FAQs

The Canola Council and many other industry organizations are often involved in the delivery of government-funded programs aimed at helping the agriculture sector succeed. The On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) is one of these programs. In a similar fashion, the Canola Council also administers the Canola AgriScience Cluster, investing federal funding into canola research and innovation.

The Canola Council encourages adoption of 4R practices to make the most efficient use of growers’ fertilizer investment, and to support yields while reducing emissions. Canadian canola farmers are leaders in sustainability, and we’re pleased that we can administer a voluntary program to facilitate the adoption of 4R practices. The funding provided by this program is an important opportunity to help expand the use of 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices on canola acres as a way of improving fertilizer efficiency, getting more return from that investment and minimizing losses as nitrous oxide emissions. This program aligns with the canola industry’s strategic plan efforts to increase canola yields and profitability, including a key sustainability target that was added to our plan back in 2018 – which is to see 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices on 90 per cent of canola acres by 2025.

This voluntary Canola 4R Advantage program supports farmers in initiating or advancing 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices that make the most efficient use of fertilizers in canola production. Funding for Canola 4R Advantage is provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF), which supports farmers in adopting BMPs that store carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, specifically in the areas of: nitrogen management, cover cropping and rotational grazing practices. 

The Canola Council’s goal is to help growers access financial incentives to initiate or advance 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices on canola acres to improve fertilizer efficiency, which is good for farm productivity and the environment. Canola 4R Advantage aligns with the canola industry’s strategic plan efforts to increase canola yields and profitability, including a key sustainability target that was added to our plan back in 2018 – which is to see 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices on 90 per cent of canola acres by 2025. Canadian canola growers are leaders in sustainability and we hope that this program can keep building on this excellent track record.

The Canola Council provides crop production services to growers through a team of agronomy specialists working with provincial canola grower commissions. Adoption of 4R Nutrient Stewardship is a key recommendation for growers. This program helps growers who voluntarily take part to initiate or advance 4R practices on their farm.

Our program deliverables include processing applications; promoting awareness among canola growers and their agronomy advisers; providing training, information resources and knowledge transfer activities to growers and agronomists; and providing AAFC with aggregate data on the use of BMPs, which will help show the progress of Western Canadian farmers as Canada contributes to the global effort to reduce GHG emissions.

No. The Canola Council is not making money for administering the program. OFCAF does include reimbursement to the Canola Council as a recipient organization for their costs incurred to administer the program.

No. All funding for Canola 4R Advantage is provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF).

The grower has entitlement to all GHG emissions reductions arising from their Canola 4R Advantage project.

• Growers can use those GHG emissions reductions to participate in voluntary offset credit programs that are not regulatory or government-led, subject to the eligibility requirements set up by the voluntary offset programs.
• Growers can’t use those GHG emissions reductions to participate in any government-led or regulatory carbon offset programs. This is so that GHG emission reductions are not counted twice between the OFCAF program and regulatory offset systems.

It’s also important to note that we have no certainty as to how future carbon offset programs might work, and how your eligibility for these programs might be affected by your participation in this CCC program. Eligibility for participation in these markets will be determined by those developing them.

Please note that the grower is responsible for ensuring compliance with the rules and regulations of any carbon offset market, whether voluntary or regulated.

Canola 4R Advantage is an investment in the continued global leadership of Canadian canola growers. Canola is a unique opportunity for Canadian agriculture, and 4R Nutrient Stewardship is one of our best opportunities to grow the crop with greater precision, efficiency and sustainability. This program provides incentives to help farmers continue to expand these progressive, proven practices as they reinforce their reputation as the most experienced and knowledgeable canola growers in the world.

Canola 4R Advantage is not a response to the federal government’s fertilizer emissions reduction target of 30 per cent. The Canola Council encourages adoption of 4R practices to make the most efficient use of growers’ fertilizer investment, support yields while reducing emissions. Funding for Canola 4R Advantage has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) to provide support to growers to help expand 4R adoption. The Canola Council is one of the 13 OFCAF recipient organizations to help redistribute funding to farmers.

