Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency Program

To be eligible for the program, all applicants must:

1. Be an existing tree fruit (apple, cherry, pear, and/or other stone fruit) producer in B.C., farming over one acre of tree fruits, whose primary purpose is the production and sale of tree fruit products.
2. Be the owner or lessee of the land
3. Be a taxable entity (e.g., individual, corporation or trust), limited partnership, commune, cooperative with a GST and business number, or First Nation Band
4. Have their main farmstead in B.C. and file farm income tax (form T2042 or T1273) under the Income Tax Act in B.C
5. Maintain the property as a commercial operation for at least four years after completion of the project

Group applications must meet all the above criteria for all farmers included in the group application.

The province is committed to supporting the success of Indigenous businesses in the agriculture and food sector. We understand that Indigenous businesses may have distinct characteristics reflecting regulatory, operational, cultural, and other factors. We aim for flexibility in our program delivery to reduce barriers and ensure the accessibility of our programs.

Indigenous applicants are encouraged to reach out to program staff with any questions.

1. Protective covers and associated infrastructure
2. Energy efficient heaters (propane or wood pellet)
3. Wind machines

Supplemental information:

• For protective covers and wind machines it is recommended that the applicant obtain drawings and installation plans from an authorized distributor.
• Considerations before purchasing non-tunnel covering systems for sweet cherries
• Learn how to use wind machines to protect tender trees fruits from temperatures

1. Evaporative cooling systems (addition of overhead canopy sprinkler systems, fogging systems to existing irrigation system)
2. Protective covers and associated infrastructure (e.g., shade/ and/or heat protection)

Supplemental Information:

• It is recommended that for installation of evaporative cooling systems, the applicant get an updated irrigation design plan. This design plan should be provided by a certified irrigation designer registered with the Irrigation Industry Association of British Columbia (irrigationbc.com)
• For projects with installing evaporative cooling or fogging systems, applicants must attest to be licensed water users

1. Hail netting and associated infrastructure

Supplemental Information:

• For hail netting it is recommended that the applicant obtain an installation plan from an authorized dealer that includes netting specifications.
• Information on Photoselective Anti Hail Netting
• Information on the use of protective netting in Washington State apple production

If your farm would benefit from a piece of equipment or infrastructure not listed above and can demonstrate how it addresses a need directly related to increasing the resilience of your operation to extreme weather events, we encourage you to apply to the Innovative Solutions stream of funding.

Innovation Solutions projects require a greater amount of upfront information from interested applicants and additional communication between the applicant and program team should be anticipated. Please provide as much detail as possible, including relevant quotes and other supporting materials at the time of application.

Standards that must be met for a project to be considered for funding:

• Must address a demonstrated need related to impacts of extreme weather events on tree fruit production.
• Must not be prohibited or in contradiction of any regulations/authorizations required
• The eligible and ineligible items and additional requirements (if any) are “To Be Determined” based on the information supplied in the application

Multiple applicants may apply for a group project for shared equipment or a project that will benefit more than one grower (e.g., application for a wind machine that benefits multiple growers with adjoining properties).

Funding Structure:

• Cost-Share Rate: Consistent with individual applications, approved group projects are eligible for an 80 percent cost-share reimbursement
• Maximum Funding: Each participating farm business can receive up to $100,000 in cost-share funding over the program's duration

Application Requirements:

• Group project participants must submit their own individual application detailing the project's scope, benefits to their respective farm, and a comprehensive implementation plan
• Group project participants must identify the legal business name of who they will be jointly applying for a group project with
• Cost Allocation: The applicants will be asked to specify how costs and benefits are distributed among participants

Examples:

• Application for shared wind machine at $100,000: Two producers agree to share a wind machine costing $100,000. Each contributes $50,000. With an 80 percent cost-share, each receives $40,000 in reimbursement, leaving them each eligible to apply for an additional $60,000 in funding for other projects
• Application for shared high-value equipment (> $300,000): For a group project exceeding $300,000, each participating producer can receive up to $100,000 in funding

• Non-tree fruit farmers and non-commercial producers
• Producers who do not meet the eligible applicant criteria
• Landowners that are not a B.C. registered business entity
• Farms without current Farm Status

In addition to the ineligible items detailed in Appendix 1–4, the following expenses are ineligible for reimbursement under the program:

• GST
• In-kind costs
• Expenses incurred prior to project approval (no retroactive approval permitted) or after the project completion date
• Infrastructure and equipment installed on land outside of B.C.
• Purchase of typical farm equipment and related accessories or attachments (including tractors, skid steers and trailers)
• Costs of ongoing activities including inputs such as sprays or other
  agro-chemicals
• Maintenance or repair costs unless specified as being eligible in the Appendices
• Financing charges, loan interest payments, bank fees and charges
• Maintenance or extended warranties on equipment, electronics, or technology purchases.
• Duties or tariffs associated with importing equipment

The application process will consist of the following:

• Register for a Basic or Business BCeID at https://www.bceid.ca/
  • Save your user ID and password, as you’ll need them to submit your application and reimbursement claim.
• Submit application through the Applicant Portal on Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s Program Operation Data System (https://af-pods.powerappsportals.com/) using your BCeID. You will be required to provide:
  • Business Information, including:
    • Legal Business Name
    • Contact Information
    • Canada Revenue Agency Business Number
    • Demographic Information
  • Evaluation Information, including:
    • PID (parcel identifier)
    • Project start and end dates
    • Project Activity
    • Description of the impacts of past extreme weather events on your tree fruit operation
    • Description of how this project will help reduce the impacts of extreme weather events on your farm
    • Total area (hectares) that will be protected as a result of completing this project
    • Detailed project budget (template to be provided)
    • Supplier quote for infrastructure and equipment for applications greater than $5,000
    • Site Map

All applications and projects must comply with all relevant technical, environmental, permitting, and regulatory standards, as well as applicable federal, provincial, and local laws, including but not limited to the Agricultural Land Commission Act, the Agriculture Land Reserve Use Regulation, and zoning bylaws.

