Project Guidelines and Application
Crop Fertility Planning and Soil Testing
The 4R Phosphorus Management category aims to ensure phosphorus is applied following 4R principles, including rate, time and place. The goal of this subcategory is to support the development of new crop fertility plans and necessary soil/manure testing.
Rates
- $10/acre – Crop Fertility Plan with Basic Sampling (minimum 1 composite sample per 25 acres)
- $15/acre – Crop Fertility Plan with Precision Sampling (grid sampling of 6 acres or finer, or 12 acre zone or finer, or sensor-based sampling (e.g. SWAT Maps, SoilOptix)
Maximum: $15,000
Funding cannot be stacked with other funding programs.
Requirements
- Field(s) must be in the Upper Thames watershed, with the exception of fields within the Municipality of South Huron who are not eligible.
- Crop Fertility Plans must be prepared by a CCA, agronomist, or the applicant using AgriSuite Field Management.
- Soil sampling will occur between June 1, 2026 and May 31, 2027.
New Plans Must Contain
- Georeferenced field boundary and sample locations
- Results from the new soil tests
- Maps showing results (for precision sampling only)
- Crop and yield goals
- Nutrient application recommendations consistent with OMAFA publications
- Timing (approximate), and rate of all fertilizer applications for the intended crop
- Timing (approximate), and rate of all manure applications for the intended crop
- Must be either:
- 3 year plan, or;
- 1 year plan, plus commitment from service provider for an additional 2 years of advice
Ineligible
- Soil sampling without a crop fertility plan
- Fields sampled with fewer than 1 composite sample for every 25 acres
If you plan to develop your own Crop Fertility Plan, please visit AgriSuite (agrisuite.omafra.gov.on.ca) and use the Field Management tool.
Audit Process
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Applications are received
Applications undergo review; approvals are released
Sampling is completed
Submission of sample results, maps, and crop fertility plans
Payment is issued to the farmer/applicant