The objective of OFCAF is to support farmers in adopting beneficial management practices (BMPs) that store carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, specifically in the areas of: nitrogen management, cover cropping and rotational grazing practices. You can find a list of the 13 different recipient organizations as well as their area and region of work on the OFCAF webpage.

The Canola Council has chosen to focus our program on nitrogen management, with the goal of expanding the use of 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices when growing canola, which is good for both farm productivity and the environment.

A certain proportion of applications will be audited to help ensure that everyone follows the rules and the program is equitable across all canola growers. These audits of grower claims would be done by the Canola Council of Canada.

Through the program, we will provide Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada with aggregate data on the use of these BMPs, which will help show the progress of Western Canadian farmers as Canada contributes to the global effort to reduce GHG emissions. Canadian canola growers are leaders in sustainability, and participation in this program will help demonstrate that growers are continually building on this excellent track record, in ways that do not impede their ability to keep improving yields.

By providing financial incentives, Canola 4R Advantage encourages farmers to initiate or advance 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices when growing canola. Growers can apply for funding to help pay for implementation of best management practices (BMPs) in four areas: soil testing, field zone mapping consulting services, enhanced efficiency fertilizer (EEF) and preferred application.

To be eligible for Canola 4R Advantage, growers are required to have a 4R Nutrient Stewardship plan that has been verified by a 4R designated agronomist. New for year two of Canola 4R Advantage, growers can be reimbursed for a portion of the agronomist consulting fees to have 4R Nutrient Stewardship Plans developed for their farms for the purposes of this project.

Learn more about the Program Guidelines and eligible BMPs.

Canola 4R Advantage is a two-year program. Learn more about the key dates for submitting applications and claims.

Funding for Canola 4R Advantage is provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF). The CCC is one of 13 OFCAF recipient organizations across Canada.

Canadian canola farmers are leaders in sustainability, and we’re pleased that we can help growers access this funding to continue their progress. Expanding the use of 4R Nutrient Stewardship is an important opportunity to improve fertilizer efficiency, which is good for both farm productivity and our environment. The 4R program is recognized internationally as an effective set of practices that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while optimizing yields and profitability.  Learn more about 4R Nutrient Stewardship and the canola industry’s sustainability goals.

The Canola Council is one of 13 industry organizations delivering programs funded by the federal government’s On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF). Our role is to design and administer a program focused on nitrogen management that supports increased productivity and profitability while reducing nitrous oxide emissions. Our involvement includes:

• processing applications
• promoting awareness among canola growers and their agronomy advisers
• providing training, information resources and knowledge transfer activities to growers and agronomists that are specific to growing canola using 4R practices
• providing Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) with aggregated data on the use of BMPs, which will help show the progress of Western Canadian farmers as Canada contributes to the global effort to reduce GHG emissions.

The CCC will collect only the operational data, business and personal information needed to deliver the program and make payments, in compliance with Canadian data privacy requirements. Please see the Use of Grower Data section of the Program Guidelines page.

Yes. In year two of Canola 4R Advantage, canola growers can seek funding for all BMPs covered by the program, to a maximum of $20,000 per BMP.

A farm business can receive up to $75,000 in total from all OFCAF programs, including those administered by other industry organizations, over the lifetime of OFCAF funding.

Growers can be reimbursed for up to 85 per cent of eligible expenditures. You will need to submit receipts for 100 per cent of the eligible cost. The program will then reimburse you for 85 per cent of this amount, up to program limits.

The goal is to distribute incentives across the nine reconciliation units (RUs) in Western Canada and the four BMP categories. If some RUs or BMP categories become over-subscribed, we will review the status of applications and decide whether reallocation of some funds is possible.

Yes, growers may submit applications to more than one OFCAF program, but not for the same BMP on the same field(s). Growers need to attest that they will not participate in or receive funds from any other OFCAF nitrogen management program for the same BMP and the same field(s).

