Over $97-million is being invested to help farms and agri-businesses invest in the latest equipment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Examples of projects receiving funding are soil sensors, lower emission grain dryers, solar panels electric heating systems, biomass boilers and precision ag equipment.

Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay made the announcement on a dairy farm in Nova Scotia. Folly River Farms received $49,280 to purchase and install a solar energy system. It will replace electricity from the grid, significantly reducing the farm’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

This round of funding will cover 148 projects  across the country including 35 in Saskatchewan, 33 in Alberta and 27 in Manitoba.

Scanning through the list of approved Saskatchewan projects, the majority are for grain dryers, precision ag equipment and soil sensors. The priority appears to be on larger operations that can make the largest reductions in GHG emissions. The entire list can be viewed here.

The Agricultural Clean Technology Program has now  approved 414 projects for a total of $196.9 million.