Program staff are available to answer questions regarding eligible activities, costs and/or the application process. Applicants can contact AgriServiceBC@gov.bc.ca with any questions about the program or to receive support in developing their application.

Applicants are encouraged to include only activities they are confident will be completed on time and within budget limits.

An applicant can submit multiple project applications during the intake period. The combined life of program farm cap per B.C. registered business entity remains.

Upon submission, all applications will be reviewed first-come, first-serve. Project applications are screened and reviewed based on the following:

• Ensuring application completeness and reasonableness
• Applicant eligibility check
• Ensuring project budget aligns with project activity
• Project alignment and eligibility check

Program staff will return incomplete applications to applicants for resubmission with missing information/clarifications requested. Applicants will be given one opportunity to complete and resubmit an incomplete application. Program staff will complete adjudication and notify applicants of funding decision within eight weeks of application submission or resubmission. All adjudication decisions are final.

If the project is not approved, the applicant will receive a written response from the program.

Funding is application and project-specific and must be used for the approved project and related expenses. Funds are non-transferable.

Retroactive costs will not be considered.

Successful applicants must submit final reporting information, copies of invoices and proof of payment prior to being reimbursed from the program. Expenses will be reimbursed based on the submitted receipts, the approved project budget and the corresponding cost-share ratio. It is important that the final report is submitted on time and with all the required information.

Successful applicants may be randomly chosen for a project verification audit to ensure the work has been completed according to submitted final reporting information. This may take the form of an on-site field audit.

Successful applicants will be required to consent to an outcome/impact evaluation (survey or interview) to be conducted within five years of project completion.

Successful applicants will be required to allow program representatives access to Production Insurance records (associated with the parcel that the infrastructure or equipment was installed on) for program outcome evaluation purposes.

The Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency (TFCR) Program is funded by the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food. As such, acknowledgement of funding is required when publicly communicating about a project and/or funding. To ensure appropriate acknowledgement, all communications and marketing materials, including public announcements or social media posts, must be pre-approved by the Program’s Communications Team. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food may also publicly communicate recipient names, funding amounts and project details.

Arm’s length transactions

All businesses from which claimed goods or services are purchased must be at arm’s length from the applicant, meaning not related to the applicant, not affiliated with the applicant, or controlled in any way by individuals who are connected by a blood relationship, marriage, common-law partnership, or adoption.

Authority

Program staff shall have the authority to deny an application if there is evidence of misrepresentation of pertinent information. 

Authorized signatories

Designates are not permitted to sign the program application or other program documentation on behalf of an individual unless they are an attorney under a duly authorized power of attorney.  In the case of non-individual applicants, the application form and other program documentation must be signed by a properly authorized person with signing authority on behalf of the entity. If the person who signs is not properly authorized to do so, that person will be deemed to have submitted the application in their personal capacity and will be responsible for all amounts paid to them or for any overpayments owed by them under this program. Proof of authorization must be submitted upon request. 

Collection and use of personal information

Any personal information collected by the Government of B.C. in relation to this program is for the purposes of administering the program, as well as for the administration, evaluation and development of Ministry of Agriculture and Food programs, and to advise you about programs and services available through the Province. It is collected under the authority of s. 26(c) and s. 27(1)(a)(i) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, RSBC 1996, c. 165. Further information about the collection or use of this information may be obtained by contacting PODS@gov.bc.ca.

False or misleading information

The Applicant agrees to refund any overpayments received from the program within 30 days of notice being provided to them by program staff. The applicant’s failure to refund such payment by that deadline may result in the debt for that amount being set off against money owed to the Eligible Applicant. Interest charges for unpaid amounts will be compounded monthly and will be added to any debt not repaid by the deadline.

Applicants who provide false or misleading information related to the program forego all program funding and are liable to repay all program funding they have received.

Legislation

All projects must abide by all applicable federal, provincial, and local government laws and regulations, including but not limited to, Federal and Provincial environmental and land use legislation, and zoning bylaws.

Overpayments and refunds

If it is determined by program staff that the provision of funding to an applicant under the program was inconsistent with these terms and conditions, it is an overpayment. In that case, the program may require the person to repay some or all the overpayment. Until it is repaid, the amount of the overpayment is a debt owing by the applicant.  An overpayment may result where an applicant:

• is not eligible to participate in the program
• claims costs that are not eligible
• is overpaid by the program
• has not complied with the terms and conditions of the program, or
• provides false or misleading information in the program application

Stacking of government funding

Program policy sets a percentage maximum amount of government funds which can be used towards the total project costs.  This has been set at 80 percent of the total eligible costs from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s funding contributions.

The program shall have the authority to deny an application or reduce a payment if there is evidence of misrepresentation of pertinent information.

Termination of the program

The program may be terminated or amended at any time, without prior notice.

Verifications and declarations

Program applicants must supply all documentation or information required to verify and administer the program, upon request. This continues in force indefinitely, even after the program ends or is terminated.  

Waiver of liability

Under no circumstances will the governments of Canada and British Columbia, or their officers, servants or agents, be liable to any applicant or participant in the program (or to their heirs, administrators or assigns) for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, or other damages arising out of any application to or participation in the program or arising from any advice, operation or any other activity related to the program, including, without limitation, any lost profits, business interruption, or loss of programs or information, even if the governments of Canada and British Columbia have been specifically advised of the possibility of such damages.