Farm businesses also need to make sure that they don’t receive more than $75,000 in total from all OFCAF programs, including those administered by other industry organizations, over the lifetime of OFCAF funding.

This is a requirement of the Government of Canada. Using this information, the CCC will issue an annual AGR-1 Statement of Farm Support Payments form to any grower who was issued an incentive payment in the previous calendar year. Canada Revenue Agency considers these incentive payments taxable income and therefore requires that the payments be reported.

If the farm operates as a corporation, cooperative or partnership, the applicant can provide a CRA business number or partnership number. Growers who operate and apply as a sole proprietor or are unincorporated will need to provide their social insurance number (SIN).

In year two, canola growers can apply for more funding for more BMPs, as well as assistance for development of a 4R Nutrient Stewardship plan.

• Funding limits for each BMP have increased to $20,000 per BMP per farm, versus $6,000 per BMP per farm in year one.
• Each farm can seek support for all BMPs covered by the program, versus a maximum of two BMPs in year one.
• Growers can seek funding to continue BMPs that were started since February 7, 2022.
• The program can reimburse up a portion of the consulting fees paid for a 4R designated agronomist to develop a grower’s 4R Nutrient Stewardship Plan, to a maximum of $5,000.

In year two, a grower can seek support for all eligible BMPs on selected canola fields over which the grower currently has operational control:

1. Soil testing
2. Field zone mapping consulting services for variable rate nitrogen
3. Enhanced efficiency fertilizer
4. Preferred application (covering a portion of fertilizer costs for growers switching from fall nitrogen application to spring banding, or from fall nitrogen application to a split of spring banding and in-crop application). Please note that year two applications for the preferred application BMP are paused until 2024, when seasonal price differentials for nitrogen fertilizer can be determined.

For more information, please refer to the BMP requirements.

Possibly, depending on the field and the BMP specific to the funding application.  

To qualify for funding, the grower can’t have used the same BMP on that selected field as part of a 4R Nutrient Stewardship Plan before February 7, 2022. For example, if soil testing has been part of a 4R plan for that field, then soil testing for that field would not be an eligible expense under this program.

However:

• In the example above, the field/BMP combination may qualify if the grower has used soil testing in this field, but never as part of a 4R plan for that field. Establishing a 4R plan with a 4R designated agronomist and advancing the practice under 4R Nutrient Stewardship would then make soil testing eligible as a new activity on that field.
• In addition, year two funding is available to continue using a BMP on a field if the grower started the BMP after February 7, 2022.

It’s also important to remember that there are four BMPs to choose from. A grower may have used one of the BMPs on a certain field as part of a 4R plan, but has not used all four of the BMPs on that field.

The overall intent is to encourage growers to initiate or advance their use of 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices.

These four BMPs are currently underutilized, have high potential to reduce GHG emissions and offer good feasibility for adoption by canola growers. Independent evaluation using sound scientific methods has shown that there is good reason to be confident that these BMPs will provide good value for money as an investment.

Yes, in year two you can receive funding for all BMPs covered by the program.

Yes, as long as all of the BMPs haven’t been used on that field as part of a 4R Nutrient Stewardship Plan before February 7, 2022.

Equipment upgrades and modifications are not eligible for funding under Canola 4R Advantage. However, these expenses may be eligible under the OFCAF programs delivered by other partners, including the Prairie Watersheds Climate Program led by the Manitoba Association of Watersheds and delivered by Manitoba’s Watershed Districts and the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds, the Manitoba Metis Federation and the B.C. Climate Agri-Solutions Fund.

To be eligible for reimbursement:

• Total sample depth must be at least 12 inches.
• Soil analysis for nitrogen content must be conducted using analytical protocols recognized by the Soil Science Society of America.

For more information on soil testing, please refer to the BMP requirements.

Eligible soil testing laboratories are: Agvise Laboratories, A&L Canada, AGAT Laboratories, Discovery Nutrient Analysis (Discovery Seed Labs), Down to Earth, Farmers Edge, Western Ag, Elements, Midwest Laboratories.

