Several conservation districts in southwestern Manitoba have picked up support through the latest Growing Forward 2 grant announcement.

A total of 23 projects will receive funding from Growing Forward 2’s Growing Assurance – Ecological Goods and Services to enhance riparian areas, build water retention structures, protect sensitive lands with perennial cover and establish grassed waterway buffers. Funding is provided to Manitoba’s conservation districts, which then work with local agricultural producers to complete the projects.

“We appreciate the support and have already started work on our riparian enhancement project,” said Assiniboine Hills C-D Manager Neil Zalluski.

Manitoba Agriculture estimates every dollar spent on environmental projects creates a $3 economic spin off through material purchases, use of local contractors, skilled labour and tax revenues.

“Having the support from both the provincial and federal government in this program is the key piece that will ensure the success of these environmental improvement projects being completed in Manitoba,” said Arnold Coutts, chair of the Manitoba Conservation District Association.

“We are proud to be the front-line delivery agent for EG&S projects, together with farmers on the landscape. The conservation districts feel the way to successfully manage all things – from soil health to mitigation of floods and droughts – is through the farmland within our province.”

“We are working on a project north of Baldur. It includes the installation of a cattle crossing and off site water system and fence repairs,” said Zalluski.

The federal and provincial governments are investing $176 million in Manitoba under Growing Forward 2, a five-year, federal-provincial-territorial policy framework to advance the agriculture industry, helping producers and processors become more innovative and competitive in world markets.

Growing Assurance – Ecological Goods and Services provides funds to conservation districts to work with farmers to conserve and enhance the landscape. For more information, visit www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture under Growing Forward 2.

Other grant recipients in the Westman region are:

* West Souris River Conservation District received more than $42,000 for one project to establish a perennial cover crop on sensitive agricultural lands to reduce the risk of erosion and salinity and another to plant shelterbelts and trees,
* Turtle Mountain Conservation District received nearly $36,000 for two projects for water retention structures and planting shelterbelts and trees,
* Upper Assiniboine River Conservation District received more than $229,000 for four water retention structure projects and a riparian area enhancement project.