasture Composition Improvement: Over-seeding of legumes into exiting forage stands.  

Program Guidelines:

  • All projects need to be either a new practice for the operation OR an expanded acres where the practice was not done prior to 2022.
  • All projects must be endorsed by a licensed agrology professional.
  • Invoices must dated on or after February 1, 2025.
  • Total payments cannot exceed $100,000 from all OFCAF funding sources for the period February 7, 2022 and March 31, 2028.

Applicants work directly with SAW’s Agri-Environmental Coordinators to apply to SWEAP. 

  • Project verification may include invoices, proof of payment, GPS stamped photos and/or other BMP dependent documents.
  • SWEAP is subject to change without notice.

Quick Reference Table

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