These products reduce nutrient losses to the environment while making more nutrient available for the plant or crop. They include nitrogen stabilizer products.

Dual inhibitor products (i.e., containing both nitrification and urease inhibitors ), along with controlled release nitrogen (i.e., polymer-coated urea/ESN) are eligible for reimbursement under Canola 4R Advantage. Please note that nitrification and urease inhibitors must be used together to be an eligible practice under AAFC’s OFCAF program guidelines.

Find more details within the BMP requirements. 

Dual inhibitor products (i.e., containing both nitrification and urease inhibitors) are eligible under Canola 4R Advantage. Please note that nitrification and urease inhibitors must be used together to be an eligible practice under AAFC’s OFCAF program guidelines. Single inhibitors are deemed ineligible under AAFC’s program guidelines.

Nitrogen fertilizer efficiency is greatly affected by the placement method and application date. For our program, preferred application for efficient use means banding fertilizer granules into the soil, instead of surface broadcasting.

In-soil banding during or near seeding time reduces the risk that nitrogen will be lost to the atmosphere. Instead, there is more opportunity for gaseous NH3 to undergo conversion to soluble ammonium, which is readily absorbed by soil particles.

You may be able to receive up to 85 per cent of the higher cost (up to 3 cents/lb) for nitrogen fertilizer switched from entirely fall surface application to spring banding, or to a split of spring banding and in-crop application. For more information, see the eligible costs section of the Program Guidelines.

The preferred application BMP reimburses a portion of the higher costs of nitrogen fertilizer switched from fall application to either spring banding or a split of spring banding and in-crop application. As this seasonal price differential is currently uncertain, the preferred application BMP is paused until 2024 when seasonal price differentials for nitrogen fertilizer can be determined.

Field zone mapping can help growers make effective fertilizer rate decisions. Yield potential may not be uniform across all fields or even within a single field – therefore, using one rate of nitrogen fertilizer may not be the best management practice.

A field analysis by a qualified 4R designated agronomist can pinpoint optimum rates throughout fields by considering differences in management, soil properties, terrain, historical yields and many other factors impacting fertility and yield potential.

Please refer to our Program Guidelines and Applicant Declaration.

Yes, an application can’t be submitted for funding consideration until the verified 4R plan is in place, but you can complete the rest of the application in the meantime and save it as a draft. Once the 4R plan is in place, the grower and 4R designated agronomist can each update their attestations that the 4R plan is in place, and then the application can be submitted. If you have questions about the 4R program or 4R designation, please email: 4rdesignated@fertilizercanada.ca.

Participation in a carbon offset program may affect participation in the CCC program.

• Growers can receive funding from the CCC program if they are participating in voluntary offset credit programs, subject to the eligibility requirements set up by the voluntary offset programs.
• Growers can’t use any GHG emissions reductions generated with the support of the CCC program to apply to any regulatory (government-led) carbon offset program. This restriction only applies to the GHG emission reductions generated by the selected nitrogen management BMP(s) on the farm area supported under Canola 4R Advantage, and generated between the earliest date at which costs are eligible for reimbursement and the completion date of the grower’s Canola 4R Advantage project.

Growers should also be aware that it is currently unclear whether participation in this CCC program could affect their eligibility for enrolment in future voluntary or regulated offset markets. Eligibility for participation in these markets will be determined by those developing them.

Please note that the grower is responsible for ensuring compliance with the rules and regulations of any carbon offset market, whether voluntary or regulated.

The 4R Nutrient Stewardship program is a formal way for growers to participate and implement the 4Rs on their farm and be recognized for doing so. The role of the 4R designated agronomist in this program is to complete and verify the applicant’s 4R Nutrient Stewardship management plan and attest to the accuracy of the claim. The designated agronomist will also submit 4R acres on a grower’s behalf to Fertilizer Canada, which allows for these best management practices to be accounted for and recognized. With acres counted under the 4R Nutrient Stewardship framework, canola growers can demonstrate their commitment to improved nutrient use. If you have questions about the 4R program or 4R designation, please email: 4rdesignated@fertilizercanada.ca

Agronomists with the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Designation have been assessed and certified as having appropriate agronomic knowledge, skills and expertise related to their assigned duties and for the specific geographic areas where they work. 4R designated agronomists are reassessed every three years and may require additional training as courses are updated or new courses are introduced. Learn more about 4R agronomist competencies. If you have questions about the 4R program or 4R designation, please email: 4rdesignated@fertilizercanada.ca

Canola 4R Advantage also includes training activities so that more Certified Crops Advisors and Professional Agrologists can achieve the 4R Nutrient Stewardship designation and receive new specialty training and resources specific to canola crops.

Visit the Fertilizer Canada website for a listing of 4R designated agri-retailers in Western Canada.

We opened our year one application intake on August 17, 2022 and it closed on February 17, 2023.

Year two opened on June 26, 2023 and it closed on November 30, 2023. Year two intake covers expenses invoiced and paid by the grower between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024.

Thanks to interest in Canola 4R Advantage, applications submitted have exceeded the funding available for year two of the program and the program is fully subscribed.

The deadline to submit applications for year two of Canola 4R Advantage has now passed. Find more details on tracking your application and claims status on our apply and claim page.

You will apply online using this digital platform. Either you or your 4R designated agronomist can initiate the application process – however, both of you will be required to complete certain sections. Find more details on how to apply and make claims.

You will need to provide basic contact information for the grower and 4R designated agronomist, and details about the farm, the BMP activities you have selected and the fields on which they will be implemented. The grower and 4R designated agronomist will also need to make several attestations. The information you’ll need to provide is listed here.

All details on the application process can be found here.

Once your application has been submitted, it could take up to six weeks to notify you of whether your application is approved. We will notify you by email and inform you of next steps.

Yes, a waitlist was established as applications submitted exceeded the funding available for year two of the program, but the program remains fully subscribed.

Yes, with our new digital portal, you can track the status of applications and claims through all steps in the process.

After your application is submitted, you will receive email notifications of any change in your application’s status.

Find more details on how to apply and make claims.

Yes. All growers and 4R agronomists who have registered in the CCC management system will be notified of upcoming application deadlines.

In year two, you can apply for assistance to implement totally new BMP/field combinations. You can also apply for assistance to continue using BMPs that were newly adopted since February 7, 2022.

For year two, claims will be submitted through the new digital portal.

Find more details on how to apply and make claims.

All application and claims processing details can be found here.

The deadline for all year one claims has passed.

The deadline for submission of year two claims is April 30, 2024.

If eligible costs for the soil testing and field zone mapping BMPs are billed as bundled services, you will be asked to allocate a fair market value portion of the bundled cost to each applicable BMP (excluding any portions for ineligible costs). We have simplified this process with our new digital portal. 

Before we can issue payment, you will need to submit all of your receipts and supporting documents, including an attestation that canola was grown on the field(s) where the BMP was introduced.

That means you’ll need to wait until the planting season to submit your attestation.

Once you have submitted all supporting documents, it may take several weeks to receive payment.

The funds will be sent to your bank account by way of electronic funds transfer (EFT) only.

Grower claims may be subject to audit by the CCC. This may include verification that a 4R plan is in place, that canola was planted on the designated field (via satellite imagery or crop insurance) or other requests to support audit requirements. Please be sure to keep good records for seven years in case your claim is among those audited.

If the audit finds that there has been misrepresentation – either by the grower or agronomist – the application will be invalidated, and the funds must be returned.

The 4R designated agronomist helps the grower meet the program criteria by completing and verifying the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Plan and attesting that the application and claim is accurate. For more details, please see the Program Guidelines.

A three-part training program is provided by Fertilizer Canada. More information about the Fertilizer Canada eLearning program is available here. If you have questions about the 4R program or 4R designation, please email: 4rdesignated@fertilizercanada.ca